Paula J. Cook, MD, FASAM
Regional Director
Region VIII - Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Paula J. Cook, MD, FASAM is a board-certified physician in addiction and family medicine, and board eligible in integrative medicine. Currently, she serves as the medical director of a rural, comprehensive, outpatient, non-profit substance use treatment center. She works with the local county treatment court and jail system. Additionally, she holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Utah, where she previously played a key role as the Associate Director in establishing the University of Utah Addiction Medicine Fellowship.
Dr. Cook works with the Opioid Response Network as a technical assistant for opioids and stimulants and has been the lead facilitator of a University of Utah substance use Project Echo. She has been the program director for a large SAMHSA and other federal and state grants. She has served as secretary of the Utah Chapter of ASAM and on multiple state advisory and taskforce committees.
Dr. Cook is deeply committed to treating incarcerated individuals with substance use disorder, implementing low-barrier, evidence based programs in rural areas, harm reduction, and improving the lives of individuals with substance use disorder, mental illness, and healthcare access disparities. She has contributed to consulting and legislative committees focused on integrating addiction treatment into primary care settings.
Furthermore, she is the co-founder and host of "The Addiction Files," a podcast designed for professionals and learners in medical, behavioral health, legislative, judicial, and law enforcement fields.