Brighton Hospital vice president of medical affairs,Dr.John Hopper,began his medical career specializingin internal medicine and pediatrics.Although that may seem very different from addiction medicine,Dr.Hoppersays there are many similarities.“As a primary care physician I wastreating many people for chronicdiseases like diabetes,high bloodpressure and asthma that have muchin common with addiction,”he says.“All of these diseases lead to lost years of life.They have a hereditarycomponent that can be reversed bychanges in behavior and treatedeffectively with medication.“Traditionally,addiction is treated asif it was an acute disease - diagnosis,treatment and discharge.But we canbe much more successful if we treat it like a chronic disease with ongoingtreatment that includes medicalintervention with medication andtherapy that includes 12-step programs.”He adds that alcohol addiction in ourculture is being joined by an alarmingincrease in the use of prescription andhazardous drugs.Dr.Hopper came to Brighton Hospitalin 2005 and believes strongly that “wehave an important role to play.”He saysthat Brighton is filling the need forteaching addiction medicine,whichisn’t well taught in other settings.“We have a fellowship in addictionmedicine as well as rotating studentsfrom area universities," continues Dr.Hopper."Every month our scheduleincludes nursing students from Oaklandand Wayne State universities andmedical students from University of Michigan and Wayne State University.Residents in psychiatry,internalmedicineand pediatrics also are hereon a regular basis.”Dr.Hopper is an honors graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Schoolof Medicine.He completed aninternship and residency in combinedinternal medicine and pediatrics at the University of North CarolinaHospital,where he was also co-chief resident in pediatrics.He is board-certified in pediatrics and internalmedicine and is certified in addictionmedicine by the American Societyof Addiction Medicine.Prior to his appointment at Brighton,Hopper spent 11 years at WayneState University School of Medicine,where he was assistant professor in thedepartments of internal medicine andpediatrics,as well as the department of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences.Dr.Hopper received two Wayne StateUniversity College Teaching Awards,islisted in the Guide to America’s TopPhysicians and has been named one of the Best Doctors
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in America for thepast three years.
Admitting: 800-523-8198 • Inpatient: 810-227-1211 • Outpatient: 810-225-2530Medical Services: 810-225-2580 • www.brightonhospital.org
Meet the Staff
John Hopper,MD
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St.John Health was well represented at the NAMI Walk.From left,Rich Kramer,vice president of development,Brighton Hospital;Mike Breen,vice president behavioral health,St.John Health System,Sari Abramovich,manager,contracts and marketing development,St John HealthBehavioral Medicine Services;Sari's puppy Louis;AlanWarbelow,manager,St.John Eastwood Clinic
NAMI Walks for the Mind of America
St. John Health sponsored a team for the first time this year to participate in NAMIWALKS for theMind of America, held on Sunday, October 8, onBelle Isle, in Detroit.Founded in 1979, TheNational Alliance on MentalIllness (NAMI) is thenation’s largest grassrootshealth organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with seriousmental illness and their families. A main purposeof the event is to call attention to the need todestigmatize behavioral health diagnoses.
Celebrate Recovery Holds 6th Annual Walk and Rally
Hundreds of people gathered on Belle Isle, inDetroit, on September 23, to commemorate thesuccess of those recovering from addiction.
NACoA Runs for the Children
For the past five years, the Association for Children of Alcoholics(NACoA) has reachedout to the public throughparticipation in marathons throughout the country.On October 29, NACoA runners were part of the Detroit FreePress/Flagstar Bank Marathon, which is aqualifying course for the Boston Marathon.
Three of the Team Brightonrunners,from left,Julie Kelly,Peter Healey, Marianne D'Angelo
That proceeds from the Brighton Hospital Gift Shop,along withAssociate Giving by our employees and our Brighton Hospital Golf classic,all support the Patient Extended Care Program? This programprovides scholarship type funds to support additional days of rehabilitation for patients who have no insurance.
Did You Know?
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John Hopper,MD,Brighton Hospital Vice President of Medical Affairs
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