Opioid Task Force

Our Mission

The University of Cincinnati/ UC Health Opioid Task Force will demonstrate its commitment to this significant public health issue by bringing together researchers, educators, clinicians and leaders/advocates who are dedicated to having a positive impact on opioid addiction locally, regionally and nationally.

Our Activities

  • Aligning expertise and resources to be competitive for research opportunities to continue as a national leader in opioid-related research.
  • Formalizing pathways to care across our health care systems, clinics, programs and agencies.
  • Advocating for best practices in evidence-based treatments and prevention.
  • Enhancing interprofessional training of health care providers and students about innovative approaches to the identification and treatment of chronic pain and opioid addiction.
  • Improving the health of our community through partnerships and engagement.

Our People and Partners

  • In April 2017, our task force was formed, with co-chairs:
    • Neil MacKinnon, PhD, Dean,  James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy
    • Melissa DelBello, MD, Stanley and Mickey Kaplan Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, College of Medicine
  • and created the following four working groups:
    • Interprofessional Research: Chair - Theresa Winhusen, PhD
    • Interprofessional Education: Chair – Kelly Lyle, MHA, MS
    • Interprofessional Practice: Chairs – Rick Ryan, MD;  Christine Wilder, MD;  Stewart Wright, MD
    • Community Outreach and Engagement: Chairs - Mike Carroll, with support from the UC Academic Health Center and UC Health Communication Teams
  • Over 70 faculty and clinicians have joined the task force.

UC in the News

News Releases

1

Lindner graduate students shine in international simulation competition

November 10, 2025

Five master’s of information systems (MS IS) students took home fifth place out of 23 universities at the International ERPsim Competition hosted by HEC Montreal during the recent spring semester. The competition tests students’ knowledge of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and their ability to adapt to challenging business problems.

2

Sugar overload killing hearts

November 10, 2025

Two in five people will be told they have diabetes during their lifetime. And people who have diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease. One of the deadliest dangers? Diabetic cardiomyopathy. But groundbreaking University of Cincinnati research hopes to stop and even reverse the damage before it’s too late.

3

Is going nuclear the solution to Ohio’s energy costs?

November 10, 2025

The Ohio Capital Journal recently reported that as energy prices continue to climb, economists are weighing the benefits of going nuclear to curb costs. The publication dove into a Scioto Analysis survey of 18 economists to weigh the pros and cons of nuclear energy. One economist featured was Iryna Topolyan, PhD, professor of economics at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.

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