Emily Hurstak, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Emily Hurstak is the Medical Director for the Boston Medical Center’s Office Based Addiction Treatment (OBAT) Program and the Grayken Center for Addiction TTA's SUD Care Continuum ECHO. She is a primary care physician and addiction medicine specialist who provides primary medical care to patients at Boston Medical Center's General Internal Medicine and OBAT clinics. She has focused her work and research on improving the understanding and care of patients with co-morbid substance use disorders and chronic pain as well as studying health literacy and health communication techniques to improve care of vulnerable patients. She is board certified in internal medicine and addiction medicine and is trained in medical acupuncture. Dr. Hurstak received her medical degree from Columbia University and completed her residency, chief residency, and fellowship at the University of California San Francisco.

Publications

  • Published 4/18/2025

    Fitzpatrick AM, Ly SM, Canfield J, So-Armah K, Palmer JA, Hurstak EE. Experiences of Trainees From Underrepresented Groups Within Addiction Medicine Training Programs: A Qualitative Study. Subst Use Addctn J. 2025 Apr 18; 29767342251319610. PMID: 40249028.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/21/2025

    Wexler RS, Joyce C, Reichman R, Pereira C, Fanuele E, Hurstak E, Laird L, Lavretsky H, Wang C, Saper R, Alcorn KS, Mittman BS, Roseen EJ. Determinants of Qigong, Tai Chi, and Yoga Use for Health Conditions: A Systematic Review Protocol. medRxiv. 2025 Mar 21. PMID: 40166550.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/5/2025

    Magane KM, Saitz R, Fielman S, LaRochelle MR, Shanahan CW, Pace CA, LaValley M, Penington K, Karzhevsky S, Hurstak E. Supporting primary care clinicians in caring for patients with alcohol use disorder: study protocol for Records for Alcohol Care Enhancement (RACE), a factorial four-arm randomized trial. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2025 Feb 05; 20(1):9. PMID: 39910606.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/5/2024

    Joyce CT, Roseen EJ, Smith CN, Patterson CG, McDonough CM, Hurstak E, Morone NE, Beneciuk J, Stevans JM, Delitto A, Saper RB. A Cluster Analysis of Initial Primary Care Orders for Patients with Acute Low Back Pain. J Am Board Fam Med. 2024 Jan 05; 36(6):986-995. PMID: 38182423.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/13/2023

    Hurstak E, Farina FR, Paasche-Orlow MK, Hahn EA, Henault LE, Moreno P, Weaver C, Marquez M, Serrano E, Thomas J, Griffith JW. COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Mediates the Relationship between Health Literacy and Vaccination in a Diverse Sample of Urban Adults. Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Dec 13; 11(12). PMID: 38140251.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 22 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Websites

Education

  • Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, MD
  • Yale University, BS
  • University of California, San Francisco, MASt

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