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Alec B. O'Connor, M.D., M.P.H.

Alec B. O'Connor, M.D., M.P.H.

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Office (585) 275-4912
Fax (585) 276-2144

About Me

Dr. O'Connor graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology, then obtained his M.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed internal medicine residency and a chief residency year at the University of Rochester in 2000. He is...
Dr. O'Connor graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology, then obtained his M.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed internal medicine residency and a chief residency year at the University of Rochester in 2000. He is Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency and an Associate Professor of Medicine. Additionally, he is a practicing hospitalist at Strong Memorial Hospital. Dr. O’Connor is active in several ongoing projects, such as studying the effect of the transition from a traditional internal medicine residency infrastructure to a “6+2” Block Model, while delving into Internal Medicine Residency Program Director burnout causes and effects. He is also looking at the integration of Point-of-Care Ultrasound into clinical practice and internal medicine residency training, plus the impact of in-house attending support – namely a Nocturnist - has on residents’ experience on night float. His scholarly interests include resident and student education, improving pain management and the cost-effectiveness of care. Outside of medicine he enjoys running, cycling, skiing and good food.

Faculty Appointments

Professor - Department of Medicine, Hospital Medicine (SMD)

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center. 1997 - 2000

Internship, Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center. 1996 - 1997

Education

MPH | University of Rochester. 2007

MD | Indiana University School of Medicine-Indianapolis. 1996

Publications

Journal Articles

Barriers to Accessing Nighttime Supervisors: a National Survey of Internal Medicine Residents.

Catalanotti JS, O'Connor AB, Kisielewski M, Chick DA, Fletcher KE

Journal of general internal medicine.. 2021 July 36 (7):1974-1979. Epub 01/28/2021.

Interpretation of chronic pain clinical trial outcomes: IMMPACT recommended considerations.

Smith SM, Dworkin RH, Turk DC, McDermott M, Eccleston C, Farrar JT, Rowbotham MC, Bhangwagar Z, Burke LB, Cowan P, Ellenberg SS, Evans SR, Freeman RL, Garrison LP, Iyengar S, Jadad A, Jensen MP, Junor R, Kamp C, Katz NP, Kesslak JP, Kopecky EA, Lissin D, Markman JD, Mease PJ, O'Connor AB, Patel KV, Raja SN, Sampaio C, Schoenfeld D, Singh J, Steigerwald I, Strand V, Tive LA, Tobias J, Wasan AD, Wilson HD

Pain.. 2020 November 161 (11):2446-2461. Epub 1900 01 01.

Why Do Residency Program Directors Consider Resigning? A Mixed-Methods Analysis of a National Program Director Survey.

Fletcher KE, O'Connor AB, Kisielewski M, Willett LL

The American journal of medicine.. 2020 June 133 (6):761-767. Epub 03/09/2020.

Association Between Nocturnist Supervision and Perceived Overnight Supervision Adequacy Among Internal Medicine Residents in the US.

Catalanotti JS, O'Connor AB, Kisielewski M, Chick DA, Fletcher KE

JAMA.. 2020 April 14323 (14):1407-1409. Epub 1900 01 01.

Inappropriate Communication During Internal Medicine Fellowship Recruitment: A Mixed-Methods Analysis.

Williams CM, Alweis RL, O'Connor AB, Dalal B, Rai D, Abdullah A, Kopelman R, Cornett P, Frank MO, Luther VP, Muchmore EA

The American journal of medicine.. 2019 June 132 (6):770-775. Epub 03/07/2019.

Internal Medicine Residency Program Director Burnout and Program Director Turnover: Results of a National Survey.

O'Connor AB, Halvorsen AJ, Cmar JM, Finn KM, Fletcher KE, Kearns L, McDonald FS, Swenson SL, Wahi-Gururaj S, West CP, Willett LL

The American journal of medicine.. 2019 February 132 (2):252-261. Epub 10/30/2018.

The Procedure Coordinator: A Resident-Driven Initiative to Increase Opportunity for Inpatient Procedures.

