Attributing record high rates of organ donation to the growing number of lives lost to opioid addiction, transplant surgeon Dr. Michael Englesbe reflects on the joy and tragedy of organ transplantation and calls for a change in opioid prescribing practices.
As a transplant surgeon at the University of Michigan, Dr. Michael Englesbe has seen firsthand the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic in the United States. Determined to create lasting change in his region, Dr. Englesbe collaborated with fellow doctors to gain a better understanding of opioid use and prevent dependence on opioids after surgery. Through their research, Dr. Englesbe and his team have changed opioid prescribing practices for all surgeries performed at the University of Michigan.