Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship
A Message from the OPMOS Founding Director
Dania Cyd Chastain, PhD
Founding Director of OPMOS
Clinical Psychologist
Anesthesiology Pain Management
The opioid crisis has changed the way we study, evaluate, and treat patients. I founded The University of Virginia Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship (OPMOS) to establish and foster interdisciplinary, collaborative educational initiatives within UVA and in partnership with our local community. We offer individualized education for healthcare providers and nonprofits, for patients and families, and for students and parents. Our focus is on:
- Communication—between doctors and patients, within institutions, within families, and with community supports
- Treatment—research-based best practices for opioid prescribing, sparing, tapering, weaning, and opioid use disorder
- Collaboration—with other research hospitals, community healthcare organizations, local educators, and providers across specialties (including anesthesiology, EMS, nursing, oncology, orthopedics, pain medicine, pediatrics, pharmacy, psychology, oral surgery, palliative care, social work, and surgery)
- Safety—patient and provider protocols, drug disposal drop-boxes, and education on medication safety and responsibility at home
- Empowerment—foundations for provider-patient communication, the role of pain management, and harm reduction strategies
We are a resource for you, and for your patients. Let us know if you are interested in an educational program to meet the needs of your practice or organization. Get involved—tell us what you’re seeing, tell us what you need at OPMOS@uvahealth.org or reach us by phone in the UVA Department of Anesthesiology at (434) 924-2283. Please see the “About OPMOS” and the “Educational Programs” section below to learn more.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Dr. Dania Chastain, PhD
Founding Director of OPMOS
About OPMOS
At OPMOS, we educate, empower, and connect patients, families, healthcare providers and community stakeholders.
Educate
- Innovative educational programs for healthcare providers, patients, and families in Charlottesville and beyond
- CME curriculum
- Programming designed for your organization/practice/school
- Virtual, nationwide lectures and forums
- Scientific articles and research
Empower
- Strategies and support for both patients and providers to enable open and effective communication.
- Free, accessible information for patients and families
- Link both patients and providers to state and local healthcare groups, harm-reduction services, and nonprofits
- Address disparities in pain management
Connect
- Partner with UVA’s Pain Management Division, and UVA’s Perioperative Medicine Division
- Collaborate with other research hospitals
- Member of the (Region Ten) Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition
- Committed to Health equity
Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship (OPMOS) Advisory Board
University of Virginia (UVA):
Peggy P. McNaull, MD
UVA Frederic A. Berry Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology
UGR3XC@uvahealth.org
Lynn Kohan, MD
UVA Department of Anesthesiology, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine; Medical Director, Fellowship Director, Chronic Pain Fellowship
Lrk9g@uvahealth.org
Dania Cyd Chastain, PhD
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Pain Medicine; Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology,
Founding Director, Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship
Dcc6w@uvahealth.org
Leslie Blackhall, MD
UVA Division of Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care; Director of Palliative Care
Lb9x@uvahealth.org
Jeff Elias, MD
UVA Department of Neurosurgery; Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Wje4r@uvahealth.org
Bob Goldstein, MD
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/ Division of Pain Medicine; Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Rbg7a@uvahealth.org
Leisa Gonnella, MD
UVA Director of Administration, Department of Anesthesiology
Ltg4a@uvahealth.org
Traci Hedricks, MD
UVA Department of Surgery
Th8q@uvahealth.org
Leon Henry, MSW, LCSW
UVA Clinical Supervisor of Department of Social Work; Private Practice-Virginia Family Therapy
Lh9NE@hsmail.uvahealth.org
Lori Urban, PsyD
UVA Department of Anesthesiology, Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, Clinical Health Psychologist
Lau96@uvahealth.org
Andrew Whitman, PharmD, BCOP,
UVA Health, Department of Pharmacy Services: Lead Clinical Pharmacist – Hematology/Oncology; Residency; Program Director – PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy
Amw6az@uvahealth.org
Robin Hamill-Ruth, MD
UVA Pain Center, Director Emeritus
rhamillruth@gmail.com
Andrew Mendelson, DO
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Pain Medicine, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
HAV4PM@uvahealth.org
Priyanka Singla, MD
