The Rothman Institute Foundation
for Opioid Research & Education Board
Message from the President
It is with great pleasure we announce the establishment of the Rothman 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 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.
Leonard Kamen, MD
Dr. Leonard Kamen is a board certified specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) with additional certification in Pain Medicine. He has been in active practice as the Medical Director of MossRehab Outpatient Center in northeast Philadelphia for over 30 years. Current academic appointment is as a clinical associate professor of PMR at Thomas Jefferson Hospital/ Sidney Kimmel Medical College. Teaching responsibilities are active at MossRehab, Einstein Medical Center, Jefferson, Temple as well as University of Pennsylvania regionally. Dr. Kamen has been affiliated with the MossRehab hospital his working career. He has dedicated his medical profession to serving those with physical impairments both congenital or acquired, consequences of trauma and chronic pain. As a non–interventional pain practitioner Dr Kamen has focused on a bio-psycho-social approach to pain rehabilitation. This involves utilizing multiple medical and non-medical resources to help people with pain achieve a less dependent, self-empowered quality of life.
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.
Stephen Stache, MD
Dr. Stache is a sports medicine physician and the Division Chief for Non-Operative Sports Medicine at Rothman Orthopaedics. With extensive expertise in treating professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, and MLB, as well as experience across multiple NCAA Division I institutions, Dr. Stache has a deep understanding of the unique challenges involved in managing in-season and off-season injuries, including associated pain management. His proven insight into drug testing protocols, league requirements, and regulatory oversight makes him an invaluable resource in the field of sports medicine. Dr. Stache is dedicated to advancing the mission of the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education. Through funding and promoting research and education, he actively contributes to finding innovative solutions to combat the opioid epidemic.
Katharine Woozley, MD
Dr. Woozley is a double-boarded Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon at Cooper University Hospital and specializes in Hand Surgery and Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery. She is the Division Head of Hand & Nerve Surgery at Cooper University Hospital. In addition to her clinical practice, she serves as an educator as an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Cooper University School of Rowan. Dr. Woozley focuses her research on opioid dependence and xylazine related wounds. She has helped develop management guidelines with Addiction Medicine for xylazine-associated wounds and is a key opinion leader in the field.
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.