Finding Solutions
Advocating Addiction Medicine Fellows for Tennessee
In 2017, UTHSC continued to take a leading role in the fight against substance abuse in Tennessee. In 2016, the UTHSC Center for Addiction Science was named the first Center of Excellence in Addiction Medicine by the Addiction Medicine Foundation in Washington, D.C., for being first in the nation to bring together clinical care, research, education and community outreach to address addiction and deadly substance use.
In 2017, UTHSC received statewide attention for an initiative stemming from the education arm of the center. Dr. David Stern, vice chancellor for health affairs for statewide Initiatives, traversed the state to generate support for a proposal to establish a statewide network of addiction medicine fellows trained at UTHSC as the front line in diagnosing, treating and preventing substance abuse. Stern’s personal story of losing his son to an overdose became the face of his quest to generate support for the proposal.
Read coverage:
wreg.com
tennessean.com
knoxnews.com
commercialappeal.com
IPS’ Law Enforcement Innovation Center Partners with BlueCross to Prevent Drug OD Deaths →
A naloxone training program for those who answer drug-overdose calls has been developed by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation and the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center. Through it, first responders learn about the use of Narcan, or naloxone, a drug that counteracts overdose effects and enables first responders to save lives in seconds.Zoo Knoxville Turtle Gets 3-D Printed Mask, Courtesy UT Vet Med Scientists →
Patches, a small Zoo Knoxville turtle, sustained a nostril puncture possibly as a result of another turtle’s amorous advances. Once the hole got infected and grew to cover part of her face, the zoo got the UT College of Veterinary Medicine involved. A customized 3D-printed face mask was the result, enhancing the endangered species turtle’s quality and, hopefully, quantity of life.