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Pain Medicine, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
Ps7EY@uvahealth.org
Bhavana Yalamuru, MBBS
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Pain Medicine; Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
By2g@uvahealth.org
Xiaoying (Amy) Zhu, MD
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Pain Medicine, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
X26b@uvahealth.org
Ann Marie Smith, MEd, MDiv
UVA Emily Couric Cancer, Center Chaplaincy Services and Pastoral Education, Adult Oncology
ams5av@virginia.edu
Wendy Carlton
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Pain Medicine; Executive Editor, Program Director, Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship
Wlc4a@uvahealth.org
Steve Morton, RN
UVA Acute Pain Service, Nurse Coordinator
Spm4w@uvahealth.org
Christian Renwick
UVA School of Medicine, Class of 2024
Cmr4b@uvahealth.org
Other Academic Institutions:
Marie Hanna, MD, MEHP
Johns Hopkins University, Associate Professor Anesthesia and Critical Care; Division Chief, Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management;
Medical Director, Perioperative Pain Program
Mhanna9@jhmi.edu
Jessica Strasburg, MD
Cleveland Clinic, Department of Family Medicine and Women’s Health; Pelvic Pain Specialist
strasbj@ccf.org
Charlottesville/Albemarle Community:
Sarah Knight, MD
Pediatric Associates of Charlottesville
sarahesvk@gmail.com
Nathaniel D. Tricker, DDS
Section Chief, Sentara MJH Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Dentistry; Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Diplomate, American Dental Society of Dental Anesthesia
nate.tricker@gmail.com
Jeffrey Katra, DO, MA
Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship UVA, Behavioral Health and Cannabis Medicine, Health and Wellness Medical Services Charlottesville
jeff.katra@gmail.com
Amanda Sovik-Johnston, PhD
Adolescent Psychologist, Virginia Family Therapy
a.sovik.johnston@gmail.com
Rebecca Kendall, MSW
Region Ten Community Services Board; Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition Director
Rebecca.kendall@regionten.org
Virginia Leavell
Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, Chief
vleavell@rescue1.org
Resources
We have an outpatient Pain Management Center, and inpatient Acute Pain and Regional programs. If you are coming in for surgery or have a patient that is entering our perioperative process, our pain services’ practice will work with you before, during, and after to help you have the least amount of discomfort in the saftest way possible. If you need longer term rehabilitation, or have a chronic condition, we will make an individualized plan that could include, safe and shorter-term opioid treatment, non-opioid medication, mind-body techniques, opioid weaning or titration, physical therapy, interventional pain management procedures such as nerve blocks, and surgical options.
All across the Anesthesiology Department, pain treatment with opioids is never a solo intervention. Since pain is all encompassing, to successfully manage your pain we need to look at its impact on all aspects of your life. Whether you have a history of opioid use disorder (OUD), or this is the first time you have needed pain medication, we provide a safe, non- judgmental environment. When you are assessed by our team, we will listen, answer your questions, address your concerns, and explain in practical terms your treatment and follow-up options. We are an interdisciplinary team dedicated to not being part of the problem—and dedicated to being part of the solution.
More Information
Of course, you cannot talk about pain without talking about opioids. Here in Virginia, we lost over 2,200 people to opioids in 2021. (VDH) Heroin and fentanyl (a dangerously powerful synthetic opioid), have overtaken pain medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine as the biggest killers.
These numbers are all people. The greatest percentage of them are between the ages of 35 and 44—people in the prime of their lives. They are Black, White, LatinX, Asian, and Native American. They are men, women, and trans people. They come from all socio-economic backgrounds. They are high-school dropouts and Ph.Ds. They are our friends, neighbors, and family members. And they are why we started this work at UVA.
At the heart of this public health crisis lies the fact that 4 out of 5 pharmacy-filled prescriptions are opioids (NCDAS). In 2021, more than 107,000 people in the U.S. died of a drug overdose—the most overdose deaths ever recorded in a single year. And 76% of those deaths were from opioids. People abuse prescription opioids specifically, or 95%.
Among people who abuse any prescription painkiller, 95% of them abuse opioids. No matter who you are, or what your situation with pain or pain medication is, our doors and our hearts are open to you.
For more information, please reach out to either of us at OPMOS@uvahealth.org or by phone in the UVA Department of Anesthesiology at (434) 924-2283. We look forward to hearing from you.
