Carilion Clinic News

First Annual Virginia Tech Opioid Datathon

By Cassandra Mierisch, MD
Orthopedic Hand Surgeon, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA
Associate Professor, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Director, Carilion Opioid-Related Research Interest Community

I am an orthopedic surgeon and my (interdisciplinary) team won the First Annual Virginia Tech Opioid Datathon held February 23 in Roanoke, Virginia.

Team CORRIC Cares had the following members: Stephanie May, MSN, RN; Rebecca McIntyre, DHA; Cassandra Mierisch, MD; Katherine Shaver, MS; Eric Sollinger, MA

The challenge we picked was to create a program to combat stigma associated with opioid use disorder and medication assisted treatment in 12-18 year olds. We responded by developing a social media campaign, primarily designed for Instagram, with the theme #RespectRecovery. The central idea is that the path to recovery is a difficult and demanding one and teens anywhere on that path deserve respect for their efforts and struggle. We developed the content for four (out of a projected 8) 30-60 second videos. The videos center on a teenager doodling in their notebook. The stick figures come to life, through stop-motion animation and tackle stigma-related ideas such as:

1. Respect for the recovery process
2. The opioid crisis effect on all communities
3. The scientific basis of addiction and medication assisted treatment

Nancy Hans, from the Prevention Council of Roanoke County, plans to help us develop and implement this program.

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Orthopaedics in Primary Care Symposium

By Mike Wolfe, MD

Carilion Clinic recently held a one-day Orthopaedics in Primary Care Symposium at the Hotel Roanoke which was well-attended and well-received. This was our 6th Annual Symposium. We were impressed by the quality and quantity of orthopaedic research posters that were presented by our medical students at the event.

Orthopaedics in Primary Care Symposium

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Carilion Clinic Members in the News

John Sloboda, MD

Blayne Patton, DPM

John Sloboda, MD, Adult Reconstruction
Dr. Sloboda is a board certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon with more than 23 years of experience in orthopaedic surgery. He graduated with honors from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and continued his training at Madigan Army Medical Center. He served in the US Military from 1991-2009 and earned a bronze star from the US Army during a deployment in Iraq. Dr. Sloboda has served as a team physician at the high school and college level.

Blayne Patton, DPM, Foot and Ankle
Dr. Patton earned his medical degree from Kent State University and completed his residency at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and served as the chief podiatry resident in 2016-2017. He joined Carilion this past year and sees patients in Roanoke as well as satellite clinics in the Lexington and Franklin communities.

Benjamin Rentfrow, DO, Orthopaedic Spine
Joining Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, April 2019

Michael Knight, MD, Hand and Upper Extremity/General Orthopaedics
Joining Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, September 2019