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Full Issue: Volume 20, Number 2 - Winter 2024

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

A publication for friends and colleagues of Jefferson’s Department of Surgery

In This Issue

Cover Story Dang Laboratory Hosts Computational Biologist Studying Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment - Page 1

Overview Two Terrific Nonfiction Scholarly Works - Page 2

On the Job Paige Fisher, PTA - Page 2

Education Expanding Post-Graduate Training with Two New Surgical Fellowships - Page 2

Changing Lives Through Research Jefferson Vascular Center Prepares for Comprehensive PERT Center Certification - Page 3

Please Welcome New Faculty - Page 3

Those Who Give Building Hope: TCGives Raises Funds to Support Pancreatic Cancer Research - Page 4

News in Brief …

News In Brief

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Tyler R. Grenda, MD, MS, (Sidney Kimmel Medical College ‘10) has been promoted to Associate Professor of Surgery. Dr. Grenda specializes in thoracic surgery and treats patients at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Jefferson Torresdale Hospital and Regulus Specialty Care in Turnersville, NJ.

Renee M. Tholey, MD, FACS, FASMBS, (Sidney Kimmel Medical College ’09, Jefferson Residency ‘15) has been promoted to Associate Professor of Surgery. Dr. Tholey specializes in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery and is Director of Surgical Undergraduate Education. She treats patients at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Jefferson Methodist Hospital and Jefferson Health–Navy Yard.

Talar Tatarian, MD, …

Building Hope: Tcgives Raises Funds To Support Pancreatic Cancer Research

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

In 2015, Kathleen K. Schoemaker (left) was an active and seemingly healthy 63-year-old. Still working as a finance executive, she had recently relocated from New Jersey to be closer to her daughter, Annemarie Tester, son-in-law, Michael, and their two young children in Fort Washington, Pa.

“She was two years into a five-year plan for retirement,” recalls Michael, founder and CEO of Tester Construction Group in Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

After feeling unwell during a retreat, Kathleen pursued medical testing that revealed a shocking diagnosis: Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. At the time, Michael’s father, William J. Tester, MD, was practicing oncology at …

New Faculty

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Sriharsha Gummadi, MD, has joined the Division of Acute Care Surgery. Dr. Gummadi is a graduate of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. He then went on to complete residency at Lakenau Hospital and fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. He is double board certified in Surgery and Surgical Critical Care and cares for patients at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Torresdale Hospital.

David Kim, MD, has joined the Division of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Kim is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He then went on to complete general …

Jefferson Vascular Center Prepares For Comprehensive Pert Center Certification

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Five years ago, the Jefferson Vascular Center (JVC)–staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of Interventional Radiology, Pulmonary Critical Care, Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine physicians–became a founding member of the Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) Consortium.

The PERT Consortium is a national organization that advocates a team approach to caring for patients who come into hospitals with blood clots in their lungs. Now the JVC is preparing to apply for a new national certification from the PERT Consortium as a Comprehensive PERT Center.

The Jefferson PERT team is co-led by Carin Gonsalves, MD (Interventional Radiology), Frances Mae West, MD (Pulmonary Critical …

Expanding Post-Graduate Training With Two New Surgical Fellowships

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

In 2024, the Jefferson Department of Surgery established new fellowship programs in Advanced Gastrointestinal, Minimally Invasive & Bariatric Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. The Department now offers post-graduate education across eight surgical subspecialties.

Advanced GI/MIS/Bariatric Surgery

Talar Tatarian, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is program director and Francesco Palazzo, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is associate program director for the Advanced Gastrointestinal, Minimally Invasive & Bariatric Surgery Fellowship.

Fellows will be prepared to perform complex gastrointestinal, foregut, bariatric and hernia surgery, as well as all related care. With a primary focus on bariatric/foregut surgery and a secondary focus on hernia and abdominal wall reconstruction, they …

Paige Fisher, Pta

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Paige Fisher has spent her career caring for patients in diverse ways.

After completing an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) degree, the Lehigh Valley native worked for a decade as a licensed PTA in acute care and rehabilitation settings in Florida and Pennsylvania. She says the work was rewarding–especially seeing patients make progress.

“I developed a passion for patient care and eventually became interested in the administrative side of healthcare,” Fisher says. “I wanted to be able to help from a broader perspective.”

To this end, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from …

Two Terrific Nonfiction Scholarly Works, Charles Yeo, Md, Facs

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

As the leaves turn bright with color this autumn, and as we mark the 200th birthday of Thomas Jefferson University, I was reflecting on two books I enjoyed over the last few months, both in the realm of history.

