Barbara L. Rosenthal, MD, FAAFP, DFASAM
Candidate for Regional Director
Region III - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Barbara L. Rosenthal, MD, FAAFP, DFASAM. Born in NYC, I have lived and practiced in Maine and Vermont, as well as Wisconsin and NY. When not practicing Medicine, I enjoy my granddaughter, music, my clay practice and the beauty of the outdoors. As a board-certified family physician since 1986, I became board certified in Addiction Medicine by ABPM through the clinical pathway and have earned the designation of Distinguished Fellow of ASAM.
Prior to practicing medicine, I obtained a degree in Agriculture and worked on a Dairy farm, which has helped provide a unique lens on rural characteristics and health needs. As the opiate crisis manifested itself I added treatment of Substance Use Disorders, which I now practice primarily. Other ares of expertise include the use of acupuncture, and the non-opiate treatment of acute and chronic pain. We serve this those whose lives have been touched by substance use disorders, providing a SUD-forward approach to primary care.
As a National Health Service Corps Scholarship recipient, I began practicing in rural Wisconsin both at a Migrant Health Center and in an isolated comprehensive family practice, where I both honed my clinical skills and became involved in rural and public health issues. During that time, I spearheaded development of a camp-based Women’s Health Program serving migrant families, while also developing a brick and mortar center for Women’s Health. Joining a small HMO after moving Vermont, I continued Rural Family Practice. I was able to develop strong advocacy skills in my practice through national committee work for the AAFP and advocating for individuals under the direction of a trained advocate. Currently I work with the Johnson Health Center (A3-B) in northern Vermont and with the Greylock recovery center in Northern Berkshire County serving the NY/VT/MA tristate area.
Between education in Upstate NY, residency in Maine, repayment of my NHSC (National Health Service Scholarship) in Rural Wisconsin, and subsequent practices in Mass, VT and NY (sometimes simultaneously), I have been exposed to practice issues in a variety of settings and understand both their unique qualities and the commonalities involved. I would bring an understanding at a granular level of strengths and weaknesses in current systems as well as a unique rural perspective. In addition to clinical practice, my focus is on Health Policy as it pertains to both the medical and the social determinants of health, particularly for the under-resourced in rural and other populations.
With a long record of professionalism, integrity, leadership and service (local, state and nationally), I have demonstrated both sustained competence and commitment to the field of addiction medicine. I have served on a wide variety of task forces, committees and organizations.
Candidate Questionnaire Responses
1. What have been your greatest contributions to ASAM or to the field of addiction medicine over the last 10 years?
My contributions to ASAM and the fields of substance use disorder are rooted both in clinical community service. With a long record of professionalism, integrity, leadership and service (local state and nationally), I have demonstrated both sustained competence in, and commitment to the field of addiction medicine. I have served on a wide variety of task forces, committees and organizations as noted in my CV. As a Family Physician I am trained and experienced to understand the patient in the setting of family and community.
Areas of my clinical expertise include treatment of Substance Use Disorders in collaborative settings, as well as pain management, and acupuncture. Emphasizing particularly individuals whose lives have been touched by substance use, I have focused on non-opiate pain management and the treatment of SUD and with specific sub populations, such as women and children, rural communities, the cognitively and/or emotionally disabled, and particularly individuals whose lives have been affected by incarceration. I remain certified in Buprenorphine replacement therapy for opioid addiction (Waiver of 275).
In the past, I have assisted Savida Health in expanding throughout rural Vermont, providing access to Buprenorphine to many individuals who previously had not had that opportunity.
With the Johnson health Center, I am currently part of a collaborative practice with VCJR (Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform) to provide extended and expanded services to individuals reentering from the carceral system. We work closely with UVM and CORA in these endeavors and have applied to Senator Sanders for a grant to develop step down comprehensive care for people requiring long term medical care as a result of their substance use. Our practice was a CORA Rural Health Scholarship recipient.
This initiative is aligned with progressive healthcare policies that advocate for comprehensive treatment modalities addressing both the medical and socio-economic determinants of health, working with reducing barriers to care: our goal is “low to no barrier” and our approach is patient-led and is firmly rooted in harm reduction. Our unofficial motto is "No Barrier Left Unchallenged".
With the Greylock Recovery Center in Northern Berkshire County tri-state area we are developing Withdrawal Management and CSS services which are desperately needed for our rural area in northern Berkshire county. We expect to serve NY and Vermont as well.
In addition to clinical practice, my focus is on Health Policy as it pertains to both the medical and the social determinants of health, particularly for the under-resourced in rural and other populations.
2. How would your election to the ASAM Board of Directors benefit ASAM and the field of addiction medicine?
My career has been dedicated to caring for under-resourced and often stigmatized populations and has been characterized by emphasis on minimizing barriers to humane, culturally sensitive, high quality patient-led healthcare in predominantly rural areas. I have been active in clinical practice, teaching, research, and community outreach in a variety of ways since beginning my medical practice. My exposure to practice issues in a variety of settings has helped me to understand both their unique qualities and the commonalities involved. I would bring an understanding at a granular level of strengths and weaknesses in current system as well as a unique rural perspective.
Emphasizing particularly individuals whose lives have been touched by substance use, I have focused on non-opiate pain management and the treatment of SUD and specific sub populations, such as women and children, rural communities, the cognitively and/or emotionally disabled, and particularly individuals whose lives have been affected by incarceration.
With a long record of professionalism, integrity, leadership and service (local state and nationally), I have demonstrated both sustained competence and commitment to the field of addiction medicine. I have served on a wide variety of task forces, committees and organizations.
Too often, state and national leadership is in hands of those in academic settings. This works well as far as keeping up with cutting edge concepts but falls short in approaching and understanding both implementation of those practices but also, the reality of practice in severely under resourced areas. I believe that in order to make significant progress in SUD treatment, that ASAM needs to better incorporate this perspective.
My extensive experience in rural and under-resourced communities and as an independent practitioner provides a rare perspective in medical leadership at the state and national levels. In addition, as a family physician with many years of experience, I understand at a granular level many of the obstacles facing primary care providers who attempt to integrate SUD into their practices.