Dr. Scott Alan Teitelbaum of Alachua passed away on April 16th, 2026 at the age of 68 due to complications from an elective surgery. He was born June 27th, 1957 in Staten Island, NY, the youngest child of Danny and Diane Teitelbaum. Scott was proud of his roots and where he came from. He was a lover of sports, both as a player and a fan, excelling at baseball and basketball and eventually becoming a walk-on player for his college basketball team at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Not sure of what was next, he spent some time traveling across the country and enjoying life with his friends in their early 20s before deciding to become a physician. Scott attended The University of Rochester College of Medicine where he met his first wife. They were married shortly thereafter and moved to Connecticut to complete their respective residencies in pediatric medicine at the University of Connecticut (UConn) Hospital and later had three children.

As a pediatrician, "Dr. Scott" was beloved for his easy way with children, his willingness to go above and beyond, and his keen medical eye. However, he was privately struggling with addiction, which came to head in the late 90s. Scott lost his license to practice medicine in Connecticut and eventually entered recovery, which, as it often does, took a few tries to stick. He became sober in 1996 and would have celebrated 30 years in August. While in rehab in Mississippi, Scott was introduced to Dr. Mark Gold, who offered Scott the opportunity to complete a fellowship at the University of Florida in addiction medicine. Over time, Scott would become a gifted and nationally renowned expert in the field who touched the lives of thousands of patients, colleagues, and students in his tenure as medical director of The Florida Recovery Center (FRC). During this time, he met his second wife, with whom he had two children. It is difficult to put into words the impact he had, but "Dr. T saved my life" is a sentiment often repeated in the community. Guided by his personal experiences, Scott treated many individuals struggling with addiction and was known for having a tough exterior with a big, soft heart underneath.

Beyond his career in addiction medicine, Scott reserved immense pride and unconditional love for his family. He leaves behind his five children: Sarah (Nate), Eric, Jake (Andee), Dahlia, and Eliana, his grandchildren Avery and Maeve, his brother Larry, sister Judi, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Daniel and Diane Teitelbaum. Scott was a beloved physician, father, grandfather, and brother who will be deeply and sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Florida Recovery Center https://giving.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/023155-uf-psychiatry-florida-recovery-center/ to continue to support his mission