On June 3, 2024, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine hosted its fourth annual Research Day. This event gives residents, fellows, faculty, and CRNAs the opportunity to gather and present on their latest research while celebrating all research efforts within the department. Each year, the resident and non-resident abstract winners give an oral presentation, and a keynote speaker presents on the topic of their choice. This year, we were honored to welcome Emily Anne Vail, M.D., MSc., from Penn Medicine as she presented “Developing a Research Career in Clinical Anesthesiology.”

Congratulations to this year’s Research Day winners:

Resident Category

Best Resident Abstract: Linda Zhang, D.O, Ph.D. (mentored by Aftab Ahmad, Ph.D.)

“Pathogenicity and Proteomic Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles from Rats Exposed to Sulfur Mustard Analog”

1st Runner Up: Kevin O’Keefe, M.D. (mentored by Promil Kukreja, M.D., Ph.D., CMQ, FASA)

“Effects of intrathecal morphine in primary THA under combined spinal anesthesia and Quadratus Lumborum (QL) block”

2nd Runner Up: Tyler Abarca, M.D. (mentored by Andre Gosling, M.D.)

“Utility of Intra-aortic Balloon Pump in Patients with Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction Undergoing Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery”

Poster Presentation Winner: Alex Woods, M.D. (mentored by Robin Bush, M.D.)

“Common ICU/Operating Room Laboratory and Equipment Expenses”

Non-Resident Category

Best Non-Resident Abstract: Weifeng Song, M.D., Ph.D.

“Continuous Assessment of Cerebral Autoregulation after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Neuro ICU: A Feasibility Study”

1st Runner Up: Erin Earnhardt (part of the Harrod lab headed by Kevin Harrod, Ph.D.)

“Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress During Influenza A Virus Increases Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae”

2nd Runner Up: Erin LaGrone

“Adductor canal catheters vs. single shot blocks for total knee arthroscopy under spinal anesthesia with intrathecal morphine”