William Becker, MD
ProfessorCards
Appointments
Contact Info
General Internal Medicine
VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Mailstop 151B, 950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516
United States
About
Titles
Professor
Biography
Dr. William C. Becker is a general internist with clinical epidemiology, addiction medicine and pain management training, whose research, educational and clinical efforts broadly aim to improve the quality of chronic pain treatment in general medical settings, especially in the complex overlap of chronic pain and opioid use disorder. He directs the Opioid Reassessment Clinic at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and is PI or co-PI of several research projects through the VA, NIH, PCORI and the FDA.
Appointments
General Internal Medicine
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program
- General Internal Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- National Clinician Scholars Program
- Program in Addiction Medicine
- Yale-Drug use, Addiction, and HIV prevention Research Scholars (DAHRS)
Education & Training
- Fellow
- Yale University (2007)
- Chief Resident
- Yale University (2005)
- Resident
- Yale University (2004)
- Intern
- Yale University (2002)
- MD
- Temple University School of Medicine (2001)
- BA
- Yale University (1995)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-0788-1467
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Sara N Edmond, PhD
David Fiellin, MD
Anne C. Black, PhD
Minhee Sung
Robert Kerns, PhD
Brent A Moore, PhD
Analgesics, Opioid
Chronic Pain
Publications
2025
Incorporating Patient and Provider Voices into the Veterans Pain Care Organizational Improvement Comparative Effectiveness Study: Informing Future Implementation
Hagedorn H, Purcell N, DeRonne B, Salameh H, Becker W, Seal K, Krebs E. Incorporating Patient and Provider Voices into the Veterans Pain Care Organizational Improvement Comparative Effectiveness Study: Informing Future Implementation. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2025, 1-13. PMID: 40481383, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-025-09639-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInterdisciplinary pain teamVeterans Health AdministrationClinical championsProcess evaluationLeadership supportReducing opioid useConclusionThis process evaluationQualitative process evaluationPrimary care settingOpioid useComparative effectiveness studiesRE-AIMPatient involvementConstructs of implementationPain teamCare settingsPatient perspectiveCategorize themesIdentified themesImprove painClinical teamProvider voicesHealth AdministrationIncorporating patientEffectiveness trialWhat Makes for a Positive Patient Experience in Chronic Pain Care? A Qualitative Evaluation of Factors Affecting Veteran Patient Satisfaction Across Two Individualized Pain Care Interventions in VA Primary Care
Purcell N, DeRonne B, Salameh H, Krebs E, Seal K, Becker W, Hagedorn H. What Makes for a Positive Patient Experience in Chronic Pain Care? A Qualitative Evaluation of Factors Affecting Veteran Patient Satisfaction Across Two Individualized Pain Care Interventions in VA Primary Care. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2025, 1-10. PMID: 40425935, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-025-09630-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive patient experiencePain careCare interventionsPatient experienceCare coordinationVeterans Affairs (VA) healthcare systemPatient satisfactionMultimodal pain careChronic pain careVA primary carePain-related disabilitySelf-manage painPatient-clinician relationshipAffected patient satisfactionSemi-structured interviewsPatient involvementPrimary careCare teamCare accessOpioid-related deathsQualitative interview dataSelf-managementVeteran patientsHealthcare systemInfluence patientsReceipt of addiction treatment after nonfatal opioid overdose and risk of subsequent overdose: A retrospective cohort study
