The Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Foundation
for Opioid Research & Education Board
Message from the President
It is with great pleasure we announce the establishment of the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education. As a musculoskeletal specialist, I have witnessed firsthand the lethal effects of unintended opioid addiction, diversion, and abuse; from families shattered by the death of a family member from an opioid-related overdose to communities devastated by widespread opioid-abuse. The latest estimates by the US Department of Health and Human Services finds that approximately 130 Americans die every day from an opioid-related overdose, or over 47,000 deaths annually.
The opioid epidemic is a multi-factorial problem plaguing the United States today. It is a product of a complex interplay between patient dynamics, opioid marketing, demands for aggressive pain management, and unintended dependence on prescription opioids. A multi-factorial problem as significant as the opioid epidemic is going to require a multi-pronged solution.
The Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Opioid Foundation was established in response to this epidemic, and embraces a multi-pronged strategy, which will include:
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Raising public awareness of the opioid epidemic;
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Educating patients on safe opioid use;
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Informing physicians on optimal opioid prescribing strategies;
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Supporting research aimed to decrease opioid use and potential addiction;
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Advancing non-opioid pain management strategies; and
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Advocating for evidenced-based legislative policies.
Our Board and I look forward to pursuing the challenge of curbing the opioid epidemic.
Asif Ilyas, MD, MBA, FACS
Foundation President
Foundation Board Members
FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS
Kelly Doyle, RN, MHL
Kelly Doyle is the CEO of the Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital, and in 2015 was named by the Philadelphia Business Journal’s “Most Admired CEO”. CEO Doyle has long championed smart and practical stewardship, particularly when it comes to surgical pain management strategies. In 2019, CEO Doyle was awarded the Brown University’s “EMHL Award for Professional Excellence” for her work investigating the root of opioid addiction. She is eager to participate in this Foundation as it aligns with her own passions for developing safer pain management strategies that stresses less dependence on opioids.
Ari C. Greis, DO
Dr. Greis is a fellowship-trained board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician who specializes in the non-operative management of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. His philosophy is holistic with a focus on multimodal care. He has spent his career helping patients maximize function with a combination of lifestyle changes, exercise, image-guided injections and the use of non-opioid pain medications. He founded the Rothman Orthopedic Medical Cannabis Department and is currently doing research on the use of Cannabis as an alternative to opioids for the treatment of chronic pain.
Sommer Hammoud, MD
Dr. Hammoud is an Orthopaedic Surgeon, specializing in sports-related injuries of the knee, shoulder and elbow, who enjoys caring for athletes at all levels. She is the Head Team Physician for both Saint Joseph’s University and the Semi-pro Ultimate team, the Philadelphia Phoenix. She has a special interest in finding solutions within Orthopaedic Surgery to address the opioid epidemic. Her focus is on educating patients about safe opioid use and disposal and her ongoing research efforts are targeted towards identifying alternative strategies to minimize the use of opioid medications for orthopaedic patients.
Charles Langman, DPM
Dr. Langman is a podiatric physician focusing on biomechanics and podiatric orthopaedics at Rothman Orthopaedics. Dr. Langman treats all conditions of the feet in all age groups, and has seen firsthand related pain problems and opioid addictions. Dr. Langman is passionate about developing opioid reducing or sparing pain management strategies for the non-surgical and surgical management in Orthopaedics.
Frederic E. Liss, MD
Dr. Liss is a Hand & Wrist Surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedics as well as a Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Jefferson. At Rothman Orthopaedics, Dr. Liss has dedicated much of his clinical research on strategies to reduce opioid usage in surgical patients. In addition, to his research experience, Dr. Liss also brings substantial energy and experience advocating for meaningful opioid legislation and regulation at the federal and state levels of our government.
Donald W. Mazur, MD
Dr. Mazur is an Orthopaedic Surgeon focusing on ailments of the knee and their surgical management. Dr. Mazur is also an experienced sports medicine physician having served as team physician for many local high schools and colleges. In that capacity, Dr. Mazur has appreciated the importance of pain management strategies that minimize opioids particularly in the adolescent patient population.
Surena Namdari, MD, MS
Dr. Namdari is a Shoulder and Elbow surgeon and an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University. At Rothman Orthopaedics, Dr. Namdari serves as the Fellowship Director and the Co-Director of Research for the Shoulder & Elbow Surgery service. Dr. Namdari is especially committed to the practice of evidence-based medicine and hopes to help combat the opioid epidemic with high-level clinical research.
Alexander R. Vaccaro, MD, PhD, MBA
Dr. Vaccaro is President of Rothman Orthopaedics and Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Vaccaro has a long and storied clinical and academic career that has brought him to the pinnacle of his profession. However, his busy Spine Surgery practice has also demonstrated to him firsthand the ill effects of opioid abuse and addiction in society. The birth of this Foundation was born of his vision for the members, patients, and friends of Rothman Orthopaedics to work together to help battle the rising tide of opioid-related deaths locally and nationally.