Chicago, IL, November 12, 2019 – The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) and the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) announced today the approval of a combined training program application in Addiction Medicine and Medical Toxicology. Normally, an Addiction Medicine fellowship program is one year in length and a Medical Toxicology fellowship is two years; however, the combined fellowship training requires just two-and-a-half years, decreasing training time by six months.

The objective of combined training in Addiction Medicine and Medical Toxicology is to address the spectrum of toxicological and substance use-related disorders, including the pathophysiology, recognition, treatment, and management of patients exposed to pharmacological, natural, environmental, biological, and radiological toxins and of patients using psychoactive drugs, including opioids, stimulants, sedatives, hallucinogens, novel drugs, and alcohol.

“The ABPM is pleased to work with ABEM on this request to allow physicians to seek training in these related subspecialties over a shorter period of time.  To paraphrase Paracelsus, the dose (or overdose) makes the poison,” stated Hernando “Joe” Ortega, Jr., MD, MPH, Chair of the ABPM. “Approved combined programs facilitate a convenient path toward dual-certification while maintaining the high standards expected of accredited training programs and ABMS board certification.”

Program requirements have been approved by both ABPM and ABEM are now available on the ABEM website. Both Boards have also finalized an application to be used by any institution applying for approval of a combined Addiction Medicine/Medical Toxicology program.

The ABPM is a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Founded in 1948, ABPM works with the ABMS in the development of standards for the ongoing assessment and certification of over 12,000 physicians certified by the ABPM in the Specialties of Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, and in the Subspecialties of Addiction Medicine, Clinical Informatics, Medical Toxicology and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.