Gorgone M, McNichols B, Lang VJ, Novak W, O'Connor AB

Journal of graduate medical education.. 2018 October 10 (5):583-586. Epub 1900 01 01.

Primary Palliative Care Education: A Pilot Survey.

Carroll T, Weisbrod N, O'Connor A, Quill T

The American journal of hospice & palliative care.. 2018 April 35 (4):565-569. Epub 08/07/2017.

Internal medicine fellowship directors' perspectives on the quality and utility of letters conforming to residency program director letter of recommendation guidelines.

O'Connor AB, Williams CM, Dalal B, Sulistio MS, Roth TK, Milne CK, Collichio FA, Muchmore EA, Alweis R

Journal of community hospital internal medicine perspectives.. 2018 8 (4):173-176. Epub 08/23/2018.

Problematic communications during 2016 fellowship recruitment in internal medicine.

Cornett PA, Williams C, Alweis RL, McConville J, Frank M, Dalal B, Kopelman RI, Luther VP, O'connor AB, Muchmore EA

Journal of community hospital internal medicine perspectives.. 2017 7 (5):277-281. Epub 10/18/2017.

Adoption of a Uniform Start Date for Internal Medicine Fellowships and Other Advanced Training: An AAIM White Paper.

Barrett JC, Alweis R, Frank M, O'Connor A, McConville JF, Adams ND, Arfons L, Bernard S, Bradley T, Buckley JD, Cohen E, Cornett P, Elkins S, Kopelman R, Luther VP, Petrusky J, McNeill DB, Omar B, Palapiano N, Roth T, Satko S, Fried ED, Muchmore EA

The American journal of medicine.. 2015 September 128 (9):1039-43. Epub 06/10/2015.

Abuse liability-study the intended patient populations.

O'Connor AB, Turk DC, Dworkin RH

Nature reviews. Neurology.. 2015 March 11 (3):182. Epub 02/10/2015.

Response to letter to the editor.

Dworkin RH, O'Connor AB, Kent J, Mackey SC, Raja SN, Stacey BR, Levy RM, Backonja M, Baron R, Harke H, Loeser JD, Treede RD, Turk DC, Wells CD

Pain.. 2014 May 155 (5):1045-1046. Epub 02/07/2014.

Interpreting patient treatment response in analgesic clinical trials: implications for genotyping, phenotyping, and personalized pain treatment.

Dworkin RH, McDermott MP, Farrar JT, O'Connor AB, Senn S

Pain.. 2014 March 155 (3):457-460. Epub 09/23/2013.

Interventional management of neuropathic pain: NeuPSIG recommendations.

Dworkin RH, O'Connor AB, Kent J, Mackey SC, Raja SN, Stacey BR, Levy RM, Backonja M, Baron R, Harke H, Loeser JD, Treede RD, Turk DC, Wells CD

Pain.. 2013 November 154 (11):2249-2261. Epub 06/06/2013.

Abuse liability measures for use in analgesic clinical trials in patients with pain: IMMPACT recommendations.

O'Connor AB, Turk DC, Dworkin RH, Katz NP, Colucci R, Haythornthwaite JA, Klein M, O'Brien C, Posner K, Rappaport BA, Reisfield G, Adams EH, Balster RL, Bigelow GE, Burke LB, Comer SD, Cone E, Cowan P, Denisco RA, Farrar JT, Foltin RW, Haddox JD, Hertz S, Jay GW, Junor R, Kopecky EA, Leiderman DB, McDermott MP, Palmer PP, Raja SN, Rauschkolb C, Rowbotham MC, Sampaio C, Setnik B, Smith SM, Sokolowska M, Stauffer JW, Walsh SL, Zacny JP

Pain.. 2013 November 154 (11):2324-2334. Epub 1900 01 01.

Assessing comparative effectiveness of new drugs before approval using prospective network meta-analyses.

Naci H, O'Connor AB

Journal of clinical epidemiology.. 2013 August 66 (8):812-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Management of neuropathic pain in hospitalized patients

Wolfe M; O'Connor AB.

