Addressing Overwhelming Need
Together, Michigan State University and Wayne State University are addressing the need for Addiction Medicine specialists in the state of Michigan and beyond. Communities across the nation need Addiction Medicine specialists to address the addiction crisis.
MI CARES was developed with the dual goal of helping physicians enroll in the Practice Pathway program to obtain their Addiction Medicine certification as efficiently as possible, and to introduce the fundamentals of Addiction Medicine to medical students to increase knowledge and spread awareness among future medical professionals.
About the Program
The MI CARES program is designed to:
Support physicians applying for Addiction Medicine certification through the Practice Pathway with the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM).
Identify areas outside of direct patient care to ensure required hours of experience in Addiction Medicine research, teaching activities, and administration are met, utilizing collaborative resources.
Properly assess a provider’s current roles and responsibilities and how they can translate to meet the time-in-practice requirements for Addiction Medicine certification.
Provide a robust overview of the Addiction Medicine core content for the board exam.
The MI CARES Medical Student program is designed to:
Introduce students to the fundamentals of Addiction Medicine to increase knowledge and awareness through a curriculum that spans all fours year of medical school.
Prepare students for residency by providing them with a curriculum that covers the basics of diagnosis and medical care of persons with substance use disorder (SUD) and substance-related health conditions.
Partner with institutions that do not currently have Addiction Medicine or Psychiatry curriculums in place to help disseminate the MI CARES curriculum.
What to Expect
- CME credits
- Unlimited access to modules
- Application tools and support from MI CARES staff
- Course credit through partnering institution
- Completion certificate for inclusion in residency applications
- Broad overview of diagnosis and medicated assisted therapy of persons with SUD and substance-related conditions
Benefits of Addiction Medicine Certification
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) list a variety of benefits of board certification. Some benefits include:
Joining a distinguished community of physicians whose priority is the advancement of patient care and safety.
Helping bridge the gap between almost 22 million people struggling with addiction, and approximately only 5,500 specialists nationwide.
Increased practice-based and clinical efficiencies, and enhanced communication with colleagues, patients, and caregivers.
Possible increase in compensation; it is estimated that physicians with board certification earn 67% more than those without it.
Benefits of Incorporating Addiction Medicine Curriculum in Undergraduate Medical Education
Undergraduate medical education curriculum trains physicians to deliver quality and effective treatment across the addiction continuum to address the epidemic of addiction, significantly impacting public health.
Training programs must educate medical students about substance use disorders in the early stages of their careers, rather than expecting them to independently seek further education after they graduate.
Consistent early training and education in Addiction Medicine will help identify students who will go on to serve as champions and the next generation of leaders and educators in the field.
Meet the Team
Cara Poland, MD, MEd, FACP, DFASAM
Mark Greenwald, PhD
Lia Bennett, MPH
Candace Heeringa
Sarah Carpenter, BA
Heather Bunker
Jennie Mills
Robert Malinowski, PhD, DVM, MA
Jamie Alan, RPh, PharmD, Ph.D.
Cara Poland, MD, MEd, FACP, DFASAM
In 2018, board-certified Addiction Medicine Doctor Cara Poland identified the need to strengthen our country’s Addiction Medicine workforce. By utilizing State Opioid Response funds and creating collaboration among Michigan’s seven medical schools, MI CARES was born. Led by Dr. Poland, MI CARES not only trains physician-level addiction specialists in Michigan but across the country. Over 400 physicians in 43 states are currently on the pathway to becoming board-certified in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Poland also leads a special interest grant, GREAT MOMS, which treats pregnant people and their families living with a substance use disorder. A passionate and highly sought-after public speaker and educator, Dr. Poland regularly appears in the media and at community events advocating for those she serves.
Mark Greenwald, PhD
Dr. Greenwald is a professor and associate chair for research, directs the Substance Abuse Research Division, its Human Pharmacology Laboratory and the outpatient treatment research clinic in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University. He is also jointly appointed in the Department of Pharmacy Practice. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has continuously funded his research since 1996. He brings expertise in the fields of psychopharmacology, neuroscience and behavior, and is a content expert in neurobiology for the MI CARES program.
Lia Bennett, MPH
Lia is the curriculum director for the MI CARES program. She brings 15 years of experience in non-profit organization management and the development and implementation of adult education learning tools. She has served as director of maintenance of certification and deputy director for Addiction Medicine board certification. She strives to provide superior guidance to physicians as they navigate the Addiction Medicine certification process and assist with the curriculum development of the MI CARES modules.
Candace Heeringa
Candace brings more than 10 years of experience coordinating and assisting with undergraduate medical education curriculum. She assists the MI CARES team with participant outreach and enrollment. She manages the participant database, CME accreditation, Tracking Tool development, D2L content, and IRB compliance.
Sarah Carpenter, BA
Sarah is the newest addition to MI CARES, bringing over 20 years of dynamic professional experience to the program. A writer, an Emmy Award winner, and a Spanish speaker, she’s currently assisting with curriculum development and production, content creation, and public relations. Sarah’s no stranger to healthcare and higher education – with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, she led the outreach and recruitment effort for the long-term genetic research study, SPARK, for nearly three years, engaging over 6,000 participants in that time. She looks forward to making an impact in the Addiction Medicine community and boosting the signal on Dr. Poland’s work.
Heather Bunker
Heather is honored to serve as the administrative support coordinator for the MI CARES Program. In her previous role, she served as lead medical assistant for Spectrum Health’s Addiction Rehabilitation Program (SHARP). This inspired her to look outside of the box, to become a small piece of something greater; the healing of those living and fighting with a substance use disorder.
Jennie Mills
Splitting her time between two of Dr. Poland’s grants, MI CARES and GREAT MOMs, Jennie brings over 20 years of healthcare leadership experience to the team. Onboarded to track CME activity and collaborate with Behavioral Health Consultants in Michigan and Michigan Opioid Collaboratives, Jennie’s professional focuses are process improvement, operations management, and program development. Prior to joining MSU, Jennie managed a PFAS research office in Rockford, MI.
Robert Malinowski, PhD, DVM, MA
Dr. Malinowski is the associate director of the Office of Assessment at the MSU College of Human Medicine. He provides high-level faculty leadership and subject matter expertise in support of the new Shared Discovery Curriculum and leadership on improving functionality and optimizing faculty and student experiences. Malinowski is dedicated to the advancement of medical education and leverages his unique combination of expertise in medicine, technology, and education. He is especially interested in assessment, curriculum design, and educational technology.
Jamie Alan, RPh, PharmD, Ph.D.
Dr. Alan is an Associate Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Program at Michigan State University. In addition to a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, she also holds a PharmD and is a licensed pharmacist in Michigan and two other states. Dr. Alan runs an active research lab focused on neurobiology and drug discovery. She brings expertise in pharmacology, pharmacy practice, toxicology, and neurobiology. She also serves as a member of the National Faculty for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). Finally, she is extensively trained in educational methods and specializes in active learning.
