Academic Title:
Associate Professor
Primary Appointment:
Psychiatry
Additional Title:
Associate Chief of Staff for Education and Academic Affairs, VA Maryland Health Care System
Email:
Location:
10 North Greene Street
Phone (Primary):
(410) 605-7368
Phone (Secondary):
443-690-6938
Fax:
(410) 605-7979
Education and Training
Institution and Location | Degree | Years | Field of Study |
Loyola College | B.S. | 1978-1982 | Biology |
University of Maryland at Baltimore | M.D | 1982-1986 | Medicine |
University of Maryland at Baltimore | 186-1990 | Psychiatry Residency |
Biosketch
A. Personal Statement
I am currently the Associate Chief of Staff for Education and Academic Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) and was formerly the Director, Mental Health Clinical Center at the VAMHCS. I am also a Past President of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry and am a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
In addition, I am an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine where I am currently the Vice Chairman of the school’s Clinical Years Committee. I have also held past roles as the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program Director and the Associate Director of Graduate and Post-Graduate Education for the school’s Department of Psychiatry.
During my career, I have been an active participant in NIDA/VA cooperative studies examining pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of opioid and cocaine addiction and have worked as a PI and co-investigator to better understand the barriers and facilitators of sublingual buprenorphine treatment in the VA. I have authored or co-authored several journal articles and chapters and have made presentations at national meetings related to Addiction Psychiatry. In addition, from 2000-2002 I was the Clinical Core Director of the VA Capitol Network Mental Illness Research Education Clinical Center (MIRECC).
B. Positions and Honors
Academic Positions
1990-1991 Clinical Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, School of Medicine
1991-1993 Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, School of Medicine
1993-2000 Medical School Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, School Medicine
2000-present Medical School Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, School of Medicine
Administrative Positions
1990-1999 Medical Director, Dual Diagnosis and Geriatric Substance Abuse Treatment Program, Baltimore, VAMC
1991-1996 Chief, Substance Abuse Treatment Program, Baltimore, VAMC
1995-1998 Associate Fellowship Training Director, Addiction Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Department of Psychiatry
1995-1998 Assistant Chief of Psychiatry Primarily Responsible for Addiction Services Baltimore VAMC
1996-2002 Clinical Manager, Substance Abuse Treatment Program, VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS)
1998-2000 Associate Director of Graduate Education, University of Maryland, Department of Psychiatry
1998-2004 Associate Director of Post-Graduate Education, University of Maryland, Department of Psychiatry
1998-2008 Residency Training Director, Addiction Psychiatry Residency, University of Maryland
2000- 2002 Clinical Core Director, VISN 5 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
2002-2008 Clinical Manager: Special Programs: Trauma and Addiction Treatment Programs, VAMHCS
2004-2007 Acting Psychiatrist Executive, VA Maryland Health Care System, Mental Health Clinical Center
2007-2008 Acting Director, Mental Health Clinical Center, VA Maryland Health Care System
2008-2011 Director, Mental Health Clinical Center, VA Maryland Health Care System
2011-2012 Interim Associate Chief of Staff for Education and Academic Affairs, VA Maryland Health Care System
2012-present Associate Chief of Staff, Education and Academic Affairs, VA Maryland Health Care System
Honors and Awards
1981 Membership in Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society)
1982 Carrel Biology Medal, Loyola College
1982 Magna Cum Laude, Loyola College
1989 Inpatient Chief Resident, University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry
1992 Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office Service Director's Award for Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences
1996 H. Mckee Jarboe Award for Mental Health Research
2007 Listed as one of the “TOP Doctors” by Baltimore Magazine
2011 Distinguished Fellow, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2016 Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
2016 Elected Membership to Alpha Omega Alpha
C. Contribution to Science
My contributions to science have mainly been in the areas of 1) Pharmacologic Treatment of Substance Use Disorders and 2) Dissemination of Best Practices in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders.