Hospital Medicine Clinics. 2013; 2: e587-e602.

Core outcome measures for opioid abuse liability laboratory assessment studies in humans: IMMPACT recommendations.

Comer SD, Zacny JP, Dworkin RH, Turk DC, Bigelow GE, Foltin RW, Jasinski DR, Sellers EM, Adams EH, Balster R, Burke LB, Cerny I, Colucci RD, Cone E, Cowan P, Farrar JT, Haddox JD, Haythornthwaite JA, Hertz S, Jay GW, Johanson CE, Junor R, Katz NP, Klein M, Kopecky EA, Leiderman DB, McDermott MP, O'Brien C, O'Connor AB, Palmer PP, Raja SN, Rappaport BA, Rauschkolb C, Rowbotham MC, Sampaio C, Setnik B, Sokolowska M, Stauffer JW, Walsh SL

Pain.. 2012 December 153 (12):2315-2324. Epub 09/19/2012.

Association of pain score documentation and analgesic use in a pediatric emergency department.

Kellogg KM, Fairbanks RJ, O'Connor AB, Davis CO, Shah MN

Pediatric emergency care.. 2012 December 28 (12):1287-92. Epub 1900 01 01.

Research design considerations for clinical studies of abuse-deterrent opioid analgesics: IMMPACT recommendations

Turk D.; O'Connor AB.; Dworkin RH.; Chaudhry A.; Katz NP, et al.

Pain. 2012; 153: 1997-2008.

Collaborative development of teaching scripts: an efficient faculty development approach for a busy clinical teaching unit

Lang VJ.; O'Connor AB.; Blatt A.; Gracey C.

Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2012; 7: 644-648.

Why do emergency providers choose one opioid over another? A prospective cohort analysis.

O'Connor AB, Rao A

Journal of opioid management.. 2012 8 (6):403-13. Epub 1900 01 01.

Enhancing prescription drug innovation and value

Alexander GC.; O'Connor AB.; Stafford RS.

Annals of Internal Medicine. 2011; 154: 833-837.

Impact of inpatient resident team structure redesign on residents, students, and patients

O'Connor AB.; Lang VJ.; Bordley DR.

Academic Medicine. 2011; 86: 1500-1507.

LOCF approach to handling missing data overestimates the pain score improvement of drop-outs.

O'Connor AB

The journal of pain.. 2010 May 11 (5):500-1; author reply 502-3. Epub 03/24/2010.

Building comparative efficacy and tolerability into the FDA approval process.

O'Connor AB

JAMA.. 2010 March 10303 (10):979-80. Epub 1900 01 01.

Treatment considerations for elderly and frail patients with neuropathic pain.

Schmader KE, Baron R, Haanpää ML, Mayer J, O'Connor AB, Rice AS, Stacey B

Mayo Clinic proceedings.. 2010 March 85 (3 Suppl):S26-32. Epub 1900 01 01.

Recommendations for the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain: an overview and literature update.

Dworkin RH, O'Connor AB, Audette J, Baron R, Gourlay GK, Haanpää ML, Kent JL, Krane EJ, Lebel AA, Levy RM, Mackey SC, Mayer J, Miaskowski C, Raja SN, Rice AS, Schmader KE, Stacey B, Stanos S, Treede RD, Turk DC, Walco GA, Wells CD

Mayo Clinic proceedings.. 2010 March 85 (3 Suppl):S3-14. Epub 1900 01 01.

Intravenous Opioid Dosing and Outcomes in Emergency Patients: A Prospective Cohort Analysis.

O'Connor AB; Zwemer FL; Hays DP; Feng C.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2010; .

A panacea for PCPs' pain? A review of Chronic Pain: A Primary Care Guide to Practical Management (Second Edition)

O'Connor AB.

The Clinical Journal of Pain. 2010; .

Review: nortriptyline, gabapentin, and their combination for neuropathic pain

O'Connor AB.

Evidence-Based Medicine. 2010; 15(2): 45-46.

