Miller-The ASAM Principles of Addiction Medicine, 7e

Tributes

Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM (1963-2022)

In 2022, we lost a brilliant, critical voice in the addiction medi cine community. Dr. Rich Saitz left behind a 35-year legacy of research, critical insights, clinical innovations, editorial leader ship, and research mentorship. As a physician trained in inter nal medicine and addiction and as Professor of Medicine and Professor and Chair of Community Health Sciences at Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, he was a physician giant. Rich Saitz created a community of inspired practitioners and researchers who helped define how we ap proach patients with a spectrum of clinical problems from un healthy alcohol use to alcohol withdrawal syndrome in varying settings, from the community to primary care to the hospital. This tribute in the seventh edition of The ASAM Princi ples of Addiction Medicine is most appropriate given his com mitment to advancing the editorial enterprise that ASAM supports. Dr. Saitz was Associate Editor for the fourth, fifth, sixth, and the early phase of the seventh edition of this land mark tome. In addition, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief to ASAM’s Journal of Addiction Medicine in 2014, and under his leadership, ASAM’s journal experienced remarkable growth. I (Dr. Samet) will always remember Rich as that intern who stood out to me, his Chief Resident. His passion, humor, and intellect would accept critical input and revise and re submit work that would ultimately shine. Over the years, as his mentor, colleague, and beneficiary of his wisdom, I saw

these same wonderful talents yield great benefit providing medical care in the hospital and in the clinic, responding to highly critical grant reviews, advancing a complex research project, teaching motivational interviewing, demanding the evidence for science-based decisions, and supporting talented trainees. My experience (Dr. Miller) working with Rich spanned the fourth through seventh editions of this textbook, as well as working with Rich on Journal of Addiction Medicine for several years on a no less than weekly basis. Rich was a very warm person who exuded a unique combination of academic bril liance balanced with humility. In particular, he significantly strengthened the textbook’s approach on matters relating to screening and brief intervention. Rich was always available to help people, projects, and efforts aimed toward improving the experience of learners and patients in our field. His humor and spirit always managed to find the positive side of challenging situations, benefitting those who worked with him. May the life work of Professor Rich Saitz be an inspiration for those of us who seek to provide compassionate, evidence based high-quality care to individuals impacted by substance use. Jeffrey H. Samet, MD, MA, MPH Shannon C. Miller, MD, DFASAM, DLFAPA

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