Dr. Scott Davis, BUSM ’91 and current Director of Inpatient Medical Services at Betty Ford Center, spoke to more than eighty students, faculty and staff on Thursday, November 20th at the medical school. Dr. Davis shared his personal experiences with addiction and recovery, reviewed the biology of addiction and the physiological alterations that take place in the brain of an addict, and clarified important concepts in differentiating patients with tolerance, dependence and addiction in clinical practice. After the talk, Dr. Davis gave out signed copies of his memoir, Living Jonathan’s Life: A Doctor’s Descent into Darkness and Addiction to everyone who attended. Feedback from students about the event was very positive – everyone was moved by Dr. Davis’ story and felt they had gained insight into addiction.
The Betty Ford Center has wonderful opportunities for medical students to gain understanding and insight into addictive disease and the recovery process. Zoe Tseng and Jessica Gray, (BUSM II) attended the week long Summer Institute for Medical Students (SIMS) between their first and second year and would be happy to talk to anyone who may be interested in the experience (students in all four years can attend). In the SIMS program students have the opportunity to spend five days experiencing what it is like to be a patient or a family member at the Betty Ford Center. Students spend time in inpatient treatment, residential day treatment, or the family program. Participants in all programs attend lectures addressing the medical needs of addicted patients and the theory and philosophy of treatment at the Betty Ford Center. They also attend a Treatment Planning Update (TPU) meeting to observe the multidisciplinary care process at the Center.
More information about the SIMS program as well as other opportunities at BFC is available at:
http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/training/summerinst/
http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/training/professionals/
Dr Davis can be reached at:
Scott M. Davis, M.D., M.A., FASAM
Email: sdavis@bettyfordcenter.org
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