Addiction medicine is one of the fastest-evolving fields in healthcare, combining clinical care, advocacy, education, and systems leadership. In this episode of MEDamorphosis, UBC Medicine learner Igor Mihajlovic sits down with Dr. Ram Herring, Physician Lead for Primary Care and Addiction Medicine with Island Health, to explore how he built a career helping people affected by substance use disorders.
Addiction medicine is one of the fastest-evolving fields in healthcare, combining clinical care, advocacy, education, and systems leadership. In this episode of MEDamorphosis, UBC Medicine learner Igor Mihajlovic sits down with Dr. Ram Herring, Physician Lead for Primary Care and Addiction Medicine with Island Health, to explore how he built a career helping people affected by substance use disorders.
Dr. Herring shares how his experiences in family medicine led him to pursue specialized addiction medicine training and ultimately focus his practice on improving addiction care across British Columbia. He discusses the realities of caring for patients with substance use disorders, the importance of reducing stigma, and why a patient-centered approach that "meets people where they are" is essential to meaningful change.
The conversation also explores fellowship and enhanced-skills training pathways, career flexibility within addiction medicine, opportunities in leadership and policy development, and the growing need for physicians to help shape the future of addiction care. Along the way, Dr. Herring offers valuable advice for medical students and residents considering this rewarding and rapidly expanding field.
Guest: Dr. Ram Herring
Hosted and Edited by: Igor Mihajlovic
Music: Dr. Ian Downie
SPECIAL THANKS: A big thanks to the many Northern Medical Program staff and faculty, for whom we just mention a few in this podcast, but all make this distributed site special!
The opinions, ideas, or arguments presented by the speakers or guests belong solely to them as individuals. They do not reflect the official policies, beliefs, or positions of the University of British Columbia (UBC) or its Faculty of Medicine.