James Follette, MD, a former anesthesiologist and former drug addict, was recently profiled on syracuse.com for his work as an addiction medicine specialist.
Here's what you need to know:
1. Dr. Follette's drug addiction began 29 years ago, when he started injecting painkillers from the operating room, which are used to sedate patients. At the time, he served as chief anesthesiologist at an Indiana hospital.
2. Dr. Follette is now 10 years sober, after multiple relapses and spending time in and out of drug treatment programs.
3. In 2007, the New York state board barred Dr. Follette from working as an operating room anesthesiologist; however, he later dedicated himself to addiction counseling, and successfully became certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine.
4. Since 2009, he has run an addiction support group, which utilizes a 12-step program. He has two offices, one in Oneida, N.Y., and Fayetteville, N.Y.
5. Dr. Follette received his medical degree at Albany Medical College in New York and completed an anesthesiology residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y.