Education

BS, Chemistry, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
MD,Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
Residency: The Toledo Hospital Family Practice Residency, Toledo, OH
Chief Resident, 1985-1986

Affiliations

Benedict Family Medicine Center

Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency

HealthAlliance Hospital Medical Staff

UMass Memorial Medical Center Medical Staff

Research

Principle Berkmann Clinical Innovation Fund

Principle Investigator, Artifical Intelligency for Retinopathy Screening in Primary Care.  Sponsor:  Israel-US Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation, $800,000, 2020 - 2023

Principle Investigator, Caring for Vulnerable Populations Project
Primary Care Residency Training Grant, $780.000
UMass Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency
Sponsor: HRSA Title VII, 2010-2015

Current Projects:

Opiate Dependence Therapy with Buprenorphine, Resident Training

Consulting and System Policy on Opioid Safe Prescribing

Biography

Dr. Ledwith serves as a Learning Community Mentor at UMass Chan Medical School and as a consultant in opioid management for its medical center and two state organizations.  He also volunteers in service as Faculty Advisor to the Worcester Free Care Collaborative and as the Medical Director of the Epworth Free Care Program in Worcester.  He previously served as Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency Director 2008 to 2016 and led the program through approval of residency expansion, a valuable residency training grant, and a transition to a new practice setting.

He began his career in rural Tappahannock, Virginia where he devoted nineteen years to clinical practice, practice-based research, volunteer teaching of medical students, and community service. He founded and continues to support the Tappahannock Free Clinic and he was medical director for the Health Management Center, providing medically supervised lifestyle and weight management services.

As an active member of the Ambulatory Sentinel Practice Network and AAFP National Research Network, he participated in the design and conduct of three of the first studies of medical error in primary care practice settings and served on the Advisory Panel of the AAFP Patient Safety Center. He joined the UMass and the Fitchburg residency faculty in 2005 when he moved to Massachusetts to assist aging parents. He maintains a passion for community service and for the care of patients of all ages with a focus on quality improvement and patient safety, and particularly access to treatment for chronic pain and opioid use disorders. 

"When I made the move to Massachusetts, I shopped for an opportunity that was community-oriented and expressed care for its members, patients and staff like family. I found what I was looking for in UMass Chan and the Fitchburg residency!"

HONORS AND SPECIAL AWARDS

• Gold Humanism Honor Society, Faculty election, 2022
• Chair's Award for Excellence in Service, Dept of Family Medicine and Community Health, UMass Chan Medical School, 2021
• Community Clinician of the Year, Massachusetts Medical Society, 2017
• Chair's Award for Excellence and Service, Dept of Family Medicine and Community Health, UMass Chan Medical School, 2014
• Residency Service Award, UMass Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency, 2014
• Best Session , STFM Annual Spring Conference 2010
  
• Teacher of the Year, UMass Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency, 2008
  
• Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, 2005
  
• VCU/Reynolds Geriatric Scholar, 2005
  
• Resident Teacher Award, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, 1986
  
• Family Practice Departmental Award, 1983
  
• Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, 1982