Pharmacologic Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
When I entered the field of addiction psychiatry, with the exception of methadone for opioid use disorders and disulfiram for alcohol use disorders, few evidenced-based pharmacologic treatments for substance use disorders were widely used by clinicians. I participated as a co-investigator and site Principal Investigator on NIDA and NIDA/VA Cooperative Studies testing the safety and efficacy of agents such as buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, and baclofen and selegiline for the treatment of cocaine use disorder. In addition, I was co-investigator on a study assessing the tolerability of naltrexone, a relatively new treatment at the time, for alcohol use disorders in the older population. Relevant publications:
Oslin D, Liberto, J.G., O’Brien, J., Kroiss, S.: The Tolerability of Naltrexone in Treating Older Patients with Alcohol Dependence, American Journal of the Addictions, 6:266-270, 1997
Oslin, D., Liberto, J.G., O’Brien, J., Kroiss, S.: Naltrexone as an Adjunctive Treatment for Older Patients with Alcohol Dependence, American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 5:324-332, 1997
Rothman RB, Gorelick PR, Eichmiller PR, Hill BH, Norbeck J and Liberto JG: An Open-Label Study of a Functional Opioid Kappa Antagonist in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 18(3):277-281, 2000
Kahn R, Biswas K, Childress AR, Shoptaw S, Fudala PJ, Gorgon L, Montoya I, Collins J, McSherry F, Li SH, Chiang N, Alathari H, Watson D, Liberto J, Beresford T, Stock C, Wallace C, Gruber V, Elkashef A. Multi-center trial of baclofen for abstinence initiation in severe cocaine-dependent individuals. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009 Jul 1;103(1-2):59-64. Epub 2009 May 2.PMID: 19414226
Dissemination of Best Practices in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
Translating evidence-based research findings into clinical practice is a challenge for the field of addiction psychiatry. Many evidence-based approaches are not utilized widely by the field. Most of my career has been spent as an educator at the local and national level. Some of my early work focused on comprehensive review articles and chapters for the treatment of alcohol use disorder in the older population. I was also involved as Co-PI on an HSR&D grant aimed at identifying the facilitators and barriers to implementing buprenorphine therapy for treatment of opioid use disorders within the Veterans health Administration. In addition, I co-chaired the work group that published the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Substance Use Disorders. In addition as a former President of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), an organization in part dedicated to the translation and dissemination of evidence-based research into clinical practice, I oversaw the organization’s educational efforts to the field. As part of my involvement with AAAP, I was the PI on a NIDA Educational grant (2R13DA015108-06) that supported AAAP’s annual educational conference. In addition, I have participated in several VA and SAMHSA projects aimed at disseminating evidence-based care for substance use disorders to treatment providers.
Liberto JG, Oslin DW, Ruskin PE: “Alcoholism in Older Persons: A Review of the Literature”, Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 43: 975-984, 1992
Strain (Editor), Barthwell A., Brown, R, Darton, L., Fiellin, D., Kosten, T., Liberto, J., Manlandro, J., Ritvo, J., Vilensky, DO, RPh and Wesson, D., “Use of Buprenorphine in the Pharmacolgoic Management of Opioid Dependence A Curriculum for Physicians”, Development of the Curriculum supported by the: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services, January 2001
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Substance Use Disorders. Prepared by the Management of Substance Use Disorders Working Group. Kivlahan D., Liberto J. and Hanning W. (Co-Chairs). August 2009
Gordon AJ. , Kavanagh G., Krumm M., Ramgopal R. , Paidisetty S. , Aghevli M. , Goodman F. , Trafton, J. Liberto J. Facilitators and barriers in implementing buprenorphine in the Veterans Health Administration. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 25(2):215-24, 2011 Jun.
