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Agenda (Pdf), Department Of Surgery

Surgery Research Symposium

Agenda for the 4th Annual Surgery Research Symposium held May 7, 2026.

Impact Of Dermatology Access On Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Outcomes, Joseph H. Kelly, Marcus L. Frohm

Scholarship Pathways Program

Impact of Dermatology Access on Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Outcomes

Joseph H. Kelly MD

Mentor: Marcus L. Frohm, MD

Introduction: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a locally aggressive rare dermal sarcoma with a relatively high rate of local recurrence. Incidence in the United States has been reported around 4 occurrences per million people per year, and recurrence rates have been reported between 2 to 19%. Recurrence poses a higher risk for sarcomatous transformation, increasing the risk for metastasis. Early and accurate diagnosis, coupled with appropriate management, is essential to minimize these risks. This study extended previous research by evaluating whether access to dermatology care …

Optimizing Patient-Facing Ai Chatbot Questions To Improve Readability And Actionability In Anesthesia Education, Sarah Kadado, Bianca Elias, Roy Soto

Posters

In anesthesia, high patient anxiety and limited counseling time increase the need for clear, usable information. Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT) are increasingly used for patient anesthesia education. Many AI-generated responses exceed the recommended 6th-8th grade reading level for patient education information. Responses also often lack actionable guidance for patients. This study quantifies how optimizing patient-facing prompts improves readability, understandability, and actionability.

Anatomy Of Teamwork: Leveraging Peer Feedback To Build A Bespoke Team Charter Assignment, Emily Tenniswood, Stefanie Attardi

Posters

Post-COVID-19, students in our M1 Anatomical Foundations of Clinical Practice (AFCP) courses increasingly request faculty guidance or intervention in managing intra-dissection team conflict.

Perceptions Of Radiology Residency Staffing Models Across Years Of Training, Alex Zhang, Alexander Swantek, Adela Pouzar, Sayf Al-Katib

Posters

Case staffing is the primary method by which radiology residencies teach at the workstation. Despite this, the styles and methods for how staffing is performed have not yet been comprehensively described. Understanding these models and evaluating resident perspectives can inform best practices and enhance radiology education.

Clinical Outcomes Of A Non-Diffractive Extended Depth Of Focus Intraocular Lens In Post-Refractive Eyes, Collin Olevson, John P. Berdahl, Tanner J. Ferguson

Scholarship Pathways Program

Clinical outcomes of a non-diffractive extended depth of focus intraocular lens in post-refractive eyes

 Collin Olevson, MD¹ | John Berdahl, MD^1,2 and Tanner Ferguson, MD^1,2

¹University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD

²Vance Thompson Vision, Sioux Falls, SD

Introduction: Eyes with prior corneal refractive surgery (i.e laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)) pose challenges during cataract surgery due to altered corneal curvature. The AcrySof IQ Vivity intraocular lens (IOL) is a non-diffractive extended depth-of-focus (EDOF) IOL designed to provide a broader range of vision. Limited data exists on its …

Visual Outcomes And Quality Of Life In A Randomized Trial Of Topography-Guided Lasik With Novel Gis-Software Versus Wavefront Optimized Lasik, Elise V.H. Meide, Tanner J. Ferguson, John P. Berdahl, Vance M. Thompson, Daniel C. Terveen

Scholarship Pathways Program

Visual Acuity and Quality of Life Results in a Randomized Trial of Topography-Guided with GIS-Software Versus Wavefront Optimized LASIK

Elise V.H. Meide, MD | Daniel C. Terveen, MD

Purpose: To compare post-operative visual acuity, refractive outcomes and patient-reported visual quality of life between topography-guided (TG) laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with novel geographic imaging system (GIS) based software versus wavefront-optimized (WFO) LASIK. Main outcome measures included the rate of patients with uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 20/16 or better 3 months post-operatively. Secondary and exploratory endpoints include best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), residual refractive error, low contrast visual acuity, …

Nudging Implementation Of Low Tidal Volume Ventilation: A Stepped Wedge, Cluster Randomized Trial, Meeta Prasad Kerlin, Michael O. Harhay, Fan Li, Dylan S. Small, Yingying Lu, Wei Wang, Barry D. Fuchs, Mark E. Mikkelsen, Teresa Tran, Aerielle Belk, Jasmine A. Silvestri, Tamar Klaiman, Stefania Scott, Elizabeth Levy, Michael W. Sjoding, Rachel Kohn, Karsten J. Roberts, Rinad S. Beidas, Scott D. Halpern

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: "Nudges" embedded in the electronic health record (EHR) facilitate desired decisions while preserving autonomy and may provide a scalable strategy to overcome the common implementation barrier of lack of knowledge about a best practice. We sought to test whether EHR-based nudges targeting two intensive care unit (ICU) clinician groups would safely increase evidence-based use of low tidal volume ventilation.

