DT-3 Managing Dental Patients in World of Substance Misuse

Amol Patwardhan MD, PhD obtained his medical degree from University of Mumbai and PhD in pharmacology from the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio under Dr. Kenneth Hargreaves. He went on to undergo anesthesiology residency and a chronic pain fellowship at the University of Arizona and UCSD respectively. His doctoral and postdoctoral work focused on the peripheral mechanisms of opioid and cannabinoid analgesia and discovery of a new class of endogenous TRP channel ligands, namely oxidized linoleic acid metabolites. After finishing his clinical training, he joined as a faculty in the departments of anesthesiology and pharmacology at the University of Arizona and is now an Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the department of Anesthesiology. His current research projects include advancing a conotoxin for spinal treatment of intractable pain, repurposing of TRPV1 antagonists for the treatment of intraoperative hypothermia and human studies using various interventions including implanted devices to reduce opioid usage and improve function.

Dr. O’Neil received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC. Dr. O’Neil has more than 25 years of practice experience in intensive care medicine, emergency medicine, surgery and pain management in several leading medical institutions. He has completed research and published in a variety of health profession journals and books including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and nursing. Dr. O’Neil was editor and lead author for the American Dental Association’s book titled “The ADA Practical Guide to Substance Use Disorders and Safe Prescribing” published in 2015. Recent scholarship includes co-editing and primary authorship for the text “The Pharmacist Guide to Opioid Use Disorders” in 2018 and 5 articles in the California Dental Association’s special edition journal in March of 2019 Titled “Opioids-Navigating the Perfect Storm”. For more than 25 years, Dr. O’Neil has served as consultant and expert on prescription drug misuse and diversion for several entities including the DEA, the Bureaus of Criminal Investigation, the US Attorney’s Office, and Boards of Osteopathic Medicine, Board of Dental Examiners, the American Association of Dental Boards and several local law enforcement agencies. Dr. O’Neil developed the West Virginia Pharmacist Recovery Network where he served as Executive Director and Investigator. Dr. O’Neil developed and chaired the West Virginia Controlled Substance Advisory Board and was the founding president of the West Virginia Chapter of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators.Dr. O’Neil is currently a Professor and the Chair of the Dept. of Pharmacy Practice at South College School of Pharmacy in Knoxville, TN. .