The Department of Surgery is committed to excellence in research, in keeping with the mission of Stony Brook University Medical Center (see overview; list of current research projects). Recent faculty publications demonstrate this excellence.

Residents are offered a basic research experience of 1-2 years’ duration during their residency experience. Opportunities for collaborative research continue to grow. Senior academic faculty act as mentors. The training model we use is interdepartmental, matching a faculty member in our department with a basic scientist in another department to serve as co-mentors for the resident.

Our faculty provide overall direction and clinical grounding for the resident’s project, while the basic scientists provide lab space, direct supervision, and exposure to bench techniques. Recent collaborations have included the departments of microbiology, physiology, and biomedical engineering.

In 2009, research conducted by two surgical residents, Dr. Svetlana Danovich and Dr. James Jen, earned separate honors from the Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Danovich's study, "HDAC-Enzymes Expression in Lung Cancer by the Comparative QRT-PCR (Delta) CT Method," and Dr. Jen's study, "Recurrent Deep Vein Thrombosis: Long-Term Incidence and Natural History," placed second and third, respectively, in the Murray Friedman Resident Competition sponsored by the regional chapter.

In 2008, surgical resident Dr. Breena Taira presented her study, "Is Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Pediatric Trauma Patients a Real Concern?," at the Society of Critical Care Medicine's Critical Care Congress held in Honolulu, HI, where her work was honored as a Research Citation Winner for making an outstanding research contribution.

In 2007, Dr. Taira presented her study, "A Comparison of Nonoperative Management of Pediatric Splenic Injury in Suffolk County," at the Annual New York State Surgical Symposium held in Lake George, NY, where she was honored as the winner in the academic category of the resident paper contest of the New York Chapter of the American College of Surgeons.

For another study, titled "Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Pediatric Trauma Patients," Dr. Taira won first place in the clinical paper category at the 2007 Murray Friedman Resident Competition of the Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and the Brooklyn Surgical Society.

In 2006, the paper by resident Dr. Michelle Azu on venous thromboembolic events in hospitalized trauma patients won first prize in the Residents Trauma Paper Competition sponsored by the Committee on Trauma (Greater NY Region) of the American College of Surgeons.

In 2004, one of our residents, Dr. Paul Kochupura, won the prestigious Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award Competition of the American Heart Association, based on work produced on the biomechanics of a novel myocardial patch. For his research, this same resident won "First Place" in the 2005 Murry Friedman Resident Competition for Best Research Abstracts sponsored by the Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Two other residents in our program were given awards in this competition.

We sponsor an annual Residents Research Day (see 2005 program). We provide residents with opportunities for instruction in biostatistics and research methodology, as well as basic science concepts important in current research efforts in surgery. We are also active participants in the institution’s application for both K-23 and K-30 grants from the NIH with several of our faculty members acting as mentors along with basic science collaborators.

Below are selected research presentations by our residents at scientific meetings in recent academic years; their names appear in boldface. (Publications follow list of presentations.)

2009-10

Amrani S, Karas J, Yuan Q, Bergamaschi R. Laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer invading the sphincter. New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, New York, NY, March 25, 2010.

Kwon AO, Karas JR, Bishawi M, Denoya P, Bergamaschi R. Intracorporeal right colectomy for cancer in obese patients. New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, New York, NY, March 25, 2010.

2008-09

Angelos G, O’Hara K, Essani R, Bergamaschi R. Unusual presentation of a primary jejunal sarcoma: a case report. New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, New York, NY, March 26, 2009.

Danovich S. HDAC-enzymes expression in lung cancer by the comparative QRT-PCR (delta) CT method. Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, East Elmhurst, NY, May 7, 2009. Second Place in Murray Friedman Research Competition.

Danovich S, Capone D III, Rosario R, Rohlehr C, Hashmi A, Andaz S, Fox S. Receptiveness to lung cancer screening. Department of Thoracic Surgery and Office of Clinical Research, South Nassau Hospital, Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 2008.

Danovich S, Mair E, Rohanai P, Andaz S, Fox S. An unusual complication of VATS mediastinal lymphadenectomy? Department of Radiology and Thoracic Surgery, South Nassau Hospital, Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 2008.

Danovich S, Rohanai P, Andaz S, Fox S, Mullen E, Wu L. Brachytherapy for lung cancer. Department Radiation Oncology and Department of Thoracic Surgery, South Nassau Hospital Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic, Day, Uniondale, New York, December 2008.

Danovich S, Rosario R, Rohlehr C, Hashmi A, Andaz S, Fox S. Emphysema in smokers. Department of Thoracic Surgery and Office of Clinical Research, South Nassau Hospital, Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 2008.

Gonzalez M, Melendez MM, Keehn A, Finnin E, Woodford E, Lamelas J, Seifert F, Rosengart TK. A retrospective study evaluating the impact of experience on complications associated with minimally invasive valve surgery: a comparison of mini-thoracotomy vs. median sternotomy approaches. Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 2008.

Jen J. Recurrent deep vein thrombosis: long-term incidence and natural history [podium presentation]. Annual Meeting of the American Venous Forum, Phoenix, AZ, February 11-14, 2009.

Jen J. Recurrent deep vein thrombosis: long-term incidence and natural history. Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. East Elmhurst, NY, May 7, 2009. Third Place in Murray Friedman Research Competition.

Kwon AO, Essani R, Bergamaschi R. Standardized laparoscopic intracorporeal right colectomy for cancer. New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, New York, NY, March 26, 2009.