Dania Cyd Chastain, PhD
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Pain Medicine; Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology,
Founding Director, Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship
Wendy Carlton
UVA Department of Anesthesiology/Division of Pain Medicine; Executive Editor, Program Director, Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship
Educational Programs
Charlottesville Albemarle Dental Society
UVA Anesthesiology Pain Management Division and OPMOS Oral Surgeons & Dentists Program Speaker Panel with Program Organizers (l to r): Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad Chief Virginia Leavell, UVA Medical Student Christian Renwick, Dr. Andrew Mendelson, MD, Dr. Priyanka Singla, MD, Dr. Dania Chastain, PhD, Dr. Lynn Kohan, MD, Dr. Nate Tricker, DDS, and Wendy Carlton
The University of Virginia (UVA) Anesthesiology Department and the Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship (OPMOS) hosted a program for Charlottesville Albemarle Oral Surgeons and Dentists on Thursday May 25th at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville, Virginia. The program fulfilled the annual Opioid CME requirement for the over 60 local Oral Surgeons and Dentists in attendance.
The Panel of Speakers gave the following informative presentations and trainings:
- Dr. Nate Tricker, DDS, presented “Prescribing Practices of General Dentists and Dental Specialists.”
- Dr. Dania Cyd Chastain, PhD, spoke on “CDC New Opioid Prescribing Guidelines and the Impact on Your Practice,” as well as “Medication Safety and Responsibility.”
- Dr. Andrew Mendelson, MD, gave a talk on “Conducting a Pain Evaluation: Assessment of Patient’s History Including Substance Abuse Utilizing the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP).”
- Dr. Lynn Kohan, MD, delivered a talk on “Treating Patients on a Chronic Pain Regimen,” which included the topics of treating patients with a history of substance abuse, treating patients on buprenorphine, and when to refer to a pain specialist.
- Dr. Priyanka Singla, MD, addressed “Non-Opioid Interventions, Non-pharmacological interventions, When and how to prescribe opioids, and Tapering strategies.”
- Dr. Christian Renwick, MD, covered “Warning Signs for Opioid Addiction in Healthcare Providers, and Taking Control of Your Wellness.”
- Virginia Leavell, Chief of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, presented “Narcan Training,” which certified participants in Narcan administration.
Additional Resources:
The UVA Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship (OPMOS) builds educational programs for your practice, institution, and community. We collaborate with local healthcare organizations and nonprofits. We are a resource for you, and for your patients. Get involved—tell us what you’re seeing, and contact us for more information at: opmos@uvahealth.org.
UVA Anesthesiology Pain Management Division: At UVA, our Pain Management Services utilize empirically-based assessments and treatments to preemptively address our patients’ pain and provide interdisciplinary support throughout the perioperative process.
The University of Virginia (UVA) Department of Anesthesiology and Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship (OPMOS) presented this course, which was also sponsored by the University of Virginia School of Medicine and the UVA School of Nursing:
“Meeting the Moment: How the Opioid Crisis has Changed the Way We Study, Evaluate, and Treat Patients.”
Dr. Bhavana Yalamuru, MD, Anesthesiology Pain Management Division
Dr. Priyanka Singla MBBS, MD, Anesthesiology Pain Management Division
Instructors and Topics:
Dr. Bhavana Yalamuru, MD, Diabetic Neuropathy,
and Dr. Priyanka Singla, MBBS, MD, Interventional Pain Techniques.
Course Date/Time, Location, Registration: The program is June 13th, 2023, 8:00-9:00pm ET and was be offered Virtually via Zoom. For more information, please link to the UVA Medical Alumni Association
It is impossible to discuss pain management without addressing the opioid crisis. At UVA, our pain management services utilize empirically based assessments and treatments for patients suffering from chronic pain as well as those suffering from pain during the perioperative period.
Pain cannot be treated successfully in isolation. Our team is an example of an interdisciplinary collaboration steeped in educational programming, evidence-based protocol development, and clinical expertise. A patient with pain is so much more than that. Pain is a private experience and many factors such as age, gender, culture, disparities, psychological make-up and previous experiences in the healthcare system compound to formulate their response.
Course Description: An estimated 20.9% of U.S. adults (51.6 million people) experience chronic pain, and 6.9% (17.1 million persons) experience high-impact chronic pain (CDC, 2023). Despite multiple trials of medications, therapy, and conservative measures, often a patient’s quality of life has been significantly altered by the pain. Dr. Singla discussed the assessment process. She will also explore the potential of peripheral nerve and spinal cord stimulators and intrathecal pumps for improved patient outcomes.