Other Publications
Chapters, abstracts, non-refereed publications
Bartels S and Liberto J, “Dual Diagnosis in the Elderly”, Double Jeopardy: Chronic Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders, Harwood Academic Publishers, Lehman A and Dixon L Editors, 1995
Liberto J., Kroiss B, Keenan R, Rolf, D: “Cotinine in the Treatment of Cigarette Smoking” Journal of Addictive Diseases 14(3): 147, 1995 [Abstract]
Liberto J, Oslin D and Ruskin P, “ Alcoholism in the Older Population”, The Practical Handbook of Clinical Gerontology, Sage Publications, Carstensen L, Edelstein B, Dornbrand L, Editors, 1996
Liberto J, Oslin D, “Early Versus Late Onset of Alcoholism in the Elderly” Older Adults’ Misuse of Alcohol, Medicines, and Other Drugs, Springer Publications,Gurnack A, Editor, 1996
Liberto J, Oslin D, "Commentary on the AMA Guidelines on Alcoholism in the Elderly: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention", Abstracts of Clinical Care Guidelines, JCAHO, 8(2): 9, 1996
Rothman RB, Gorelick PR, Eichmiller PR, Hill BH, Norbeck J and Liberto JG: An Open-Label Study of a Functional Opioid Kappa Antagonist in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence. Problems of Drug Dependence 1997. Proceedings of the 59th Annual Scientific Meeting, The College on Problems in Drug Dependence Meeting, Inc., NIDA Res. Monogr. No: 178: 309, 1998
Liberto, JG, Herschler, JA, Jaffe JH, Norbeck JH and Carpenter RL, “Effects of ADL 8-2698, a peripherally restricted mu opioid antagonist, on gut motility in methadone and LAAM dependent patients with opioid-induced constipation: A dose ranging study.” 2001 AnnualCPDD Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Knowles FE, Liberto JG, Baker FM, Raskin, A Ruskin, PE: “Competency Evaluations in a VA Hospital: A 10-Year Perspective”, General Hospital Psychiatry,16(2): 119-124, 1994
Liberto J.G., Oslin, D.: “Early Versus Late Onset of Alcoholism in the Elderly”, International Journal of the Addictions, 30(13&14),1799-1818, 1995
Welsh, CJ and Liberto J: The Use of Medication for Relapse Prevention in Substance Dependence Disorders, Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 7(1):15-31, 2001
Welsh, C, Gandhi, D, Liberto, J and Weintraub, E: The role of diagnostic systems in the continued stigmatization of patients with opioid dependence, Psychiatric Services. 2004 Jan;55(1):86-7.
Gordon AJ, Trafton J, Saxon AJ, Calabrese VS, Gifford AL, Goodman F, McNicholas L, Liberto J. Implementation of Buprenorphine in the Department of Veteran Affairs: Results of the first three years. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2007 Oct 8;90(2-3):292-6.
Gordon AJ, Liberto J, Granda S, Salmon-Cox S, Andree T, McNicholas L. Outcomes of DATA 2000 certification trainings for the provision of buprenorphine treatment in the Veterans Health Administration. Am J Addict. 2008 Nov-Dec;17(6):459-62.PMID: 19034736 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Gordon AJ, Liberto J, Granda S, Salmon-Cox S, Andrée T, McNicholas L. Physician Training is Never a Failure. The American Journal on Addictions. 2009;18(4):337-338.
D. Additional Information: Research Support and/or Scholastic Performance
Research Support
Dupont Pharma Oslin, D (PI) 1994
“Naltrexone in the Adjunctive Treatment of Older Age Alcoholics: A Double Blind Controlled Trial”
The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of oral naltrexone used for the treatment of alcoholism in a group of older veteran subjects.
Lec-Tec Ph Liberto (PI) 1994
“Cotinine in the Treatment of Nicotine Dependence: A Double Blind Controlled Trial”
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral cotinine fumarate in increasing short-term smoking cessation rates and attenuating the severity of withdrawal in nicotine dependent subjects.
VA/NIDA CSP# 1008A Bridge, P. & Fudala, P. (PI) 1996
“A Multicenter Safety Trial of Buprenorphine/Naloxone for the Treatment of Opiate Dependence”
The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of a sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablet formulation for the treatment of opioid dependence.
NIDA Bellack, A. (PI) 3/1/98 – 2/28/03
“The Process of Change in Drug Abuse By Schizophrenics”
The purpose of this project was to examine attitudes about substance use, motivation to reduce use, and the process of change among schizophrenia patients with DSM-IV Substance Abuse/Dependence.