METHODS: We performed a stepped-wedge, cluster randomized, hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation trial in 12 ICUs from February 2021 to May 2023 to test three nudges targeting clinicians responsible for order entry and respiratory therapists responsible for operationalizing orders and documentation. …

Short-Term Bayesian Influenza Forecasting In A Hospital Environment Using A Linear Kalman Filter., Shankar Kaleeswaran Mani, Grzegorz A Rempala, Eben Kenah, Fernanda L Schumacher

Ambulatory and Primary Care Articles

Accurately forecasting the weekly number of influenza (flu) lab tests and positive cases is important for hospitals as they work to plan staffing, manage supplies, and provide timely patient care. In this paper, we describe a practical use of a Bayesian Kalman filter to forecast weekly flu tests and positives in a hospital setting. Using data from a large hospital system in Ohio, we show that this approach, which blends real-time hospital information with historical patterns, offers a dependable way to anticipate flu-related patient volume as far as four weeks ahead.

Systemic Α₂-Agonist Use And Lower Hazard Of Glaucoma Compared With Β-Blockers: A Cohort Study, Ibrahim Abboud, Amin Z. Khudari, Abdelaziz Abdelaal, Amr Almobayed, Subhi J. Al'aref, Jonathan S. Myers, Richard K. Lee, Abdelrahman M. Elhusseiny

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

OBJECTIVE: Systemic antihypertensive medications may influence glaucoma-related outcomes through intraocular pressure-dependent and vascular mechanisms. While topical α₂-agonists are established glaucoma therapies, the association between systemic α₂-agonists and glaucoma hazard remains unexamined; we compared their hazard with systemic β-blockers in adults with hypertension.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study using deidentified electronic health records. Adults aged ≥40 years with hypertension and chronic exposure to systemic α₂-agonists or β-blockers were included. Patients with pre-existing ocular hypertension (OHT), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), concomitant comparator use, or inadequate ophthalmic follow-up were excluded. We balanced cohorts using propensity score matching (PSM) …

Machine Learning-Based Prediction Of Proximal Junctional Pathology After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: A Systematic Review And Diagnostic Test Accuracy Meta-Analysis, Shaan Patel, Shiva A. Nischal, Yi Hein Chai, Kush M. Kale, Kevin Hines, Joshua Pelta-Heller, Jack Jallo, James S. Harrop, Srinivas K. Prasad

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and failure (PJF) remain challenging and incompletely predictable adverse event following adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. Machine learning (ML) models have been proposed to improve risk stratification, but performance varies and clinical applicability remains uncertain. A systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis was performed to synthesize the predictive performance of ML-based models for proximal junctional pathology after ASD surgery.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL were searched from inception to February 2026. Studies developing or validating ML models predicting PJK or PJF following ASD surgery were included. Diagnostic performance was synthesized using random-effects models, pooling …

Celiac Plexus Radiosurgery For Retroperitoneal Pain In Advanced Cancer: A Pre-Specified Secondary Analysis Of Health-Related Quality Of Life In A Phase Ii Single-Arm Trial, Aisling Barry, Ronen Fluss, Laura Dawson, David Hausner, Michael Buckstein, Talia Golin, Laurence Freedman, Marcin Miszczyk, Dayssy Diazpardo, Artur Aguiar, Dror Limon, Raphael Pfeffer, Moaz Ben-Ayun, Liat Hammer, Ziv Symon, Ofir Morag, Gali Jacobson, Adam Dicker, Jerzy Wydmanski, Camilla Zimmermann, Yaacov Lawrence

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Retroperitoneal pain syndrome seen in pancreatic cancer is a major clinical challenge. Celiac plexus radiosurgery, a new palliative technique for retroperitoneal pain syndrome, decreased pain levels in a phase II study. Here Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) outcomes are reported.

