Panelists:
Michael P. Frost M.D., FACP, FASAM
Dr. Michael Frost is an internationally recognized specialist in treatment of addictive diseases and is board certified in both Addiction Medicine and Internal Medicine. He is a fellow of both The American College of Physicians and The American Society of Addiction Medicine and is a member of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine. He has been a medical director for several addiction treatment facilities. He currently serves as Medical Director for Ambrosia Treatment Center of Philadelphia and is also President and Medical Director of The Frost Medical Group. Dr. Frost is also heavily involved in new treatment development and clinical research, and consults with numerous companies regarding clinical development and healthcare policy. He is widely published and his work has been presented across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Dirk Wales, MD – CMO, axialHealthcare
Dirk Wales, MD is a strategic clinical leader with deep experience developing and executing programs that positively impact patient care while reducing costs. Dirk helped pioneer the physician risk-based / capitation model, initially in California as a practicing physician, and then as CMO of HealthSpring, which was one of the first national Medicare Advantage plans to partner with physician groups to manage total cost of care. Following HealthSpring’s acquisition by Cigna, Dirk served as CMO of Cigna HealthSpring, overseeing health services, clinical product development, and the clinical services division.
Jake Nichols, PharmD – Principal of SUD Strategy, axialHealthcare
Jake Nichols is a pharmacist in long‐term recovery with extensive experience in community pharmacy, academia, primary care, managed care, and pharmaceutical industry. He specializes in the treatment of substance use disorders, with a focus on medication for addiction treatment. Through his fifteen‐year struggle with substance use, he found his calling in the field and has dedicated his career to helping patients and their families suffering from this debilitating chronic disease. He speaks regularly at conferences across the country, highlighting his experiences as a patient alongside the importance and value of treatment. In 2017 he established his own education, clinical consulting, and treatment group called Professional Recovery Associates. He received his pharmacy degree from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and his MBA from UMass Boston. Jake currently serves as Clinical Lead for SUD at axialHealthcare.