Adolor Corporation Liberto (PI) 1999 - 2000
“A Phase II Study Assessing Use of a Peripherally Selective mu Opioid Antagonist to Speed
Gastrointestinal Transit in Methadone Dependent Patients with Opioid-Induced Constipation
The purpose of this phase II study was to assess the sensitivity of the gut to a peripheral mu antagonist in patients treated chronically with opioids.
VA/NIDA CSP# 1017 Elkashef, A. & Fudala, P. (PI) 1999
“Outpatient Selegiline Treatment for Cocaine Dependence (OUTSET)”
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral selegiline in reducing cocaine use in subjects with cocaine dependence.
VA/NIDA CSP #1019 Elkashef, A. & Fudala, P. (PI) 2000
“Double Blind, Placebo Controlled trial of Selegiline Transdermal System for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence”
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of transdermal selegiline in reducing cocaine use in subjects with cocaine dependence.
VA PERC Tiet, Q (PI) 2003
“Components of Effective Treatment for Dually Diagnosed Patients”
VA/NIDA
CSP #1021 Elkashef, A. & Fudala, P. (PI) 2004
“Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Multi-Center Trial of Baclofen for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence”
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral baclofen in reducing cocaine use in subhects with cocaine dependence.
RRP 06-155
VA HSR&D Liberto & Gordon (Co - PIs) June 2006 – December 2006
“Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Buprenorphine Therapy for Treatment of Opioid Dependence”
The purpose of this study was to identify both barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of sublingual buprenorphine therapy for the treatment of opioid dependence within the VA. Factors affecting the implementation of sublingual buprenorphine treatment were examined at the provider-, facility-, and system-levels, both at sites that have had success implementing and sites that have had difficulty implementing sublingual buprenorphine therapy.
2R13DA015108-06
NIDA Liberto (PI) July 2007- June 2012
“American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 18th-22nd Annual Meeting and Symposium”.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Addiction Medication Trials Addiction in the Elderly Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Service Care Delivery
Highlighted Publications
Gordon AJ, Liberto J, Granda S, Salmon-Cox S, Andree T, McNicholas L. Outcomes of DATA 2000 certification trainings for the provision of buprenorphine treatment in the Veterans Health Administration. Am J Addict. 2008 Nov-Dec;17(6):459-62.PMID: 19034736 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Liberto JG, Oslin DW, Ruskin PE: “Alcoholism in Older Persons: A Review of the Literature”, Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 43: 975-984, 1992
Liberto J.G., Oslin, D.: “Early Versus Late Onset of Alcoholism in the Elderly”, International Journal of the Addictions, 30(13&14),1799-1818, 1995
Oslin D, Liberto, J.G., O’Brien, J., Kroiss, S.: The Tolerability of Naltrexone in Treating Older Patients with Alcohol Dependence, American Journal of the Addictions, 6:266-270, 1997
Oslin, D., Liberto, J.G., O’Brien, J., Kroiss, S.: Naltrexone as an Adjunctive Treatment for Older Patients with Alcohol Dependence, American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 5:324-332, 1997
Gordon AJ, Trafton J, Saxon AJ, Calabrese VS, Gifford AL, Goodman F, McNicholas L, Liberto J. Implementation of Buprenorphine in the Department of Veteran Affairs: Results of the first three years. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2007 Oct 8;90(2-3):292-6.
Gordon AJ. , Kavanagh G., Krumm M., Ramgopal R. , Paidisetty S. , Aghevli M. , Goodman F. , Trafton, J. Liberto J. Facilitators and barriers in implementing buprenorphine in the Veterans Health Administration. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 25(2):215-24, 2011 Jun.
Additional Publication Citations
Welsh, CJ and Liberto J: The Use of Medication for Relapse Prevention in Substance Dependence Disorders, Journal of Psychiatric Practice, 7(1):15-31, 2001
Knowles FE, Liberto JG, Baker FM, Raskin, A Ruskin, PE: “Competency Evaluations in a VA Hospital: A 10-Year Perspective”, General Hospital Psychiatry,16(2): 119-124, 1994
Rothman RB, Gorelick PR, Eichmiller PR, Hill BH, Norbeck J and Liberto JG: An Open-Label Study of a Functional Opioid Kappa Antagonist in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 18(3):277-281, 2000
Welsh, C, Ghandi, D, Liberto, J and Weintraub, E: The role of diagnostic systems in the continued stigmatization of patients with opioid dependence, Psychiatric Services. 2004 Jan;55(1):86-7.