METHODS: Evaluable patients, who were enrolled between January 2018 and December 2021, in an international single-arm Phase II ethics-approved study (NCT03323489), were included. The pre-specified secondary endpoint-change in HRQOL from baseline to 3- and 6-weeks post-treatment, was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) version 4 questionnaire. Mean change was deemed clinically significant (CS) if …

Genetic Analysis Of The X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy Gene Abcd1 In Drosophila Uncovers A Conserved Phenotype, Joshua Manor, Sharayu V Jangam, Hyung-Lok Chung, Pranjali Bhagwat, Jonathan C Andrews, Hillary Chester, Shu Kondo, Saurabh Srivastav, Juan Botas, Ann B Moser, Suzette M Huguenin, Michael F Wangler

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a loss-of-function (LOF) mutation in the ATP-binding cassette subfamily D member 1 (ABCD1) gene, leading to the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs). This disorder exhibits striking heterogeneity; some male patients develop an early childhood neuroinflammatory demyelination disorder, while other patients, including adult males and most affected female carriers, experience a chronic progressive myelopathy. Adrenocortical failure is observed in almost all male patients, with the age of onset varying, sometimes being the first diagnostic finding. The gene underlying this spectrum of disease encodes an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter that …

Involuntary Medication Administration Review: A Historical Look At New Jersey Psychiatric Law And Its Significance, Casey Burke, Joon Min Chun D.O., Ramya Kommidi D.O., Salvatore Montana Messina D.O.

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The legal and ethical evolution of involuntary psychiatric medication in New Jersey has been shaped through the landmark legal cases Rennie v. Klein and Brandt v. Monte. To this effect, this poster explores how each case shaped state hospital policy and the balance between patient autonomy and clinical judgment. Rennie v. Klein (1978) established a constitutional right for involuntarily committed patients to refuse psychotropic medication, except in emergencies or with due process safeguards. Decades later, Brandt v. Monte (2006) exposed flaws in New Jersey’s administrative procedures—particularly Administrative Bulletin 78-3—which permitted coercive practices under the guise of emergency treatment and lacked …

Behind The Screen: The Effect Of Screen Time On The Pediatric Population, Arthi Rameshkumar, Tanvi Shah, Liam Courtney, Talia Hartman, Tanya Kadrmas-Iannuzzi

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

No abstract provided.

Psychiatry Meets Ai: Are Residents Ready?, Jacob De Castro, John Case

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Artificial intelligence (AI) use is increasing in healthcare, but psychiatry residency training remains unstructured. In a 20-resident pilot survey, AI was frequently used for literature review and clinical support, with limited confidence and institutional guidance. We found most residents desired formal training and would use AI more if institutionally supported. Findings highlight a gap between rapid adoption and structured education.

From Clinical Observation To Scholarly Question Academic Curiosity As A Professional Virtue In Emergency Medicine Introducing The Mindful Observation → Curious Inquiry → Clinical Structuring → Scholarly Sharing (Moccs) Model, James Espinosa, Alan A. Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Emergency Medicine generates continuous clinical observations, yet many potentially meaningful insights never progress beyond informal reflection. This poster reframes every day shift observations as the ecological foundation of scholarly inquiry. Conceptual Framework: We propose a simple, repeatable process to lower the activation energy for academic engagement The Mindful Observation → Curious Inquiry → Clinical Structuring → Scholarly Sharing (MOCCS) Model. This model centers disciplined noticing as a professional virtue. By naming and normalizing the “hmmm” and “huh?” moments, this approach validates frontline clinical wisdom, democratizes scholarly participation, and restores intellectual joy within high-stress clinical environments. Conclusion: Curiosity is not hierarchical. …

Brief Review: Does Red Hair Phenotype Affect Propofol Pharmacokinetics Or Pharmacodynamics?, James Espinosa, Frank Wheeler, Robin Lahr, Sergey Medlenov, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: A persistent belief within Emergency Medicine and perioperative culture suggests that individuals with red hair require altered anesthetic dosing. While early studies demonstrated increased requirements for certain volatile anesthetics in red-haired individuals, this association is frequently generalized to propofol without clear supporting evidence.

Objective: To review current literature regarding the relationship between red hair phenotype (and MC1R variants) and propofol pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD).

Methods: A focused narrative review of controlled human studies and relevant clinical outcome data evaluating propofol PK and PD in red-haired individuals.

