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Fellow Excellence in Research Awards 2011
RESIDENT/FELLOW EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AWARDS
American College of Surgeons Owen H Wangensteen Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems: Resident/Fellow Excellence in Research Awards 2011 For the ninth consecutive year the American College of Surgeons’ Owen H Wangensteen Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems presents Resident/Fellow Excellence in Research Awards. The major objectives of this ongoing program are to recognize excellence in research performed by surgical residents and fellows, increase the visibility of the Surgical Forum as a setting for resident research presentations, facilitate and encourage the attendance of residents and fellows at the Forum sessions, encourage residents and fellows to participate in research during their training, and, finally, contribute to the overall quality of the annual Clinical Congress. Selection criteria for the award were based on originality of concept, quality of methodology, and impact of the science. This year 15 awards of $800 each will be presented after the abstract presentations in the Quality, Outcomes and Costs I session on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 12:45 PM–4:00 PM. All surgical investigators and their mentors are invited to attend the award distribution, as well as attend the sessions in which the award recipients are presenting.
Eric Kubat, MD
Richard Clark Webb, MD
Resident at: University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Award category: Alimentary Tract Abstract: Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRF2) is essential for mediation of the urocortin1 anti-inflammatory response in experimental acute pancreatitis. Co-authors: Eileen Grady, PhD, Victoria Lyo, MD, Shilpi Mahajan, PhD, Min Liao, MD, Kimberly S Kirkwood, MD, FACS, Aditi Bhargava, PhD.
Resident at: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD Award category: Biomarkers/Genetic Determinants Abstract: MicroRNA profiling of benign and malignant pheochromocytomas. Co-authors: Brent Bian, Mei He, Ramya Krishna, BSc, Naris Nilubol, MD, Karen Adams, Karel Pacak, MD, Electron Kebebew, MD, FACS. Dr Webb is a native of Spartanburg, SC. After graduating with a degree in biology from Wofford College, he attended the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He has been serving on active duty as a United States Army officer, beginning with medical school to the present. His current assignment is at Walter Reed Bethesda in the National Capitol Consortium General Surgery Department. During the past year of research, Dr Webb was mentored by Dr Electron Kebebew in the Surgery Branch at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr Kubat was born and raised in Iowa. He completed medical school at the University of Minnesota Medical School before beginning training in general surgery at UCSFEast Bay. After 3 years of clinical residency he began his research fellowship at UCSF in the Center for Neurobiology of Digestive Diseases. Currently, his research interests focus on the neuroendocrine-dependent pathways of GI inflammation. His research mentors include Aditi Bhargava, PhD and Kimberly Kirkwood, MD at UCSF. Following the completion of his residency he plans to pursue a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery or surgical oncology.
© 2011 by the American College of Surgeons Published by Elsevier Inc.
S5
ISSN 1072-7515/11/$36.00 doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.06.403
S6
Excellence in Research Awards
Melissa H Coleman, MD
Resident at: Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA Award category: Cardiothoracic Surgery Abstract: Association of mesothelioma outcome with RERG expression. Coauthors: Assunta De Rienzo, PhD, William G Richards, PhD, Beow Y Yeap, ScD, David J Sugarbaker, MD, FACS, Raphael Bueno, MD, FACS. Dr Coleman grew up in Bethesda, MD, where she was fortunate to spend time alongside her parents in their laboratories at the National Institutes of Health. She attended Weill Medical College of Cornell University and is now completing the second year of her research fellowship in the Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Under the mentorship of Dr Raphael Bueno, her research focuses on molecular signatures associated with mesothelioma prognosis and diagnosis. At the completion of her research fellowship she will return to clinical duties as a postgraduate year 3 resident. After completing general surgery residency she hopes to pursue a cardiothoracic fellowship.
J Am Coll Surg
Evie Carchman, MD
Resident at: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Award category: Critical Care Abstract: Mitophagy/mitochondrial biogenesis is necessary to prevent organ injury in sepsis and is dependent on TLR9 signaling. Co-author: Brian Zuckerbraun, MD, FACS. Dr Carchman attended medical school at the Medical College of Virginia, where she was elected junior AOA and ranked first in her class for the last 3 years. She was also awarded the Dr Sidney B Barham Scholarship, which is awarded for the highest score on national boards, and the MCV Foundation Scholarship, which is awarded to an academically stellar student. She was then accepted to the University of Pittsburgh, where she is a resident reviewer for the Archives of Surgery, has published 3 first author papers, written 1 published book chapter, and presented at 8 national meetings.
