NYU Addiction Fellowship

The Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program

         The Addiction Psychiatry postgraduate medical fellowship program was designed to provide high quality clinical care; train teaching and research faculty for medical centers in the future; and conduct investigations into the etiology and treatment of addictive illness.  PGY5 residents (fellows) contribute to the development of the field of Substance Abuse in the same way that comparable fellows have done in earlier decades in subspecialty areas such as cardiology or endocrinology.  The PGY5 year is followed by a second year as an attending.  Since their establishment in 1998, many APA awards for leadership in American Psychiatry have been received by the NYU addiction psychiatry fellows.  Graduated fellows have gone on to leadership positions in the addiction field.

Training components include:

Relevant basic science issues in each of these areas: biochemistry, pharmacology, epidemiology, social theories, genetic models, behavioral conditioning models;
Supervised clinical experience in each of these areas: settings: inpatient and outpatient;
Drugs:  alcohol, opiates, cocaine, and other drugs of abuse;
Clinical laboratory testing;
Medical sequelae;
Therapies employed include pharmacotherapy, individual, group, family therapy, Network Therapy, and Twelve Step Recovery
Consultation, team leadership
Detoxification and rehabilitation: dual psychiatric and addictive illness
Research:  carrying out an original project related to addictive illness
Teaching of medical students, house staff, and other personnel

         During this program following the residency, fellows are assigned to both inpatient and outpatient Divisional units, where they evaluate and treat patients under faculty supervision.  This includes teaching rounds, individual supervisory sessions, a clinical and research practicum, and exposure to ongoing faculty research.  Didactic work is organized around weekly seminars, which continue throughout the PGY5 year and the next year at the junior attending level.  Seminars include both research methodology (Dr. Helen Dermatis) and academic readings on addiction (Drs. Stephen Ross and Jeffrey Guss), and clinical practicum (Dr. Annatina Miescher).

         Each fellow conducts a research project which is submitted for publication prior to completion of the program.  Work on this project begins in the first year and is supported by close faculty supervision throughout, including instruction in research methodology and techniques of data analysis.  Research publications of the fellows are listed below:

Barbara Bartlik (M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine), 1987-89, (Bartlik B, Galanter M, Angrist B: Dimenhydrinate addiction in a schizophrenic woman. J Clin Psychiatry 50:476, 1989)

Gregory Bunt (M.D., NYU School of Medicine), 1987-89, (Bunt G, Galanter M, Lifshutz H, Castaneda R: Cocaine/"crack" dependency among psychiatric patients. Am J Psychiatry 147:1542-1546, 1990)

Merrill Herman (M.D., Cornell), 1987-89, (Herman M, Galanter M, Lifshutz H: Homelessness in patients with combined substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 17:415-422, 1991)

Anthony Kim (M.D., Columbia), 1988-90, (Kim A, Galanter M, Castaneda R, Lifshutz H, Franco H: Crack use and sexual behavior among psychiatric inpatients. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 18:235-246, 1992)

Paul Fritz (M.D., Columbia), 1989-91, (Fritz P, Galanter M, Lifshutz H, Egelko S: Developmental risk factors in postpartum women with positive urine toxicologies for cocaine. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 19:187-197, 1993)

Douglas Munsey (M.D., Cornell), 1989-91, (Munsey DF, Galanter M, Lifshutz H, Franco H: Antecedents, severity of abuse, and response of treatment in substance-abusing schizophrenic individuals. Am J Addictions, 1:210-216, 1992)

Mark Wallace (M.D., University of Louisville), 1989-91, (Wallace M, Galanter M, Kraskinski K, Lifshutz H: Women at high risk of HIV infection from drug use. J Addict Dis 12:77-86, 1993)

Charles Silberstein (M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine), 1990-92, (Silberstein C, Galanter M, Marmor M, Lifshutz H, Krasinski K, Franco H: HIV-1 among inner-city dually diagnosed inpatients. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 20:101-113, 1994)

Denise Szczucki (M.D., Penn State), 1991-93, (Szczucki D, Galanter M, Lifshutz H, Hoven C, Moore R: Drug use and psychiatric hospitalization among the homeless. Am J Addict 3:115-121, 1994)

Steven Katz, (M.D., NYS/Sackler School), 1991-93, (Katz S, Galanter M, Lifshutz H, Maslansky R: The impact on behavior of notifying methadone patients of their serostatus. Am J Alcohol Drug Abuse 21:37-46, 1995)

Jennifer Goldstein-Michaels, (M.D., NYU School of Medicine), 1991-93, (Michaels J, Galanter M, Resnick R, Marmor M, Lifshutz H, Perrone R: Community-based heroin addicts who turn to experimental treatment rather than conventional care. J Addict Dis 14:33-42, 1995)

Laurence Westreich (M.D., University of Minnesota), 1992-94, (Westreich L: A modified therapeutic community for the dually diagnosed. J Subst Abuse Treat 13:1-4, 1997)