Results: Evidence supporting altered anesthetic requirement in red-haired individuals primarily derives from …

The Neurobiology Of Interruptions In Emergency Medicine: The Case For Informed Interruption Management In Support Of Cognitive Stability In High-Reliability Clinical Environments, James Espinosa, Henry Schuitema, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Interruptions are ubiquitous in Emergency Departments (EDs) and have been associated with task delay, multitasking, and increased error risk. While operational and human-factors impacts are well described, the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms remain underexplored. Not all interruptions are avoidable.  However,  interruptions in emergency medicine represent neurocognitive destabilization events that can degrade task representation and increase vulnerability to error during task resumption. Recognizing the neural mechanisms underlying interruptions reframes their management as a systems-level patient safety priority. The aim is not elimination of clinically necessary communication, but thoughtful reduction, prioritization, and design that protects cognitive stability.

Objective: To synthesize cognitive neuroscience …

Protecting The Protectors: Supporting Emergency Department Security Officer Wellness: A Brief Conceptual Review And Research Agenda, James A. Espinosa Md, Paul Sarnese, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Workplace violence in emergency departments (EDs) has been widely studied, yet the occupational wellness of ED security officers has received comparatively limited focused attention in emergency medicine literature.

Objective: To conceptually examine the role of ED security personnel within the emergency care environment and outline a research agenda addressing their wellness.

Discussion: Security officers frequently respond to behavioral crises, assist with restraint events, and help maintain safety for patients, visitors, and staff. These duties include vigilance between events, sudden physical exertion, and exposure to aggression. ED security work often follows a recognizable rhythm: baseline vigilance, rapid escalation response, physical …

Wildfires And Emergency Department Respiratory Surge: Brief Review, Systems Forecasting Implications And Recommendations For Research, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Wildfire smoke produces abrupt increases in PM2.5 and Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. Event-based and multi-season studies demonstrate short-term increases in asthma-related Emergency Department (ED) visits, with additional evidence supporting increased utilization for broader respiratory disease and chronic lower respiratory disease (including COPD) (Reid et al., 2016; Liu et al., 2015; Stowell et al., 2025; CDC, 2023).

Objective: To synthesize current evidence linking wildfire smoke to ED respiratory surge and to propose a systems forecasting model that translates environmental signals into structured operational stabilization within a complex adaptive system (CAS).

Methods (Review & Model Development): Narrative synthesis of event-based …

Soundscapes (Ambient Sound, Noise, Music And Other Background Sound) In The Emergency Department: An Under-Theorized Environmental Modifier In A Complex Adaptive System, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Music and ambient sound (including noise and other sounds) are frequently present in emergency departments (EDs), yet their role as environmental modifiers remains under-theorized. Existing literature largely examines background music, for example,  in procedural or perioperative contexts, with limited attention to open, high-density, multi-agent acute care systems.

Objective:

To conceptualize auditory input as a dynamic environmental variable within the ED viewed as a Complex Adaptive System (CAS), integrating neurobiological mechanisms with systems-level implications.

Methods/Conceptual Approach: Narrative conceptual synthesis integrating neurobiology of auditory processing, affective neuroscience, cognitive load theory, and complexity science.

Results:

Conceptual Insights: Auditory stimuli engage distributed neural …

Identifying And Generalizing Best Attending Teaching Practices: A Proposal For The Use Of Appreciative Inquiry To Enhance Emergency Medicine Residency Teaching Practices, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Teaching in the Emergency Department (ED) occurs within a complex adaptive system characterized by time pressure, interruptions, and high cognitive load. Studying what works well in clinical teaching , even in such a challenging  environment for  teaching, may reveal reproducible patterns that strengthen educational culture, enhance resident learning, and accelerate the development of teaching expertise. In complex clinical environments, excellence is often present but under-recognized; An approach called Appreciative Inquiry provides a structured method for making it visible.

Conceptual Framework

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) offers an alternative approach by systematically studying successful practices rather than failures. AI explores how and …

X-Ray Versus Ct For Femoral Landmark Identification: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Akash B. Patel, Marzieh Saeedi-Hosseiny, Mohammad Abedin-Nasab

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background Accurate femoral bone landmark identification is essential for orthopedic surgical planning, deformity correction, and fracture risk assessment. Radiography offers accessibility and low cost, while CT provides superior spatial resolution and three-dimensional visualization. Despite technological advances, no quantitative synthesis has compared these modalities specifically for femoral landmark identification.