Vol. 213, No. 3S, September 2011
Daniel Wu, MD
Resident at: Denver VA Medical Center, Denver, CO Award category: Geriatric Surgery Abstract: Walking speed predicts postoperative morbidity across surgical specialties. Co-author: Thomas Robinson, MD, FACS. Dr Wu completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University [BA, 2003] and attended medical school at Duke University [MD, 2007]. He is currently a senior general surgery resident at the University of Colorado. His research mentor is Thomas Robinson, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery. Together, their research focuses on identifying pre- and intra-operative risk factors in order to predict postoperative outcomes in geriatric surgical patients. Their hope is to stratify elderly patients according to operative risk in order to optimize postoperative care.
Excellence in Research Awards
S7
Allison L Speer, MD
Resident at: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA Award category: Immunity, Transplantation and Tissue Engineering Abstract: Tissue-engineered small intestine regenerates from frozen organoid units: A novel long-term storage method. Co-authors: Fred G Sala, PhD, Jamil A Matthews, MD, Erik R Barthel, MD, PhD, Yasuhiro Torashima, MD, PhD, Tracy C Grikscheit, MD, FACS. Dr Speer was born and raised in Glendale, CA. She was accepted to the Baccalaureate/MD program at the University of Southern California (USC) and attended on an academic scholarship. Allison graduated cum laude in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, followed by her MD in 2006. She has completed 3 years of general surgery residency at USC and is currently conducting research on tissue engineering in Dr Tracy C Grikscheit’s laboratory at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Allison is the 2011-2012 recipient of the Society of University Surgeons Ethicon Scholarship Grant Award. She plans to become a pediatric surgeon.
S8
Excellence in Research Awards
Aaron W James, MD
Resident at: University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA Award category: Orthopaedic Surgery Abstract: Nell-1 deficiency results in osteopenic/ osteoporotic phenotype. Co-authors: Virginia T Nguyen, BSc, Janette N Zara, MD, MS, Michael Chiang, DDS, DNB, Donnalisa Soofer, BA, Asal Askarinam, BSc, Xinli Zhang, MD, PhD, Kang Ting, DMD, D Med Sci, Chia Soo, MD, FACS. Dr James was born in Palo Alto, CA, received his BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and his MD with Thesis from UC San Francisco. Dr James performed research for 3 years as a predoctoral fellow at Stanford University under the mentorship of Dr Michael T. Longaker. Currently he is a postdoctoral research fellow and project manager at UCLA, under the mentorship of Drs Kang Ting and Chia Soo. Dr James is pursuing a full time research endeavour at UCLA with main focuses in stem cell biology and tissue engineering of bone and cartilage.
J Am Coll Surg
Jerry S Chen, MD
Resident at: Stanford University, Stanford, CA Award category: Plastic/Maxillofacial Surgery Abstract: Conditional deletion of SDF-1-alpha in hypoxia-mediated progenitor cell recruitment and wound healing. Co-authors: Ivan N Vial, Michael Sorkin, MD, Kristine C Rustad, Melanie R Major, Geoffrey C Gurtner, MD, FACS. Dr Chen was born in Ann Arbor, MI and raised throughout the Midwest before moving to California for his general surgery residency at Stanford. Dr Chen majored in biomedical engineering at Northwestern University and then attended the University of Pittsburgh for medical school. In medical school he had several strong influences, including his faculty mentor Dr Timothy Kane, who locked him into an interest in surgery and pediatric surgery specifically. Dr Chen’s research interests are in stem cells, wound healing, and surgical innovation. He has completed 2 years of his residency and hopes to attain a pediatric surgery fellowship position in the coming years.
