UTCOMC Recognizes Residents During Annual Research Week

Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Shown are, front row, left to right,  Robert Coddington, MD, Associate Dean Emeritus; Richa Sood, MD, Senior Pediatrics Resident; Jennifer Hamm, MD, Senior Pediatrics Resident; G. Ralston Major II, MD, Second Year Surgery Resident.; back row,  Erik Martin, MD, Senior Emergency Medicine Resident, Recipient of the Robert C. Coddington, MD, Award for Research Excellence for the Best Overall Research Presentation; Michael Johnson, MD, Chief Resident, Orthopaedic Surgery; and Hal Parker, MD, Chief Resident, Emergency Medicine.
Shown are, front row, left to right, Robert Coddington, MD, Associate Dean Emeritus; Richa Sood, MD, Senior Pediatrics Resident; Jennifer Hamm, MD, Senior Pediatrics Resident; G. Ralston Major II, MD, Second Year Surgery Resident.; back row, Erik Martin, MD, Senior Emergency Medicine Resident, Recipient of the Robert C. Coddington, MD, Award for Research Excellence for the Best Overall Research Presentation; Michael Johnson, MD, Chief Resident, Orthopaedic Surgery; and Hal Parker, MD, Chief Resident, Emergency Medicine.

Eight medical residents from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga were recognized for their dedication in research during their term at Erlanger Health System. 

20 presentations were heard by faculty, residents, medical students, Erlanger Board members, and administrative staff, involving nine case reports and eleven research projects.  Judges included Dr. Beth Choby, associate professor for the St. Francis Family Medicine Program in Memphis; Dr. Matthew Good, clinical assistant professor for the UT College of Medicine Chattanooga Department of Pediatrics and practicing physician with the Highland Pediatrics Group; and Dr. Paul Stumpf, professor, chair, and Residency Program director for the UT College of Medicine Chattanooga Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Robert C. Coddington, the first associate dean and leader for the campus, was the inspiration and driving force behind establishing the event in 1983 to encourage and recognize scholarly activity and research in Chattanooga. It was an honor for Dr. Coddington to attend this year’s event and assist Dr. David C. Seaberg, Dean of University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga, in presenting the awards. 

Other dignitaries who attended the event included Erlanger Board members Donnie Hutcherson, Russell King and Jim Worthington; associate dean and DIO, Dr. Robert Fore; former associate dean, Dr. Ron Blankenbaker; director of research for the campus, Dr. Greg Heath; and Dr. Eric Gratias (Pediatrics) and Dr. Francis Fesmire (Emergency Medicine).  Drs. Gratias and Fesmire participated as the Scientific Review Committee, evaluating the scientific validity of research proposals and serving as the selection committee for initial abstracts submitted for the annual event.

The following physicians were recognized for their research work during their residency. 

Case Report Posters

3rd Place:    Fernando Windemuller, MD, Department of Pediatrics
                   "First Report of Biopsy Proven Acute Interstitial Nephritis Associated with Escitalopram"

2nd Place:  Jennifer Hamm, MD, and Vanessa Slots MD, Department of Pediatrics
                  "Medical Child Abuse:  When a Father Suffocates His Child"

1st Place:  G. Ralston Major II, MD, Department of Surgery
                 "Use of CT Perfusion Imaging and CT Angiography in the Selection of Hyperacute Stroke Patients to Undergo Emergent Carotid Endarterctomy"

Research Projects (both posters and oral presentations)

4th Place:  Michael Johnson, MD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
                 "Non-Operative Management of Retrocalcaneal Pain with AFO and Stretching Regimen"

3rd PlaceHal Parker, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine
                  "Feasibility of Pre-Hospital Transmission of the 12-lead ECG Using a Camera Capable Cellular Phone for Identification of ST-Segment Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction"

2nd PlaceRicha Sood, MD, Department of Pediatrics
                  "High Flow High Humidity Nasal Cannula Therapy for Respiratory Failure in Infants with Bronchiolitis"

Best Overall Research Presentation and Winner of the Robert C. Coddington, MD, Award for Research Excellence:

                  Erik Martin, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine
                   "Improving Risk Stratification in Chest Pain Patients:  The Erlanger HEARTS Score"


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