UAB Department of Surgery resident Wendelyn Oslock, M.D., MBA, under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel Chu and Dr. Ruzmyn Vilcassim, was recognized as one of the top poster presentations at the 2024 UAB Health Equity Research Symposium for her project entitled “Ambient Particulate Matter Exposure and Prolonged Length of Stay after Colorectal Surgery – A Novel Association.” 

Dr. Oslock presented their team’s work that links ambient air pollution data from the EPA to clinical NSQIP data. They found that patients in areas with low particulate matter exposure the year of surgery had shorter lengths of stay after controlling for other demographic and clinical factors.

Oslock's poster was ranked second overall based on the NIH Research Project Grant Applications 9-point scale. The evaluation criteria included the overall impact on society, relation to health equity, and innovation.

Recently, Oslock joined the VA Quality Scholars Program and was awarded the Association for Academic Surgery’s Trainee Clinical Outcomes/Health Services Research Fellowship Award. Her research will concentrate on reducing the environmental impact of operating rooms and studying the effects of pollution exposure on surgical outcomes.

"It is truly an honor to be recognized at this year’s Health Equity Research Symposium. I am inspired by the work of my fellow colleagues as we work together to achieve health equity through various methods and modalities," says Dr. Oslock.

About UAB Health Equity Research Symposium

The UAB Health Equity Research Symposium is an event organized by the Minority Health and Health Equity Research Center annually. The symposium showcases the research work of undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral, and faculty investigators in clinical, behavioral, social, and community-based studies related to health equity and health disparities. This event provides an opportunity to present their work and win financial compensation for the top presenters.