Vol. 213, No. 3S, September 2011
Jason P Glotzbach, MD
Resident at: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA Award category: Progenitor Cells and Cell-Based Therapies Abstract: A novel double fluorescent transgenic mouse model for lineage tracing of circulating progenitor cells in vasculogenesis. Co-authors: Victor W Wong, MD, Michael Sorkin, MD, Hirotaka Suga, MD, Jerry S Chen, MD, Michael Januszyk, MD, Ivan N Vial, Kristine C Rustad, Geoffrey C Gurtner, MD, FACS. Dr Glotzbach was born in New Haven, CT and raised in Ohio and Southern California. He earned an undergraduate degree in history from Princeton University and a medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine. He has completed 3 years of general surgery training at the University of North Carolina under the mentorship of Drs Anthony Meyer, MD, PhD and Mark Koruda, MD and a 3-year research fellowship under the mentorship of Drs Michael Longaker, MD, FACS and Geoffrey Gurtner, MD, FACS at Stanford University. His main research interests are cardiovascular biology, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine. After completion of general surgery training at UNC, Dr Glotzbach plans to pursue a career in academic cardiothoracic surgery.
Excellence in Research Awards
S9
Elise H Lawson, MD, MSHS
Resident at: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA Award category: Quality, Outcomes and Costs Abstract: Readmission following surgical procedures: Implications for quality improvement and cost savings. Co-authors: Bruce Lee Hall, MD, PhD, MBA, Rachel Louie, MS, David S Zingmond, MD, PhD, Clifford Y Ko, MD, MS, FACS. Dr Lawson grew up in Boston, MA, and then moved to California to earn her undergraduate and medical degrees from Harvey Mudd College and Stanford University School of Medicine, respectively. She is currently a general surgery resident at UCLA (PGY3) and recently completed an MS in Health Services through the RWJF Clinical Scholars Program. Her research interests include methods of surgical quality measurement, use of quality improvement methodologies (six sigma, lean, etc) in a surgical setting, and improving shared decision making between surgeons and patients through the use of appropriateness criteria and risk calculators. She is currently working on projects related to these interests with her mentor, Dr Clifford Ko. After residency, Dr Lawson plans to pursue fellowship training in colorectal surgery.
S10
Excellence in Research Awards
Sonal Arora, BSc, MBBS, MRCS, PhD
Resident at: Imperial College London, London, UK Award Category: Surgical Education Abstract: Safety skills training for surgeons: A half-day educational programme improves knowledge, attitudes and awareness of patient safety. Co-authors: Nick Sevdalis, PhD, MSc, Maria Ahmed, MB, BS, Helen Wong, MSc, Ara Darzi, MD, FACS, Krishna Moorthy, MD, FRCS, Charles Vincent, PhD. Dr Arora graduated from the University of London before pursuing a career as a general surgery registrar at Imperial College, London. She is a Clinical Academic Lecturer leading the research team within the Simulated Operating Theatre at St Mary’s Hospital. With previous additional degrees in psychology and education, her PhD focuses on the use of innovations in training to enhance surgical performance and patient safety. Dr Arora’s research interests focus on surgical education, nontechnical skills, and patient safety. Dr Arora has numerous peer-reviewed publications in these disciplines and her work has attracted prestigious awards and acclaim at an international level. Dr Arora is a Surgical Education Research Fellow (awarded by the Association of Surgical Education). She is also an advisor to the World Health Organization where she has led the development of a Global Curriculum for Training in Patient Safety.
J Am Coll Surg
Michele L Babicky, MD
Resident at: University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA Award category: Surgical Oncology and Associated Immunology Abstract: RON overexpression accelerates tumorigenesis and induces metastasis in a KRAS mutant mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Co-authors: Evangeline Mose, BSc, Karly Maruyama, BSc, Meg Harper, BSc, Dawn Jaquish, BSc, Randall French, PhD, Andrew M Lowy, MD, FACS. Dr Babicky was born and raised in Budd Lake, NJ. She completed her BS in chemistry at Villanova University and received her MD from the University of Southern California in 2008. She is currently a resident in general surgery at the University of California, San Diego and her mentor is Dr Andrew Lowy. She is currently a research fellow in the Cancer Therapeutics Training Program through the UCSD Moores Cancer Center. Her research focuses on the role of the RON tyrosine kinase receptor in pancreatic carcinogenesis and she plans to pursue a fellowship position in surgical oncology when she completes her residency.