Kahn R, Biswas K, Childress AR, Shoptaw S, Fudala PJ, Gorgon L, Montoya I, Collins J, McSherry F, Li SH, Chiang N, Alathari H, Watson D, Liberto J, Beresford T, Stock C, Wallace C, Gruber V, Elkashef A. Multi-center trial of baclofen for abstinence initiation in severe cocaine-dependent individuals. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009 Jul 1;103(1-2):59-64. Epub 2009 May 2.PMID: 19414226
Gordon AJ, Liberto J, Granda S, Salmon-Cox S, Andrée T, McNicholas L. Physician Training is Never a Failure. The American Journal on Addictions. 2009;18(4):337-338.
Research Interests
Addiction Medication Trials
Addiction in the Elderly
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Service Care Delivery
Clinical Specialty Details
Addiction Psychiatry
Awards and Affiliations
Honors and Awards
1981 Membership in Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society)
1982 Carrel Biology Medal, Loyola College
1982 Magna Cum Laude, Loyola College
1989 Inpatient Chief Resident, University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry
1992 Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office Service Director's Award for Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences
1996 H. Mckee Jarboe Award for Mental Health Research
2007 Listed as one of the “TOP Doctors” by Baltimore Magazine
2011 Distinguished Fellow, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2016 Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
2016 Elected Membership to Alpha Omega Alpha
Grants and Contracts
Dupont Pharma Oslin, D (PI) 1994
“Naltrexone in the Adjunctive Treatment of Older Age Alcoholics: A Double Blind Controlled Trial”
The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of oral naltrexone used for the treatment of alcoholism in a group of older veteran subjects.
Lec-Tec Ph Liberto (PI) 1994
“Cotinine in the Treatment of Nicotine Dependence: A Double Blind Controlled Trial”
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral cotinine fumarate in increasing short-term smoking cessation rates and attenuating the severity of withdrawal in nicotine dependent subjects.
VA/NIDA CSP# 1008A Bridge, P. & Fudala, P. (PI) 1996
“A Multicenter Safety Trial of Buprenorphine/Naloxone for the Treatment of Opiate Dependence”
The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of a sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone tablet formulation for the treatment of opioid dependence.
NIDA Bellack, A. (PI) 3/1/98 – 2/28/03
“The Process of Change in Drug Abuse By Schizophrenics”
The purpose of this project was to examine attitudes about substance use, motivation to reduce use, and the process of change among schizophrenia patients with DSM-IV Substance Abuse/Dependence.
Adolor Corporation Liberto (PI) 1999 - 2000
“A Phase II Study Assessing Use of a Peripherally Selective mu Opioid Antagonist to Speed
Gastrointestinal Transit in Methadone Dependent Patients with Opioid-Induced Constipation
The purpose of this phase II study was to assess the sensitivity of the gut to a peripheral mu antagonist in patients treated chronically with opioids.
VA/NIDA CSP# 1017 Elkashef, A. & Fudala, P. (PI) 1999
“Outpatient Selegiline Treatment for Cocaine Dependence (OUTSET)”
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral selegiline in reducing cocaine use in subjects with cocaine dependence.
VA/NIDA CSP #1019 Elkashef, A. & Fudala, P. (PI) 2000
“Double Blind, Placebo Controlled trial of Selegiline Transdermal System for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence”
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of transdermal selegiline in reducing cocaine use in subjects with cocaine dependence.
VA PERC Tiet, Q (PI) 2003
“Components of Effective Treatment for Dually Diagnosed Patients”
VA/NIDA
CSP #1021 Elkashef, A. & Fudala, P. (PI) 2004
“Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Multi-Center Trial of Baclofen for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence”
The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral baclofen in reducing cocaine use in subhects with cocaine dependence.