Howell B, Black A, Lin H, Liberatore M, Greene C, D'Onofrio G, Heimer R, Grau L, Hawk K, Fiellin D, Becker W. Receipt of addiction treatment after nonfatal opioid overdose and risk of subsequent overdose: A retrospective cohort study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 273: 112679. PMID: 40413965, PMCID: PMC12178112, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112679.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAddiction treatment modalitiesAddiction treatmentInpatient addiction treatmentOpioid overdose survivorsOverdose survivorsOpioid agonist treatmentOpioid overdoseReceipt of methadoneOpioid withdrawalInpatient treatmentBenzodiazepine exposureNon-medicalAddictionAssociated with reduced riskNonfatal opioid overdoseAgonist treatmentNon-fatal opioid overdoseTreatment modalitiesAssociated with increased riskBenzodiazepinesIndividual level dataMethadoneRetrospective cohort studyOpioidBuprenorphineIntegrating Implementation Outcomes into Effectiveness Studies: A Practical Guide for Clinical Interventionists
Wesolowicz D, Becker W, Alegria M, Chin-Purcell L, Glass J, Knudsen H, Dow P, Seal K, McGinty E. Integrating Implementation Outcomes into Effectiveness Studies: A Practical Guide for Clinical Interventionists. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2025, 1-7. PMID: 40301219, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-025-09551-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricIntervention for hospitalized people with chronic pain and elevated risk for opioid‐related harm: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Weimer M, Buonora M, Hajduk A, Ackerman A, Daggula K, Becker W, Chaudhry S, Fiellin D. Intervention for hospitalized people with chronic pain and elevated risk for opioid‐related harm: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal Of Hospital Medicine 2025 PMID: 40271961, DOI: 10.1002/jhm.70066.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid-related harmsGuideline-concordant carePain interventionsCase identification toolElevated riskChronic painOpioid stewardshipHospitalized peopleEMR-based toolOpioid stewardship programsPain-related careRandomized controlled trialsUsual carePotential participantsCareManagement of analgesiaExploratory outcomesControlled trialsPrimary outcomeHospitalized adultsInterventionHarmPainNo significant differenceRiskBuprenorphine, Pain, and Opioid Use in Patients Taking High-Dose Long-Term Opioids
Becker W, Seal K, Nelson D, DeRonne B, Kats A, Morasco B, Frank J, Makris U, Painter J, Allen K, Mixon A, Bohnert A, Reznik T, Hagedorn H, Hammett P, Borsari B, Baxley C, Krebs E, Abelleira A, Adams M, Amundson E, Anicich A, Ankawi B, Arnold S, Aryal A, Atkins D, Atkinson T, Backe K, Bair M, Bajpai S, Baller K, Bangerter A, Barbosa M, Barnett S, Bartlett S, Bartnik M, Baskin J, Blehm R, Bloechl P, Boening N, Boesch N, Bolander S, Bolf M, Bonchak J, Booth K, Bordanea M, Borowa D, Bowden M, Britnell S, Broderick D, Bronars C, Brooks K, Brown C, Brudvik E, Buchanan K, Buesgens C, Buonora M, Burch R, Burton C, Bhushan S, Butler C, Byerly S, Byrd C, Byrd G, Campbell E, Cariveau D, Carmody S, Carr M, Carr T, Cervone D, Chandler M, Clarke K, Clay M, Coy W, Craine M, Culver D, Cutting A, Dadabayev A, Daly D, Degerstrom R, Denietolis A, DePesa N, Desmet P, Devlin A, Dike D, Diokpa C, Dogra M, Drexler K, Drum-Oden A, Duvall T, Eads F, Edmond S, Eichelsdoerfer E, Ellifritz C, Ellison J, Erwin K, Escobedo C, Feighner L, Feuchs A, Fike A, Finetti T, Franchina L, Freeman J, Frontera R, Galvan R, Garvey C, Gayle