UnityPoint Health® is proud to announce Kirk Moberg, MD; James Ausfahl, MD; and Bob Lizer, MD have received certification in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Preventative Medicine, becoming among the first physicians in the country to receive this accreditation and reinforcing our commitment to advancing the quality care provided by the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at UnityPoint Health.
“Board Certification in Addiction Medicine has been in the making for many years and now that it’s finally here and officially acknowledged, we couldn’t be more proud of our doctors for not only passing the certification requirements, but being among the first in the nation to do so,” said Angie Moore, Vice President of Behavioral Health and Addiction Services.
Over one thousand doctors were eligible to test for the new certification. Moberg, Ausfahl, and Lizer were among those who passed.
“This is tremendous for UnityPoint Health and for the field. It means there’s an academic understanding and acknowledgement that Addiction Medicine is a specialty like oncology and cardiology. It reinforces our purpose and commitment to continue advocating the importance of this field,” said Keith Knepp, MD; President of UnityPoint Health – Methodist Proctor, UnityPoint Clinic – Peoria and ProHealth Medical Group.
In March 2016, the American Board of Preventative Medicine announced Addiction Medicine as a recognized subspecialty. The first cohort to sit for the exam did so on October and November of 2017. The board certification now recognizes physicians as experts in the field of addiction medicine while also strengthening the field by officially supporting physicians working and overseeing programs in the field.
“I’m so proud. Our providers have taken a crucial step and the lead in demonstrating expertise in addiction medicine at the national level. This is a tremendous asset for our patients. We promise our community to deliver outstanding care and this is yet another way in which we’ve worked to fulfill that promise,” said Debbie Simon, UnityPoint Health Regional CEO.
