Lead Mentors

Our mentors are part of a national network of experts in preventing and treating opioid use disorders (OUD) and treating pain while avoiding OUD. They offer evidence-based training to support clinicians in building skills and increasing knowledge in evidence-based practices.

Adam Bisaga, MD

Locations: New York
Specialties: Addiction Psychiatry
Medical School: Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
Residency: North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY
Fellowship: Addiction Psychiatry, Columbia University/NYS Psychiatric Institute
Board Certification: ABPN: Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry
Current Clinical Position: Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center
Organizational Affiliations: AAAP - American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
Dr. Adam Bisaga is an academic psychiatrist, educator and clinician. He is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center, and a Research Scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Bisaga completed the addiction psychiatry fellowship at the NYS Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University and is now a Co-Director of the fellowship. He was a recipient of a Career Development Award and a Principal Investigator on grants funded by the National Institute of Dug Abuse.

His research interests include development of human laboratory and clinical trial models for testing medications to treat substance use disorders, including trials to improve effectiveness of antagonist-based treatment of opioid use disorder. Dr. Bisaga publishes and lectures in the area of addiction research and he is a member of the editorial board of the journal Addiction. Dr. Bisaga has been actively involved in teaching medical students and practitioners. He has been working with UN Office of Drug Control on the development of substance abuse treatment guidelines and conducted trainings for addiction practitioners internationally. In addition to the research and teaching work at the University, Dr. Bisaga also maintains a private practice in general and addiction psychiatry.
Request this Mentor

Andrew J. Saxon, MD, FASAM

Locations: Washington
Specialties: Psychiatry
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Washington
Fellowship: N/A
Board Certification: Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry
Current Clinical Position: Director, Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Organizational Affiliations: APA - American Psychiatric Association
Dr. Andrew J. Saxon is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. Dr. Saxon is also the Director of the Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, as well as the Director of the Addiction Psychiatry Residency Program at the University of Washington. Preceding his entry into psychiatry, Dr. Saxon completed an internal medicine internship and worked for 4 years as an emergency room physician.  Subsequent to his general psychiatry residency at the University of Washington, Dr. Saxon has more than a quarter century of experience as a clinical and research addiction psychiatrist.  Dr. Saxon is board certified with added qualifications in addiction psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Saxon sits on the editorial boards of the journals, Drug and Alcohol Dependence and General Hospital Psychiatry. Dr. Saxon’s current research work is supported by the VA, the Department of Defense, the  National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and involves pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies for alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, and opioid use disorder as well work in co-occurrence of substance dependence and posttraumatic stress disorder and on reducing homelessness.
Request this Mentor

Anthony Dekker, DO, FACOFP, FAOAAM, DFASAM

Locations: Arizona
Specialties: Addiction Medicine
Medical School: Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellowship: Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center
Board Certification: Family and Osteopathic Medicine, Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Addiction Medicine, Geriatrics, Sports Medicine
Current Clinical Position: Primary Care and Telemedicine Provider, Northern Arizona Veteran's Administration Healthcare System
Organizational Affiliations: AOAAM - American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine
Dr. Anthony Dekker is the Primary Care and Telemedicine Physician for the Northern Arizona Veteran’s Administration Healthcare System.  Dr Dekker is an expert in substance dependence and co-occurring disorders.  After serving the Indian Health Service for over twelve years in Arizona he is honored to be a member of the Joint Task Force Medical Team that specializes in the care of Wounded Warriors.  Previously he was the Acting Director of the Office of Health Programs at the Phoenix Area Office supervising 15 health departments in Nevada, Utah and Arizona. He was also the Associate Director of the Phoenix Indian Medical Center and the Director, Ambulatory Care and Community Health.  He served as the Director of Medical Education for the Phoenix Indian Medical Center.

Dr. Dekker is board certified in Family Practice and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, and Addiction Medicine.  He is a Fellow in numerous professional societies.  As a member of the healthcare team at the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital he is dedicated to the Mission of providing the highest quality care to active duty military and their dependents.  His areas of expertise include addiction medicine, chronic pain syndromes, infomatics, high risk youth, domestic violence and behavioral health.   He has been the Chief Clinical Consultant in Addiction Medicine and Chronic Pain for the Indian Health Service, US Public Health Service and has served on several national panels addressing substance abuse in America.  He serves on the American Hospital Association Board on Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Issues.  Current faculty appointment includes a clinical professorship at George Washington University and Andrew Taylor Still University.
Request this Mentor

Debra Newman, PA-C, MPAS, MPH

Locations: California
Specialties: Addiction Medicine, Physician Assistant, Psychiatry
Medical School: University of St. Francis
Board Certification: NCCPA
Current Clinical Position: Lead Provider for outpatient SUD services at Encompass Community Services in Santa Cruz County, CA
Organizational Affiliations: AAAP - American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, ASAM - American Society of Addiction Medicine
“Debra R. Newman, PA-C, MSPAS, MPH served as the Medical Provider for Adult Drug and Mental Health Treatment Courts in Santa Fe County, New Mexico for six years, and provided training and technical assistance for the New Mexico Department of Therapeutic Justice. She was formerly the Medical Provider for the Rio Arriba Adult Drug and Mental Health Treatment Courts, as well as the Santa Fe County DWI Court. Debra was a 2017-2018 recipient of the PA Foundation/NIDA-CTN Mentored Outreach Award in Treatment Dissemination: “Utilizing Psychiatric PA’s in Drug/Treatment Courts.”