S, Givens C, Glenn R, Godwin K, Goldstein M, Gosselin K, Graham S, Grimm K, Gumidyala A, Hagerman C, Hale A, Hall L, Harden J, Hawkins J, Hepton S, Herbst E, Herynk A, Heuermann B, Hidalgo N, Hoffmann J, Holland-deguire C, Hope K, Horowitz D, Huang A, Hudson T, Huffman K, Hunt N, Hyde S, Jacobson K, Jensen A, Johnson E, Jones E, Kaiser B, Kauzlarich K, Kavathekar R, Kerns R, Knutson R, Kross T, Lagisetty P, LaHaie E, Lahidji S, Le G, Lelovic M, Lewis M, Librodo S, Linden E, Lindsay D, Lively-Brindley L, Lorenzo J, Luciani L, Lusk C, Mahal-Lichty J, Maloy P, Manuel J, Mapara P, Marcolivio K, Marcy B, Marek L, Marraffa R, Mason B, McCamish N, McKissack M, Miller E, Moon J, Morris H, Mundt J, Naylor J, Nazario M, Nelson A, Nichols A, Njau E, Noh M, Nolan C, Nolan P, Nugent S, Oakley J, Ofstad H, Okere J, Olney R, Olson J, Ortolan V, Osborne J, Osler B, Packard-Milam M, Palyo S, Patel A, Wiener C, Peter D, Philippe M, Pinsonnault J, Purcell N, Reddy S, Reed J, Rettmann N, Rezaei D, Roberti A, Robinson V, Roca H, Romano E, Rosema T, Rouse R, Rozzero P, Rutks I, Sabet R, Sacra E, Sadowski N, Salameh H, Sandbrink F, Sauve C, Schopmeyer K, Schroeder A, Sculley M, Sellinger J, Sewell K, Seys R, Shah Barman M, Sharpe P, Sides T, Silver K, Siver M, Sloan J, Smith C, Son E, Stevens S, Stoll J, Stoll S, Stoner T, Strand M, Sumner J, Surginer B, Svabek K, Swanson G, Tappainer C, Tat C, Taylor B, Theis A, Thomas L, Thomas G, Tiene K, Udouj R, Ugbo E, Varughese S, Venkatraman S, Viera K, Walker J, Walker J, Wang G, Watson K, Watson E, Westmoreland W, Wilbur E, Williams B, Wolfman A, Woloszyn M, Zanga J, Zuniga S. Buprenorphine, Pain, and Opioid Use in Patients Taking High-Dose Long-Term Opioids. JAMA Internal Medicine 2025, 185: 372-381. PMID: 39960730, PMCID: PMC11833656, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.8361.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study assessed whether switching chronic pain patients from high-dose opioids to buprenorphine improved pain or reduced opioid use, finding no improvements compared with not offering the switch.241 Patient Perspectives on the Summit Opioid Tapering Support Program
Grant A, Wesolowicz D, Becker W, Fraenkel L, Chhabra M, Moore B, Edmond S. 241 Patient Perspectives on the Summit Opioid Tapering Support Program. Journal Of Pain 2025, 29: 105039. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105039.Peer-Reviewed Original Research200 Peers Enhancing Engagement for Pain Services: Results of a Pilot Trial
Edmond S, Rogers D, Klee A, Becker W. 200 Peers Enhancing Engagement for Pain Services: Results of a Pilot Trial. Journal Of Pain 2025, 29: 104998. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2025.104998.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute Pain Management in People With Opioid Use Disorder : A Systematic Review.
Buonora M, Mackey K, Khalid L, Hickey T, Grimshaw A, Moss M, Starrels J, Alford D, Becker W, Weimer M. Acute Pain Management in People With Opioid Use Disorder : A Systematic Review. Annals Of Internal Medicine 2025, 178: 558-570. PMID: 40096692, DOI: 10.7326/annals-24-01917.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsOpioid use disorderOUD outcomesAcute pain interventionsAcute pain managementPain interventionsPain outcomesEmergency departmentPain managementObservational studyUse disorderImprove pain-related outcomesPerioperative settingEffectiveness of pain interventionsPain-related outcomesWell-conducted randomized controlled trialsImprove pain outcomesAcute painful episodesStrength of evidence assessmentIntravenous (IVControlled observational studiesNon-U.S. populationsEffectiveness of interventionsRandomized controlled trialsOral clonidineRisk of biasPain Coping Skills Training for Patients Receiving Hemodialysis
