Douglas M. Ziedonis MD MPH

Summary

• I am a psychiatrist based in Albuquerque, NM, specializing in addiction. After 40 years working in Academic Health Centers—including UCLA, Yale, Rutgers, UMass, UC San Diego, and UNM—I’ve transitioned into a new chapter as Founder and CEO of Striver Health Innovations, LLC. My work focuses on consulting for healthcare organizations, universities, government agencies, and startups; providing executive coaching and leadership development programs; and advancing humanistic and tech-driven solutions to improve healthcare access, outcomes, and well-being.
  
  I bring 26 years of senior executive leadership experience, having served as CEO of the UNM Health System, EVP of UNM Health Sciences, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer at UCSD, Department Chair, Service Line Chief, Center Director, and Hospital Trustee (UMass), and Division Director (Rutgers).
  
  As a clinician and academic, I have specialized in addiction, mental health, wellness/mindfulness, and obesity/food addiction treatment and recovery. My research has focused on co-occurring addiction and mental illness, homelessness, neuroscience, and healthy aging. Over 25 years of continuous research funding, I have participated in 120 research grants—including 31 as Principal Investigator—resulting in 345 publications. More importantly, this work has driven improvements in clinical outcomes, shaped practice guidelines, and brought new medications and psychosocial treatments into practice. One major impact has been improving well-being and lifespan by addressing tobacco use disorders in behavioral health settings.
  
  Additionally, I am an executive coach who has developed healthcare leadership programs, such as the Mindful Physician Leadership Program and a Leadership College, as well as well-being initiatives for faculty, staff, and students in academic health centers. My mission is to help leaders and systems improve health and health equity (access, experience, and outcomes for all).