Residents and Fellows Research Day 2012

Two-Day Lang Research Event Ends With Presentation of Five Awards

Recognized for excellence in research, from left: Evan Schlofmitz, D.O., PGY-2, Internal Medicine; and Himanshu Nagar, M.D., PGY-2, Radiation Oncology. Offering congratulations are Phyllis August, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Lang Research Center; and Todd Kerwin, M.D., Director, Noninvasive Cardiology. Dr. Kerwin accepted awards for two winners who could not attend the ceremony. Not shown are: Harmony Leighton, D.O., PGY-2, Internal Medicine (Cardiology), and Tarek Mousa, M.D., PGY-3, Cardiology.

On Research Day 2012, four physicians-in-training accepted Lang Research Awards for excellence on behalf of their research teams. The award recipients had each served as principal investigator for their respective studies. They are:

Himanshu Nagar, M.D., PGY-2 in Radiation Oncology, for the oral presentation “Outcome Determinants in Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma Based on Clinico-Pathological and Treatment Factors.”

Evan Schlofmitz, D.O., PGY-2 in Medicine (Cardiology), for the oral presentation “Coronary Stent Diameter Variability Among Ethnic Groups Undergoing Revascularization for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction.”

Harmony Leighton, D.O., PGY-2 in Medicine (Cardiology) for the case report “Convulsive Syncope in a Patient with Reentrant Tachyarrhythmia.”
     Dr. Leighton also received an award for the poster presentation, “Effect of an Electronic Ordering System on Adherence to ACC Guidelines for Cardiac Monitoring,” which is not available for inclusion here.

Tarek M. Mousa, M.D., PGY-3 in Medicine (Cardiology) for the poster presentation, “Reduced Diagnostic Accuracy of Stress EKG test in patients With Left Anterior Fascicular Block: A Retrospective Analysis.”
Abstracts of the winning research projects can be read here.

The award ceremony capped a full two-day event.

On Tuesday…

• Geriatrics Jeopardy. A test of knowledge and a bit of friendly competition. Three teams of residents and fellows answered questions about geriatric medicine. Members of the team having the most correct answers each won a $50 gift certificate.
• Cocktails and dining. An informal cocktail hour and buffet dinner were held in the Lang Center lobby for residents, fellows, senior management and physicians affiliated with the research program at New York Hospital Queens.

On Wednesday…

• Keynote address. Keynote speaker Nathan E. Goldstein set an upbeat tone for Research Day. In his inspiring remarks, he described how a patient encounter as a resident had led to an ongoing interest in health services research. In turn, he said, he had had the opportunity to make a novel contribution to patient care. His work with advanced heart failure patients has helped to move palliative care, which had previously been focused primarily on cancer patients, into a new area.
• Research presentations. This year’s Research Day saw a 28% increase in presentations over last year, with 14 oral and 64 poster presentations. Residents and fellows from 15 departments and divisions participated.
• Award ceremony. Dr. Phyllis August, Lang Research Center director, presented five Lang Research Awards for excellence in research. Winning projects are selected by the Lang Center Scientific Advisory Board for soundness of research methodology, potential impact on patients, and the quality of the presentation itself.