Joining a long list of her Internal Medicine colleagues, Andrea N. Weber, MD, MME, FACP, clinical assistant professor of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, received the Laureate Award from the Iowa Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP). The Laureate Award honors ACP Fellows and Masters who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in medical care, education, and research in service to community, their chapter, and ACP.
“Dr. Weber is a long-standing and loyal supporter of the College, has rendered distinguished service to the Chapter, and has upheld the high ideals and professional standards for which the College is known,” the Iowa Chapter of ACP wrote in their announcement.
Weber completed her medical degree and Internal Medicine-Psychiatry residency at the University of Iowa. She now serves as an associate director for the Internal Medicine-Psychiatry residency program.
“I want to thank Dr. Manish Suneja and Dr. Scott Vogelgesang for fostering my interest in internal medicine and medical education very early; maybe even before I identified it myself,” Weber said in a personal statement submitted to the Iowa ACP. “Thank you for sponsoring me in leadership roles within ACP and always saying ‘yes’ to my crazy asks, such as completing a Masters in Medical Education during residency.”
As the assistant director of the UI Addiction and Recovery Collaborative and of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program, Weber specializes in treating substance use disorders and has played a significant role in improving drug use curriculum. Earlier this fall, Weber helped obtain a three-year, $450,000 grant from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which will fund this addiction medicine curriculum. With this funding, Weber ensures crucial addiction medicine training, including topics such as prescribing buprenorphine–a treatment for opioid use disorder–and taking effective substance use history. This training will allow students to qualify for a buprenorphine waiver shortly after graduation. (Related: A walk-in clinic for those seeking medication treatments for substance use disorders opened this week.)
Weber also had praise for faculty in the Department of Psychiatry for their support in her training. “Between designing new electives for me, providing opportunities for publication, creating a dedicated buprenorphine clinical experience for me, and allowing me to consistently facilitate medical student teaching during residency, Dr. Anthony Miller took my interest in substance use disorders and helped create a passion that will guide the rest of my career,” Weber said.
Weber serves as a board member of the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to health equity for people who use drugs.
The Laureate Award was presented to Weber at the ACP’s Annual Scientific Meeting on October 28.