Associate Professor
Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Cara Anne Poland, MD, MEd, DFASAM, FACP
Dr. Cara Poland is a recognized expert in addiction medicine. She is a faculty member at Michigan State University. She earned her medical degree from Wayne State University. She was trained in internal medicine at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in addiction medicine at Boston Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. She received her master’s degree in education from Boston University. She has an interest in educating healthcare providers and providers-in-training to improve care for patients with substance use disorders, particularly during pregnancy and early parenting.
In 2018, board-certified Addiction Medicine Doctor Cara Poland identified the need to strengthen our country’s Addiction Medicine workforce. Led by Dr. Poland, MI CARES trains physician-level addiction specialists in Michigan and across the country. Over 2,000 physicians in all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico are currently on the pathway to becoming board-certified in Addiction Medicine. The program also teaches physicians-in-training, resident physicians, social work students, social work practitioners, APRNs, and PAs. Her didactic program involves purposeful education to train healthcare providers to treat persons with SUDs in a kind, compassionate, destigmatized way. Dr. Poland has a special interest in treating pregnant people and their families living with a substance use disorder.
A passionate and highly sought-after public speaker and educator, Dr. Poland regularly appears in the media and at community events. She has directly influenced policies and procedures around the treatment of people with SUDs. Her persistent advocacy has helped to advance evidence-based treatment, as evidenced by her role as the Public Policy Chair for the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Poland is the chair of the Michigan Opioid Advisory Commission, established as the designated state entity to advise the Michigan legislature on the use of opioid settlement funds.
Saturday, April 26, 2025
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