Broadening the spectrum of controls for skin biopsy in painful sensory neuropathies

Herrmann DN.; O'Connor AB.; Schwid SR.; DA Y.; Goodman AD, et al.

Muscle & Nerve. 2010; 42: 436-438.

The "1+1" protocol: risks, benefits, and alternatives.

O'Connor AB

Annals of emergency medicine.. 2009 October 54 (4):637-8; author reply 638-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Treatment of neuropathic pain: an overview of recent guidelines.

O'Connor AB, Dworkin RH

The American journal of medicine.. 2009 October 122 (10 Suppl):S22-32. Epub 1900 01 01.

Association between hand-off patients and subject exam performance in medicine clerkship students.

Lang VJ, Mooney CJ, O'Connor AB, Bordley DR, Lurie SJ

Journal of general internal medicine.. 2009 September 24 (9):1018-22. Epub 07/05/2009.

The need for improved access to FDA reviews.

O'Connor AB

JAMA.. 2009 July 8302 (2):191-3. Epub 1900 01 01.

Gabapentin versus tricyclics for neuropathic pain.

O'Connor AB

Journal of general internal medicine.. 2009 June 24 (6):780-1; author reply 782. Epub 1900 01 01.

Outcomes after intravenous opioids in emergency patients: a prospective cohort analysis.

O'Connor AB, Zwemer FL, Hays DP, Feng C

Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.. 2009 June 16 (6):477-87. Epub 05/07/2009.

The effect of nonteaching services on the distribution of inpatient cases for internal medicine residents.

O'Connor AB, Lang VJ, Lurie SJ, Lambert DR, Rudmann A, Robbins B, Bordley DR

Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges.. 2009 February 84 (2):220-5. Epub 1900 01 01.

Tiotropium in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

O'Connor AB

The New England journal of medicine.. 2009 January 8360 (2):185-6; author reply 187. Epub 1900 01 01.

Neuropathic pain: quality-of-life impact, costs and cost effectiveness of therapy.

O'Connor AB

PharmacoEconomics.. 2009 27 (2):95-112. Epub 1900 01 01.

The rising incidence of pulmonary embolism: earlier diagnosis or alternative explanation?

O'Connor AB

The American journal of medicine.. 2008 December 121 (12):e17; author reply e19. Epub 1900 01 01.

Pain associated with multiple sclerosis: systematic review and proposed classification.

O'Connor AB, Schwid SR, Herrmann DN, Markman JD, Dworkin RH

Pain.. 2008 July 137 (1):96-111. Epub 10/24/2007.

Poor care, not poor protocols, for alcohol withdrawal.

O'Connor AB, Lang VJ

Mayo Clinic proceedings.. 2008 June 83 (6):726-7; author reply 728-30. Epub 1900 01 01.

Health care expenditure burden of persisting herpes zoster pain.

Dworkin RH, White R, O'Connor AB, Hawkins K

Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.. 2008 April 9 (3):348-53. Epub 1900 01 01.

Is actiq use in noncancer-related pain really "a recipe for success"?

O'Connor AB

Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.. 2008 March 9 (2):258-60; author reply 261-5. Epub 1900 01 01.

A cost-utility comparison of four first-line medications in painful diabetic neuropathy.

O'Connor AB, Noyes K, Holloway RG

PharmacoEconomics.. 2008 26 (12):1045-64. Epub 1900 01 01.

Pharmacologic management of neuropathic pain: evidence-based recommendations.

Dworkin RH, O'Connor AB, Backonja M, Farrar JT, Finnerup NB, Jensen TS, Kalso EA, Loeser JD, Miaskowski C, Nurmikko TJ, Portenoy RK, Rice AS, Stacey BR, Treede RD, Turk DC, Wallace MS

Pain.. 2007 December 5132 (3):237-251. Epub 10/24/2007.

Healthcare costs of acute and chronic pain associated with a diagnosis of herpes zoster.

Dworkin RH, White R, O'Connor AB, Baser O, Hawkins K

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.. 2007 August 55 (8):1168-75. Epub 1900 01 01.

A cost-effectiveness comparison of desipramine, gabapentin, and pregabalin for treating postherpetic neuralgia.