Vol. 213, No. 3S, September 2011
Masayuki Nagahashi, MD, PhD
Resident at: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine/Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA Award category: Targeted Therapies Abstract: Specific inhibitor of sphingosine kinase 1 suppresses tumor-induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Co-authors: Subramaniam Ramachandran, PhD, Eugene Y Kim, PhD, Jeremy C Allegood, PhD, Omar M Rashid, MD, JD, Sheldon Milstien, PhD, Sarah Spiegel, PhD, Kazuaki Takabe, MD, PhD, FACS. Dr Nagahashi is a surgeon-scientist currently conducting translational research focusing on targeting the signaling pathway of sphingolipid in cancer progression, especially in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. He became a board certified surgeon in Japan after completion of his clinical surgical training in Niigata University, where he was awarded his MD, and a PhD in pathology as well. His unique training in both clinical and basic research allows him to conduct breakthrough research as a research fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University under the mentorship of Dr Kazuaki Takabe in surgical oncology. He plans to establish himself as an independent researcher.
Excellence in Research Awards
S11
Mathew D Sorensen, MD
Resident at: University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Award category: Urology Abstract: Fractional calcium absorption is associated with nephrolithiasis in older women in the study of osteoporotic fractures (SOF). Co-authors: Brian H Eisner, MD, Katie L Stone, PhD, Arnold J Kahn, PhD, Li-Yung Lui, MA, MS, Natlia Sadetsky, MD, PhD, Marshall Stoller, MD, FACS. Dr Sorensen was raised in Salt Lake City, UT and completed his medical degree at the University of Colorado. During his urology residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, he completed a Masters degree in epidemiology through the School of Public Health. In July 2011, he completed a laparoscopy and endourology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco under the direction of Dr Marshall Stoller. His research interests include epidemiologic outcomes and translational basic-science research to unravel the mystery of urinary stone disease. Dr Sorensen is presently on the faculty in the Department of Urology at the University of Washington.
S12
Excellence in Research Awards
J Am Coll Surg
Caroline C Jadlowiec, MD
Resident at: Yale University, New Haven, CT Award category: Vascular Surgery Abstract: A novel vascular role for PirB in ischemiainduced postnatal angiogenesis. Co-authors: Robert A Brenes, MD, Susun T Kim, BA, Orlando C Kirton, MD, FACS, Alan Dardik, MD, PhD, FACS. Dr Caroline Jadlowiec received her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. She is a PGY-2 general surgery resident at the University of Connecticut, and is currently completing her post-doctoral research studies at Yale University School of Medicine under the mentorship of Dr Alan Dardik as part of the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program. Her research interests include vein graft adaptation and critical limb ischemia.
American College of Surgeons Owen H Wangensteen Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems: Resident/Fellow Excellence in Research Awards 2011 For the ninth consecutive year the American College of Surgeons’ Owen H Wangensteen Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems presents Resident/Fellow Excellence in Research Awards. The major objectives of this ongoing program are to recognize excellence in research performed by surgical residents and fellows, increase the visibility of the Surgical Forum as a setting for resident research presentations, facilitate and encourage the attendance of residents and fellows at the Forum sessions, encourage residents and fellows to participate in research during their training, and, finally, contribute to the overall quality of the annual Clinical Congress. Selection criteria for the award were based on originality of concept, quality of methodology, and impact of the science. This year 15 awards of $800 each will be presented after the abstract presentations in the Quality, Outcomes and Costs I session on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 12:45 PM–4:00 PM. All surgical investigators and their mentors are invited to attend the award distribution, as well as attend the sessions in which the award recipients are presenting.
Eric Kubat, MD
Richard Clark Webb, MD
Resident at: University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Award category: Alimentary Tract Abstract: Corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2 (CRF2) is essential for mediation of the urocortin1 anti-inflammatory response in experimental acute pancreatitis. Co-authors: Eileen Grady, PhD, Victoria Lyo, MD, Shilpi Mahajan, PhD, Min Liao, MD, Kimberly S Kirkwood, MD, FACS, Aditi Bhargava, PhD.
Resident at: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD Award category: Biomarkers/Genetic Determinants Abstract: MicroRNA profiling of benign and malignant pheochromocytomas. Co-authors: Brent Bian, Mei He, Ramya Krishna, BSc, Naris Nilubol, MD, Karen Adams, Karel Pacak, MD, Electron Kebebew, MD, FACS. Dr Webb is a native of Spartanburg, SC. After graduating with a degree in biology from Wofford College, he attended the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. He has been serving on active duty as a United States Army officer, beginning with medical school to the present. His current assignment is at Walter Reed Bethesda in the National Capitol Consortium General Surgery Department. During the past year of research, Dr Webb was mentored by Dr Electron Kebebew in the Surgery Branch at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr Kubat was born and raised in Iowa. He completed medical school at the University of Minnesota Medical School before beginning training in general surgery at UCSFEast Bay. After 3 years of clinical residency he began his research fellowship at UCSF in the Center for Neurobiology of Digestive Diseases. Currently, his research interests focus on the neuroendocrine-dependent pathways of GI inflammation. His research mentors include Aditi Bhargava, PhD and Kimberly Kirkwood, MD at UCSF. Following the completion of his residency he plans to pursue a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery or surgical oncology.