Jorge Leal, (M.D., NY Medical College), 1992-94, (Leal J, Galanter M: The use of contingency contracting to improve outcome in methadone maintenance. J Subst Abuse Treat 16:155-167, 1995)

Lisa Goldfarb, (M.D., Columbia), 1993-95, (Goldfarb L, Galanter M, McDowell D, Lifshutz H, Dermatis H: Medical student and patient attitudes toward religion and spirituality in the recovery process. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 22:549-561, 1996)

David McDowell, (M.D., Columbia), 1993-95, (McDowell D, Galanter M, Goldfarb L, Lifshutz H: Spirituality and the treatment of the dually diagnosed: an investigation of patient and staff attitudes. J Addict Dis 15:55-68, 1996)

Robert Stockfish, (M.D., UMD New Jersey), 1993-95, (Stockfish R, Galanter M, Lifshutz H: Trends in dual diagnosis patients. Am J Addict 4:355-356, 1995)

Daniel Mierlak, (M.D., Ph.D., SUNY), 1995-97, (Mierlak D, Galanter M, Spivack N, Dermatis H, Jurewicz E, De Leon G: Modified therapeutic community treatment for homeless dual diagnosed men: who completes treatment? J Subst Abuse Treat 15:117-121, 1998)

Steven Taylor, (M.D., Howard), 1994-95, (Taylor SM, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Spivak N, Egelko S: Dual diagnosed patients in the modified therapeutic community: does a criminal history compromise adjustment to treatment? J Addict Dis 16:32-38, 1997)

David Krakow, (M.D., Hahnemann University), 1996, (Krakow DS, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Westreich LM: HIV risk factors in dually diagnosed patients. Am J Addict 7:74-80, 1998)

Tania Taubes, (M.D., Cornell), 1995-97, (Taubes T, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Westreich L: Crack cocaine and schizophrenia as risk factors for PPD reactivity in the dually diagnosed. J Addict Dis 17:63-74, 1998)

Daniel Leal, (M.D., University of Texas), 1995-97, (Leal D, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Westreich L: Correlates of protracted homelessness in a sample of dually diagnosed psychiatric inpatients. J Subst Abuse Treat 16:143-147, 1999)

Gopa Panikkar (M.D., Liaison Psychiatry Fellow, University of Maryland), 1997-98, (Panikkar G, Gilman S: Valproate induced hyperammonemia in the psychiatric setting. Two cases. J Clin Psychiatry, 60:557-559, 1999)

Marianne Guschwan (M.D., Loyola University), 1998-00, (Dermatis H, Guschwan M, Galanter M, Bunt G): Orientation toward spirituality and self-help approaches in the therapeutic community. J Addict Dis, 23, 2004)

Mary Salke (M.D., Columbia University), 1998-00, (Dermatis H, Salke M, Galanter M, Bunt G: The role of social cohesion among residents in a therapeutic community. J. Substance Abuse Treatment, 21:105-110, 2001)

Aaron S. Metrikin (M.D., University Johannesburg), 1997-99, (Metrikin AS, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Bunt G: Somatization, anxiety, and depression in a drug free residential therapeutic community. Am J Addict 12:60-70, 2002)

Stephen Gilman (M.D., University of Pittsburgh), 1998-00, (Gilman S, Galanter M, Dermatis H. Methadone Anonymous: a 12 step program for methadone maintained heroin addicts. J Subst Abuse Treat 22:247-256, 2001)

Samuel Glazer (M.D., Cornell), 1998-00, (Glazer SS, Galanter M, Megwinoff O, Dermatis H, Keller DS: The role of therapeutic alliance in network therapy, a family and peer support-based treatment for cocaine abuse. Subst Abuse 24:93-100, 2003)

Petros Levounis (M.D., Medical College Pennsylvania), 1998-00, (Levounis P, Galanter M. Dermatis H, Hamowy A, De Leon G: Correlates of HIV transmission risk factors and considerations for interventions in homeless, chemically addicted and mentally ill patients. J Addict Dis 21:61-72, 2002)

Steven Lee (M.D., University of Pennsylvania), 1999-01, (Lee S, Galanter M, Dermatis H, McDowell D: Circuit parties and patterns of drug use in a subset of gay men. J Addict Dis 24:47-60, 2003)

Michael Sobel (M.D., NYU School of Medicine), 1999-01, (Sobel M, Galanter M, Dermatis H: Consultation on substance abuse patients in the general hospital)

Ramon Solhkhah (M.D. NY Medical College), 1999-01, (Solhkhah R, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Daly J, Bunt G: Spiritual orientation among adolescents in a drug-free residential therapeutic community. (J Child Adolescent Subst Abuse, Am J Drug and Alcohol Abuse, in press)

Peter Farol (M.D. Columbia University), 2000-02, (Farol P, Galanter M, Dermatis H: Client satisfaction in a residential modified therapeutic community program for dually diagnosed patients)

Lydia Fazzio (M.D., Tufts University), 2000-02, (Fazio L, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Levounis P: Evaluation of medical student attitudes toward Alcoholics Anonymous. Substance Abuse 24:175-185, 2003)