First, Eric H. Cline’s “1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed” tells the story, based upon archeologic treasures (some recently discovered) of the Late Bronze Age and the magnificent civilizations from the 15th century B.C. onward (from Mesopotamia, to Greece, to the Hittites, the Levant and Egypt). Cline describes the decline of these grand civilizations due to natural disasters, drought, internal strife …

Dang Laboratory Hosts Computational Biologist Studying Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Hien T. Dang, PhD, and Yotsawat Pomyen, PhD, first began collaborating in 2016 while they were both working at the National Cancer Institute’s Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis (LHC). In 2024, Dr. Pomyen again joined forces with Dr. Dang–this time in her laboratory at Jefferson, where he has been working as a Fulbright Thai Visiting Scholar (see sidebar).

Dr. Pomyen, a computational biologist, specializes in primary liver cancer research and is a member of Thailand’s Initiative on Gene Expression Research–Liver Cancer (TIGER-LC). His academic background includes a Master of Science in Bioinformatics from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, as well …

Bessine Littlefield-Richard, Wilmer Amina Carter Foundation

Bridges Digital Archive: Audio and Video Recordings

Carolyn Tillman interviewed Bessine Littlefield-Richard, a woman with a deep history in San Bernardino. Littlefield-Richard spoke about her time in grade school and said that participating in the Career For You program led to her working for San Bernardino County. The interviewee also spoke about her large family and successfully running for a seat in the City Council. After speaking about meeting community leaders, Littlefield-Richard talked about her work in local organizations. There is also a mention of how local safety has changed and she hoped that it could be better. The interview ended with Littlefield-Richard’s reflection on raising her …

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 27, No. 7, 2013, Katrina Nuncio, Charlene Erwin, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-seven and issue seven of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 27, No. 3, 2013, Katrina Nuncio, Charlene Erwin, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-seven and issue three of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 27, No. 3, 2013, Color Copy, Katrina Nuncio, Charlene Erwin, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Color copy of volume twenty-seven and issue three of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 26, No. 9, 2012, Katrina Nuncio, David Opper, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-six and issue nine of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 26, No. 9, 2012, Color Copy, Katrina Nuncio, David Opper, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Color copy of volume twenty-six and issue nine of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 26, No. 5, 2012, Color Copy, Katrina Nuncio, David Opper, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Color copy of volume twenty-six and issue five of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 26, No. 5, 2012, Katrina Nuncio, David Opper, Mike Shannon

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-six and issue five of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 24, No. 9, 2010, Jay Hornsby, David Opper

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-four and issue nine of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 24, No. 7, 2010, Jay Hornsby, David Opper

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-four and issue seven of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2007, Jay Hornsby, David Opper

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume twenty-one and issue three of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 5, No. 9, 2006, Draft, Glynn Osburn, Paula Vastine, Claude Hudspeth

North Texas Archeological Society Records

A draft of volume five and issue nine of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 5, No. 9, 2006, Glynn Osburn, Paula Vastine, Claude Hudspeth

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume five and issue nine of TCAS Benchmark.

Tcas Benchmark, Vol. 5, No. 2, 2006, Glynn Osburn, Paula Vastine

North Texas Archeological Society Records

Volume five and issue two of TCAS Benchmark.

مصادر ومستويات القلق لدى طلبة مساق الجمباز في كليات التربية الرياضية بالجامعات الأردنية, Firas Salem Al- Dolat

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة التعرف إلى مصادر ومستويات القلق لدى طلبة كليات التربية الرياضية في الجامعات الأردنية الرسمية لمساق الجمباز تبعاً لمتغيرات (الجنس، والجامعة). استخدم الباحث المنهج الوصفي، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من (350) طالباً وطالبةً يمثلون جامعات (الأردنية، واليرموك، ومؤتة، والهاشمية). صمم الباحث استبانة لقياس مصادر القلق أداة لجمع البيانات، واشتمل على (53) فقرة موزعة على خمس مجالات هي: (المجال التعليمي، ومجال الامكانات، ومجال ادارة الكلية، ومجال الحوافز، ومجال الطلاب)، وتم أيضاً استخدام مقياس حالة وسمة القلق. ولتحليل البيانات تم استخدام (المتوسطات الحسابية والانحرافات المعيارية، وتحليل التباين الأحادي واختبار شيفيه للمقارنات البعدية. أظهرت النتائج بأن مستوى مصادر القلق النفسي لدى طلبة مساق …

فاعلية استخدام استراتيجية الصف المعكوس في تحصيل طلبة الصف الثالث الأساسي في مادة العلوم, Amal Odeh Salman Alrawashdeh

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة التعرف إلى أثر استخدام استراتيجية التعلم المعكوس في التحصيل الآني والمؤجل في مادة العلوم لدى طلبة الصف الثالث الأساسي في الأردن. ولتحقيق هذا الهدف تم استخدام المنهج شبه التجريبي من خلال استخدام أداة تم تطويرها على شكل اختبار يقيس أثر استخدام استراتيجية التعلم المعكوس في التحصيل الآني والمؤجل في مادة العلوم لدى طلبة الصف الثالث الأساسي في مدرسة العدنانية الأساسية المختلطة التابعة لمديرية قصبة الكرك في محافظة الكرك جنوب الأردن والذين يدرسون في الفصل الأول من العام الدراسي 2022/2023.، والبالغ عددهم (68) طالباً وطالبة موزعين على المجموعتين التجريبية والضابطة، حيث تم اختيارهم بطريقة قصدية بواقع (34) طالباً وطالبة …

درجة امتلاك طلبة الثانوية العامة في الأردن لمهارات التعلم المنظم ذاتيًّا خلال التعليم الإلكتروني وقدرته على التنبؤية بالتحصيل الأكاديمي, Mohammad Mohd Taisir Habib Samkari .