Her clinical settings have included residential treatment, outpatient addiction medicine, outpatient adult psychiatry, and chronic pain management. Her passion for addiction medicine began with her association with Project ECHO while employed at a large FQHC in northern NM more than 15 years ago, a region historically plagued with the highest per capita heroin death rate in the nation. Here Debra worked as the only full-time provider for patients struggling with substance use disorders.

In her current role with Encompass Community Services in Santa Cruz County, CA, a non-profit organization providing services in behavioral health, housing, and family and social well-being, she serves as Lead Provider for outpatient SUD services and provides psychiatric care to Encompass residential treatment patients. Debra is a regular presenter for ASAM, the PCSS-Xchange, and AllRise, and was formerly a Co-Editor for ASAM Weekly.
Request this Mentor

Edwin Salsitz, MD, DFASAM

Locations: New York
Specialties: Addiction Medicine, Internal Medicine
Medical School: State University of New York, Buffalo School of Medicine
Residency: Beth Israel Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Beth Israel Medical Center, Pulmonary Diseases
Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Addiction Medicine
Current Clinical Position: Medical Director Office-based Opioid Therapy, Mount Sinai Beth Israel
Organizational Affiliations: ASAM - American Society of Addiction Medicine
Dr. Edwin A. Salsitz has been an attending physician in the Beth Israel Medical Center, Division of Chemical Dependency, since 1983, and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is the principal investigator of the Methadone Medical Maintenance (office-based methadone maintenance) research project. Dr. Salsitz is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM), as well as by the Board of Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Disease. He has published and lectures frequently on addiction medicine topics.

Dr. Salsitz is a course director for ASAM sponsored buprenorphine trainings, and is a mentor in the PCSS mentoring program, both for buprenorphine and opioids. He is a co-chair of the ASAM Review Course, the ASAM Common Threads Course, the ASAM State of the Art course and a reviewer for the Journal of Addiction Medicine, and Pain Medicine. Dr. Salsitz is the Co-chair of the ASAM CME committee and Chair of the New York Society of Addiction Medicine CME and Education committee. Dr. Salsitz is a member of the medical advisory panel, for the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services.
Request this Mentor

Erik W. Gunderson, MD, DFASAM

Locations: Virginia
Specialties: Addiction Medicine, Internal Medicine
Medical School: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
Residency: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
Fellowship: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and NYS Psychiatric Institute
Board Certification: ABAM
Current Clinical Position: Director, Center for Wellness and Change, Charlottesville, VA
Organizational Affiliations: AMERSA - Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse
Dr. Gunderson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia and Director of the Center for Wellness and Change, LLC in Charlottesville, VA.

After completing medical school and internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, he entered an Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at Columbia University.  He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine.  In the mid-2000s he taught APA- and ASAM-sponsored buprenorphine courses. He was a national buprenorphine physician mentor through the Physician Clinical Support System (PCSS-B) and is an ASAM Fellow. Between 2003-2008, he was Medical Director of Columbia University’s Buprenorphine Program, an outpatient opioid use disorder treatment program.  He has received federal funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study the effectiveness of buprenorphine treatment of opioid use disorder in primary care, as well U. S. Department of Health and Human Services funding from the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to develop substance use curricula for physicians.
Request this Mentor
Laura G Leahy, DrNP, APRN, PMH-CNS/FNP, CARN-AP, FAANP, FAAN

Laura G Leahy, DrNP, APRN, PMH-CNS/FNP, CARN-AP, FAANP, FAAN

Locations: New Jersey
Specialties: Child/Adolescent & Adult Psychiatric & Addictions Nursing, Master Clinician in Psychopharmacology
Medical School: Duke University (BS), University of Pennsylvania (BSN & MSN), Drexel University (DrNP)
Board Certification: Child/Adolescent Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist — American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Adult Psychiatric Clinical Nurses Specialist (ANCC), Lifespan Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (ANCC), Certified Addictions Registered Nurse-Advanced Practice — Addictions Nursing Certification Board (ANCB)
Current Clinical Position: APNSolutions, LLC Private Practice in Sewell, New Jersey
Organizational Affiliations: Co-Chair, Addictions Council, American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP)
Dr. Laura Leahy is a Board Certified Psychiatric & Addictions Advanced Practice Nurse and Master Clinician in Psychopharmacology. She founded APN Solutions, LLC, her private practice in Sewell, NJ. As a clinician-educator, with over 30 years experience in treating psychiatric and substance use disorders, Dr. Leahy has served as Psychiatric NP program director and taught psychopharmacology at leading universities. She authored two psychopharmacology clinical texts, numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles, and has been an invited speaker at countless conferences across the nation. She has received multiple awards for her innovation & excellence in clinical practice as well as the precepting of students. Dr. Leahy is the current Co-Chair of the Addictions Council of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). She has briefed Congress on nursing’s role in combatting the opioid epidemic influencing the passage of the SUPPORT Act (2018) and has served as expert consultant to Seton Hall University in writing the training curriculum needed to obtain a DATA 2000 Waiver for physicians, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants. Dr. Leahy has testified before both branches of the NJ legislature to advocate for full practice authority and access to substance use treatment. She is an active member of & holds many board appointments within state & national professional organizations. She is a tireless advocate for nursing full practice authority, responsible prescribing in nursing & nursing efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. Dr. Leahy is an honors graduate of Duke University, the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University and has been awarded Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. / Locations: New Jersey - Greater Philadelphia Area.
Request this Mentor
loading more mentors

Mentor Feedback

“I wanted to compliment…my Mentor. I sent an email to him with a question…and within four hours I had not only his response but the input of four of his peers. This is a great service for those of us who are stretching the edges of what we would otherwise consider ‘comfortable.’”

– William Roberts, MD, Medical Director