The UF Health Florida Recovery Center honors the life and legacy of Scott Teitelbaum, MD, a nationally respected physician, educator, mentor and advocate whose work transformed the field of addiction medicine and brought hope to thousands of patients and families.
Dr. Teitelbaum served as the Pottash Professor in Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the University of Florida College of Medicine, vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry, chief of the Division of Addiction Medicine and medical director of the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. Through his leadership, the Florida Recovery Center became nationally recognized for its evidence-based approach to addiction treatment and recovery care.
Originally trained and board-certified as a pediatrician, Dr. Teitelbaum later completed fellowships in addiction medicine and child psychiatry at the University of Florida. Since becoming medical director of the Florida Recovery Center in 2002, he participated in the evaluation and treatment of more than 5,000 healthcare professionals and other patients from across the country.
Dr. Teitelbaum was widely recognized as a leader in addiction medicine and physician health. He developed one of the nation’s first accredited addiction medicine fellowships, and under his leadership, the University of Florida trained more addiction medicine fellows than any other program in the country. He also served as a consultant to national organizations and policymakers, including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Colleagues, trainees, and patients remember Dr. Teitelbaum for his passion, authenticity and unwavering commitment to those seeking recovery. He believed strongly in reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and advocated for compassionate, evidence-based care rooted in accountability, dignity and hope.
His guiding belief — “As long as there is breath, there is hope” — became a source of encouragement for patients, colleagues, trainees and families alike. That belief shaped not only his career, but also the culture of care and community he helped build at the Florida Recovery Center.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Teitelbaum was deeply devoted to his family, who remained the center of his life and greatest source of pride. He is survived by his children, Sarah, Eric, Jake, Dahlia and Eliana, and his grandchildren, Avery and Maeve. Those closest to him knew the immense joy he found in celebrating their accomplishments and simply spending time together.
He also cherished the recovery community that became an extension of his family — gathering with alumni celebrating sobriety milestones, mentoring young physicians and connecting with patients and colleagues whose lives intersected with his own.
Dr. Teitelbaum leaves a legacy that extends far beyond titles and awards. His impact lives on the patients who found hope through recovery, the physicians and trainees he mentored, the colleagues he inspired and the families whose lives were forever changed by his care and advocacy.
The UF Health Florida Recovery Center is profoundly grateful for Dr. Teitelbaum’s leadership, compassion and dedication to advancing addiction medicine and recovery. His influence will continue to guide and inspire our work for years to come.
In honor of Dr. Teitelbaum’s enduring mission, his family requests that donations be directed to the UF Health Florida Recovery Center to help continue his life’s work of bringing hope, healing and recovery to others. Make a gift in Dr. Teitelbaum’s memory and support the continuation of his mission.