Seal of the Governor
For Immediate Release: August 1, 2018
Contacts: Office of the Governor: Ofirah Yheskel, Ofirah.Yheskel@governor.virginia.gov

Governor Northam Begins Medical Grand Rounds Tour Addressing the Opioid Crisis in Virginia

Series of lectures at four Virginia medical schools will discuss combatting drug addiction from practice to policy

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam will today lead the first in a series of Grand Rounds lectures to Virginia medical students on the issue of the opioid epidemic.

“The crisis of opioid addiction and overdose is killing Virginians and hurting families and communities in every part of our Commonwealth,” Governor Northam said. “It is Virginia’s foremost public health crisis. As a doctor, I’ve seen this firsthand, and I want to do all I can to engage my fellow physicians on this issue, and discuss ways we can help reduce addiction to painkillers, think innovatively about the treatment of acute and chronic pain, and recognize signs of dependence in our patients.”

In 2017, Virginia saw 1,227 overdose deaths due to opioids, and 1,534 overdose deaths due to any drug. Opioid addiction in particular often starts with a prescription from providers. Addiction is as common as diabetes or depression.

Grand Rounds are a traditional patient-centered education method in medical schools, often consisting of presentations on specific medical problems and a discussion of treatments aimed at increasing clinician knowledge and supplementing on-the-job training.

Governor Northam will kick off this series of lectures at the University of Virginia School of Medicine today at noon.

Governor Northam’s “Medical Grand Rounds Tour”

Upcoming lectures will take place at:
Eastern Virginia Medical School (August 15)
Virginia Commonwealth University (August 20)
Liberty University (September 5)

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