Outreach Events
Community Partnerships: Inspiring the Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals
Teddy Bear Clinic
On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the Department of Anesthesiology’s Community Outreach Subcommittee partnered with numerous UVA Health teams, community organizations, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia for the first-ever Teddy Bear Clinic! The first 100 kids received their very own teddy bear, who then went through a “check-up”.
Along the way, families visited interactive stations where kids learned about medical care by walking their bears through the process. We were especially proud to host the Anesthesiology station, where we helped children understand what to expect on the day of surgery using real tools like bouffants, masks, and stethoscopes—making the unknown feel more familiar and a lot more fun.
Read more about the Teddy Bear Clinic here.
UVA Health Day Camp
The Department of Anesthesiology is committed to making a positive difference in the communities we serve by cultivating interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). One of the Community Outreach Subcommittee’s goals is to spark students’ curiosity, encourage them to pursue further education in these areas, explore career paths in STEM, and see the University of Virginia as a gateway to future possibilities.
We host local middle and high school students on Grounds for a series of hands-on workshops in which they practice intubation, CPR, stitching, donning and doffing PPE, and/or organ identification.
Community Outreach Subcommittee partners with other UVA departments and community organizations such as Boys & Girls Club, City of Promise, and Starr Hill Pathway.
Previous Events
- 2025 Apr 29: City of Promise (in collaboration with UVA Emergency Medicine, Pathology, and Perioperative Services)
- 2024 Nov 4: Boys & Girls Club (in collaboration with UVA Surgery and Pathology)
- 2024 Jun 18: Starr Hill Pathways (in collaboration with UVA Surgery)
- 2024 May 8: City of Promise (in collaboration with UVA Surgery)
- 2023 Nov 7: Boys & Girls Club (in collaboration with UVA Surgery and Plastic Surgery)
- 2023 Feb 20: Starr Hill Pathways (in collaboration with UVA Surgery, Cardiac Surgery Division, TCV-PO ICU, and School of Education)
Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
The Department of Anesthesiology’s Community Outreach Subcommittee also partners with Student National Medical Association (SNMA) to provide hands-on learning experiences to high school, premedical, and medical students hosted on Grounds by SNMA. The past events include:
- 2/1/2025: Intubation workshop at SNMA Conference
- 11/20/2024: Airway workshop with basic BVM demonstration and endotracheal intubation using mannequins at Discover Medicine’s Pulmonary: Lung Cancer and Prevention Program
- 10/30/2024: Basic TTE workshop at Discover Medicine’s Intro to Cancer & Hematological Malignancies Program
Community Events Participation
Cville Pride Festival
The Department of Anesthesiology was at the C’ville Pride Festival on September 17, 2024. Despite the rain, it was wonderful celebrating with the community. Thank you to all who turned out in support!
Excited to participate again in 2025 on September 9th. We will have OPMOS booth to provide education on opioids and Narcan and also volunteer at the Transgender and LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee‘s booth.
Cville Women’s 4-Miler
Several anesthesiology faculty and staff members typically participate in the annual Charlottesville Women’s 4-Miler race in September. This is the largest all-women’s race in Virginia and over the years, it has raised millions of dollars for UVA’s Breast Care Program.
Community Safety: Drug Take Back
National Drug Take Back Day
The Department of Anesthesiology celebrates National Drug Take Back Day in collaboration with Pharmacy, Marketing, and Administration departments by hosting a drive-through drug drop-off in front of the ERC building. This event — initially submitted to, and a winner in, the UVA Health SPARK Innovation Competition — was sponsored by UVA Health Pharmacy, UVA Health Department of Anesthesiology Pain Management Center, UVA Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship (OPMOS), and UVA Police Department.
In April 2024, 163 pounds of medications for disposal were collected. And for the first time, sharp instruments in containers also were collected: two-and-a-half, extra-large trash receptacles full.
In April 2023, close to 100lbs of medications for disposal were collected.
Year-Round Drug Take Back Receptacles
Dr. Bob Goldstein, MD, pain management specialist in the Department of Anesthesiology learned of a problem from his patients, where unused or old prescription drugs often sit around at home without a safe way to dispose of them. According to Dr. Goldstein, these drugs can cause harm through misuse or being consumed by accident. Or if they are flushed down toilets, or leak into landfills, they cause environmental harm and contaminate the water supply.
Dr. Goldstein led a team effort to solve this problem and increase the availability of drug take-back receptacles. The goal was to provide greater access to medically and environmentally safe disposal locations. The team includes Anesthesiology, Pharmacy, Facility Management, the SPARK Initiative Administrative team and UVA-Health Administration.
According to Dr. Goldstein, “When the SPARK program came along,” he says, “I thought I would propose the idea of additional recovery boxes, and fortunately, the UVA Health Spark Innovation Committee liked the idea, too.” As a result of their efforts, six new Drug-Takeback Receptacles are now located at the following locations:
At the year-round locations — illegal drugs, and medical waste such as syringes and needles, are not accepted.
Click to learn more more about Dr. Bob Goldstein and his team’s efforts in the UVA School of Medicine’s Medicine in Motion feature article.
Holiday Gift Drive
Each holiday season, the Department of Anesthesiology partners with the Southwood Boys & Girls Club to sponsor local Charlottesville families. With the help of generous contributions, we have been able to fulfill wish lists for several children and provide gift cards for their families. The effort includes a gift-wrapping party and ends with delivering the gifts to the Club. This initiative highlights the Department’s commitment to community support and holiday giving.
