2023 Research Symposium

On Friday, April 21, we held our 16th Annual Department of Medicine Virtual Research Symposium. The annual Research Symposium uses oral and poster presentations to showcase current research by the Department of Medicine’s junior faculty, fellows, residents, graduate, and medical students. A total of 62 abstracts were presented at this year’s virtual program, including four from junior faculty, 23 from residents/fellows, five from graduate students, three from staff scientists, research specialists, or program coordinators, and 27 from medical students. Of those abstracts, four were selected for oral presentation awards (highlighted below).

Additionally, our keynote speaker, Cynthia Ma, M.D., Ph.D., gave a wonderful presentation titled “Targeting HER2 Mutation in Breast Cancer from Bench to Bedside.” She is a professor and clinical director of the Breast Cancer Center in the Oncology Division at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

L-R: Ben Clyburn, M.D., Cynthia Ma, M.D., Ph.D., and Jim Oates, M.D.

We would like to thank all of the participants for sharing their innovative research as well as those who attended this year’s event and gave constructive feedback. We want to give special thanks to Claire Bilow, Natalie Wilson, and Mac Houck, for their tireless efforts toward making this symposium a success, along with our amazing IT Team, including Erika Murphy, Josh Ody and Keshia Colleton.

In addition, we would like to especially thank and recognize this year’s judges (listed below) who contributed their time and effort to make the 16th Annual Department of Medicine Research Symposium a successful event. They include the following:

Prince Anand, M.D., FACP
Galina Bogatkevich, M.D., Ph.D.
Scott Curry, M.D.
Thomas Di Salvo, M.D., MBA
Susan Dorman, M.D.
Justin Durland, M.D.
Wayne Fitzgibbon, Ph.D.
Gary Gilkeson, M.D.
Kyu-Ho Lee, M.D.
Diane Kamen, M.D., MSCR
Harsha Karanchi, M.D.
Joshua Lipschutz, M.D.
Tammy Nowling, Ph.D.
John McKinnon, M.D.
Cassandra Salgado, M.D., MS
Zengdun Shi, M.D.
Xian Zhang, Ph.D.

L-R: Camilla Bacchin, Tim Adewale, and Jensie Burton, M.D.

Ben Kalivas, M.D.

Oral Abstract Presenters

Adegboyega (Tim) Adewale
Ph.D. Candidate, MUSC College of Graduate Studies

Category: Graduate Student
Mentor: Carol Feghali-Bostwick, Ph.D.
Title: The Role of the IL-6-IGF-II Axis in Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Lung Fibrosis

Camilla Bacchin
Medical Student, MUSC College of Medicine

Category: Medical Student
Mentor: Federica del Monte, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Red Blood Cells shuttle beta amyloid between brain and heart: implications for the pathogenesis and the progression of Alzheimer Disease and Cardiomyopathy

Helen (Jensie) Burton, M.D.
Infectious Diseases Fellow, PGY-5

Category: Resident/Fellow
Mentors: Scott Curry, M.D., Cassandra Salgado, M.D., Yorsa Alkabab, M.D., Susan Dorman, M.D.
Title: Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infections in Cardiothoracic Surgery Patients Exposed to Heater-Cooler Devices Despite Control Measures

Benjamin Kalivas, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Division of Hospital Medicine; Program Director, Med-Peds Resident Program; Medical Director, GME Quality and Safety

Category: Junior Faculty
Mentors: Marc Heincelman, M.D., MPH, William Moran, M.D.
Title: BEERS Criteria Prescribing and Delirium at a Large Academic Hospital

Poster Awards

Kasey Lerner
Medical Student, MUSC

Category: Medical Student
Mentor: Joshua Lipschutz, M.D.
Title: "A metabolomics screen in cilia-deficient cells identifies abnormalities in tryptophan metabolism"

"Attending the 2023 Department of Medicine Research Symposium was an enriching experience, as I had the privilege to learn about the impressive research that members of the MUSC community have contributed to. The symposium showcased innovative projects across a broad spectrum of medical specialties, which left me feeling both humbled and inspired. Additionally, I believe that participating in this process has enhanced my skills in effectively communicating scientific findings and critically analyzing research. Overall, the symposium provided a valuable platform for professional development and collaboration within the medical community."

Carter Smith
Medical Student, MUSC

Category: Medical Student
Mentors: Ismail Kabakus, M.D., Ph.D., and Jordan Chamberlin, M.D.
Title: "Artificial Intelligence Enabled Detection of Incidental Findings in Nuclear Medicine Images"

“My favorite part of the 2023 Department of Medicine Research Symposium was the opportunity to practice a research presentation and receive feedback about my presentation. It was exciting to hear the variety of research that students are involved in at MUSC. It was an enriching experience that has motivated me to pursue my research interests further. My research was focused on validating the use artificial intelligence to identify incidental findings on nuclear medicine imaging. The Research Symposium was a well-organized event that provided an excellent platform for students to share their findings and practice presenting research. I especially appreciated the convenience and cost- effectiveness of the virtual format I look forward to attending similar events in the future.”

Michael Attanasi
Medical Student, MUSC

Category: Medical Student
Mentor: Don Rockey, M.D.

“My favorite part of the DOM symposium was the poster presentations in the private rooms, having an opportunity to listen to the other students. The research symposium impacted me by honing in my ability to aggregate research data for a clear and concise presentation. My research focused on demographic differences in the characteristics of liver biopsies, specifically with regard to fibrosis, inflammation, and steatosis.”

Jessica English, M.D.
Fellow, Division of Rheumatology & Immunology

Category: Resident/Fellow
Mentor: Diane Kamen, M.D., MSCR
Title: "Performance of the 2019 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Predominantly African American Cohort"

Rosemary Moak, M.D.
PGY-3 Resident, Internal Medicine

Category: Resident/Fellow
Mentor: Kelli Williams, M.D., MPH
Title: "Educational Video and Logic Driven Surveys Increase Delabeling Penicillin Allergy in Pregnancy: A Comparative Analysis of Pre and Post Intervention"

Michelle Spiegel, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care

Category: Junior Faculty
Mentor: Andrew Goodwin, M.D. MSCR
Title: "A Cost Effectiveness Analysis of a Quality Improvement Intervention to Increase Preferential Balanced Fluid Prescribing"

“I appreciate the opportunity that the Department of Medicine Research Symposium gave me to showcase my research. My focus on QI/implementation science is a bit less conventional within academics, but it provides many opportunities to perform meaningful research. As hospital systems are increasingly pressured to develop strategies to minimize adverse clinical outcomes while improving cost efficiency, we as clinicians and researchers must consider the cost implications of translating research findings into practice. The cost effectiveness analysis we performed for our prior QI project to increase balanced fluid prescribing at MUSC demonstrated that our intervention is expected to both improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.”

Laura Novonty, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist, Division of Infectious Diseases

Category: Staff Scientist
Mentor: Eric Meissner, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: "Differential influence of distinct interferon lambda receptor-1 (IFNLR1) isoforms on gene expression and hepatitis B virus replication in stem-cell derived hepatocytes treated with lambda interferon”

“I enjoyed hearing work by the clinical side. My focus is on basic research and I find that listening to the trials/tribulations/successes of the clinical side is informative. I hope they feel similarly. It is always important to hear what is going on beyond my research focus. We can become siloed in our own efforts, however Symposia offer a brief period of time to learn about other’s work. My work examined how modulating the expression of specific isoforms of interferon lambda receptor-1 on stem cell-derived hepatocytes enhanced the antiviral capacity of lambda interferons against infection with hepatitis B virus.”