September 1, 2026 | View as Webpage

August was Overdose Awareness Month and, yesterday, International Overdose Awareness Day. In recognition of these events, MedChi joined organizations around the world to honor those whose lives have been lost to overdose, support families and communities affected by substance use disorders, and encourage evidence-based approaches that save lives.

Physicians, like anyone else, can struggle with alcohol or drugs. Research suggests that 10-15% of physicians experience an alcohol use disorder during their careers. In a 2021 survey, one in seven physicians reported using alcohol or controlled substances at work to cope with job-related stress.

Substance use can impair a physician’s ability to practice safely and may affect patients, colleagues, the workplace, malpractice liability, and medical licensure.

If you or a colleague need help, know that you do not have to do this alone. The Maryland Physician Health Program (MPHP) provides a safe, confidential, and nonjudgmental place for physicians and other healthcare professionals to seek assistance. MPHP offers assessments, referrals, monitoring, and support for those facing substance-related concerns. By working with MPHP, physicians can obtain the help they need without needing to self-report or being reported to the licensing board.

Professional support is essential to recovery. Take the first step by contacting MPHP at phpinfo@medchi.org or call Mike Llufrio at 410-878-9534.

Physicians also play a vital role in addressing substance use disorders through early screening, patient education, evidence-based treatment, responsible prescribing practices, and connecting patients with behavioral health and recovery resources. Equally important is reducing the stigma, often preventing individuals from seeking help.

Encourage your patients and community to:

• Learn to recognize the signs of an overdose and respond quickly by calling 911.
• Keep overdose-reversal medications, such as naloxone, available when appropriate.
• Safely store and properly dispose of prescription medications to reduce the risk of misuse.
• Talk openly with healthcare professionals about concerns related to substance use, mental health, or addiction.
• Support individuals in recovery with compassion and understanding, recognizing that recovery is possible.



“Every overdose represents a person, a family, and a community forever changed,” Dr. Eric Wargotz, President of MedChi said. “International Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that substance use disorder is a medical condition—not a moral failing. As physicians, we are committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care while working to prevent overdose deaths and expand access to treatment and recovery services.”

MedChi encourages all Marylanders to remember those lost to overdose, support those in recovery, and work together to build healthier, stronger communities where every individual has access to the care and support they deserve.

Gene M. Ransom III

CEO

MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society

• Wednesday, September 2 - Washington County Medical Society Membership Meeting
• Friday, September 11 - 3rd Annual Center for a Healthy Maryland Charity Golf Scramble
• Thursday, September 17 - Center for a Healthy Maryland Fundraiser
• Wednesday, September 30 - Mid-Shore County Medical Societies Membership Meeting
• Saturday, October 10 - MedChi Fall House of Delegates and Annual Meeting
• Wednesday, October 14- Wicomico County Medical Society Meeting
• Wednesday, October 21 - Montgomery County Medical Society Fall Membership Meeting & Rockower Advocacy Leadership Lecture
• Thursday, October 29 - Maryland Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons Fall Banquet

Free Training Opportunity from Our Partners at MACS 

Join MACS for a free, virtual half-day CME training: PCSS-MOUD 4-Hour Live Training. Instructors Courtney Townsel, MD, MS, and Christopher Welsh, MD, will provide comprehensive clinical background on the use of buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment, covering patient screening and identification, opioid pharmacology, office-based opioid treatment fundamentals, buprenorphine induction and maintenance, FDA-approved medications for OUD, and evidence-based resources for prescribers.

For more information, see the program flyer or click here to register.

Invitation to Provide Input on Geo AHEAD Model

CMS is seeking input from external stakeholders on a novel, geographically based accountable care organization shared savings program called Geo AHEAD that is launching under the Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) Model in 2028. This Geo AHEAD Participation Perspectives Survey is intended to gather perspectives that will help inform future planning, policy development, and potential implementation strategies.

Responses will be reviewed both individually and, in the aggregate, to identify stakeholder priorities, anticipated opportunities and challenges, and areas where additional clarification or refinement may be needed as CMS continues to develop Geo AHEAD. 

 Complete the survey here.

Established Cardiometabolic Care Center for Sale

The Baltimore Lipid Center, a comprehensive cardiometabolic care center founded in 2001 by Dr. Gregory S. Pokrywka, is currently being offered for sale to cardiology practices looking to expand. The Baltimore Lipid Center has been at the forefront of advanced prevention and treatment strategies for lipid and lipoprotein disorders and has expanded its mission to address the broader spectrum of cardiometabolic diseases, including: insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). A steady flow of new patients are referred from across Maryland and surrounding regions by internists, family physicians, nurse practitioners, cardiologists, endocrinologists, gynecologists, and pediatricians. This would be an ideal opportunity for a Nurse Practitioner-run Lipid Clinic, as there are many similar clinics being operated nationwide.

The Baltimore Lipid Center is ideally positioned for integration into a larger practice, offering patients the benefits of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to cardiometabolic disease prevention and care. Dr. Pokrywka will provide full training for successor clinicians and ongoing consultation during a defined transition period. Prospective buyers MUST be willing to Board Certify as a Clinical Lipidology through the NLA/American Board of Clinical Lipidology.

For more information, please contact Dr. Gregory Pokrywka at 410-337-0720/gpokmd@outlook.com or Paul Lamendola at Atlantic Healthcare Consulting at 301-807-6610/paullamendolaahc@gmail.com.

If you have news to share about yourself, a colleague, or your practice, and would like us to feature it in MedChi News,

please contact Olivia Ballmann. All submissions are subject to review and approval.

Submission does not guarantee inclusion, publication, or use.

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