Dr. Michael Kaufmann, MD, practiced family and addiction medicine in rural Ontario for 14 years before founding the Ontario Medical Association’s Physician Health Program in 1995. He is certified in Addiction Medicine and is a Fellow and Life Member of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. His awards include the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the CMA Misericordia Award, and CAMH’s Courage to Come Back Award. Since retiring as PHP Medical Director in 2017, he has served as Emeritus Medical Director, consultant, speaker, author, and mentor. At home, he has turned his creative energies towards playing music and song-writing.
In 2024 he published a book entitled Drugs, Lies & Docs: A doctor’s memoir of addiction, recovery and more. He is also a contributing author to an anthology entitled When We Forgive, published in 2026. Dr. Kaufmann and his wife, Judy, live in rural Ontario and together enjoy community volunteering, walks with their four-legged family members on their farm property and bringing people together for music and discussion in the barn that once housed their chickens and sheep.
Website: https://imichaelkaufmann.ca/
LinkedIn @i. michael kaufmann
Book: Drugs, Lies & Docs – a doctor’s memoir of addiction, recovery and more
Summary
In this episode, Dr. I. Michael Kaufmann shares insights from his experience with addiction, recovery, and physician health programs. He offers practical perspectives about reducing stigma, supporting long-term recovery, and balancing accountability with compassion.
Key Topics
Understanding addiction as a chronic, treatable condition
Supporting recovery through ongoing care and accountability
Addressing shame and stigma among health professionals
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
03:18 – Dr. Kaufmann’s opioid addiction, treatment, and recovery
07:56 – Writing Drugs, Lies and Docs
15:43 – Humanizing addiction and understanding recovery
18:22 – Compassion, treatment, and the role of motivation
27:45 – Addiction among health professionals
35:09 – Supporting safe returns to work and long-term recovery
48:17 – Final thoughts
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