March 16, 2023

Doctors Making a Difference: Naomi Busch, MD

After 20 years of practicing primary care, including as the owner of Greenlake Primary Care, a private practice in Seattle, Naomi Busch, MD, drew on her interest caring for patients with eating disorders and began a new role as Washington state's director of medical services for The Emily Program, a network of eating disorder treatment centers in four states. Dr. Busch talks about her new role and what she hopes for the future of the program in Washington.

WSMA Reports: What led you to leave your longtime primary care practice to work with The Emily Program?

Dr. Busch: I was excited to work in an integrative model with behavioral health, nutrition, and medical. It also offered me the opportunity to lead a team of physicians, PA-Cs, and ARNPs throughout the state and educate future clinicians. The number of people with eating disorders has increased substantially during and after COVID-19, and The Emily Program has grown to meet this need. I saw it as the next step for me in caring for patients and teaching others.

Were eating disorders an area of focus for you in your primary care practice?

No, The Emily Program first approached me in 2012 to consult with their partial- hospitalization program because of my reputation for providing weight- inclusive primary care. I was drawn to working in this field due to the lack of medical resources available and the possibility of providing specialized medical management. At the time, there was not even a chapter in UpToDate to reference. I spent the next several years attending conferences across the country learning everything I could. As The Emily Program grew to include a residential site, several partial-hospitalization programs in Washington, and locations in Lacey and Spokane, my knowledge grew and was needed in my new role.

What does that role entail?

I provide the medical leadership support for The Emily Program's eight partial- hospitalization programs with over 100 patients and one 16-bed adult residential program, as well as numerous intensive outpatient programs. I lead 10 clinicians (physicians, PA-Cs, and ARNPs), as well as provide consultation for outside primary care physicians. I work directly with Washington state site directors, dietitians, and psychiatric teams. I am part of the national leadership team and serve as a member of our state-based quality committee.

What are the biggest challenges you've faced in your new role, and what is the most fulfilling part?

Going from owning my own clinic to leading the medical for an organization was challenging because I am no longer the ultimate decision-maker. This is also the most fulfilling part of the job! I enjoy working on an interdisciplinary team and collaborating on best practice, policy, and how to meet the needs of our eating disorder patients. It was this community of clinicians, therapists, psychologists, and dietitians that drew me away from primary care and into the field of integrative behavioral health.

Are there any goals you're striving for with The Emily Program in Washington?

I would like to see an expansion of adolescent residential care in the state of Washington. Currently, there are only 26 residential beds for adolescents provided by other companies. I would also like to see an inpatient unit that specializes in eating disorders be developed in our state. Right now, any patient over the age of 18 requiring hospital-level care for eating disorders must leave the state to seek specialized treatment.

I am also passionate about educating our future physicians about eating disorders. 30 million people in the country will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Until the opioid epidemic, anorexia and bulimia had the highest mortality of any other mental illness. I had to fight to learn about the medical impact of these diseases because of how they have been stigmatized. Recognition and management of these conditions should be part of routine curriculum for medical students and residents as they impact every specialty in medicine.

This article was featured in the March/April 2023 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.