Deepika E. Slawek

Deepika E. Slawek, MD, MS, MPH, is an attending physician at Montefiore Einstein and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. She specializes in HIV care, addiction medicine, and general internal medicine, with a focus on improving outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH) and those who use drugs (PWUD). As Co-Director of the Montefiore Medical Cannabis Program, she explores harm reduction strategies and the effects of medical cannabis on pain and inflammation in PLWH.

Education and Training:

• Bachelor of Science in Human Biology (2006) – University of Texas at Austin
• Master of Public Health (2008) – George Washington University
• Doctor of Medicine (2012) – Texas A&M School of Medicine
• Infectious Diseases Fellowship (2017) – New York University Medical Center
• General Internal Medicine Fellowship and Master of Science in Clinical Research Methods (2019) – Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Research Interests: Dr. Slawek’s work centers on reducing morbidity and mortality in PLWH and PWUD by integrating harm reduction principles with clinical practice. She investigates medical cannabis’s role in managing pain and reducing opioid use, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Her studies combine epidemiological analysis, clinical trials, and qualitative research to address the unique challenges faced by these populations. She emphasizes patient-centered solutions derived from clinical experiences and patient feedback.

Scientific Awards:

• Recipient of the NIH K23 award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to study medical cannabis effects on neuropathic pain and inflammation in PLWH

Grants and Advising: Dr. Slawek leads multiple NIDA-funded projects as Principal Investigator and has secured foundation grants for research on opioid analgesic reduction through medical cannabis. She contributes to peer review for journals like Annals of Internal Medicine and AIDS Care, and her presentations span national and international conferences. Her expertise bridges clinical care and research, with a focus on drug policy and patient advocacy.

Labs and Teams: She collaborates within the Montefiore Medical Cannabis Program and Einstein’s research teams to advance interdisciplinary approaches in HIV/AIDS and addiction medicine. She is affiliated with the Division of General Internal Medicine and engaged in multidisciplinary initiatives addressing substance use and chronic pain.