© 2011 by the American College of Surgeons Published by Elsevier Inc.
S5
ISSN 1072-7515/11/$36.00 doi:10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2011.06.403
S6
Excellence in Research Awards
Melissa H Coleman, MD
Resident at: Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA Award category: Cardiothoracic Surgery Abstract: Association of mesothelioma outcome with RERG expression. Coauthors: Assunta De Rienzo, PhD, William G Richards, PhD, Beow Y Yeap, ScD, David J Sugarbaker, MD, FACS, Raphael Bueno, MD, FACS. Dr Coleman grew up in Bethesda, MD, where she was fortunate to spend time alongside her parents in their laboratories at the National Institutes of Health. She attended Weill Medical College of Cornell University and is now completing the second year of her research fellowship in the Thoracic Surgery Oncology Laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Under the mentorship of Dr Raphael Bueno, her research focuses on molecular signatures associated with mesothelioma prognosis and diagnosis. At the completion of her research fellowship she will return to clinical duties as a postgraduate year 3 resident. After completing general surgery residency she hopes to pursue a cardiothoracic fellowship.
J Am Coll Surg
Evie Carchman, MD
Resident at: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Award category: Critical Care Abstract: Mitophagy/mitochondrial biogenesis is necessary to prevent organ injury in sepsis and is dependent on TLR9 signaling. Co-author: Brian Zuckerbraun, MD, FACS. Dr Carchman attended medical school at the Medical College of Virginia, where she was elected junior AOA and ranked first in her class for the last 3 years. She was also awarded the Dr Sidney B Barham Scholarship, which is awarded for the highest score on national boards, and the MCV Foundation Scholarship, which is awarded to an academically stellar student. She was then accepted to the University of Pittsburgh, where she is a resident reviewer for the Archives of Surgery, has published 3 first author papers, written 1 published book chapter, and presented at 8 national meetings.
Vol. 213, No. 3S, September 2011
Daniel Wu, MD
Resident at: Denver VA Medical Center, Denver, CO Award category: Geriatric Surgery Abstract: Walking speed predicts postoperative morbidity across surgical specialties. Co-author: Thomas Robinson, MD, FACS. Dr Wu completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University [BA, 2003] and attended medical school at Duke University [MD, 2007]. He is currently a senior general surgery resident at the University of Colorado. His research mentor is Thomas Robinson, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery. Together, their research focuses on identifying pre- and intra-operative risk factors in order to predict postoperative outcomes in geriatric surgical patients. Their hope is to stratify elderly patients according to operative risk in order to optimize postoperative care.
Excellence in Research Awards
S7
Allison L Speer, MD
Resident at: Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA Award category: Immunity, Transplantation and Tissue Engineering Abstract: Tissue-engineered small intestine regenerates from frozen organoid units: A novel long-term storage method. Co-authors: Fred G Sala, PhD, Jamil A Matthews, MD, Erik R Barthel, MD, PhD, Yasuhiro Torashima, MD, PhD, Tracy C Grikscheit, MD, FACS. Dr Speer was born and raised in Glendale, CA. She was accepted to the Baccalaureate/MD program at the University of Southern California (USC) and attended on an academic scholarship. Allison graduated cum laude in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, followed by her MD in 2006. She has completed 3 years of general surgery residency at USC and is currently conducting research on tissue engineering in Dr Tracy C Grikscheit’s laboratory at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Allison is the 2011-2012 recipient of the Society of University Surgeons Ethicon Scholarship Grant Award. She plans to become a pediatric surgeon.
