Scott H. Stewart MD, MS

Scott Stewart

Scott H. Stewart
MD, MS

Associate Professor

Department of Family Medicine

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Specialty/Research Focus

Addictions; Family Medicine; Internal Medicine; Primary Care

Contact Information
Drug Abuse Research & Treatment (DART) Program
1237 Main Street
Buffalo, New York 14209
Phone: (716) 884-9101
Fax: (716) 884-7703
ss243@buffalo.edu
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Patient Care

This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.

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Overview Research Publications Activities Latest News

Professional Summary:

I am a member of the Section of Addiction Medicine in the Department of Family Medicine, which consists of a team of dedicated professionals providing exceptional acute and chronic care for adolescents and adults suffering from substance use problems and associated conditions. My own work involves serving as the Medical Director of an opioid treatment program (methadone maintenance for opioid use disorder) in Buffalo, and Medical Director of a rehabilitation and residential program for adolescents and adults up to the age of 26.

I have been extensively engaged in research on alcoholism and alcohol-related disease, including the detection and treatment of these commonly encountered conditions in medical settings. Alcohol-related problems are often unrecognized due to a lack of specific diagnostic testing or simply not linking heavy drinking to problems that are not always or not usually alcohol-related (e.g., high blood pressure). If alcohol is recognized as a problem, tools to treat alcoholism have not typically been adapted for primary care nor have many physicians received specific training in managing alcoholism.

With past support of the National Institutes of Health and other organizations, I have conducted cutting-edge research on the assessment and treatment of patients with alcohol-related disease using brief counseling methods and medications that are appropriate for primary care practices. I have also been involved in studying the use of novel laboratory tests for detecting unhealthy drinking patterns and alcohol-related organ damage.

My goal as a clinical researcher is to provide tools that enable physicians to provide care for alcohol and substance related disorders as they do for other chronic diseases such as diabetes and high cholesterol. This includes the use of laboratory tests to monitor control of the disease, guide the use of medications and brief counseling in busy medical settings, and determine the need for more intensive treatment or referral to addiction specialists.

Education and Training:
  • Fellowship, General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, Medical University of South Carolina (2001)
  • MS, Clinical Research, Medical University of South Carolina (2001)
  • Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh (1996)
  • MD, Medicine, Temple University (1993)
  • BS, Chemistry, Geneva College (1987)

Employment:
  • Medical Director, CAO-DART Opioid Treatment Program (2020-present)
  • Addiction Medicine Physician, UBMD Primary Care (2018-present)
  • Associate Professor, Family Medicine, University at Buffalo (2018-present)
  • Medical Director, Drug Abuse Research and Treatment (DART) Program (2018-present)
  • Medical Director of Renaissance Campus, BestSelf Behavioral Health (2018-present)
  • Medical Director, Renaissance Campus, Best Self (2018–2024)
  • Addiction Medicine Physician, Horizon Health Services (2018–2022)
  • Associate Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2012–2018)
  • General Internist, UBMD Internal Medicine (2012–2018)
  • Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina (2006–2012)
  • Medical Consultant, Institute of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina (2006–2012)
  • Assistant Professor, Medicine, University at Buffalo (2001–2006)
  • General Internist, UBMD Internal Medicine (2001–2006)
  • General Internist, LA Internal Medicine Associates (1996–1999)
See all (4 more)

Awards and Honors:
  • Outstanding Reviewer Award for Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (ACER) (2017)
  • White Coat Award (2016)
  • Steven H. Noyes, MD Memorial Award (2016)

Research Expertise:
  • Alcoholism and alcohol related disease: Detection of alcoholism and alcohol-related diseases in medical and surgical settings. Treatment of alcohol dependence using methods appropriate for primary care settings. Validation of biomarkers for unhealthy drinking and early alcohol-related disease. Clinical epidemiology of alcohol and alcohol-related disease.