O'Connor AB, Noyes K, Holloway RG

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.. 2007 August 55 (8):1176-84. Epub 1900 01 01.

Should ethanol be removed from hospital formularies?

O'Connor AB

The American journal of medicine.. 2007 August 120 (8):651-2. Epub 1900 01 01.

Re: sequential medication strategies for postherpetic neuralgia: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

O'Connor AB

The journal of pain.. 2007 August 8 (8):674-6. Epub 1900 01 01.

Baclofen not comparable to diazepam for alcohol withdrawal.

O'Connor AB, Lang VJ

The American journal of medicine.. 2007 June 120 (6):e5; author reply e7. Epub 1900 01 01.

Cost-effectiveness of duloxetine versus routine treatment for U.S. patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.

O'Connor AB

The journal of pain.. 2006 November 7 (11):867; author reply 867-8. Epub 1900 01 01.

Prevention of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with tiotropium.

O'Connor AB

Annals of internal medicine.. 2006 January 17144 (2):148; author reply 148-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Bridging distant shores.

O'Connor AB.

The Clinical Journal of Pain. 2006; : 111-112.

Underdosing of morphine in comparison with other parenteral opioids in an acute hospital: a quality of care challenge.

O'Connor AB, Lang VJ, Quill TE

Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.. 2006 7 (4):299-307. Epub 1900 01 01.

Eliminating analgesic meperidine use with a supported formulary restriction.

O'Connor AB, Lang VJ, Quill TE

The American journal of medicine.. 2005 August 118 (8):885-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Chronic neuropathic pain and advances in its treatment. In Progress in Neuropathic Pain.

O'Connor AB, Dworkin RH.

For the American Academy of Pain Management. 2005; .

Don't sell symptom-triggered therapy for alcohol withdrawal short.

O'Connor AB, Lang VJ.

The Hospitalist. 2004; : 43-46.

The repeat organizer, a specialized insular element within the intergenic spacer of the Xenopus rRNA genes.

Robinett CC, O'Connor A, Dunaway M.

Molecular and Cell Biology. 1997; : 2866-2975.

Sensory nerves only temporarily protect the unstable canine knee joint from osteoarthritis. Evidence that sensory nerves reprogram the central nervous system after cruciate ligament transection.

O'Connor BL, Visco DM, Brandt KD, O'Connor AB.

Arthritis & Rheumatism. 1993; : 1154-63.

Why do emergency providers choose one opiod over another?

O'Connor AB.; Rao A.

Journal of Opioid Management. .

Association of pain score documentation and analgesic use in a pediatric emergency department

Kellogg KM.; Fairbanks RJ.; O'Connor AB.; Davis CO.; Shah MN.

Pediatric Emergency Care. .

Books

Neuropathic Pain: Mechanisms and Management (2012)

Chapter: Understanding and interpreting neuropathic pain clinical trials

Authors: O'Connor AB, Dworkin RH

Publisher: Oxford University Press, New York 2012

Evidence-based Chronic Pain Management (2010)

Chapter: Clinical trial design for chronic pain treatments

Authors: O'Connor AB; Dworkin RH

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell 2010

The Handbook of Pain Assessment (2010)

Chapter: Assessment of Pain and Health-Related Quality of Life in Chronic Pain Clinical Trials

Authors: O'Connor AB; Dworkin RH

Publisher: Guilford Press 2010

Neuropathic Pain: Mechanisms and Management (2010)

Chapter: Understanding and interpreting neuropathic pain clinical trials

Authors: O'Connor AB; Dworkin RH

Publisher: Oxford University Press 2010

Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology (2009)

Chapter: Evidence-based treatment of chronic neuropathic pain using non-opioid therapy

Authors: O'Connor AB; Dworkin RH

Publisher: American Academy of Neurology 2009

In Expert Guide to Pain Management (2005)

Chapter: Neuropathic Pain

Authors: O'Connor AB, Dworkin RH

Publisher: American Scientific Publishers 2005

Ratings & Comments

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