Professional Role and Current Position
Dr. Marla D. Kushner, DO, FACOFP, FAOAAM, FSAHM, DFASAM serves as the Regional Medical Director at Bicycle Health, a telehealth company specializing in the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD). She joined Bicycle Health in May 2021 and currently leads clinical operations for the Northeast region, overseeing evidence-based virtual care programs. Under her leadership, Bicycle Health has launched innovative programs such as the first-ever virtual medication for opioid use disorder treatment for teens, including initiatives in Maine targeting 16- and 17-year-olds with Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Educational Background and Medical Training
Dr. Kushner graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan, followed by a fellowship in Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Chicago Osteopathic Hospital and Rush-Presbyterian St. Lukes Hospital. Her clinical focus integrates adolescent medicine with addiction treatment modalities.
Certifications and Professional Affiliations
- Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine
- Fellowships:
- American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (FACOFP), March 2013
- American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (FAOAAM), 2020
- Distinguished Fellow, American Society of Addiction Medicine (DFASAM)
- Fellow, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (FSAHM)
- President (final year) of the Board of Directors, American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM)
Clinical Practice and Expertise
Dr. Kushner maintains a family medicine practice in Chicago with a clinical emphasis on adolescent and addiction medicine. Her expertise includes managing opioid use disorders via telemedicine, Suboxone therapy, and integrative approaches combining family counseling, 12-step programs, and individual therapy. She is recognized for successfully blending primary care with addiction-specific treatments, establishing safe medical homes for patients struggling with substance use disorders.
Contributions and Industry Engagement
- Instrumental in expanding virtual care access for opioid use disorder, particularly among adolescent populations.
- Frequently involved in publication and guideline development for addiction medicine, including participation in the 2025 Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering.
- Actively engaged as a medical director in creating clinical protocols supportive of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and telehealth delivery models.
- Serves as faculty or contributor in addiction medicine-centered conferences, such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s Annual Conference.
- Highlighted in media and industry news for pioneering telehealth applications in addiction treatment, supporting Bicycle Health’s positioning as an innovator in virtual OUD care.
Relevant Organizational Context: Bicycle Health
Bicycle Health is a healthcare technology company delivering confidential, evidence-based virtual medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. The company provides access to board-certified addiction specialists across multiple U.S. regions using telehealth platforms to increase treatment reach and retention. Notable recent initiatives include tailored programs for youth opioid treatment and expanding Suboxone clinics in states such as Arizona, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Maine.
Dr. Kushner’s extensive background in family and adolescent medicine combined with addiction expertise, her leadership role within Bicycle Health, and her active participation in national professional organizations position her as a key clinical and strategic influence in the company’s expansion and innovation in telehealth-delivered opioid use disorder treatment. Her work emphasizes scalable, accessible care models that align with evolving healthcare delivery trends in addiction medicine.
