Dr. Nicholas Chien is our recent fellowship graduate. Now the Assistant Program Director, he closely mentors our fellows.
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is a global event held on August 31 each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. The day also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends, remembering those who have died or suffered permanent injuries due to drug overdose. Rush students and faculty, along with many community partners, provided overdose reversal training and distribution of Narcan/naloxone; PPE distribution; referral to medication-assisted recovery for addiction treatment; and housing assistance.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a plan to publish Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder. This announcement caused a mix of enthusiasm, skepticism, and confusion in the medical community. The reaction of the plan to publish the guidelines less than two weeks later by the Biden administration has created an opportunity for fundamental and needed reform, written by Yngvild Olsen, MD, MPH, Institutes for Behavior Resources Inc., Ruchi M. Fitzgerald, MD, Associate Program Director Addiction Medicine Program at Rush, and Sarah E. Wakeman, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital online in American Medical Association Journal, February 25, 2021.
Congratulations to Dr. Ruchi Fitzgerald for winning the Attendees’ Choice Award at the 2021 Federation of State Physician Health Programs (FSPHP) Virtual Education Conference - World Disrupted: Caring for the Caregivers in Uncertain Times for her poster presentation entitled “Rewrite the Stars”: How PHPas Enhance Recovery and Foster Resiliency.”
Dr. Fitzgerald was also recently awarded as a Puffer Fellow.
Centerstone and the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling (ICPG) teamed up to put on the 2nd annual Centerstone Problem and Compulsive Gambling Symposium featuring the ICPG Administrator Bill Johnson speaking about “The Stigma of Addiction.” Professor T. Celeste Napier presented the “Neuroscience of factors that contribute to gambling disorders.”
COVID-19 has blanketed the work in an unrelenting fog of stress, anxiety, fear, fatigue, and grief. At the same time, the U.S. has faced months of civil unrest, an unprecedented election season, and natural disasters ranging from hurricanes to fires. Experts like Dr. Gail Basch offer advice regarding two critical challenges in addressing physician stress.
Dr. Ruchi M. Fitzgerald’s commentary was published in American Family Physician journal 2021 March 1;103(5):302-304.
Created by Dr. Nicholas Chien, this 42-minute CME learning module is packed with information!
Received in 2020 for outstanding commitment to the Thresholds mission.
Dr. Ruchi Fitzgerald shares her positive experience with the Physicians Health Program (PHP) and talks about heightening awareness through her substance-abuse disorder (SUD) work with Rush.
Dr. Ruchi Fitzgerald speaks with police and residents of her hometown, Hinsdale. She emphasizes the importance of people carrying naloxone – “You never know when you might use it and save someone’s life.”
This study enumerates and characterizes physicians dually certified in Family Medicine and ADM.
Until further notice, Grand Rounds are held via WebEx on Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. The full schedule can be found here. If you would like to be added to the list, please contact Elizabeth Toppen at elizabeth_m_toppen@rush.edu.
| Date | Article |
|---|---|
| 12/21 |
Rise in Substance Use Due to COVID-19 (Rush Stories) |
| 6/22/21 |
Words of wisdom for the New Resident (AAMC News, Association of American Medical Colleges) |
| 3/18/21 |
The Pandemic Has Forced A Mental Health Reckoning In Medicine (Medical Bag) |
| 1/25/21 |
Introduction to the Center for Clinical Wellness, Residency Relook Day — Virtual Orientation to Center for Clinical Wellness, Rush Medical College |
| 9/20 | |
| 7/20 |
Adjusting to the New Normal — Rush Wellness Self-Care Series Wellness Video |
| 4/4/20 |
Telemedicine Is Not Enough (Gizmodo) |
| 7/20 |
Adjusting to the New Normal — Rush Wellness Self-Care Series Wellness Video |
| 1/20 |
Don’t Wait To Hit Rock Bottom-Treat Alcohol Problems Before The Worst Happens (Chicago Tribune) |
| 11/19 |
Death from Alcohol Overuse Can be Prevented with Medications (The Hill) |
| 6/19 |
What is CBD? (Smart Minute Rush Production Group) |
| 1/4/2019 |
Tackling Substance Use Disorders (Rush Winter Progress Notes, Rush News) |
| 1/2019 |
Tackling Substance Use Disorders (Chicago Tribune) |