Dember L, Hsu J, Mehrotra R, Cavanaugh K, Kalim S, Charytan D, Fischer M, Jhamb M, Johansen K, Becker W, Pellegrino B, Eneanya N, Schrauben S, Pun P, Unruh M, Morasco B, Mehta M, Miyawaki N, Penfield J, Bernardo L, Brintz C, Cheatle M, Doorenbos A, Heapy A, Keefe F, Krebs E, Kuzla N, Nigwekar S, Schmidt R, Steel J, Wetmore J, White D, Kimmel P, Cukor D, Adams M, Almonte-Then S, Amonu C, Anderson L, Argega Leon A, Argyropoulos C, Ashley E, Bajana Meza M, Bansal N, Barbosa M, Barrell T, Bart G, Barton A, Beach S, Beeks L, Belcher J, Berman N, Berry D, Bhatraju E, Bishop N, Blazes C, Busch A, Cameron S, Cardona M, Casilli V, Cazes M, Chacon Palma G, Chalamidas K, Chaudry S, Chen N, Chicos I, Clark C, Collins D, Connelly L, Contreras B, Cosmin A, Crowley S, Dalton C, Dirks J, Donahue S, Dutka P, Dyer V, Edeh O, Edwards D, Edwards D, Ekor K, Esserman D, Falker C, Farkas L, Farrar J, Felson S, Flores Y, Fraticelli Ortiz D, Garcia G, Gear L, Geibel A, Gilmartin C, Goldfarb D, Goldfeld K, Goldstein A, Gong A, Grant C, Grindstaff R, Guajardo E, Guy C, Hamm M, Hammond J, Harris K, Hoffman S, Holden C, Howell H, Ikizler T, Joffe S, Joffe J, Johnson S, Kalam E, Kampman K, Keane C, Kimura G, Kirsch O, Kourany W, Krishnamurthy P, Kubrick P, Lacey P, Landis J, Lash J, Lazlo K, Lee J, Lefler J, Leon Cupe A, Lerner S, Liebschutz J, Lietz P, Linke L, Lockwood M, Luo H, Macina A, McCarthy A, McDaniels K, McLaren S, McNeil D, Meinel M, Mejia V, Mengesha B, Merriman D, Michael W, Mims R, Mishra P, Modersitzki F, Moss A, Mullins C, Munet U, O'Connell K, Okereke U, Olejniczak D, Opeke S, Pacheco-Hernandez M, Pankratz S, Park D, Payne K, Pegues H, Percy S, Pleasant S, Purdy T, Quinn D, Quintana N, Rice K, Robinson G, Roche C, Rodriguez Sosa G, Rudow G, Rudy Q, Rutledge J, Sanchez S, Sands B, Scherer J, Schopp M, Self B, Shallcross A, Silva K, Stallings T, Stauffer C, Steffen A, Stewart T, Stringfellow S, Sullivan L, Torres R, Torres J, Trejo G, Varela D, Vassilieva S, Vilchis H, Villareal D, Walsh J, Ways J, Weidner T, Weimer M, Weiner D, Weisbord S, Wilkie C, Wilkinson M, Williams S, Williams J, Wilson O, Wood V, Yabes J, Zamora G, Zaniga S. Pain Coping Skills Training for Patients Receiving Hemodialysis. JAMA Internal Medicine 2025, 185: 197-207. PMID: 39786400, PMCID: PMC11791705, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.7140.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPain coping skills trainingPain coping skills training groupUsual care groupBrief Pain InventoryUsual carePain interferenceCoping skills trainingCare groupQuality of lifePain catastrophizingPain intensityBPI interferenceOutcomes of pain intensityRandomized clinical trialsSecondary outcomesChronic painSecondary outcomes of pain intensitySkills trainingBPI interference scoreCognitive behavioral interventionProportion of participantsOutpatient dialysis facilitiesClinically meaningful improvementsPain interventionsRandomized clinical trial of patients
News
News
- May 28, 2025
Opioid Overdose Crisis: Medications Prevent Subsequent Overdoses
- May 27, 2025
Research Project Studies High Doses of an Opioid Use Disorder Medication Among Veterans
- December 02, 2024
Pain Management Collaboratory Coordinating Center Receives Grant to Continue Research
- April 30, 2024
Amid Opioid Overdose Crisis, Yale Program in Addiction Medicine Advises State on Drug Company Settlement Spending
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Contacts
General Internal Medicine
VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Mailstop 151B, 950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516
United States
Locations
PRIME Center of Innovation, Bldg 35A
Academic Office
VA Connecticut Healthcare
950 Campbell Avenue, Fl 1st Fl, Rm Rm #109
West Haven, CT 06516