Overview

""Look after yourself. Look after each other."" In 1986, Dr. I. Michael Kaufmann asked for help with his addiction to opiates. That life-changing call altered the course of his medical career, ultimately leading him to help thousands of others struggling with the same issues, including doctors, residents, and health professionals and their families. Drugs, Lies & Docs is his story-and so much more. ""You either get help, or bad things happen."" Drawing from a distinguished career that spans decades, Dr. Kaufmann explores addiction and recovery in the twenty-first century. Drugs, Lies & Docs provides a rare glimpse into educating health care workers on how to help each other rise to meet the unique demands of addressing addiction in the medical profession. In the classroom of Drugs, Lies & Docs you'll gain wisdom and valuable insights while real-life testimonies, including Dr. Kaufmann's personal journey, steep each lesson in authenticity and compassion. ""When we tell our stories, we are not alone. We join-we heal."" Dr. Kaufmann knows stigma and shame kill as surely as a lethal overdose. He also knows firsthand that sharing honest stories about addiction and recovery is the most powerful way to reach those already suffering and help them break through to long-term wellness. Authentic, compassionate, raw, and real, Drugs, Lies & Docs addresses addiction with dignity. It offers hope. With a commitment to education and a heartfelt call to action, Dr. Kaufmann's memoir champions recovery and the enduring humanity required to sustain it in the high-stakes world of medical practice.

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9781990700569

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Reviews

More than a tale of a doctor's recovery from severe substance use disorder, this is a universal story of confronting personal vulnerabilities with courage and honesty. It is also a poignant love story of Michael and Judy, partners through thick and thin. A must-read. -Michael F. Myers, MD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and author of Becoming a Doctors' Doctor: A Memoir An extraordinary biography that chronicles a physician's journey from addiction and despair to recovery and transformation. Both healthcare professionals and individuals facing life's challenges will find inspiration and hope in this remarkable memoir. -Mel Borins, MD, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and author of A Doctor's Guide to Alternative Medicine Discover the Power of Recovery: Dr. Michael Kaufmann's memoir exposes the hidden struggles of addiction within the medical profession and provides a raw, insightful look into the lives of those who heal others but must also heal themselves. Having both survived addiction and devoted his career to helping others in similar situations, Dr. Kaufmann's story is both educational and inspiring. -Dr. Nicholas Pimlott, Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and Editor of Canadian Family Physician As a leader in physician wellness and addiction, Dr. Michael Kaufmann shares his expertise and personal experiences to challenge the stigma, isolation, fear, and shame surrounding addiction in medicine. This story of strength and hope aims to save lives through its compelling narrative and educational impact. -Caroline Gérin-Lajoie, EVP Physician Wellness and Medical Culture, Canadian Medical Association

Author Information

Dr. Kaufmann graduated with a degree in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1979. He completed his training in Family Medicine at the University of Toronto then received certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 1981. The College of Family Physicians honoured him in 1991 with a Fellowship award and with lifetime membership in 2023.After practising family and addiction medicine in rural Ontario, in 1995 Dr. Kaufmann became the founding Director of the Physician Health Program of the Ontario Medical Association-a service to assist doctors and other health professionals with substance use problems, psychiatric disorders and other personal health challenges. He received certification in Addiction Medicine from the American and Canadian Societies of Addiction Medicine, and is presently a Fellow of the American and International Societies of Addiction Medicine.Dr. Kaufmann has occupied several leadership roles with the Canadian Medical Association regarding physician well-being and in 2015 he was the recipient of the Misericordia award from the CMA recognizing his career- long contributions to the field of physician health.In 2003 Dr. Kaufmann was awarded a Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his work in the field of doctors' health. In 2007 he received the Courage to Come Back award from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and in 2009 he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement in Addiction Medicine Award from the Addiction Medicine Section of the Ontario Medical Association. In 2019 Dr. Kaufmann was honoured with Lifetime Member- ship Awards from both the Ontario and Canadian Medical Associations.Dr. Kaufmann retired as PHP Medical Director in 2017 and is now PHP Emeritus Medical Director and a physician health consultant, speaker, author and mentor. At home, he has turned his creative energies towards writing, playing music and song writing.Dr. Kaufmann and his wife, Judy, live in rural Ontario and together enjoy community volunteering, walks with their four-legged family members on their farm property and bringing people together for music and discussion in the barn that once housed their chickens and sheep.

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