Hypothesis CT provides superior measurement accuracy and interobserver reliability compared to radiography for femoral bone landmark identification.

Methods Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, Embase, Scopus, and PubMed were searched from 2015-2025. Studies comparing radiography and CT for femoral landmark identification with quantitative outcomes were included. Dual-reviewer screening of 604 records yielded 27 studies …

A Case Of Successful Survival In A High-Risk Elderly Patient With Copd After Endotracheal Intubation, Julia Cueto Oms-Ii

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leading to acute respiratory failure (ARF) is one of the major causes of mortality worldwide, thus typically having poor outcomes. Risk factors such as the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), severity of disease, comorbidities, and increased age are predictors of increased mortality rates in COPD patients. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV), like bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) or high flow nasal cannula (HFNC), is the initial standard of care for acute exacerbations of COPD. However, longer periods of NIV and failure of NIV therapy can lead to delayed endotracheal intubation and higher mortality rates. …

“This Wasn’T You”: Mania, Agency, And Moral Responsibility In Psychiatric Practice​, Phillip Mastoridis, Justin Scarano, Timothy Wong

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

A manic episode is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood with increased energy, impaired judgment, and risky or uncharacteristic behavior. This poster examines a case in which a woman, during a manic episode, placed doxylamine succinate, an over‑the‑counter sedating antihistamine, into her husband’s drink. After stabilization, she expressed shame and confusion about the act. In the clinical encounter, the treating psychiatrist responded, “It wasn’t you,” intending to reduce self‑blame and facilitate engagement in treatment. This reassurance was therapeutically effective but raises a deeper philosophical question: in what sense, if any, is it true?

Unmasking Neurosyphilis: A Psychotic Presentation With A Hidden Cause, Fazal Choudhary Do, Lalitya Karra Do

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

No abstract provided.

Conceptualizing The Transition From Stable Operations To Turbulent States : Reframing Emergency Department Operations. Learning From Fluid Dynamics And Complexity Science, James Espinosa, David Ho, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Emergency departments are frequently described using the language of patient flow, implying  smooth and predictable movement of patients through a system versus known obstructions to flow.  Clinicians, however, often observe abrupt shifts in operational stability.

Objective: To explore whether concepts from fluid dynamics and complexity science offer a useful framework for understanding these transitions.

Methods: Conceptual synthesis drawing on emergency medicine operations research, human factors, systems science, and fluid mechanics.

Results (Conceptual): Emergency departments exhibit behaviors analogous to systems approaching turbulence, including sensitivity to perturbation, amplification of delays, and nonlinear responses.

Conclusion: Viewing ED operations through the lens of …

A Systems Perspective On Workstation Ergonomic Principles And Their Application In Emergency Care Environments, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Workstation ergonomic principles are commonly included in mandatory healthcare training programs. These recommendations—monitor height relative to eye level, neutral arm positioning, and adjustable seating—derive largely from occupational ergonomics literature designed to reduce musculoskeletal strain and improve comfort during computer work. Emergency Departments (EDs), however, represent dynamic environments with shared workstations and workflow interruptions that may influence the implementation of these recommendations.

Objective: To summarize the evidence supporting commonly taught workstation ergonomic principles and frame them within a systems perspective of ED work environments.

Methods: Narrative review of occupational ergonomics guidelines, ergonomic intervention studies, and human factors literature relevant to …

The Ed Is Inherently Interleaved: The Learning Theory Case For Hybrid Resident Conference Curriculum Design In Emergency Medicine: Block For Onboarding And For Specialized Topics With Predominant Interleaving For Intermediate And Advanced Residents, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Emergency medicine (EM) training occurs within a clinical environment characterized by rapid context switching, diagnostic uncertainty, and frequent transitions between unrelated clinical problems. Didactic curricula that rely only on block-based topic organization may not fully reflect the cognitive demands of real emergency department practice.

Objective

To propose a developmentally adaptive hybrid model of EM curricular design that integrates early block learning during the onboarding phase of new residents, progressing to a general approach of interleaved learning. Specialized topics,  can be introduced using block learning at any time during the residency years.

Methods / Conceptual Approach

This conceptual educational model …