S8
Excellence in Research Awards
Aaron W James, MD
Resident at: University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA Award category: Orthopaedic Surgery Abstract: Nell-1 deficiency results in osteopenic/ osteoporotic phenotype. Co-authors: Virginia T Nguyen, BSc, Janette N Zara, MD, MS, Michael Chiang, DDS, DNB, Donnalisa Soofer, BA, Asal Askarinam, BSc, Xinli Zhang, MD, PhD, Kang Ting, DMD, D Med Sci, Chia Soo, MD, FACS. Dr James was born in Palo Alto, CA, received his BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and his MD with Thesis from UC San Francisco. Dr James performed research for 3 years as a predoctoral fellow at Stanford University under the mentorship of Dr Michael T. Longaker. Currently he is a postdoctoral research fellow and project manager at UCLA, under the mentorship of Drs Kang Ting and Chia Soo. Dr James is pursuing a full time research endeavour at UCLA with main focuses in stem cell biology and tissue engineering of bone and cartilage.
J Am Coll Surg
Jerry S Chen, MD
Resident at: Stanford University, Stanford, CA Award category: Plastic/Maxillofacial Surgery Abstract: Conditional deletion of SDF-1-alpha in hypoxia-mediated progenitor cell recruitment and wound healing. Co-authors: Ivan N Vial, Michael Sorkin, MD, Kristine C Rustad, Melanie R Major, Geoffrey C Gurtner, MD, FACS. Dr Chen was born in Ann Arbor, MI and raised throughout the Midwest before moving to California for his general surgery residency at Stanford. Dr Chen majored in biomedical engineering at Northwestern University and then attended the University of Pittsburgh for medical school. In medical school he had several strong influences, including his faculty mentor Dr Timothy Kane, who locked him into an interest in surgery and pediatric surgery specifically. Dr Chen’s research interests are in stem cells, wound healing, and surgical innovation. He has completed 2 years of his residency and hopes to attain a pediatric surgery fellowship position in the coming years.
Vol. 213, No. 3S, September 2011
Jason P Glotzbach, MD
Resident at: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA Award category: Progenitor Cells and Cell-Based Therapies Abstract: A novel double fluorescent transgenic mouse model for lineage tracing of circulating progenitor cells in vasculogenesis. Co-authors: Victor W Wong, MD, Michael Sorkin, MD, Hirotaka Suga, MD, Jerry S Chen, MD, Michael Januszyk, MD, Ivan N Vial, Kristine C Rustad, Geoffrey C Gurtner, MD, FACS. Dr Glotzbach was born in New Haven, CT and raised in Ohio and Southern California. He earned an undergraduate degree in history from Princeton University and a medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine. He has completed 3 years of general surgery training at the University of North Carolina under the mentorship of Drs Anthony Meyer, MD, PhD and Mark Koruda, MD and a 3-year research fellowship under the mentorship of Drs Michael Longaker, MD, FACS and Geoffrey Gurtner, MD, FACS at Stanford University. His main research interests are cardiovascular biology, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine. After completion of general surgery training at UNC, Dr Glotzbach plans to pursue a career in academic cardiothoracic surgery.
Excellence in Research Awards
S9
Elise H Lawson, MD, MSHS
Resident at: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA Award category: Quality, Outcomes and Costs Abstract: Readmission following surgical procedures: Implications for quality improvement and cost savings. Co-authors: Bruce Lee Hall, MD, PhD, MBA, Rachel Louie, MS, David S Zingmond, MD, PhD, Clifford Y Ko, MD, MS, FACS. Dr Lawson grew up in Boston, MA, and then moved to California to earn her undergraduate and medical degrees from Harvey Mudd College and Stanford University School of Medicine, respectively. She is currently a general surgery resident at UCLA (PGY3) and recently completed an MS in Health Services through the RWJF Clinical Scholars Program. Her research interests include methods of surgical quality measurement, use of quality improvement methodologies (six sigma, lean, etc) in a surgical setting, and improving shared decision making between surgeons and patients through the use of appropriateness criteria and risk calculators. She is currently working on projects related to these interests with her mentor, Dr Clifford Ko. After residency, Dr Lawson plans to pursue fellowship training in colorectal surgery.
