Michael Baron, MD, MPH, FASAM, a triple board certified psychiatrist and specialist in chronic pain and addiction, recently joined The Ranch as its Director of Behavioral Health. Nunnelly, TN (PRWEB) June 25, 2013 – The Ranch treatment center proudly welcomes Michael Baron, MD, MPH, FASAM, as its attending psychiatrist and Director of Behavioral Health. Dr. Baron is board certified in Psychiatry, Anesthesiology and Addiction Medicine, and has practiced in the Nashville area since 1998 in a variety of treatment settings, including private practice, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Parthenon Pavilion. Dr. Baron completed his medical degree and internship at Tulane University. He completed his residency training in anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine and in psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He has been a member of the faculty at Vanderbilt since 2003. At The Ranch, Dr. Baron conducts psychiatric assessments, prescribes medications and provides comprehensive psychiatric care in an environment that is conducive to healing. Immersed in nature on a working horse ranch, men and women receive care that is individualized and geared toward recovery in mind, body and spirit. “In this type of setting, I’m able to really get to know my patients,” Dr. Baron said. “Rather than seeing a client once a week in an office setting, at The Ranch I can see a patient every day if needed,” Dr. Baron said. Seeing them in a community context, I can observe how they live and interact with others, which sheds light on the problems they’re having in their home environment. It’s a great way to treat people.” In 2010, Dr. Baron was appointed to the Board of Medical Examiners, the licensing board for medical doctors in Tennessee. He was elected as vice chairman for the committee overseeing the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database, a database designed to monitor the dispensing of certain prescription medications and other controlled substances. He is also an appointed Fellow for the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Baron has a passion for treating addictions and mental health issues among licensed professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, airline pilots and lawyers. He has served as a monitor for the state Physician Health Program as well as a supervisor for the Davidson County Drug Court. Dr. Baron specializes in treating chronic pain and addiction. In 2006, he conducted original research showing that chronic opioid use can make pain worse – a finding that startled the medical community and has since been reproduced in study after study. “Chronic pain is often a manifestation of underlying emotional issues,” said Dr. Baron. “When we manage pain with opioid medications, the person feels better temporarily but over time, dependence can set in and both the pain and the underlying emotional issue get worse. Only when the individual stops taking opiates and receives appropriate treatment for their anxiety, depression, trauma or other issues can they truly recover.” “We are delighted to have Dr. Baron in this vital role at The Ranch,” said Cheryl Brown, Director of Marketing and Outreach Services for The Ranch. “He is a true pioneer in chronic pain management, an inspirational teacher and trainer, and an esteemed addictionologist with a national reputation for excellence.” About The Ranch Since 1999, The Ranch has provided comprehensive therapeutic programs that treat the underlying causes of eating disorders, addictions and other self-defeating behaviors. The Ranch offers innovative therapies to address the multidimensional aspects of the whole person while teaching personal accountability in a safe, nurturing, real-life environment. Located on a working horse ranch in the beautiful rolling hills of Nunnelly, Tennessee, The Ranch offers programs with a variable length of stay, which allows each client to anchor new recovery behaviors needed for lasting change. For more information about The Ranch, call (866) 381-8447 or visit www.recoveryranch.com. The Ranch is part of Promises Behavioral Health, a family of behavioral health care programs that also includes Promises Treatment Centers, The Sexual Recovery Institute, The Recovery Place, Spirit Lodge and Right Step. Elements offers comprehensive, innovative treatment for substance abuse, sexual addiction, trauma, eating disorders and other mental health disorders. We are committed to delivering clinically sophisticated treatment that promotes permanent lifestyle change, not only for the patient but for the entire family system. For more information about Promises Behavioral Health, visit elementsbh4.wpengine.com.
