MedStar Health Hosts Dr. Anthony Fauci as Keynote for the 12th Annual MedStar Health – Georgetown University Research & Education Symposium

The annual event recognizes excellence in research and academics across the two organizations.

WASHINGTON – Today, more than 1,400 physicians, scientists, researchers, educators, students, residents/fellows, professors, collaborative partners, executives, and other members of the academic community attended the 2024 MedStar Health-Georgetown University Research & Education Symposium. Co-hosted by MedStar Health and Georgetown University Medical Center, the event culminated with a discussion with Anthony Fauci, MD, who offered insights into the future of academic medicine and how healthcare can prepare for the next disruptor. Dr. Fauci recently joined Georgetown University as Distinguished University Professor at the School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy, and Distinguished Senior Scholar at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law following his nearly forty-year career as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“We are incredibly honored to host Dr. Fauci as our keynote speaker at this year’s event, and even prouder to share with him our diverse portfolio of research which spans across our health system,” said Neil J. Weissman, MD, FACC, FASE, chief scientific officer at MedStar Health and president of MedStar Health Research Institute. “It is through the support of our leadership, mentorship from experts like Dr. Fauci and our other esteemed faculty members, and the dedication of our talented class of residents and fellows that will help us continue to grow MedStar Health into a nationally acclaimed academic health system.”

Open to all members of the greater research and academic community, the Symposium highlighted more than 275 peer-reviewed poster presentations, dozens of oral presentations, and numerous academic workshops. Additionally, different teams and departments from across the two organizations hosted workshops and exhibits on various research topics and trends, including using artificial intelligence responsibly, grant writing and publication support, and advancing in an academic career path.

“Our Symposium is a robust example of the strong foundation and of the rapidly expanding work happening within our academic health system partnership,” said Edward B. Healton, MD, MPH, executive vice president for health sciences at Georgetown University. “I continue to be  impressed by the breadth and depth of collaboration in the research and education spaces and by the commitment from our faculty at Georgetown and MedStar Health to our shared academic mission.” 

During the Symposium, ten residents from across the MedStar Health system were recognized for their outstanding research featured in their poster and oral presentations:

First Place:

• Bria Johnson, MD (PGY-2, Ob/Gyn): “Delays, fragmentation, and no alternatives: a qualitative study of patient experience through diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer.”
• Allison Kumnick, MD (PGY-2, Ob/Gyn): “Establishing normative findings of ovarian anatomy and sex hormones through puberty.”
• Kalyan R. Chitturi, DO (PGY-7, Interventional Cardiology): “High-risk percutaneous coronary intervention with or without prophylactic mechanical circulatory support: Will Impella show superiority in the PROTECT IV Randomized Trial?”
• Desiree Pinto, MD, MPH (PGY-4, Burn): “Identifying new and unmanaged co-morbidities at hospital admission to improve acute and chronic management of burn patients.”

Second Place:

• Olivia Wilkins, MD (PGY-1, Internal Medicine): “Associations between myeloproliferative neoplasms, ischemic stroke, and agent orange exposure in U.S. veterans: a comprehensive analysis.”
• Andrew Tiu, MD (PGY-6, Hematology/Oncology): “Patient-reported outcomes among U.S. veterans living with myeloproliferative neoplasms.”
• Jin Kook Kang, MD (PGY-4, Surgery): “Impact of obesity on neurological outcomes in patients undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.”

Third Place:

• Sean Sequeria, MD (PGY-3, Orthopedics): “Isolated syndesmotic fixation is associated with increased risk of arthrodesis and arthroplasty operations compared to nonoperatively managed syndesmotic injury: A propensity-scored analysis.”
• Panagiotis Koutoupias, MD (PGY-4, Infectious Disease): “Analysis of Cabotegravir-Ripivirine use in HIV patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.”
• Mary Kim, MD (PGY-4, Surgery): “Development and validation of a computer vision-based approach for identifying PPE nonadherence in a medical setting.”

Attendees also participated in Georgetown University Medical Center’s Center for Innovation and Leadership in Education (CENTILE) Colloquium for Educators in the Health Professions, which featured presentations from faculty, staff, and trainees, as well as a plenary session focused on the learning environment. Desiree Pinto, MD (PGY-4, Burn) was also recognized during the Colloquium for best oral abstract among educators.

Other main stage speakers included Stephen Evans, MD, chief medical officer, MedStar Health and Jamie S. Padmore, DM, MSc, vice president, academic affairs, MedStar Health and professor and senior associate dean for medical education, Georgetown University School of Medicine.

To read more about this year’s event, please visit MedStarHealth.org/Symposium.