April 17, 2026 — Beloved longtime University of Florida faculty member Scott Teitelbaum, M.D., DFASAM, the Pottash Professor in psychiatry and neuroscience in the College of Medicine and medical director of the UF Health Florida Recovery Center, passed away April 16 following unexpected medical complications following a planned procedure.

A renowned expert in addiction medicine, Teitelbaum was a strong voice for his patients, using his own recovery experiences to improve care and build a nationally recognized addiction medicine program at UF. He was a fierce physician advocate, a wonderful colleague and mentor, and a true friend to many within the college and health system.

Since Teitelbaum became medical director for the UF Health Florida Recovery Center, or FRC, in 2002, he was involved in the evaluation and/or treatment of more than 5,000 health care providers and other professionals from across the country. As one of a handful of addiction recovery centers nationwide that are part of an academic health center, the FRC has led the way nationally with its evidence-based treatment of addiction.

Teitelbaum also served as the vice chair of the UF College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and chief of the division of addiction medicine. He developed one of the first accredited fellowships in addiction medicine, UF’s American Board of Preventive Medicine – addiction medicine fellowship, which he previously oversaw. The program continues to serve as a model for other programs. The Annenberg Physician Training Program in Addictive Disease at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine annually sent medical students to Dr. Teitelbaum to observe the treatment process at work, underscoring his wide-reaching influence and impact in the field.

He has been recognized with several honors from the American Society of Addiction Medicine, or ASAM, where he was named a Distinguished Fellow. He received the organization’s Annual Award in 2018 for his outstanding contributions and leadership in addiction medicine and the Training Directors Award in 2024, recognizing his excellence in training, research and education in substance use disorder treatment. He also served as vice chair on the ASAM Public Policy Committee from 2011-2017, advising on public policy issues the committee felt should be addressed by the Board of Directors. In 2017, ASAM recognized Teitelbaum’s leadership contributions on the committee.

Teitelbaum has also been consulted as a national expert by the White House Office of National Drug Control and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and was elected into the Conway Hunter Society, which is dedicated to excellence in addiction treatment programs.

At UF, he received the College of Medicine’s Exemplary Teacher Award on multiple occasions for his guidance of medical students, as well as the Department of Psychiatry’s William “Buck” Ruffin, M.D., Best Teacher Award.

Teitelbaum earned his medical degree at the University of Rochester in his home state of New York in 1985 and completed his pediatrics residency in 1988 at the University of Connecticut, establishing a successful pediatrics practice before his own recovery journey and desire to help other individuals and families impacted by substance abuse disorders inspired him to switch specialties. He came to UF to complete an addiction medicine fellowship under Mark Gold, M.D., a renowned expert on the effects of tobacco, cocaine and other drugs on the brain. He also completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at UF before joining the faculty in 2002.

Teitelbaum is survived by his five children — Jake, Eric, Sarah, Dahlia and Eliana — and two grandchildren, Avery and Maeve. His incredible legacy and impact on our institution and the patients he served will be felt for years to come.