Presentation Bio, CV, publications
David Mee-Lee is a leading expert in co-occurring substance use and mental disorders with over 40 years experience in person-centered treatment and program development. He is not your usual psychiatrist, nor is he your usual educator. He writes and speaks in down-to-earth, jargon-free language and makes learning challenging and enjoyable. Audiences consistently express satisfaction with his combination of rich content and practical approach delivered in his engaging style. His down-to-earth upbringing in Australia coupled with his Chinese heritage make for an interesting mix of dry humor and quiet wisdom.
David is a Board-certified psychiatrist and is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). David has trained and consulted for hundreds of organizations, ranging from small mental health centers to government departments and national behavioral healthcare companies. David has also authored a number of book chapters and papers in a variety of professional publications. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of all editions of The ASAM Criteria from 1991-2013.
David's medical, psychiatric and addiction treatment training began in his home country of Australia. From there it took him to Ohio, Massachusetts, Hawaii and eventually California. He has trained and consulted in almost every US state, and his international work has taken him to Australia, Canada, Germany, Guam, India, Japan, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau and the U.K.
BRIEF BIO & EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
David Mee-Lee, M.D. is a board-certified psychiatrist, and is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM). He trains and consults both nationally and internationally, but is much more in retirement mode now. Dr. Mee-Lee was Editor-in-Chief of the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM) Criteria of all editions from 1991-2013. Dr. Mee-Lee has over 40 years experience in person-centered treatment and program development for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.
Dr. Mee-Lee earned his medical degree from the University of Queensland, Australia, in 1972. He earned an M.S. in Psychiatry from Ohio State University in 1976.
KEY CREDENTIALS
Board-certified psychiatrist
Certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
Former Editor-in-Chief of The ASAM Criteria
ACADEMIC BIOGRAPHY
David Mee-Lee, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist, and is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM).
Past academic appointments have included clinical affiliations in the Departments of Psychiatry at Harvard University, the University of Hawaii and the University of California, Davis.
For over 40 years, Dr. Mee-Lee has focused on developing and promoting innovative behavioral health treatment that values clinical integrity, high quality and cost-consciousness. In addition, he has vast experience with co-occurring disorders treatment (addiction and mental illness) and program development.
Dr. Mee-Lee's past clients have involved both provider and practitioner groups, as well as managed care organizations. He was a consultant in the first major managed care Medicaid project for addiction treatment in Massachusetts, as well as public sector managed addiction treatment in Iowa.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Dr. Mee-Lee served as Associate Medical Director for Parkside Medical Services Corporation, from 1987-1993.
He was Vice President, Addiction Treatment Programs, for Monarch Health Corporation, from 1985-1987.
From 1986-1993, he was Psychiatric Consultant for New England Telephone's Employee Assistance Program and Medical Department in Boston, Massachusetts.
During 1977-1985 he held the following positions at New England Memorial Hospital in Stoneham, Massachusetts: Director, Addiction Treatment Unit; Assistant Chief of Psychiatry; and Director, In-service Education, Department of Psychiatry.
From 1977 to 1996, he continued a limited inpatient and outpatient private practice in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry before shifting to full-time training and consulting in 1996, setting up his own company, DML Training and Consulting.
He joined with The Change Companies® as a Senior Advisor in 2008 and from 2010 - 2017, he was Senior Vice President (SVP) of The Change Companies® and in 2017 also SVP for Train for Change, Inc. ®, the sister training company of The Change Companies®.
Since 2018, he has continued as President of DML Training and Consulting.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
His professional affiliations include the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Psychiatric Association.
For many years, Dr. Mee-Lee has been Chair of the Coalition for National Clinical Criteria. He co-chaired the development of a Treatment Improvement Protocol on Patient Placement Criteria for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. He was Field Representative of the National Coalition of Addiction Treatment Programs to the Hospital Accreditation Program Professional and Technical Advisory Committee of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
PUBLICATIONS AND AUTHORSHIP
Dr. Mee-Lee has published his free, monthly newsletter, Tips and Topics, since 2003, his Tips and Topics book; and many papers and book chapters on addiction treatment. Among a variety of instruments he has co-authored is an instrument for individualized treatment planning, the Recovery Attitude and Treatment Evaluator (RAATE). He has also co-authored instruments for individualized treatment planning, including the Behaviors and Experiences Inventory (BEI), the Dimensional Assessment for Patient Placement Engagement and Recovery (DAPPER), and the Level of Care Index (LOCI). Dr. Mee-Lee was Editor-in-Chief of the American Society of Addiction Medicine's first, second, second edition-revised and third editions of The ASAM Criteria.
DOWNLOAD CV, PUBLICATIONS OR PHOTOS
Dr. Mee-Lee's Curriculum Vitae and List of Publications (PDF Download)