NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ideal Option, a leading provider of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and behavioral counseling services for individuals suffering from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), announced today the addition of two nationally acclaimed leaders in Addiction Medicine to its Clinical Advisory Council (CAC): Andrea Barthwell, M.D. and David Mee-Lee, M.D.
These renowned experts will join a CAC that includes the Founders of Ideal Option, Dr. Jeffrey Allgaier and Dr. Ken Egli, and the CEO of Ideal Option, Tim Kilgallon. The CAC is responsible for reviewing and advising Ideal Option on clinical policies and best practices as part of a continuous effort to improve the quality of patient care and drive best-in-class outcomes.
Dr. Andrea Barthwell, a former president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), is a distinguished physician recognized as a pioneer in the field of addiction medicine and addiction treatment, particularly opioid dependence disorder. Dr. Barthwell’s career includes influencing governmental policy under President George W. Bush at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Dr. Barthwell’s current work is focused on developing strategies to expand access to treatment for opioid dependence disorder and helping individuals and families prevent substance use disorders. Dr. Barthwell received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University, where she served on the Board of Trustees, and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School. She also did her post-graduate training at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University Medical Center.
Dr. David Mee-Lee is a leading expert in co-occurring substance use and mental disorders with over 40 years of experience in person-centered treatment and program development. Dr. Mee-Lee has been the Chief Editor of all editions of the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s “The ASAM Criteria” and has trained and consulted for hundreds of organizations, ranging from small mental health centers to government departments and national behavioral healthcare companies. Dr. Mee-Lee is a Board-certified psychiatrist and is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). He earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Queensland, Australia, a Master of Science in Psychiatry from Ohio State University and did his Psychiatric Residency at the Mass Mental Health Center affiliated with Harvard University.
In September 2018, Ideal Option received a growth investment from Varsity Healthcare Partners to further expand Ideal Option’s commitment of increasing affordable and evidence-based treatment access to communities impacted by the national opioid epidemic.
About Ideal Option
Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option has delivered personalized medicine to over 20,000 patients through a network of 56 office-based opioid treatment (“OBOT”) clinics across 10 states. Ideal Option emphasizes individualized treatment programs for patients consisting of MAT and behavioral counseling services to drive superior outcomes. The Company extensively utilizes telemedicine technology to reach secondary and tertiary markets where access to treatment is limited or non-existent. Ideal Option and its team of 90 medical providers are dedicated to delivering excellent patient care with integrity and empathy. For more information please visit: www.idealoption.net
About Varsity Healthcare Partners
Varsity Healthcare Partners (VHP) is a lower middle-market private equity investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs and management teams to build leading healthcare services companies. VHP has been successful in developing and executing a tailored value-creation plan, in partnership with the leadership of each company, that typically emphasizes an appropriate investment in infrastructure followed by an aggressive organic and acquisition growth strategy. VHP draws upon its extensive healthcare industry experience and relationships, as well as its hands-on partnership approach, to effectively drive growth and maximize value. For more information please visit: www.varsityhealthcarepartners.com.