Research Years
While not mandatory, a period of laboratory and/or clinical investigation is considered important in the resident's development. Although most residents take either one or two years and spend their research time at Columbia, the program recognizes that residents have a diverse set of interests and goals; accordingly, possibilities range from doing no research to doing three years or more, and while the majority of residents have performed research within the Department of Surgery, others have gone to institutions across the region and the country.
For those wishing to stay close to home, Columbia's Department of Surgery has a strong history of research, and the Department's Division of Surgical Science is currently carrying out a broad range of research projects, including vascular biology, ischemia/reperfusion injury, organ preservation, neurodegenerative diseases, and blood coagulation. In addition, there are several clinical research units which provide an environment combining clinical and laboratory investigation.
NIH Training Grant
Within the department an NIH training grant is available which provides both salary support and loan forgiveness. This generous funding is available to residents who wish to spend two years performing basic scientific research before returning to clinical duties.
Planning Research
In order to assist residents with selecting a research project and location, a meeting is scheduled in the fall where senior residents can share their experiences both at Columbia and elsewhere. A surgeon from the faculty will also share advice regarding developing a career in academic surgery. In addition, details regarding labs within or affiliated with the Department are available in the Research Guide.
RESIDENT RESEARCH AWARDS
2008 Blakemore Prize and Awards
Drs. Marc Russo and Isaac George shared the Blakemore Prize for the best body of research performed by a graduating senior resident.
Drs. George comas and David Sternberg received Blakemore Awards for outstanding research performed by surgical residents over the academic year.
2008 Resident Research Competition
Dr. Jason Fisher wins first prize in seventeenth Surgery Residents' Research Competition, Dr. David I. Sternberg takes second
The 17th Resident's Research Competition was held in the Faculty Club on the morning of May 22nd, 2008. There were 10 seven-minute presentations. Members of the Department of Surgery Research Committee and Leadership group and guest judges David Hirsh, PhD, and Robert Kass, PhD, scored the presentations. Prize winners are as follows:
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Jason Fisher, MD/Jessica Kandel, MD: Combined Cyclooxygenase-2 and VEGF Inhibition Disrupts Tumor Vascular Architecture and Suppresses Metastasis by Altering a Lung Metastasis Gene Signature
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David I. Sternberg, MD/Joshua Sonett, MD: Blockade of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (RAGE) Attenuates Pulmonary Reperfusion Injury
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T. Alexander Quinn, MS/Henry M. Spotnitz, MD: The Method of Steepest Ascent Reduces the Time for Biventricular Pacing Optimization
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Marc Richmond, MD/Henry M. Spotnitz, MD: Combined Inhibition of Sodium-Hydrogen Exchange and Xanthine Oxidase Preserves Ventricular Function after Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Acutely Cyanotic Immature Porcine Hearts
Recipients of 2007-2008 Startup Grants Named
The Department of Surgery startup grants are awarded to a team of an attending mentor and a junior investigator who can be a resident, fellow, or medical student. The grants are intended to lead to external funding. Results of the most successful of these investigations are presented during the Residents' Research Competition each spring. 2007-08 startup grant recipients are as follows:
| Junior Investigator | Mentor |
|---|---|
| Jason Fisher, MD | Jessica Kandel, MD |
| Michelle Neier | Howard Kaufman, MD |
| Mary Jo Haley, MD | Darrell Yamashiro, MD |
| Fan Zhang, MD | K. Craig Kent, MD |
| T. Alexander Quinn, MD | Henry Spotnitz, MD |
| Mark Russo, MD | Annetine Gelijns, MD |
| Rohit Chandwani, MD | Andrew Gumbs, MD |
| Benjamin Pocock, MD | Kathie-Ann Joseph, MD, MPH |
| Adam Bograd, MD | Jonathan Chen, MD |
| Abbas Rana, MD | Mark Hardy, MD |
| Reha Celik, MD | Frank D'ovidio, MD, PhD |
| James Gerson, MD | Yoshifumi Naka, MD, PhD |
| Ryan Davies, MD | Allan Stewart, MD |
| Sang-Woo Pak, MD | Michael Argenziano, MD |
| Alejandro Ruiz-Elizalde, MD | Robert A. Cowles, MD |
| Chris Reverte, MD | Roman Nowygrod, MD |
| George Comas, MD | Mark Ginsburg, MD |
| Luca Milone, MD | William B. Inabnet, MD |
| Demetra Spiliotopoulos, MD | Mathew Williams, MD |
| David Woodland, MD | Zhuoro Liu, MD, PhD |
| Sara Cohen, MD | Jeffrey Morgan, MD |
| Robert Sorabella, MD | Ralph S. Mosca, MD |
2007 Blakemore Awards and Prize
Recipients of the 2006-2007 Blakemore Awards for surgical research in a given academic year:
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Jason C. Fisher, MD, for studies of angiogenesis inhibition in Wilms' tumor
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Isaac George, MD, for studies of effects of surgery on cardiovascular physiology
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Mark J. Russo, MD, for studies of heart failure and heart/lung replacement
Recipient of the Blakemore Prize for the best body of research during surgical training by a graduating resident:
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Ryan R. Davies, MD, for studies of pathophysiology of the thoracic aorta and cardiac transplantation in children
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