Research Opportunities for Residents
There is a strong tradition of research among the residents at the University of Virginia. Residents spend one to three years working in a basic or clinical science laboratory. Some even seize the opportunity to receive a Masters in Public Health or Clinical Sciences during this time.
Resident research can only thrive with appropriate mentorship. The faculty of the University of Virginia Department of Surgery are committed to research in their own careers as well as to helping residents develop as surgeon-scientists.
Categorical residents are required to submit a research proposal in the winter and present their topic during Resident Research Day in April as a poster or an oral presentation. Pre-existing work is acceptable, but we also encourage novel research created for research day. Resident’s often have further opportunities to present and publish their work in other forums including presentations at local, regional, or national meetings and publication in peer reviewed journals.
We also encourage residents to submit their research primarily for presentation at professional society meetings. When a resident working with a surgery faculty mentor succeeds in getting an abstract accepted for presentation at a meeting, the resident is given the opportunity to travel to that meeting, present the work, and expenses related to this are covered.
Surgery Faculty Research Interests
Zequan Yang, MD
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury using in vivo mouse model and hypothermia with cardiopulmonary bypass for treatment of cardiac arrest and exsanguinating hemorrhagic shock.
David Brenin, MD
Breast Surgery | Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Breast Tumors
Lynn Dengel, MD
Tumor immunology | Melanoma | Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Tumors | Patient Decision Making
Shayna Showalter, MD
Comparative Effectiveness Research | Patient-centered Research | Clinical Trials | High Risk Prostate Cancer
Craig Slingluff, MD
Tumor Immunology | Melanoma
Lab Members: Kim Bullock, Illeana Mauldin
John Kern, MD
Spinal cord Protection | Aortic Aneurysms
Mark Roeser, MD
Treating ischemia reperfusion injury in ECMO patients. He is working to expand the lung donor pool by rehabbing donor lungs outside the body.
Nick Teman, MD
Adult Cardiac Surgery
Zequan Yang, MD
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury using in vivo mouse model and hypothermia with cardiopulmonary bypass for treatment of cardiac arrest and exsanguinating hemorrhagic shock
Leora Yarboro, MD
Surgical Simulation and Resident Education
Kenan Yount, MD
Heart Valve Disease | Aortic Surgery | TAVR | New Valvular Technology | Novel Trails in Cardiac Surgery | Innovative Cardiac Surgery Technologies | Endocarditis | Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) | Health Policy | Health Outcomes | Health Care Delivery
Charles Friel, MD
Colon Surgery | Rectal Surgery and Diseases | Medical Education
Peter T. Hallowell, M.D.
Weight Reduction Surgery | Obesity | Diabetes
Traci Hedrick, MD
Improving Clinical Outcomes in the Immediate Postoperative Period | Surgical Infections | Prevention of Surgical Site Infections | Surgical Education
Sook Hoang, MD
Treatment of Colon and Rectal Diseases | Understanding Drug Resistance in Clostridium Difficile Infection
Bruce D. Schirmer, M.D.
Gastrointestinal Motility | Postoperative Ileus | Gastrointestinal Hormones | Applications of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Jeff Gander, MD
Minimally invasive approaches to surgery for childhood diseases
Dan Levin, MD
Generation of tissue engineered intestine for the treatment of short bowel syndrome
Reid Adams, MD
Cell adhesion signaling in tumor invasion and metastasis clinical trials for gastrointestinal malignancies
Todd Bauer, MD
Tumor Cell Migration | Invasion | Metastasis | Growth Factor Signaling
Philip Smith, MD
Improved accuracy and efficiency of the clinical and radiographic workup of diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pancreas. Results of surgical treatment for diseases of the endocrine system. Effective, efficient and safe training of surgery residents and medical students including the role of simulation.
Victor Zaydfudim, MD
Clinical outcomes research aimed at improving healthcare delivery and outcomes among patients with hepatopancreatobiliary diseases | Access to Care | Clinical Trials | Translational Research | Intervention Studies
Irving Kron, MD
Mitral Valve and Aortic Valve Surgery | Surgery of the Aorta | Carotid Artery Surgery | Coronary Artery Surgery | Heart Transplantation
Victor Laubach, PhD
Basic and translational studies into the pathogenesis of lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) after transplantation
Darrin Clouse, MD
Carotid stenosis and diseases of the supra-aortic trunk arteries supplying the arms and brain. Aortic aneurysms and occlusive disease, including blockages in the aorta and its branches to the legs and abdominal organs.
Craig Kent
Molecular mechanisms underlying vascular disease with the goal of developing new treatments relying on innovative methods of drug delivery
Margaret Tracci, MD
Health Policy | Open surgical and endovascular treatment of aortic, peripheral vascular, renal and mesenteric occlusive disease. Treatment of carotid stenosis and cerebrovascular disease. Medical management of vascular disease. Treatment of varicose and spider veins.
R. Scott Jones
Community level socioeconomic status association with surgical outcomes and resource utilization. Predicting postoperative pulmonary complication. Surgical quality improvement.
Beth Turrentine, PhD
Surgical Outcomes Research
Application Info
Applications to our program are accepted through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS AAMC).