Emily Hurstak MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, General Internal Medicine
801 Massachusetts Ave | (617) 414-5951emily.hurstak@bmc.org
ehurstak@bu.edu
Sections
General Internal 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.
Education
Medicine, MD, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Biology, BS, Yale University
MASt, University of California, San Francisco
Publications
Hurstak EE, Volandes A, Yuh D, Lakin JR, Malave J, Paasche-Orlow MK, Randa SN, Davis AD, Tulsky JA, Quintiliani LM. Video Declarations from Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Tool to Assist with Goals of Care Conversations. J Gen Intern Med. 2026 Apr 21. PMID: 42014637.
Published on 3/5/2026Mohamed R, Paasche-Orlow MK, Serrano E, Marquez M, Henault L, Weaver C, Slesinger Roy NC, Farina FR, Hurstak E, Taddeo M, Hauner K, Griffith JW. Differential item functioning of PROMIS Sleep Disturbance-Short Form 8a across levels of health literacy in a community sample of adults. Psychol Assess. 2026 May; 38(5):384-395. PMID: 41785129.
Published on 1/22/2026Wexler RS, Joyce CT, Reichman R, Pereira C, Fanuele E, Hurstak E, Laird LD, Lavretsky H, Wang C, Saper R, Alcorn KS, Mittman BS, Roseen EJ. Determinants of Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and Yoga Use for Health Conditions: A Systematic Review Protocol. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2026; 15:27536130261417682. PMID: 41589200.
Published on 11/20/2025Bagley SM, Maschke AD, Harris MTH, Walley AY, Johnson S, Hurstak E, Farley J, Keller SG, McMahan VM, Barrett C, Coffin PO, Gunn CM. A qualitative study exploring motivations for participating in research among women who use opioids. PLoS One. 2025; 20(11):e0336061. PMID: 41264582.
Published on 6/2/2025Roseen EJ, Hurstak EE, Kim RS, Gao Q, Greco CM, Vago DR, Saper RB, Kligler B, McKee MD, Dusek JA. Nonpharmacologic Back Pain Treatment Use and Associated Patient Reported Outcomes in US-Based Integrative Medicine Clinics. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2025; 14:27536130251345481. PMID: 40463627.
Published on 5/16/2025Mills L, Sepulveda ER, Miller Z, Jones J, Hernandez G, Ly SM, Canfield J, Flanigan T, Goulet P, Joseph R, Hurstak E, Palmer JA, Sanchez M, So-Armah K, Fitzpatrick AM. Social Determinants of Health and Linkage to HIV Care Among Groups at High Risk for Not Linking to HIV Care. Res Sq. 2025 May 16. PMID: 40470238.
Published on 4/18/2025Fitzpatrick 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 Jul; 46(3):612-623. PMID: 40249028.
Published on 3/21/2025Wexler 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.
Published on 2/5/2025Magane 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.
Published on 1/5/2024Joyce 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.