News & Events

Jacob Moalem Tests Opt-in Program for Narcotics

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Empowering patients to decide whether or not to receive narcotics for pain control following cervical endocrine surgery led to a 96.6 percent reduction in the number of narcotic tablets prescribed, according to a new study published in Annals of Surgery.

A team led by Jacob Moalem, M.D., associate professor in the department of Surgery, designed an “opt-in” prescription system for patients undergoing ambulatory procedures such as thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. They hypothesized that many patients, if given adequate education, non-narcotic analgesia and the prerogative to choose would decline narcotic prescriptions for discharge.

The effort began in 2014 when the team started collecting data on pain medication utilization by patients as part of a multi-institutional study. A subsequent analysis of the endocrine surgery program’s data revealed that 41 percent of patients took no narcotics following discharge. The finding led to the current study, where the default method of postoperative pain control was non-narcotic. To the team’s knowledge, no other group has demonstrated that allowing patients to decide if they need narcotics for discharge can result in a substantial number of patients opting not to receive any of these medicines.

Annual Tour de Cure Coming to Rochester in June

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Please join the URMED team in riding in the 2019 American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure. This is the 9th year that the URDiaBEEtes Riders will be participating in this exciting event. The URMED umbrella team consists of the URDiaBEEtes Riders, Highland SpinOuts, U of R LLE, Rochester Turners and WeRThompson!!

The Tour de Cure is not just for cyclists—there are courses to walk and run as well. Bring your family/friends and come out on Saturday, June 8, 2019 to the Xerox Centre in Webster. You can join by signing up at diabetes.org/urdiabeetesriders. We hope you will join us as we ride for our patients who live with diabetes. Please feel free to contact team captain, Heidi Kipp. Thanks in advance!!!

Hear Heidi Kipp, Senior Nurse Practitioner in Endocrinology, talk about the upcoming Tour de Cure with Fox Rochester News' Health in a Handbasket.

Hear endocrinologist Susanne Miedlich, MD, discuss the importance of participating in the Tour de Cure in this new video.

Drs. Hammes and Anolik Named to Department of Medicine Leadership Roles

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

As part of a restructuring to further develop its core research and academic missions, the Department of Medicine has created two new leadership positions. Stephen Hammes, M.D., Ph.D., has been named vice chair for Research and Academic Affairs, and Jennifer Anolik, M.D., Ph.D., is the associate chair for Research. Both of these appointments were effective April 1, 2019, pending approval by the Office of the Provost.

Hammes’ new role combines the former associate chair for Academic Affairs and vice chair for Research positions. Anolik’s role is a newly created leadership position. Together, Hammes and Anolik will partner to oversee research and mentoring programs across the department. Their work will focus on identifying strategic growth opportunities around targeted areas of research at the inter-divisional and inter-departmental level. They also will be undertaking a formal assessment of our endowments to see if we can more strategically foster research-program development. Following a review of the department’s research portfolio, they will convene a group to discuss potential growth opportunities. 

In addition, Hammes and Anolik will develop a more in-depth approach to faculty mentoring and career development, particularly among junior and mid-career faculty members.

Save the Date for the 20th Annual Diabetes Conference

Saturday, March 16, 2019

This one-day conference will take place at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, NY. Topics this year will focus on treating or preventing the complications most associated with diabetes, including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, hypoglycemia, and cardiovascular disease. Sessions will include patient testimonials, seminars, case studies, and workshops on the latest advances in diabetes treatment. The program will provide updates in diabetes research and treatment options. Target audience includes primary care physicians, advanced practitioners and other providers who treat patients with diabetes. Registration is required.