PHILADELPHIA — Daniel Teixeira da Silva, MD, MSHP, has been named Director of the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction (SUPHR) at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Teixeira da Silva was the division’s Medical Director, where he led efforts to develop best practices for caring for people with xylazine-associated wounds, monitor the changing drug supply, and improve care for people who use drugs.

“Dr. Teixeira da Silva brings a wealth of experience to our Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction,” said Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Ph.D., MPH, Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Public Health. “His passion, extensive knowledge of substance use issues, and medical experience in patient care will ensure that we are facing the overdose crisis with compassion.”

“I am honored to take on this role and continue working across SUPHR’s programs to improve the health and well–being of people and communities impacted by drug use,” said Dr. Teixeira da Silva, Director of SUPHR, Philadelphia Department of Public Health. “My focus will be to strengthen collaboration, support SUPHR staff, and ensure our work remains grounded in evidence and community.”

Dr. Teixeira da Silva is the principal investigator of a five-year project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase the Health Department’s capacity to obtain and disseminate high-quality, complete, and timely data on substance use and overdose in Philadelphia. The data will be used to inform overdose prevention activities.

In addition to his work at the Health Department, Dr. Teixeira da Silva provides inpatient care in internal medicine at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He received his medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine and earned a master’s degree in health policy from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a National Clinician Scholar.

SUPHR is made up of nine teams: Bereavement (Philly HEALs), Communications, Community Engagement, Environmental Services, Epidemiology, Harm Reduction, Medical, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (Philly LIFTS), and Overdose Fatality Review (OD Stat). Across these programs, SUPHR leads surveillance of overdose and substance use in Philadelphia and works to prevent drug-related deaths and reduce harms associated with drug use.