There are 37.3. million people with diabetes. In the US it affects 11.3 percent of the population. 8.5 million (23% are undiagnosed). This disease has significant complications and associated symptoms. Diabetic neuropathy is a complication from having high sugar levels for a prolonged period of time. Symptoms include pain, increased sensitivity, numbness or weakness and serious foot issues. Dr. Yalamuru discussed assessment of types of nerve damage and treatments to help patients manage their pain and improve quality of life.
Director: Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship (OPMOS) Founding Director, Dr. Dania Cyd Chastain, PhD, email: opmos@uvahealth.org
Target Audience: Physicians, Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers, interprofessional teams
For More Information: Click this link to the UVA Medical Alumni Association
Continuing Education Credit: The Program was offered for Continuing Education Credit which was available to claim credit for a 30-day period. For more information, please link to the UVA Medical Alumni Association. Please note that credit will not be issued after the evaluation period has closed.
As part of our Medical Alumni Pain Management Series, the UVA Department of Anesthesiology, the Office of Pain Management and Opioid Stewardship, in partnership with the University of Virginia School of Medicine and School of Nursing presented:
“Meeting the Moment–How the Opioid Crisis has Changed the Way we Study, Evaluate, and Treat Patients–Session 6: Adolescents and Opioids”
This session explored what the opioid crisis looks like in American high schools and middle schools. Who is taking opioids? Where are they getting them? How are they taking them? Why are they overdosing? What is the role of doctors and mental health professionals?
An interdisciplinary panel including pain management doctors, a pain psychologist, a UVA medical school student, and the Charlottesville EMS Chief discussed the following and answered your questions:
- The current state of the opioid crisis nationally, regionally, and locally
- The impact of fentanyl
- The impact of the teen mental health crisis
- Risk factors and warning signs
- Harm reduction strategies including pain management best practices, mental health support, education, Narcan and fentanyl test strips, and medication safety
Date, Time and Link:
July 18th, 2023, 8:00-9:00pm ET
DEV NOTES: [Needs a Link]
Target Audience:
Physicians, nurses, psychologists, healthcare providers, parents, teachers, coaches, and school administrators. Participants submitted questions when they registered and messaged panelists during the program.
Speakers and Panelists:
Dania Cyd Chastain, PhD Dcc6w@uvahealth.org
Priyanka Singla, MD Ps7ey@uvahealth.org
Virginia Leavell, Charlottesville EMS Chief vleavell@rescue1.org
Christian Renwick, UVA Medical School, class of ’24 Cmr4kb@uvahealth.org
Course Description:
It is impossible to discuss pain management without addressing the opioid crisis. At UVA, our pain management services utilize empirically based assessments and treatments for patients suffering from chronic pain as well as those suffering from pain during the perioperative period.
Pain cannot be treated successfully in isolation. Our team is an example of an interdisciplinary collaboration steeped in educational programming, evidence- based protocol development, and clinical expertise. A patient with pain is so much more than that. Pain is a private experience and many factors such as age, gender, culture, disparities, psychological make-up and previous experiences in the healthcare system compound to formulate their response.
Desired Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the impact of the opioid crisis on managing pain for patients
- Apply strategies to evaluate and treat patients with pain
- Explain the importance of interdisciplinary involvement to address pain
- Describe pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to effectively treat pain
- Identify risk factors for practitioner burnout and substance abuse in healthcare providers
- Develop interprofessional collaboration for patient care with community partners and UVA Pain Division
To Claim CE Credit
- Click on this link to the CME Village website.
- Click on the “Learning Portal” button and select “CE Certificate”.
- Sign in with your email and password or create an account if you are a new user.
- Enter the 5-digit CE Activity Code 146673. Click “Submit” and “Continue”.
- Complete the Activity Evaluation and click “Done”.
Certificate; select the number of credits to claim for attending this activity. - Click “Submit”
- Click “Print Certificate” or access later by visiting the website.
For assistance, please contact uvacme@virginia.edu
NOTE: The CE activity will only be available to claim credit for a 30-day period. Credit will not be issued after the evaluation period has closed.