Grants and Sponsored Research:
  • January 2018–June 2023
    Buffalo Primary Care Champion Program in Addiction Medicine and Population Health
    Health Resources and Services Administration
    Role: Contributor
  • January 2014–December 2015
    Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program
    NY State Department of Health
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $150,000
  • March 2014–February 2015
    Biomarkers to predict severe alcohol withdrawal in medically-hospitalized patients
    Research for Health in Erie County
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • September 2009–August 2013
    Phosphatidylethanol as an alcohol biomarker in patients with liver disease (AA017911)
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH)
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • May 2004–April 2009
    Alcohol Dependence in General Medical Settings (AA014188)
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH)
    Role: Principal Investigator

Journal Articles:

See all (27 more)

Books and Book Chapters:

  • Stewart SH. (2016) Phosphatidylethanol and alcohol use in liver disease patients. In: Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer
  • Stewart SH, Goldmann A, Neumann T, Spies C. (2010) Biomarkers of alcohol and other drug use. In: Addiction Research Methods. Blackwell Publishing
  • Stewart SH. (2009) Dependence and diagnosis. In: Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment. Academic Press
  • Stewart SH, Miller PM. (2007) Alcohol screening and intervention in medical and surgical settings. In: Translation of Addictions Science into Practice. Elsevier
  • Connors GJ, Stewart SH. (2004) Alcoholism, substance abuse, and prescription drug abuse. In: Handbook of Primary Care Psychology. Oxford University Press

Professional Memberships:
  • American Society of Addiction Medicine (2018–present)
  • International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (2001–2018)
  • Research Society on Alcoholism (2001–2018)
  • Society of General Internal Medicine (1999–2018)
  • American College of Physicians (1996–2018)

Presentations:
  • "Acute Alcohol Withdrawal: A Clinical Perspective" UB Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions NIAAA research fellowship program (2024)
  • "Alcohol's Neurological Effects: A Medical Perspective" Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, Training grant fellowship series (2023)
  • "Multi-study analyses of phosphatidylethanol (PETH) results among heavy drinkers suggest biological correlates of PETH positivity." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2020)
  • "Use of alcohol consumption biomarkers in liver disease patients." Alcoholic Hepatitis Study Group, Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2018)
  • "Biomarkers for Managing AUD: Formation, Elimination, and Clinical Considerations." Annual Meeting, American Society of Addiction Medicine (2018)
  • "Phosphatidylethanol Level as a Predictor of Acute Alcohol Withdrawal." Annual Meeting, Society of Hospital Medicine (2018)
  • "Predictors of alcohol withdrawal readmissions. Early career abstract showcase." Annual Meeting, American College of Physicians (2017)
  • "Alcohol-related diagnoses are associated with high mortality in patients with peripheral vascular disease." Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology/Peripheral Vascular Disease Scientific Sessions, American Heart Association (2016)
  • "Association between direct alcohol consumption biomarkers and benzodiazepines during alcohol-related hospitalization." Annual Meeting, Society of General Internal Medicine (2016)
  • "The flipped classroom: Basic QI training for residents." Annual Meeting, Society of General Internal Medicine (2016)
  • "Association between social support and BMI in Type 2 diabetics." Annual Meeting, American College of Preventive Medicine (2016)
  • "Alcohol-Related Conditions, Mechanisms, and Detection of Risky Drinking." Medicine City-Wide Grand Rounds, University at Buffalo (2016)
  • "Acute kidney injury is associated with high mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation." Annual Meeting, American Heart Association (2015)
  • "New standards and uses of CDT alone or with PEth for the detection of alcohol use in clinical trials and practice." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2015)
  • "Impact of obesity on mortality from alcoholic hepatitis." Digestive Disease Week (2015)
  • "Association between neighborhood social support and quality of diabetes care." Annual Meeting, Society of General Internal Medicine (2015)
  • "A Tale of Two Cities: The Example of Research and Practice for Excessive Alcohol Use." Medicine City-Wide Grand Rounds, University at Buffalo (2014)
  • "Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Hospitalized Patients." Saturday CME Series, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo (2014)
  • "Blood phosphatidylethanol vs. hair ethyl glucuronide in patients with chronic liver disease." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2013)
  • "Structured resident feedback improves the quality of documentation: A randomized controlled trial." Department of Medicine Annual Research Day, University at Buffalo (2013)
  • "Detecting and Treating Unhealthy Alcohol Use in the Hospital." Medicine Grand Rounds, Erie County Medical Center (2013)
  • "Alcohol use and hospitalization: Patterns and relapse prevention." Medicine Grand Rounds, Buffalo General Hospital (2013)
  • "Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Hospitalized Patients." Medicine City-Wide Grand Rounds, University at Buffalo (2013)
  • "Testing for heavy drinking." Annual Meeting, American Council of Life Insurers (2012)
  • "Naltrexone plus aripiprazole compared to naltrexone alone and placebo in the treatment of alcohol dependence- A double blind pilot study." Annual Meeting, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2011)
  • "Novel Alcohol Consumption Biomarkers." Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Georgia Health Sciences University (2011)
  • "Novel Alcohol Consumption Biomarkers." Psychiatry Grand Rounds, Medical University of South Carolina (2010)
  • "Liver disease and estimation of disialotransferrin." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2010)
  • "Patient attitudes toward self-report and biomarker alcohol screening by mental health clinicians." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2010)
  • "Phosphatidylethanol (PEth): Relationship to drinking during treatment for alcohol use disorders." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2010)
  • "Is there a rapid and effective tool to differentiate between hazardous drinkers and alcohol dependent patients in the Emergency Department?" Annual Meeting, American College of Emergency Physicians (2008)
  • "Alcohol consumption biomarkers for assessment and risk assessment." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism/International Society on Biomedical Research on Alcohol (2008)
  • "Double blind controlled trial of flumazenil and gabapentin for the treatment of alcohol dependence." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2008)
  • "Alcohol biomarkers." Team on Underage Drinking Research-Screening for Childhood and Adolescent Drinking and Alcohol Use Disorders Among Youth, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism/National Institutes of Health (2007)
  • "Interest in pharmacotherapy and primary care treatment among medically hospitalized, alcohol dependent patients." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2006)
  • "Relationships between drinking and quality of life indicators." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2005)
  • "Alcohol and C-Reactive Protein." Medicine Grand Rounds, Erie County Medical Center (2004)
  • "Association of alcohol consumption with C-reactive protein: Importance of lifetime abstinence." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2004)
  • "Alcohol Use and Primary Care Utilization." Annual Meeting, Research Society on Alcoholism (2003)
  • "Racial and Ethnic Differences in Alcohol-Associated Aspartate Transaminase Elevation." Annual Meeting, Society of General Internal Medicine (2002)
  • "Poverty Level and Cardiovascular Screening in Younger Adults: an Analysis of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey." Annual Meeting, Society of General Internal Medicine (2000)
See all (31 more)

