Medical professionals bear an enormous responsibility taking care of patients and are often held to a higher standard than other members of society. However, they are human and are therefore also susceptible to the development of addiction, especially given the stresses they are placed under. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Michael Sprintz about substance use disorders in healthcare professionals. Dr. Sprintz is triple board-certified in anesthesiology, pain medicine, and addiction medicine and has struggled with addiction himself, giving him a unique understanding of this topic. He talks about why he first started using substances and how accepting who he was and being authentic was key to his long-term recovery. Dr. Michael Sprintz is a physician, entrepreneur, author, consultant, public speaker and a national expert on the intersection of chronic pain and addiction. He received training at top tier institutions including Johns Hopkins Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Sprintz founded the Sprintz Center for Pain and Recovery, located in Texas, in 2013 and at the same time started a software company, Cellarian, which automates medical documentation to give providers more quality time for their patients. Dr. Sprintz has consulted for organizations in the pharmacology, biotechnology, and medical device spaces. He is currently on an FDA advisory committee and is also active in local and national medical societies, working to create and support policies that help patients and providers become their own best advocates and re-engage and protect their healthcare relationships. Learn more about Dr. Sprintz at https://drsprintz.com/ Learn about the Sprintz Center for Pain at https://www.sprintzcenter.com