Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Baron.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a physician that began my career as a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist here at Vanderbilt. I became ill with the disease of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism). In the late 1990s the Tennessee Medical Foundation – Physician Health Program (TMF) literally saved my life and my career. I was intervened on by Dr. David Dodd, the first medical director of the TMF. I returned to work as an anesthesiologist but realized what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. So, I went back to residency and completed a psychiatry residency at Vanderbilt.
Since 2003 I’ve been treating licensed professionals and the general population that have pain and addiction. I was appointed to the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners-the licensing board in 2010 and reappointed in 2015. I’ve helped write many medical practice rules regarding prescribing opioids and treating addiction with buprenorphine. In 2017, I became the 3rd Medical Director of the Tennessee Medical Foundation-the same program to save my life. The TMF began as a part of the Tennessee Medical Association 1978. We became a free standing nonprofit foundation in 1992.
I’m board-certified in anesthesiology, psychiatry and addiction medicine.
I worked on all sides of physician health including the treatment side, the regulatory side, the Physician Health Program side and where I started, on the patient’s side.
I have the most gratifying job in the world. I see my colleagues on the worst day of their life when they think their career, life, family is over. I get to advise, counsel and even coerce them into getting the help that they need. And over the next few years I see them heal and return to the practice of medicine as better doctors than they’ve ever been before.
the research shows that a doctor that’s been monitored by a Physician Health Program has a lower malpractice risk. And that they have a lower return to use risk than the general physician population has of initial use. I’ve been clean and sober for over 26 years now.
I’ve been married for 38 years and have 2 wonderful grown children, 2 grandchildren and one on the way.
There’s so much more to my story, but these are the very big highlights.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I became ill with the disease of alcohol use disorder (alcoholism) in the late 1990’s.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For the last 8 years I’ve been the Medical Director of the Tennessee Medical Foundation, a program that saves the lives and careers of healthcare providers including physicians, physician assistants, chiropractors, veterinarians, optometrists, podiatrists, respiratory therapists and a whole host of other licensees.
Healthcare providers that are referred to us are evaluated, treated, and then monitored for many years to ensure that they remain healthy from their mental illness which can nclude substance use disorders. It is an extremely rewarding job. We save lives and save careers and ensure healthy providers which improves quality care.
We actually have a two-pronged responsibility; to ensure healthy providers and to ensure patient safety in a non-punitive but repairative way.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Playing soccer. I was a competitive soccer player throughout school; high school and college
Contact Info:
- Website: https://e-tmf.org