S10
Excellence in Research Awards
Sonal Arora, BSc, MBBS, MRCS, PhD
Resident at: Imperial College London, London, UK Award Category: Surgical Education Abstract: Safety skills training for surgeons: A half-day educational programme improves knowledge, attitudes and awareness of patient safety. Co-authors: Nick Sevdalis, PhD, MSc, Maria Ahmed, MB, BS, Helen Wong, MSc, Ara Darzi, MD, FACS, Krishna Moorthy, MD, FRCS, Charles Vincent, PhD. Dr Arora graduated from the University of London before pursuing a career as a general surgery registrar at Imperial College, London. She is a Clinical Academic Lecturer leading the research team within the Simulated Operating Theatre at St Mary’s Hospital. With previous additional degrees in psychology and education, her PhD focuses on the use of innovations in training to enhance surgical performance and patient safety. Dr Arora’s research interests focus on surgical education, nontechnical skills, and patient safety. Dr Arora has numerous peer-reviewed publications in these disciplines and her work has attracted prestigious awards and acclaim at an international level. Dr Arora is a Surgical Education Research Fellow (awarded by the Association of Surgical Education). She is also an advisor to the World Health Organization where she has led the development of a Global Curriculum for Training in Patient Safety.
J Am Coll Surg
Michele L Babicky, MD
Resident at: University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA Award category: Surgical Oncology and Associated Immunology Abstract: RON overexpression accelerates tumorigenesis and induces metastasis in a KRAS mutant mouse model of pancreatic cancer. Co-authors: Evangeline Mose, BSc, Karly Maruyama, BSc, Meg Harper, BSc, Dawn Jaquish, BSc, Randall French, PhD, Andrew M Lowy, MD, FACS. Dr Babicky was born and raised in Budd Lake, NJ. She completed her BS in chemistry at Villanova University and received her MD from the University of Southern California in 2008. She is currently a resident in general surgery at the University of California, San Diego and her mentor is Dr Andrew Lowy. She is currently a research fellow in the Cancer Therapeutics Training Program through the UCSD Moores Cancer Center. Her research focuses on the role of the RON tyrosine kinase receptor in pancreatic carcinogenesis and she plans to pursue a fellowship position in surgical oncology when she completes her residency.
Vol. 213, No. 3S, September 2011
Masayuki Nagahashi, MD, PhD
Resident at: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine/Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA Award category: Targeted Therapies Abstract: Specific inhibitor of sphingosine kinase 1 suppresses tumor-induced angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Co-authors: Subramaniam Ramachandran, PhD, Eugene Y Kim, PhD, Jeremy C Allegood, PhD, Omar M Rashid, MD, JD, Sheldon Milstien, PhD, Sarah Spiegel, PhD, Kazuaki Takabe, MD, PhD, FACS. Dr Nagahashi is a surgeon-scientist currently conducting translational research focusing on targeting the signaling pathway of sphingolipid in cancer progression, especially in angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. He became a board certified surgeon in Japan after completion of his clinical surgical training in Niigata University, where he was awarded his MD, and a PhD in pathology as well. His unique training in both clinical and basic research allows him to conduct breakthrough research as a research fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University under the mentorship of Dr Kazuaki Takabe in surgical oncology. He plans to establish himself as an independent researcher.
Excellence in Research Awards
S11
Mathew D Sorensen, MD
Resident at: University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Award category: Urology Abstract: Fractional calcium absorption is associated with nephrolithiasis in older women in the study of osteoporotic fractures (SOF). Co-authors: Brian H Eisner, MD, Katie L Stone, PhD, Arnold J Kahn, PhD, Li-Yung Lui, MA, MS, Natlia Sadetsky, MD, PhD, Marshall Stoller, MD, FACS. Dr Sorensen was raised in Salt Lake City, UT and completed his medical degree at the University of Colorado. During his urology residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, he completed a Masters degree in epidemiology through the School of Public Health. In July 2011, he completed a laparoscopy and endourology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco under the direction of Dr Marshall Stoller. His research interests include epidemiologic outcomes and translational basic-science research to unravel the mystery of urinary stone disease. Dr Sorensen is presently on the faculty in the Department of Urology at the University of Washington.
S12
Excellence in Research Awards
J Am Coll Surg
Caroline C Jadlowiec, MD
Resident at: Yale University, New Haven, CT Award category: Vascular Surgery Abstract: A novel vascular role for PirB in ischemiainduced postnatal angiogenesis. Co-authors: Robert A Brenes, MD, Susun T Kim, BA, Orlando C Kirton, MD, FACS, Alan Dardik, MD, PhD, FACS. Dr Caroline Jadlowiec received her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. She is a PGY-2 general surgery resident at the University of Connecticut, and is currently completing her post-doctoral research studies at Yale University School of Medicine under the mentorship of Dr Alan Dardik as part of the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program. Her research interests include vein graft adaptation and critical limb ischemia.