Stephen Ross (M.D. UCLA School of Medicine), 2000-02, (Ross S, Dermatis H, Levounis P, Galanter M: A comparison between dually diagnosed inpatients with and without Axis II co-morbidity and relationship to treatment outcome. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 29:263-279, 2003)

Brealyn Sellers (M.D., University of Tennessee), 2001-03, (Sellers MB, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Nachbar M: Enhancing physicians’ use of Alcoholics Anonymous: internet-based training. J Addict Dis 24: 77-86, 2005)

Marjorie Waldbaum (M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine), 2001-03, (Waldbaum M, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Greenberg W: A survey of addiction training in child and adolescent psychiatry residency programs. Acad Psychiatry 29:1-5, 2005)

Elizabeth Cho (M.D., University of Maryland), 2002-04 (Cho L, Dermatis H, Galanter M: Buprenorphine for heroin addicts: The issue of illicit opioid abuse during maintenance. Substance Abuse 27:1-2, 2006)

Romulo Aromin (M.D., University of Santo Tomas), 2002-04 (Aromin RA, Galanter M, Solhkhah R, Dermatis H, Bunt G: Preference for spirituality and Twelve Step oriented approaches among adolescents in a residential therapeutic community. J Addict Dis 25: 89-96, 2006)

Mary Paizis (M.D., SUNY at Stonybrook School of Medicine), 2002-04 (Paizis M, Ross S, Dermatis H: Issues in treating patients with combined substance abuse and Axes I and II general psychiatric disorders.  Substance Abuse 26(1):43-44, 2005)

Alexander Horowitz (M.D., Northwestern University), 2003-2005, (Horowitz A, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Franklin J: Use of and attitudes toward club drugs by medical students. J Addictive Dis 27:35-42, 2008)

Tina James (M.D. University of Louisville), 2003-2005, (Dermatis H, James T, Galanter M, Bunt G: Spiritual orientation and adaptation to therapeutic community treatment)

Michelle Widlitz (M.D. Sackler Medical School), 2003-2005, (Widlitz M, Dermatis H, Galanter M, Bunt G: Gang membership and subsequent engagement into a drug-free therapeutic community. Subst Abuse 28:33-40, 2007)

Indra Cidambi (M.D. Maimonides Hospital Center), 2004-2006, (Ross S, Cidambi I, Dermatis H, Weinstein J, Ziedonis D, Roth S, Galanter M: Music therapy: a novel motivational approach for dually diagnosed patients. J Addictive Dis 27:41-53, 2008)

Deborah Cano (M.D. University of Texas), 2004-2006, (Cano D, Dermatis H, Bunt G: Do Hispanic patients adapt as well to a residential therapeutic community as do members of other ethnic groups? Subst Abuse 30:79-80, 2009)

Aditi Shrikhande (M.D. Wayne State University) 2005-2007, (Shrikhande A, Dermatis H, Galanter M: The need for understanding the role of spirituality in twelve-step programs. Subst Abuse 29:1-3, 2008)

Benjamin Cheney (M.D. Temple University) 2005-2007, (Cheney B, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Ross S: Medical versus spiritual orientations: differential patient views toward recovery, in press)

Caroline Williams (M.D. Tufts University) 2005-2007, (Williams C, Galanter M, Dermatis H, Schwartz V: The importance of hopelessness among university students seeking psychiatric counseling. Psychiatr Q 79:311-319, 2008)

Tasha Morris (M.D. Columbia University), 2006-2007, (Morris T, Galanter M, Brooks J, Brooks D, Dermatis H: Predicting young adult alcohol dependence)

Mittsi Crossman (M.D. SUNY Downstate) 2006-2007, (Crossman M, Galanter M, Brooks J, Brooks D, Dermatis H: The relationship between parental alcohol use, youth alcohol use, and youth psychological symptoms: a structural equation model)

Pablo Sanchez-Barranco (M.D. University of Seville) 2006-2007, (Sanchez-Barranco P, Galanter M, Dermatis H, McMahon C, Tracey K, LaGressa D: A pilot study on employing patients’ spiritual orientation to cope with illness, presented October 13, 2007)

Current Fellows:

Patrick, Lisa (M.D., SUNY Downstate) 2007-2008
Shorter, Daryl (M.D., University of Illinois) 2007-2009
Chappin, Sean (M.D., Mt. Sinai) 2007-2009
McMenamin, Daniel (M.D., Cornell University) 2008-2010
Rottnek, Matthew (M.D., Mt. Sinai) 2008-2010
Warren, Matthew (M.D., Columbia) 2008-2010

Applications for Fellowship Training

            Applications for fellowship positions should be addressed to Marc Galanter, M.D., (Professor of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016: Fax # 212-263-8285, marcgalanter@nyu.edu), preferably before November 1 of the year preceding the July 1 starting date of the fellowship.  The application should include a letter indicating the physician's interest, and a curriculum vitae.  Two letters of recommendation should be forwarded by residency teaching faculty at the same time, one of them should come from the applicant’s training director.