Service Activities:
  • ; Senator (2023–present)
  • Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), Phased Large Awards in Comparative Effectiveness Research; Scientific Reviewer (2021–2022)
  • School of Medicine Faculty Council Committee on Faculty Appointment, Promotion and Tenure (2016–2022)
  • Health Sciences Institutional Review Board; Reviewer (2016–2018)
  • Research Institute on Addictions Seminar Series (2016–2018)
  • Ad Hoc Unqualified Promotions to Tenurial Ranks Committee; Member (2014–2017)
  • Clinical Competence Committee, Department of Medicine (2014–2018)
  • ECMC Department of Medicine Quality Assurance Committee (2014–2016)
  • Peer Reviewer in Alcohol and Substance Abuse, UpToDate; Reviewer (2014–2022)
  • ; Senator (2013–2015)
  • Residency applicant interviewer, Department of Medicine (2012–2017)
  • NIAAA; ZAA1 GG(50), NIH Special Emphasis Panel;; Grant Reviewer (2011–2012)
  • Editoral board, Addiction Science and Clinical Practice; Editorial Board Member (2010–present)
  • Risk Prevention and Health Behavior (NIH Challenge Grants);; Grant Reviewer (2009)
  • Field reviewer, SAMHSA Treatment Improvement Protocol Series 49; Reviewer (2009)
  • Editorial Consultant, Alcohol abuse module, Physicians' Information and Education Resource, American College of Physicians; Consultant (2007–2010)
  • Peer review, > 20 professional journals; Peer Reviewer (2001–present)
  • Clinical monitor for Center for Physician Health and Office of Professional Medical Conduct; Clinical monitor

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Contact Information

Drug Abuse Research & Treatment (DART) Program
1237 Main Street
Buffalo, New York 14209
Phone: (716) 884-9101
Fax: (716) 884-7703
ss243@buffalo.edu
View map

This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.

View this physician on UBMD
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