Addiction Medicine Fellowship

The Virginia Tech-Carilion Addiction Medicine Fellowship is an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approved program. Fellows, all of whom have completed a clinical residency, can complete a single clinical training year in addiction medicine, culminating in sitting for their boards in addiction medicine.

Program Overview

The curriculum is tailored to each fellow’s individual interests and is guided by the interdisciplinary Addiction Medicine Fellowship faculty. Combining clinical experience and didactics, the curriculum is designed to develop skills and knowledge in accordance with ACGME competency-based objectives and milestones.

Learning and Didactics

Fellows will engage in a blend of critical readings with faculty discussions, case-based research, pertinent psychiatric didactics (e.g., trauma-informed care), and national/regional virtual conferences. These activities provide a foundation for the fellow's own research efforts and incorporate scholarly inquiry into daily practice. Sessions are led by the program director and other faculty members.

Teaching and Leadership

At the bedside, fellows will teach medical students and residents from multiple specialties. Alongside the Addiction Medicine faculty, fellows will also teach fellows and attendings from other specialties. Each fellow will be assigned one departmental Grand Round or regional presentation.

Research and Scholarly Inquiry

Fellows will engage in at least one scholarly inquiry activity using established research methods. This activity will involve patients, addiction treatment systems, or addiction education, and will be submitted to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The research will be directly supervised by a faculty member, with progress reported periodically to the Clinical Competency Committee. Fellows also have access to a six-session Introduction to Research series sponsored by the Office of Continuing Professional Development.

Curriculum Aims

The curriculum aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of:

• History, genetics, and epidemiology of addiction and ethics of addiction medicine practice
• Neurobiology of substance use, misuse, and addiction
• Best screening, brief intervention, referral, and diagnostic practices for substance use, misuse, and addiction
• Pharmacology of alcohol and drugs and pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders
• Comprehensive assessment, treatment, and psychotherapy of the full spectrum of substance use disorders, including:
  • Harm Reduction
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Psychosocial interventions
  • START-NOW
  • Novel and integrated care models for substance use disorder treatment
  • Medical and psychiatric comorbidities
  • Levels and models of care
• Role of addiction medicine within the healthcare system and opportunities for medical education

Conclusion

The Virginia Tech-Carilion Addiction Medicine Fellowship is dedicated to preparing physicians for clinical and academic careers in Addiction Medicine. With a particular focus on developing and enhancing evidence-based addiction prevention and treatment services, fellows will be equipped to address health disparities and lead in the field of Addiction Medicine.