Eileen Barrett

Dr. Gloria Wu speaks with Dr. Eileen Barrett, president-elect of the American Medical Women’s Association, about the intersection of women’s health, addiction medicine, and gender equity. Dr. Barrett highlights how telemedicine has become a vital tool for gender and health equity, especially for women who face barriers like childcare and work commitments. They discuss the stigma surrounding addiction, particularly for women, and the importance of providing stigma-free, accessible care. Dr. Barrett emphasizes that addiction medicine needs to meet patients where they are, which includes offering care via telemedicine.

They also address the broader cultural context of addiction, including the availability of substances like alcohol and the role of public policies, such as alcohol taxes, in reducing harmful behaviors. The conversation touches on how the COVID-19 pandemic increased alcohol consumption and exacerbated mental health challenges. Dr. Barrett calls for more physician advocacy to support policy changes that address addiction and promote health equity, especially through tools like telemedicine, which proved crucial during the pandemic.