Dr. Ayana Jordan to Receive ASAM’s First Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Justice AWARD

Dr. Jordan is the first recipient of the award, which honors those who promote diversity, equality, inclusion, and justice in addiction medicine.

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is pleased to recognize Ayana Jordan, MD, PhD, with its inaugural Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Award. The award honors an individual who, through their treatment research or work in the area of injustice related to addiction care, has improved the lives of people with addiction disorders who have been the object of discrimination, injustice, exclusion, or persecution.

“The creation of the ASAM Award for the promotion of Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Justice in Addiction Medicine was more than simply necessary,” ASAM President William Haning, MD, DLFAPA, DFASAM said. “With it, we are able to celebrate the exceptional work of someone who has advanced the field with unique research that emphasizes the imperative of expanded access to addiction treatment. ‘Equity’ and ‘justice’ mean everyone, everywhere.”

Dr. Jordan, an addiction psychiatrist and the Barbara Wilson Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine in New York City and the Pillar Co- Lead for Community Engagement in the NYU Langone Institute for Excellence in Health Equity, is dedicated to creating opportunities for people of color. Her message of equity and inclusion has informed her research, clinical work, and leadership duties at NYU and beyond.

“I am deeply grateful to be the inaugural recipient of this most prestigious and groundbreaking award. This IS the direction medicine must continue to go, especially when considering the marginalization and othering that occurs amongst people with addictive disorders, even more pronounced for people from minoritized backgrounds,” said Dr. Jordan “As a Black woman in medicine who is often called on ‘to make a case for diversity’ and find others in leadership that understand the necessity of this plight, the pursuit of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice is not just a noble goal, but a necessary one. People are only empowered to truly show up as their authentic selves and consider creative and meaningful solutions to the major challenges in addiction medicine if there is a true sense of belonging to the field. Passion isn’t enough, there must be support and working systems in place that promote structural and racial equity. It is unacceptable that the makeup of the medical workforce and addiction in particular is not reflective of the fullness of this country. This lack of diversity contributes significantly to the propagation of inequity across a multitude of health outcomes. For me, this award signifies hope, the importance of uplifting these tenants in addiction medicine, but also celebrating the work we’ve done in the Jordan Wellness Collaborative to change the trajectory. I humbly accept this honor in the lineage of so many ancestors, current physicians, providers, and other clinicians who have come before me, and look forward to supporting and inspiring the countless leaders that WILL come after me who are devoted to these core principles. Representation is paramount and I applaud ASAM for creating this honor."

Dr. Jordan was the first Black associate program director for the Yale Psychiatry Residency, supervising a large group of 64 physicians providing mental health and addiction services throughout Yale medical systems in Connecticut. She recently became director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network within the National Institute of Drug Abuse, where she’ll be working to improve health outcomes for people with opioid use disorder in the carceral system.

Dr. Jordan serves as the medical director of Recognizing and Eliminating disparities in Addiction through Culturally informed Healthcare or (REACH), a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant, in conjunction with the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, geared at increasing the number of addiction specialists from racial and ethnic minoritized populations who obtain training to provide culturally informed addiction treatment. Dr. Jordan is an NIH-funded researcher and studies long-term outcomes for providing addiction treatment in faith and non-medical community settings.

Dr. Jordan is elated and inspired to exist in an environment supportive of her vision to work with communities, integrating the cultural and religious aspects of people’s lives, while also addressing structural inequities that impede improved mental health and wellness. Dr. Jordan is the proud recipient of various clinical and research awards and was inducted into the Top 40 under 40 society, by her undergraduate alma mater, Hampton University, a historically Black institution.

"Dr. Jordan embodies the spirit and commitment central to ASAM’s newest award, the ASAM Award for Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Justice in Addiction Medicine,” said Paul Earley, MD, DFASAM, ASAM’s immediate past president and chair of the ASAM Nominations and Awards Council. “She singlehandedly deepened equity and justice in our field through her efforts. We are deeply grateful that she inaugurated this award by her acceptance." 

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About ASAM

The American Society of Addiction Medicine, founded in 1954, is a professional society representing over 7,000 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction. For more information, visit www.ASAM.org.

About ASAM 54th Annual Conference

Every April, ASAM gathers the leading experts in addiction medicine to share their expertise and insights on addiction and addiction treatment. This year, ASAM celebrates its 54th Annual Conference from April 13-16, 2023, in Washington, DC. The presentations and posters presented at this conference represent the latest scientific research on addiction medicine and hold the keys to providing innovative, evidence-based solutions to today’s addiction epidemic.