Dr. Elisa Gumm receives 40 Under 40 Award for 2022

Elisa Gumm, MD, FASAM, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, was recognized with a 2022 40 Under 40 Award.

Dr. Gumm was one of 40 Tucsonans under the age of 40 – including two from UArizona Health Sciences – recognized as “movers and shakers” for their demonstrated leadership and community impact. The awards are presented annually by the law offices of Snell & Wilmer with the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Daily Star.

Image

“Receiving the 40 Under 40 Award means recognition of achievements and potential, as well as a validation of hard work and dedication,” Dr. Gumm said. “It is a reflection on my positive impact in field of addiction medicine and encouraging others to treat those with addiction.”

Dr. Gumm, who is the addiction medicine fellowship program director at the College of Medicine – Tucson, joined the faculty in 2014 after completing her psychiatry residency there.

“I’m delighted Dr. Gumm has received this recognition and honor,” said Jordan Karp, MD, professor of psychiatry and chair of the Department of Psychiatry. “She’s not yet 40 years old and she has accomplished so much to help those with addiction. Dr. Gumm is making a real difference in the world.”

Over the past nine years Dr. Gumm has developed numerous addiction medicine services at the college and with the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Health Care System. “We are top in the country in providing medication assisted treatment to those with opioid use disorder and we are one of the top VAs for providing naloxone kits to high-risk veterans,” Dr. Gumm said. She also started an Addiction Medicine Fellowship and received a $1.4 million grant to expand it to four fellowship positions.

“I love working with people with substance use disorders and seeing them succeed,” Dr. Gumm said. “It fills my cup when someone wins big or small in their recovery and I wanted to train other like-minded individuals and increase access for those with addiction in Tucson.”

Dr. Gumm, who is from a community ravaged by opioid addiction in West Virginia, said the faculty and Tucson community have made Tucson feel like home to her. “I knew I wanted to be a part of growing the addiction programs in Tucson and train more physicians to be kind and treat those with addiction.”

“Dr. Gumm is one of those rare physicians who truly excels as a clinician, educator, advocate and administrator,” said Dr. Karp, who nominated her for the award. “I have never worked with a colleague so passionate about caring for patients with addiction, fighting the stigma associated with this terrible disease, and training the next generation of addiction medicine physicians. Dr. Gumm is an inspiration.”