The Matthew Perry Foundation has established a fellowship in addiction medicine, 15 months after the former Friends star’s death from a ketamine overdose. In collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the Matthew Perry Foundation Fellowship in Addiction Medicine will allow a physician to participate in MGH’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship during the 2025-26 academic year. Dr. Sarah ‘SK’ Kler, a resident at MGH, will assume this role in June, focusing on addiction treatment and future care initiatives, as announced by the foundation on Instagram.
In a statement, Doug Chapin, chair of the foundation’s board, and executive director Lisa Kasteler Calio emphasized Perry’s commitment to reducing the stigma associated with addiction. They expressed pride in supporting this vital work. The Canadian actor, who had been using ketamine multiple times daily prior to his death, was found deceased at his Los Angeles home in October 2023, with a medical examiner later confirming ketamine as the primary cause of death.
Dr. Sarah Wakeman, the fellowship’s program director, cautioned against isolating addiction care from broader medical practices. She noted that treating addiction solely as a social issue, rather than a medical one, could worsen stigma and inequities, ultimately intensifying the impact of this public health crisis.
