Southeastern Recovery Center building at 470 Lake Concord Rd in Concord, NC

Dr. David M. Stern, MD, Medical Director

David M. Stern, MD

Medical Director, Southeastern Recovery Center | Board Certified in Addiction Medicine

Introduction and role

David M. Stern, MD, is a Harvard-trained physician who is board certified in addiction medicine. He has more than four decades of experience in clinical, academic and research medicine. Since 2017, he has focused his clinical work on addiction medicine, first in a university setting and now in private practice.

He serves as Medical Director at Southeastern Recovery Center and medically reviews SERC's clinical content.

Education and credentials

A career in medicine and research

Dr. Stern began his career at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1978 as an internal medicine intern. He later held an endowed professorship there and founded and directed the Center for Vascular and Lung Pathobiology.

He went on to hold senior medical leadership roles at the Medical College of Georgia, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

At the University of Tennessee, Dr. Stern led the creation of the Center for Addiction Science. The Addiction Medicine Foundation named it the first Center of Excellence in addiction medicine in the country, as well as its National Research Center.

A personal commitment to helping families

Dr. Stern's commitment to addiction medicine is personal. After losing his younger son in 2008 to struggles with mental health and substance use, he devoted his career to helping other families avoid the same loss.

His approach, in his own words

Care grounded in evidence

“It is especially important to me that SERC provides evidence-based care by credentialed/qualified providers.”

Mental health and substance use care together

“In the setting of acute intoxication, it can be very difficult to determine if substance use is driving mental health issues or vice versa. For that reason, we treat both conditions simultaneously.”

Support for families

“If the family is supportive, family involvement is very positive.”

Credentials and profiles

About medical review

Medical review helps readers find clear, accurate information about addiction and treatment. Health information on this site is for education. It does not replace an assessment or advice from a healthcare professional who knows your needs.

Talk with our admissions team

If you have questions about treatment for yourself or someone you love, you can take the next step with a conversation. Call (704) 452-4985, or visit Concord admissions and contact information. Southeastern Recovery Center is at 470 Lake Concord Rd NE, Concord, NC 28025.