Contact Information

Surgery Interest Group


Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

SIG Officers

President
Derek Mai, USA

Treasurer
Joseph Migliuri, USAF

Lecture Coordinator
Andrew Kaufman, USA

Surgical Procedures & Techniques Coordinator
Dan Christensen, USN

Service Coordinator
Jeremy Bernot, USAF

Shadowing Coordinator
Lisa Lu, USA

Faculty Advisor(s)

Dr. David Welling, USAF (ret), FACS
Dr. Richard Schaefer, COL, USA

The Research Connection- Research Opportunities

The following resource is designed to provide a connection between research opportunities and students. USUHS faculty members run many of these projects.

There are many reasons to get involved with research:

  • learn more about the "evidence" we base our medical practice on
  • experience what it is like to do research
  • see first hand how you can have a clinical practice and further medicine through research as a physician
  • have research experience that you can put on your residency application
  • get published

You may be concerned about your studies. Medical school can be very challenging. Most of the physicians and scientists understand that medical is your first priority. Be honest about your time availability. The following is a working list of research projects that welcome medical students. Research directors, physicians and students are welcome to contact me with project updates and questions at 2LT Erin McLaughlin, s8emclaughlin@usuhs,mil.

Research Projects - Basic Science

Department of Neurology - USU

Mechanism of synaptic and axonal degeneration.

This project uses molecular biology techniques and cell culture models to study nerve degeneration in the C57BL/WldS mouse strain. This strain carries a gene mutation which slows down the process of nerve degeneration. The function of the gene remains unknown at this time. Planned experiments will use microarrays and proteomics to determine the function of the WldS gene product. Experiments may also involve creation of transgenic mice.

Role of student: To participate in on-going experiments. The student will learn molecular biology and cell culture techniques.

Contact:
Jack Tsao, LCDR MC USNR
USU Bldg A, Rm A1036
Telephone: (301) 295-3643 or 3645
Email: jtsao@usuhs.mil

Department of Neurology - USAMRICD

Almost half of the research at this Institute touches on the nervous system directly or indirectly, with emphasis on the pathophysiology of nerve agent injury, basic mechanisms of botulinum toxin pathophysiology, and countermeasures against both nerve agent and cyanide poisoning. COL Gennady Platoff, Commander, asks that anyone interested in research here should contact his directly. His telephone is DSN 584-3276 or commercial 410-436-3276. He or his delegate would directly put the student in touch with investigators in areas of mutual interest.

Role of student: To be involved in performing experiments for assigned protocol.

Alternate Contact:
Jonathan Newmark, COL MC USAR
Email: jonathan.newmark@us.army.mil

Research Projects - Clinical

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health

Human Motor Control and Movement Disorders.

Several projects involving the physiology of movement and the pathophysiology of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, essential tremor, and Tourette's syndrome.

Role of student: Participation in clinical examination of research subjects and collection and analysis of data.

Contact:
Mark Hallett, M.D.
Chief, Human Motor Control Section, NINDS
NIH, Building 10, Room 5N226
10 Center Dr MSC 1428
Bethesda, MD 20892-1428
Tel: 301-496-9526
Email: hallettm@ninds.nih.gov
http://intra.ninds.nih.gov/Lab.asp?Org_ID=72

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center - WRAMC

The occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Role of student: This project involves some library work and working with data from the DVBIC database and may involve some patient interviews.

Contact:
Deborah Warden, MD
National Director
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Telephone: 202-782-6345

Department of Neurology - USU

1. Use of Botulinum toxin A and B in the treatment of acute, sub-acute, and chronic low back pain.

We currently have 5 protocols to study the efficacy of Botulinum toxin in treating low back pain due to muscle strain or trauma and after surgery. Patients will be recruited from NNMC, WRAMC, Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, VA, and the Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, FL.

2. Effect of anticholinergic bladder medications on memory.

This protocol will use neuropsychological testing to assess whether commonly used anticholinergic bladder medicines, Ditropan and Detrol, have an adverse effect on memory. Subjects will be recruited from NNMC and the Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, FL.

3. A novel monoclonal antibody RN624 for the treatment of chronic low back pain.

This project will use intravenous infusion of a monoclonal antibody made to a nerve protein thought to mediate pain sensation in order to treat subjects with low back pain lasting for at least 6 months. Subjects will be recruited from WRAMC.

4. Use of monoclonal antibody RN624 to treat chronic phantom limb pain in amputees.

This project will study the effects of intravenous infusion of a monoclonal antibody on phantom limb pain associated with traumatic limb amputation. Subjects will be recruited from WRAMC.

