The Department of Medicine’s commitment to resident education is reflected clearly in the opportunities, encouragement and support provided for resident research.

The PGY-1 research rotation includes supervised experience in computer-assisted literature searching, an introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics and instruction in critical review of the medical literature. Residents select an area of interest and present their findings at the annual Department of Medicine Resident Research Symposium.

A number of research projects initiated in the PGY-1 year have culminated in presentations at national meetings or publications in peer-reviewed journals.

The Department of Medicine encourages all residents to participate in scholarly activity and we are especially proud of their research achievements.

2009 PGY1

• 25-Hydroxy-vitamin D deficiency in end stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis.
• Venous thromboemolism in patients with end stage liver disease.
• HYDROXY VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN END STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS UNDERGOING HEMODIALYSIS.
• Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) outcomes in aortic stenosis patients with refractory angina pectoris.
• Reproducibility of impedance-pH test results for GERD in patients with refractory ENT symptoms.
• Serum bicarbonate level as a predictor of pulmonary hypertention in obese patients.
• Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may reduce breast cancer recurrence.
• Comparision of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) outcomes in refractory angina patients with and without atrial fibrillation.
• Attitudes of primary care physicians toward the diagnosis and management of impaired fasting glucose.
• Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients: sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography, computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging in liver transplant patients.
• Obstructive sleep apnea as risk factor for vasovagal syncope.
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: prognostic factors based on 22 years of experience at community hospital.

• Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) outcomes in dialysis patients with refractory angina.

• Effect on corrected QT interval after restoration of renal function in ESRD patients.
• Role of direct thrombin inhibitors in intermediate probability heparin induced thrombocytopenia.
• The association of patterns of glucose levels and mortality in medical intensive care units.
• Analysis of an inner city population regarding differences in outcomes of patients presenting with pulmonary edema originating from diastolic verses systolic dysfunction.
• Impact of nasal colonization with MRSA on mortality of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.
• Effect of vitamin D on erythropoiesis-stimulating agent responsiveness in maintenance hemodialysis patients.
• Sepsis outcomes in the obese patient.
• Total vs subtotal coronary artery occlusion in emergent left heart catheterization for acute STEMI differencies in presentation and prognostic significance.
• Do statins decrease the rate of chronic kidney disease progression?
• A descriptive study on the factors affecting mortality and disease free survival among triple negative breast cancer patients.
• A comparative study of patient profile, predisposing factors, laboratory studies and microbiology of spontaneous and post-operative septic discitis.
  
• Can total cardiac calcium predict coronary calcium?
• Effect of metformim on colon cancer treatment.
• Comparing acute rejections and graft failures in hepatitis C positive and negative kidney transplant recipients.