Stories That Change How We Understand Addiction & Recovery
Dr. I. Michael Kaufmann brings over 45 years of medical experience—and a deeply personal journey through addiction and recovery—to honest, powerful conversations that reduce stigma and inspire hope.
Hear Michael’s Story
Michael doesn’t speak about addiction—he speaks from within it.
A former family physician, addiction medicine specialist, and founding Medical Director of the Physician Health Program at the Ontario Medical Association, Michael combines clinical expertise with lived experience in a way few can.
His talks aren’t performances. They are conversations—thoughtful, candid, and deeply human—where audiences feel seen, challenged, and changed.
Michael’s story is one of secrecy, fear, intervention, and ultimately, recovery.
It’s also a story of purpose—using lived experience to help others feel less alone
Michael’s talks are delivered in a conversational, story-driven format and can be tailored for medical audiences, professional groups, conferences, and community settings.
Topics
Breaking the Silence: Addiction, Recovery, and the Stories We Seldom Tell
When the Healer Needs Help: Rethinking Medical Culture, Physician Distress and Well-Being
When the Healer Needs Help: Rethinking Medical Culture, Physician Distress and Well-Being
A conversation about what happens when we finally speak the truth.
In this deeply personal and engaging talk, Dr. Kaufmann shares his lived experience of addiction as a physician—and the long path to recovery that followed. Through storytelling, he explores stigma, shame, and the hidden struggles that often go unseen, especially in professional environments.
This conversation invites audiences to reflect on vulnerability, recognize distress in themselves and others, and understand how honest storytelling can reduce stigma and open the door to healing and support.
When the Healer Needs Help: Rethinking Medical Culture, Physician Distress and Well-Being
When the Healer Needs Help: Rethinking Medical Culture, Physician Distress and Well-Being
When the Healer Needs Help: Rethinking Medical Culture, Physician Distress and Well-Being
A candid dialogue about the realities behind the white coat.
Drawing on decades of experience in family medicine, addiction medicine, and as founding Medical Director of the Physician Health Program, Dr. Kaufmann explores the cultural pressures within medicine that discourage vulnerability and delay help-seeking.
Through stories from his own life and career, he examines denial, resilience, and the importance of supporting colleagues in distress. This session encourages a shift in mindset—from silent endurance to compassionate intervention and collective responsibility.
The Power of Storytelling: From Shame to Connection to Healing
When the Healer Needs Help: Rethinking Medical Culture, Physician Distress and Well-Being
The Power of Storytelling: From Shame to Connection to Healing
A reflective, interactive conversation about why stories matter.
Storytelling is more than communication—it is connection, education, and healing. In this conversational session, Dr. Kaufmann explores the role of personal narrative in medicine, recovery, and everyday life.
Blending insight with lived experience, he shares how first-person stories can dismantle stigma, foster understanding, and inspire change. Audiences are invited to consider their own stories—what they reveal, what they conceal, and how sharing them, thoughtfully and safely, can transform both speaker and listener.
Audiences leave Michael’s talks with:
— A deeper understanding of addiction as a human experience—not just a diagnosis
— Greater awareness of stigma and its impact on help-seeking
— Practical insight into recognizing distress in colleagues and loved ones
— A renewed sense of hope that recovery is possible
— Permission to reflect, share, and speak more openly
Michael’s talks are grounded in the lived experiences shared in his memoir, Drugs, Lies & Docs—a candid account of addiction, recovery, and the realities behind the white coat.
Michael regularly speaks with:
— Healthcare professionals and medical institutions
— Medical students, learners, and academic audiences
— Mental health and addiction organizations
— Corporate and leadership groups
— Community audiences and book clubs
Bring Michael’s story to your audience.
Copyright © 2026 I. Michael Kaufmann - All Rights Reserved.
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All proceeds from this book support the Life to Paper Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals impacted by mental health and addiction experience the therapeutic power of storytelling.
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