5. Use of mirror box therapy for the treatment of phantom limb pain.

This protocol will assess the efficacy of using a mirror box to treat phantom limb pain and sensations in upper and lower limb amputees and may involve the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess reorganization of cortical neurons after injury. Subjects will be recruited from WRAMC.

Role of student: To help enroll and examine subjects and perform data collection and analysis.

Contact:
Jack Tsao, LCDR MC USNR
USU Bldg A, Rm A1036
Telephone: (301) 295-3643 or 3645
Email: jtsao@usuhs.mil

Department of Neurology- WRAMC

1. Efficacy of subcutaneous Botulinum toxin A in the treatment of neuropathic pain.

This study will assess the efficacy of Botulinum toxin in diminishing pain due to peripheral neuropathy.

2. Use of Botulinum toxin A injections in the region of the scar in subjects with chronic post-operative scar pain.

Subjects often develop incisional scar pain after surgery. This study will assess the efficacy of Botulinum toxin for treating pain.

Role of student: Help track patients enrolled in studies and data analysis for research questionnaires.

Contact:
Edward Neely, COL MC USA
Neurology Clinic, Ward 61, WRAMC
Telephone: (202) 782-1661 or 8766

Department of Neurology- WRAMC

Study of the prevalence and economic burden of migraine in the military population

This project is a retrospective epidemiologic analysis. We plan to study the prevalence and economic burden of migraine and headache disorders in the activity duty and dependent population. We will use a recently developed algorithm to identify headache sufferers from central administrative databases of the military health system. We intend to describe the headache population using standard epidemiologic techniques as well as characterize and categorize economic costs to the military health care system. There have been no published studies that describe migraine drug consumption for DoD beneficiaries to date. A model-based claims signature has been developed by Kolodner, et al., to identify migrainers and their medication usage and this will be employed with this population. (Hence we will compare military patients and their dependents usage of medication to the civilian population and try to ascertain if they are being over-or under-treated.)

Role of student: Student with an interest in pharmacoeconomics, epidemiology, and/or use of health services will help with data collection and analysis.

Contact:
Jody Green, MD
Neurology Clinic, Ward 61, WRAMC
Telephone: 202-782-8649

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation- WRAMC

1. Validation of the Maryland Foot Function Form.

The Maryland foot score was developed by the Painful Foot Center at the University of Maryland and is widely used in the orthopedic community. However, actual measurement of its sensitivity and specificity in assessing foot pain has not yet been determined. It is preferred by some researchers over a shorter, validated form because of it detailed questions. This project will enroll subjects from a monthly foot clinic.

2. The effects of the Epiflow device on wound healing in traumatic amputees.

The Epiflow device uses a constant flow of oxygen to a wound to help with closure of slow healing wounds. The clinical outcomes to be measured include any effects on phantom pain and improved prosthetic use.

3. Long term effects of Botulinum toxin A injection for refractory plantar fasciitis.

One study on short term effects will be published in the Sept 2005 issue of The American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. This study seeks to extend the observation period.

4. Effects of Botulinum toxin A injection in chronic phantom limb pain lasting over 1 year. This study will assess the impact of Botulinum toxin injections on mitigating painful phantom limb sensations in subjects with limb amputation.

Role of student: Help with patient enrollment, examination, and data collection and analysis.

Contact:
Mary S. Babcock, MAJ MC USA
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic, WRAMC
Telephone: 202-782-2629

United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory - Ft. Rucker, AL

Factors affecting cognitive performance in aviators.

Several projects are available and are detailed on the following website: http://www.momrp.org/35.htm

Role of student: To perform data collection and analysis and participate in aeromedical evolutions.

Contact:
Michael Russo, LTC(P) MC USA

William Beaumont Army Medical Center for Integrative Medicine, El Paso, TX

Monochromatic Near-Infrared Energy in the Treatment of Tibial Stress

Reaction.

Role of student: Enrolling patients, performing examinations, and data collection and analysis. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Complementary and Alternative Medicine rotations available as well at this site.

Contact:
Richard Petri, Jr LTC MC USA
Chief, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Director, Center for Integrative Medicine
William Beaumont Army Medical Center
Main Hospital 6W Rm 6033
5005 North Piedras Street
El Paso, TX 79920
Telephone: (915) 569-3245 or DSN 979-3245
Email: richard.petri2@amedd.army.mil