Rachel Alinsky

Rachel Alinsky is the inaugural Medical Director of the Substance Use Intervention and Treatment (SUIT) Unit at the University of Maryland University Health Center. She oversees addiction medicine services for students and focuses on improving access to substance use disorder treatment. Her roles include membership in the University’s Alcohol Coalition and Institutional Review Board.

Education:

• BA in Political Science, Case Western Reserve University, 2009
• MD, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 2013
• Residency in Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 2017
• MPH in Health Systems and Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2019
• Fellowship in Adolescent and Addiction Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2020

Research Focus: Dr. Alinsky’s work addresses stigma reduction in substance use discussions, health policy reform, and system-level improvements for adolescent and young adult care. She has published in JAMA Pediatrics and Journal of Adolescent Health, advocating for person-first language in clinical practice.

Policy Contributions: Led a landmark American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement redefining clinical language around substance use to eliminate stigma. Active in shaping addiction treatment access policies.

Labs/Teams: Directs the SUIT Unit, a university initiative integrating substance use prevention, intervention, and treatment services for students.