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Dr. O’Connor earned graduate degrees in nursing from Boston College and Vanderbilt University. The focus of her doctoral work was analyzing the risk factors associated with the rural-urban disparities in the prevalence of diabetes and coronary heart disease. Dr. O’Connor’s clinical and research interests include rural health, addiction medicine, and medication assisted treatment of opioid dependence using buprenorphine, particularly during pregnancy. She has published and lectured on these topics and serves as a peer reviewer for a variety of nursing and medical journals. 

The focus of her lecture at É«ÏãÊÓƵ will be reviewing the most recent evidence about the use of buprenorphine during pregnancy. Dr. O’Connor will also discuss research she has led investigating the potential impact on the severity and duration of neonatal abstinence syndrome of being breastfed, being exposed to both buprenorphine and antidepressants in utero, and being born preterm. She will also discuss some of the challenges and ethical considerations of caring for this highly vulnerable patient population. 

Lunch will be provided.

Hosted by: Drs. Ling Cao and Edward Bilsky