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة التعرف على درجة امتلاك طلبة المرحلة الثانوية العامة في الأردن لمهارات التعلم المنظم ذاتيًّا خلال استخدام التعليم الإلكتروني، وكذلك التعرف على القدرة التنبؤية للتعلم المنظم ذاتيًّا على التحصيل الأكاديمي لديهم، واستخدام المنهج الوصفي الارتباطي لتحقيق أهداف الدراسة، التي اجريت على عينة من طلبة المرحلة الثانوية العامة في لواء الجامعة في العاصمة عمان في الأردن وعددها (327) وقد أجريت الدراسة في العام الدراسي 2022، وقد بينت النتائج أن درجة امتلاك طلبة الثانوية العامة لمهارات التعلم المنظم ذاتياً مرتفعة بشكل عام، وقد احتل بعد وضع الاهدف والتخطيط على المرتبة الأولى ومن ثم طلب المساعدة الاجتماعية، ومن ثم التسميع والحفظ واخيراً …

Key Virulence Factors Responsible For Differences In Pathogenicity Between Clinically Proven Live-Attenuated Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Sa14-14-2 And Its Pre-Attenuated Highly Virulent Parent Sa14, Byung-Hak Song, Sang-Im Yun, Joseph L. Goldhardt, Jiyoun Kim, Young-Min Lee

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a neuroinvasive and neurovirulent orthoflavivirus, can be prevented in humans with the SA₁₄-14-2 vaccine, a live-attenuated version derived from the wild-type SA₁₄ strain. To determine the viral factors responsible for the differences in pathogenicity between SA₁₄ and SA₁₄-14-2, we initially established a reverse genetics system that includes a pair of full-length infectious cDNAs for both strains. Using this cDNA pair, we then systematically exchanged genomic regions between SA14 and SA₁₄-14-2 to generate 20 chimeric viruses and evaluated their replication capability in cell culture and their pathogenic potential in …

The Continuing Search For A Better Mouse Trap: Two Tests Of A Practical, Low-Cost Camera Trap For Detecting And Observing Small Mammals, Raymond D. Dueser, John H. Porter, Nancy D. Moncrief

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The advent of digital wildlife cameras has led to a dramatic increase in the use of camera traps for mammalian biodiversity surveys, ecological studies and occupancy analyses. For cryptic mammals such as mice and shrews, whose small sizes pose many challenges for unconstrained digital photography, use of camera traps remains relatively infrequent. Here we use a practical, low-cost small mammal camera platform (the “MouseCam”) that is easy and inexpensive to fabricate and deploy and requires little maintenance beyond camera service. We tested the MouseCam in two applications: a study of small mammal species composition on two transects across a barrier …

Nutritional, Phytochemical, And Antimicrobial Properties Of Carica Papaya Leaves: Implications For Health Benefits And Food Applications, Rajni Choudhary, Ravinder Kaushik, Ansab Akhtar, Suvendu Manna, Jyoti Sharma, Aarti Bains

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Papaya leaves (PLs) are known for their therapeutic benefits and traditional use in treating inflammation, infections, and various health conditions. Rich in bioactive compounds, PLs are studied for their potential applications in functional foods. This study analyzed their nutritional, phytochemical, structural, thermal, and antimicrobial properties to evaluate their role as a health-promoting ingredient. METHODS: Phytochemicals were quantified spectrophotometrically and identified via GC-MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and FRAP assays. Mineral content was determined using ICP-OES. Structural and thermal properties were evaluated using FTIR, XRD, and calorimetry, and antimicrobial activity was tested via the agar well diffusion method. …

Achilles Tendon Morphology Adaptations In Chronic Post-Stroke Hemiparesis: A Comparative Analysis With Neurologically Intact Controls, Jing Nong Liang, Greg Bashford, Kornelia Kulig, Kai-Yu Ho

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Introduction: In individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis, slow walking speed is a significant concern related to inadequate propulsion of the paretic limb. However, an overlooked factor is this population's altered morphology of the Achilles tendon, which may compromise the propulsive forces by the paretic limb. This study aimed to explore changes in Achilles tendon morphology, including gross thickness and intra-tendinous collagen fiber bundle organization, following stroke-induced brain lesions.

Methods: Fifteen individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis (at least 6 months post-stroke) and 19 neurologically intact controls participated. Ultrasound imaging was used to evaluate Achilles tendon thickness and collagen organization in the …