Brain Science and Addiction Recovery A Doctor's Calling

Interview Recorded on: August 9th, 2025

The Making of a Healer: A Journey of Personal Discovery

Dr. Steve Delisi's path to becoming a powerful voice in addiction medicine began with his own struggles. The son of a psychiatrist, Steve initially pursued emergency medicine but faced his own battles with depression and anxiety during medical school. The traditional care models he was learning didn't match what he and his family had experienced, sparking what he calls an "existential crisis."

As a natural “hyper learner,” Steve took a three-year detour into neuroscience research while exploring spirituality alongside his wife. Then came the pivotal moment: sitting in a VA library, he experienced a calling back to clinical work. “I clearly heard a voice that said, ‘I need you back in clinical work,’” he recalls, still getting goosebumps at the memory.

The transformation completed during his psychiatric residency when he met two physician mentors living in recovery from addiction—Dr. Dan Ingress and Dr. Paul Feldman. Their holistic, biopsychosocial-spiritual approach didn’t just make sense for addiction; it offered a compassionate framework for all chronic conditions requiring whole-person care.

“I’ve always seen the dots that connect more than the dots that separate,” Steve reflects, describing the integration that would define his 25+ year career.

Revolutionary Care: Meeting People Where They Are

Today, Dr. Delisi serves dual roles that embody his commitment to innovation and education. As Chief Medical Officer for YourPath, Inc., he’s pioneering addiction treatment that flips the traditional model—instead of expecting people to navigate complex systems, YourPath brings care directly to emergency departments, jails, and encampments for the unhoused.

As Co-Associate Director for the Train New Trainers (TNT) Fellowships PC-TEAM at UC Irvine, he’s simultaneously shaping the next generation of providers, ensuring they understand both the science and art of integrated care.
YourPath uses secure, HIPAA-compliant technology on any device, enabling outreach workers to provide immediate connection to clinical assessment and treatment. The approach particularly focuses on historically marginalized communities, with over 90% of care provided through Minnesota Medicaid.

“In addiction, the brain signals that the most important thing for survival is to use,” Dr. Delisi explains. “In that moment where someone sees with clarity ‘I need help,’ if we’re not there, we might lose that moment.”