Specker, Sheila M.D.

Sheila Specker, M.D.
Associate Professor
Medical Director--Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs

Dr. Specker completed medical school at the University of Minnesota and subsequently completed residency programs in both family practice and psychiatry with a fellowship in addiction medicine.  She is board certified in both family practice and psychiatry and is certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine as a physician specialist in substance abuse and by the American Board of Psychiatry in addiction psychiatry. 

Her clinical and research interests focus on the comorbidity of eating and substance use disorders, other co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, special populations in substance abuse and health care professionals with addictive disorders.  Dr. Specker is Residency Co-Director of the Combined Family Practice-Psychiatry Residency Training Program and Medical Director of Fairview-University Medical Center’s Special Populations Treatment Program.

Educational Summary:
University of Minnesota – School of Medicine - M.D., 1983
Residency in Family Practice - University of Wisconsin, 1983-86
Fellowship in Substance Abuse - University of Minnesota, 1987-88
Residency in Psychiatry - University of Minnesota, 1987-90

Relevant Prior Experience:
Assistant Professor, 1990-96
Medical Consultant to the State of Minnesota Health Professional Services Program, 1994-present
Co-Director, Combined Family Practice/Psychiatry Residency Program, 1995-2003
Associate Professor, 1996-present
Director, Addiction Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine Fellowship Programs, 1999-01
Psychiatric Consultant to Smiley's Clinic, University of Minnesota, Family Practice Residency Program, 1999-present
Joint appointment as Associate Professor, Department of Family Practice, 1999-present
Psychiatric Consultant to Hennepin County Chemical Health Services

Responsibilities/Activities in this Residency:
Co-Program Director, Combined Family Practice/Psychiatry Program
Residency Training Committee, Addiction Fellowship Committee
Inpatient supervisor
Day hospital supervisor and medical director
Course director, Resident didactics
Lecturer, Resident didactics
Individual therapy supervisor
Mentor

Research/Scholarly Interests:
Substance abuse and related compulsive behaviors with co-morbid conditions, especially in women
Medication development for substances of abuse
Health Care Professionals with substance user psychiatric disorders

Email: speck001@umn.edu