RRP 06-155
VA HSR&D Liberto & Gordon (Co - PIs) June 2006 – December 2006
“Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing Buprenorphine Therapy for Treatment of Opioid Dependence”
The purpose of this study was to identify both barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of sublingual buprenorphine therapy for the treatment of opioid dependence within the VA. Factors affecting the implementation of sublingual buprenorphine treatment were examined at the provider-, facility-, and system-levels, both at sites that have had success implementing and sites that have had difficulty implementing sublingual buprenorphine therapy.
2R13DA015108-06
NIDA Liberto (PI) July 2007- June 2012
“American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 18th-22nd Annual Meeting and Symposium”.
Professional Activity
1991 - Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology #34718
1993,2003, 2013 - American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certification in the medical sub-specialty of Psychiatry with added Qualification in Addiction Psychiatry
1996-1997 - Member, VA Task Force (The MDD Working Group) for the Development of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), MDD with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and MDD with Substance Abuse and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Guidelines and Algorithms
1996-1998 - Member, VA Task Force (The Psychosis Working Group) for the Development of Clinical Guidelines for Management of Persons with Psychoses (and Substance Abuse)
1997 - Field Reviewer, Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Substance Abuse Among Older Adults developed under contract by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA)
1997-1999 - Area III Director, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
1997-2000 - Member, VA Task Force (Substance Abuse Work Group) for the Development of Clinical Guidelines for Treatment of patients with substance abuse
1998 - Member, Federal Resource Panel, Office-Based Opioid Treatment, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
1998-2004 - Member, External Advisory Committee, VA Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education (CESATE)
1999-2002 - Ad Hoc Task Oriented Subcommittee Chair on Office Based Opioid Treatment, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
1999-2002 - Head, Policy Section: Board of Directors, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
1999-2008 - Member, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Committee for Added Qualifications in Addictions
2000 - Member, National Advisory Council Accreditation Subcommittee, subcommittee responsible for consulting and making recommendations on the accreditation process for narcotic substitution programs to the National Advisory Council (CSAT)
2000 - Member, Buprenorphine Curriculum Panel Training Project, panel responsible for designing a curriculum for addiction medicine specialists as a pre-requisite for prescribing buprenorphine as a treatment for opioid addiction (CSAT)
2000-2003 - Member representing AAAP, Coalition for Treatment of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies, working to improve state parity for addiction treatment disorders
2001- 2005 - Secretary: Board of Directors, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2002 - Member, CSAT Resource Panel on “Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction”
2003-2004 - Member, NIDA/VA Research Planning Group: Integrating Treatment with Buprenorphine and
HAART - 2004-2010
VHA Substance Use Disorder Substance Use Disorder Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (SUD QUERI), Executive Committee Member
2005 - Individual Reviewer, American Psychiatric Associations (APA)Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Substance Use Disorders, 2nd Addition
2005-2010 - Co-Chairman, VHA Substance Use Disorder Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (SUD QUERI) Buprenorphine Work Group
2005-2007 - Vice President, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2005-2006 - Member, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Division of Pharmacologic Therapies, Accreditation Guidelines Expert Panel
2006-2008 - VA Cooperative Studies Program, Human Rights Committee
2007-2009 - President Elect, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2007-2009 - Co-Chair/Member, Update of VA Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Substance Use Disorders
2008-20111 - Maryland Veterans Behavioral Health Advisory Board, Member representing the VA
2009-2011 - President, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2011-2012 - Appointed to State of Maryland’s Medical Marijuana Model Program Work Group
2011-2013 - Immediate Past President, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2012-2013 - Member of Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration (SAMHSA) “Consensus Panel on New Pharmacotherapies for Alcohol Use Disorders and Related Comorbidities”
2012-2013 - Member of SAMHSA “Consensus Panel on New Pharmacotherapies for Opioid Use Disorders and related comorbidities”
2013-2015 - Chairman, Past president’s Council, Board of Directors, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
2013-present - Vice Chairman, Clinical Years Committee, University of Maryland School of Medicine
2013 - Field Reviewer, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) criteria
2013-2014 - American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry’s Liaison to the American Psychiatric Association Assembly
2015- present -American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry’s representative to the American Medical Association’s Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse