Included in the current issue of The Ochsner Journal are the abstracts presented at Ochsner's Twelfth Annual Research Day that was held May 19, 2015. It was a systemwide event that served to showcase the innovations and discoveries made by physicians and scientists at Ochsner. As in the past, the many activities planned for Research Day served as a catalyst for the exchange of ideas that forged new collaborations and partnerships across disciplinary boundaries.
The theme of this year's Research Day was Cardiovascular Sciences, a theme chosen to highlight one of the Centers of Excellence at Ochsner. Marc Alan Pfeffer, MD, PhD, Victor J. Dzau Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Senior Physician, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, delivered the keynote address: “Ventricular Remodeling: A Personal Journey.” Dr Pfeffer, along with his late wife Dr Janice Pfeffer and Eugene Braunwald, MD, is credited with introducing the concept that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors could attenuate ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction and that this use would result in a prolongation of survival and other clinical benefits. His work has received national and international recognition and generated informed discussion at the conclusion of his talk in the standing-room-only conference center.
A total of 172 abstracts were submitted, of which 157 were selected for poster presentation. This daylong program of academic enrichment included podium presentations by medical students of The University of Queensland School of Medicine-Ochsner Clinical School; nursing staff; pharmacy residents; and clinical residents and fellows. Presentations and posters were judged by a group of highly accomplished physicians and scientists at Ochsner. We are pleased that Professor Gerald Holtmann, Associate Dean (Clinical), Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland and Director, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, was able to attend this year's event and contribute to our ongoing efforts to grow research collaborations between the two institutions. The names of the presenters and winners and the titles of their presentations are provided at the end of this introduction.
On behalf of the Research Day Scientific Committee, the Research Day Planning Committee, and The Ochsner Journal Editorial Board, I extend a note of gratitude to all who participated in making this Research Day a memorable event. It was indeed a day marked by the limitless pursuit of new knowledge, the establishment of new research partnerships, and the sharing of experience and expertise among peers. We look forward to your continued engagement in our collective efforts to enhance the quality and capacity of cutting-edge translational, clinical, and health services research at Ochsner. We do this to best serve our patients.
2015 Presenters
The University of Queensland-Ochsner Clinical School Medial Students' Research Oral Presentations
Michael Morledge: Interventions to Improve Adherence to Lipid-Lowering Medication
Ashley Richman: Establishment of a Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Model for Drugs Targeting Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasis
John Romano: Novel Biliary Reconstruction Techniques During Liver Transplantation
Johnathon Shaffer: Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Measured with Computed Tomography Predicts Infarct Expansion Following Acute Ischemic Stroke: Segmentation Test-Retest
Pharmacy Research Oral Presentations
Joseph Ho, PharmD: Effectiveness of Pharmacist-Managed Medication History, Reconciliation, and Discharge Counseling in an Inpatient Setting to Decrease Hospital Readmission
Neil Hunter, PharmD: Evaluation of Appropriateness of Meropenem Use at a Tertiary Care Hospital
Nathan Oliver, PharmD: Post–Liver Transplant Delirium Is Associated with Increased Mortality and Prolonged Length of Stay
Leigh Vidrine, PharmD: Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Extended-Infusion Piperacillin-Tazobactam vs Traditional-Infusion Piperacillin-Tazobactam
Nursing Research Oral Presentations
Jennifer Frisch, BSN: Increasing Smart Pump Utilization Compliance for Intravenous Medication Administration
Lori Lemoine, MN: Outcomes of Biweekly Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Phone Calls on Improvement of A1c and Self-Efficacy in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Laura K. Martin, MSN: Pain Care Quality and Patient Perception of Pain Care
Fiona Winterbottom, MSN, APRN: Implementation Science and Critical Care Quality: TeamSTEPPS, Tele-ICU, and Technology
Ochsner Resident Research Oral Presentations
Jessie Gills, MD: Targeting Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Using a Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Murine Model
Heather P. Kahn, MD: First cfr Gene Identified in Enterococcus faecium in the United States
Peter E. Miller, MD: Comparing Orthotopic Colorectal Cancer Mouse Models for Primary Tumor Growth and Subsequent Metastasis
Todd M. Rosenthal, MD: T-peak to T-end Interval for Prediction of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia and Mortality in a Primary Prevention Population with Systolic Cardiomyopathy
Keynote Address
Marc Alan Pfeffer, MD, PhD: Ventricular Remodeling: A Personal Journey
Dzau Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
2015 Award Winners
The University of Queensland-Ochsner Clinical School Medical Students' Research Award
1st Place: Ashley Richman – Establishment of a Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Model for Drugs Targeting Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasis
2nd Place: John Romano – Novel Biliary Reconstruction Techniques During Liver Transplantation
3rd Place: Johnathon Shaffer – Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Measured with Computed Tomography Predicts Infarct Expansion Following Acute Ischemic Stroke: Segmentation Test-Retest
Honorable Mention: Michael Morledge – Interventions to Improve Adherence to Lipid-Lowering Medication
Pharmacy Research Award
1st Place: Nathan Oliver, PharmD – Post–Liver Transplant Delirium Is Associated with Increased Mortality and Prolonged Length of Stay
2nd Place: Leigh Vidrine, PharmD – Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Extended-Infusion Piperacillin-Tazobactam vs Traditional-Infusion Piperacillin-Tazobactam
3rd Place: Neil Hunter, PharmD – Evaluation of Appropriateness of Meropenem Use at a Tertiary Care Hospital
Honorable Mention: Joseph Ho, PharmD – Effectiveness of Pharmacist-Managed Medication History, Reconciliation, and Discharge Counseling in an Inpatient Setting to Decrease Hospital Readmission
Nursing Research Award
Awarded by System Nursing Professional Development and Research
1st Place: Laura K. Martin, MSN – Pain Care Quality and Patient Perception of Pain Care
2nd Place: Lori Lemoine, MN – Outcomes of Biweekly Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Phone Calls on Improvement of A1c and Self-Efficacy in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
3rd Place: Fiona Winterbottom, MSN, APRN – Implementation Science and Critical Care Quality: TeamSTEPPS, Tele-ICU, and Technology
Honorable Mention: Jennifer Frisch, BSN – Increasing Smart Pump Utilization Compliance for Intravenous Medication Administration
Ochsner Alumni Association Resident Research Award
1st Place: Jessie Gills, MD – Targeting Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma Using a Patient-Derived Orthotopic Xenograft Murine Model
2nd Place: Peter E. Miller, MD – Comparing Orthotopic Colorectal Cancer Mouse Models for Primary Tumor Growth and Subsequent Metastasis
3rd Place: Todd M. Rosenthal, MD – T-peak to T-end Interval for Prediction of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia and Mortality in a Primary Prevention Population with Systolic Cardiomyopathy
Honorable Mention: Heather P. Kahn, MD – First cfr Gene Identified in Enterococcus faecium in the United States
Research Mentors of the Year
Li Li, MD, PhD, Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research
Dan Morin, MD, MPH, Department of Cardiology
Jyotsna Fuloria, MD, Department of Hematology/Oncology