Hadland's leadership expands health care access for teens and young adults

Scott Hadland, MD, MPH, MSc’s record of accomplishment in research and treatment of substance use disorders, along with expertise in multiple other domains of adolescent and young adult health, has spurred new ideas, programs and initiatives within the division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at MassGeneral for Children.

Since taking the helm of the division, Hadland has tackled complex issues, such as limited access to mental health resources, while developing systems to provide better access to high-quality care for a population with unique needs.

“That is of utmost importance, especially for young people, and our team has the opportunity to provide exceptional care,” said Hadland. “We must affirm the unique needs of adolescents and young adults in pediatric primary care and subspecialty care, especially when it comes to mental health, substance use, menstrual disorders and care for LGBTQ+ youth, among other priorities. Our teens and young adults need us now more than ever.”

“MGfC has a strong foundation and a world-class adolescent medicine division, and I plan to build on those successes,” said Hadland, who previously served as a pediatrician and addiction medicine specialist at Boston Medical Center. Some of Hadland’s ongoing tasks include improving care for MGfC’s diverse patient population and maximizing equity and inclusion in the division’s clinical programs and increasing support resources for youth and families affected by substance use.

Hadland is an international leader in youth substance use treatment. He has authored numerous clinical practice guidelines on addiction, including for the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, and is also an author on forthcoming guidelines on stimulant misuse and on treatment levels of care from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. His research is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and focuses on receipt of addiction treatment, particularly here in Massachusetts and among Medicaid-enrolled youth nationally. He has received numerous national awards for his work, including the American Academy of Pediatrics 2020 Emerging Leader Award for Adolescent Health, the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction 2020 New Investigator/Educator Award and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 2016 New Investigator Award.

Hadland earned his medical degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, a Master's in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Master of Science degree from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. He completed his residency and chief residency at the Boston Combined Residency Program at Boston Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital and a fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital.