Edwin C. Chapman

Not to be confused with Edwin Chapman (biochemist).

Edwin C. Chapman is an American physician and public health advocate based in Washington, D.C.. His practice focuses on internal and addiction medicine. He is known for developing integrated models of care that address substance use disorder alongside primary care and mental health services. His work has been profiled by The Washington Post, PBS NewsHour, and other national outlets for its role in addressing the opioid epidemic in underserved communities. Chapman has testified before Congress, contributed to national health policy discussions, and received honors from professional organizations including the American Medical Association and the National Medical Association.

Edwin C. Chapman
Born	Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Alma mater	Howard University College of Medicine (M.D.)
Occupation(s)	Physician, addiction specialist, public health advocate
Years active	1978–present
Employer	Medical Home Development Group
Known for	Integrated addiction treatment, health equity advocacy
Awards	National Medical Association Practitioner of the Year (2016) AMA Excellence in Public Health Whitman-Walker Health Hero Award

Early life and education

Chapman was raised in Gary, Indiana, in a civically active household. His father, Joseph C. Chapman Sr., was the first executive director of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and played a role in desegregating local hospitals during the 1940s. Chapman earned his medical degree from the Howard University College of Medicine. He completed an internal medicine residency and a cardiology fellowship at Freedmen's Hospital and Howard University Hospital (now unified as Howard University Hospital). He is board certified in both internal medicine and addiction medicine and is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (FASAM).

Career

Chapman has practiced internal medicine and addiction medicine in Washington, D.C. for more than four decades. He began his career during the heroin epidemic and served as medical director of a methadone clinic, gaining early experience in treating opioid use disorder. These experiences informed his view of addiction as a chronic medical condition requiring long-term, coordinated care.

He is affiliated with the Medical Home Development Group, where he leads efforts to integrate addiction treatment with primary care, behavioral health, and case management. His clinical model includes screening for mental health conditions, offering wraparound services, and addressing social determinants of health such as housing instability and chronic stress.

Chapman has also contributed to health policy through advisory roles with the National Medical Association, the District of Columbia Department of Health, and Howard University, focusing on improving access to addiction treatment and reducing health disparities.

Academic appointments and teaching

Chapman is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Health and Psychiatry at Howard University, where he lectures on addiction medicine and supervises clinical training. He has collaborated with the university’s College of Medicine and School of Pharmacy to develop care models that integrate treatment for substance use disorder, mental health, and primary care, with a focus on underserved populations.

Telehealth and innovation

Chapman developed a telemedicine system to serve marginalized populations by coordinating services—including psychiatry, nutrition, pharmacy counseling, and case management—within a single virtual visit. He views addiction as a “social determinant of health” and emphasizes addressing “toxic stress” in families and communities.

Leadership roles

Chapman serves as secretary of the board and founding member of the Leadership Council for Healthy Communities, a D.C.-based nonprofit coalition of over 30 faith-based organizations. The council deploys mobile and virtual care teams to deliver health services in churches and community centers.

In 2019, he was appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on the Integration of Opioid and Infectious Disease Prevention Efforts.

Congressional testimony

Chapman frequently testifies before federal agencies and Congressional committees on addiction, behavioral health integration, and racial disparities. In March 2022, he testified before the United States House Committee on Ways and Means on the intersection of substance use, structural inequities, and economic opportunity.

In his testimony and public advocacy, Chapman has emphasized that addiction must be understood as a disease shaped by structural racism, chronic poverty, and intergenerational trauma. He has argued that untreated substance use disorders are closely linked to systemic inequities in education, housing, and the criminal justice system.

Awards and Recognition

• Dr. Edwin C. Chapman was recognized by the American Medical Association for his work integrating addiction care with primary care to address the opioid crisis.
• Practitioner of the Year” (2016)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Award – The Gooden Center

Media

Chapman’s work has been covered in:

• NPR Morning Edition – opioid epidemic in Black communities
• The Washington Post – D.C.’s opioid crisis during COVID-19
• PBS NewsHour – overdose deaths among people of color
• Fox News – fentanyl crisis in Black communities
• Pulitzer Center – profile on advocacy in D.C.
• C-SPAN – health equity testimony
• *Medication-Assisted Therapies* – SAMHSA DVD (2008)

Publications

• Chapman, Edwin C. (2024). "National trends in reported past year opioid misuse among Black women (with co-authors)". ResearchGate. Retrieved June 5, 2025.

• Chapman, Edwin C. (August 2024). "Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine in Washington, DC: Dr. Edwin Chapman" (PDF). IPRO Quality Award Poster. Retrieved June 5, 2025.

• Chapman, Edwin C. (April 2017). "Pharmacogenomics-guided policy in opioid use disorder (OUD) management: An ethnically-diverse case-based approach (with co-authors)". ResearchGate. Retrieved June 5, 2025.

• Chapman, Edwin C. (October 2019). "Pharmacogenomics and OUD Clinical Decision Support in an African American Cohort (with co-authors)". ResearchGate. Retrieved June 5, 2025.

• Chapman, Edwin C. (March 2022). "Frequency of the Dopamine Receptor D3 rs6280 vs Opioid Receptor 1 rs1799971 Polymorphic Risk Alleles in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder (with co-authors)". ResearchGate. Retrieved June 5, 2025.

• Chapman, Edwin C. (February 2018). "Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS): A predictor of vulnerability to opioid dependence (with co-authors)". ResearchGate. Retrieved June 5, 2025.

Legacy and impact

Chapman's work has contributed to the transformation of addiction care in Washington, D.C., particularly within African American communities. He has advanced integrated models that combine primary care, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment. His advocacy has informed public health strategies and policies at the local and national levels. His contributions have been recognized by professional associations and featured in national media coverage.

See also

• Opioid epidemic in the United States
• Health disparities in the United States

External links

• Medical Home Development Group
• Black Mental Health Alliance profile
• End the Epidemic – Chapman on Telehealth