Kwon AO, Sandoval S, Shapiro MJ. Early hyperkalemia in a burn patient after succinylcholine administration. Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 2008.

Melendez MM. Case presentation. Grand Rounds Mentorship Program: Reconstruction Path. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, October 23-27, 2009.

Melendez MM, Beasley M, Dagum AB, Khan SU. Outcomes of abdominoplasty performed in an office-based surgical setting [poster]. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 31-November 5, 2008.

Melendez MM, Gonzalez M, Khan S, Beasley M, Dagum AB. Outcomes of abdominoplasty performed in an office-based surgical setting. American Society of Plastic Surgery National Meeting, October 2008.

Melendez MM, Khan S, Beasley M, Dagum AB. Outcomes of abdominoplasty combined with elective breast surgery in an office-based surgical setting. Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 2008.

Melendez MM, Xu X, Gonzalez M, Divaris N, Kottmeier S, Khan S, Bui D, Dagum AB. Outcomes of lower-extremity trauma reconstruction with Taylor spatial frame fixator and muscle flaps. Congress of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, Okinawa, Japan, June 25, 2009.

Polcino M, Essani R, Bergamaschi R. Development of solid cecal cancer rat model with colonoscopic submucosal injection. New York Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, New York, NY, March 26, 2009.

Rutigliano DN, Tiara BR, McCormack J, Shapiro MJ. Unplanned admission to the ICU increases patient mortality. Annual Academic Surgical Congress, Ft. Myers, FL, February 2009.

Tiara B, Fenton K, McCormack J, Huang E, Lee T, Shapiro MJ. Characteristics of pediatric trauma patients undergoing tracheostomy. Annual Congress of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, Nashville, TN, February 2009.

Tiara BR, Fenton K, McCormack JE, Shapiro MJ. Nosocomial pneumonia in pediatric trauma patients: a study using the NTDB. Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems, American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress, San Francisco, CA, October 2008.

Tiara BR, Lau K, Singer A, Shapiro MJ. The abbreviated burn severity index revisited. International American Burn Association Burn Conference, Montreal, Canada, October 2008.

Taira BR, Xu X, Lau KN, McCormack JE, Huang E, Shapiro MJ. Do burn patient outcomes differ by time and day of admission? Annual American Burn Association Meeting, San Antonio, TX, March 2009.

Xu X, Lau K, Vosswinkel J, Merriam L, Watkins K, Khan S. Early experience with endoscopic components separation for complicated abdominal wall hernias. Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 2008.

Xu X, Tiara BR, Singer AJ, McCormack JE, Huang E, Shapiro MJ. Do trauma patient outcomes differ by time and day of admission? Annual Academic Surgical Congress, Ft. Myers, FL, February 2009.

Xu X, Melendez MM, Gonzalez M, Divaris N, Kottmier S, Bui DT, Kahn S, Dagum AB. Outcomes of lower-extremity trauma reconstruction with Taylor spatial frame fixator and muscle flaps. Annual Academic Surgical Congress, Fort Myers, FL, February 2009.

Zemlyak A, Kelly V, O’Hea B, Pameijer C. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): recent trends in treatment. Nassau Surgical Society, Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 2008.

2007-08

Jen J. Lymph node metastasis in breast cancer staging [podium presentation]. Long Island Cancer Registrars Association Education Seminar, Stony Brook University Medical Center, June 6, 2008.

Melendez MM, Xu X, Arora B, Bui DT, Kahn S, Alizadeh K, Dagum AB. The utilization of research patient database software in plastic surgery. American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, October 26-31, 2007.

Taira BR, Lee TK, McCormack JE, Scriven RJ, Shapiro, MJ, Fenton, KE. Is ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatric trauma patients a real concern? Society of Critical Care Medicine Critical Care Congress, Honolulu, HI, February 2-6, 2008. Research Citation Winner.

2006-07

Azu M. Effective methods for disclosing breast cancer diagnosis [poster]. American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, May 2-6, 2007.

Carlson DM, DeMasi MA, Melendez MM. Burn injury and hispanic children: a population at risk. Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association, San Diego, California, March 2007.

Carlson DM, Rosenthal A, Wilson R, Cassara GA, Melendez MM, Sandoval S. Treatment of multiple critical burn patients following a residential gas explosion: lessons learned. Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association, San Diego, California, March 2007.

Jen J, McCormack J, Huang EC, Shapiro MJ. Let the surgeon sleep: trauma team activation for severe hypotension Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Las Vegas, NV, September 2007.

Melendez MM, Pan Z, Xu X, McClain SA, Rafailovich M, Dagum AB. The use of tensiometry and digital image speckle correlation to evaluate the mechanics of a skin substitute. Nassau Surgical Society and Brooklyn–Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Annual Clinic Day, Uniondale, NY, December 6, 2006. Winner of second prize of Resident Poster Competition.

Melendez MM, Rezak KM, Chen JJ, Huang SD. An analysis of cadaveric calvarial bone: implications of computer imaging in craniofacial reconstruction. American Society of Plastic Surgeons National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, October 7-11, 2006.

Melendez MM, Shapiro MJ, Vosswinkel J, Gelato M, Mynarcik D, Gavi S, Xu X, McNurlan M. Wall suction applied to needle muscle biopsy: a novel technique to increasing sample size. Annual Academic Surgical Congress, Phoenix, AZ, February 6-9, 2007.

Taira B, Scriven RJ, Shapiro MJ, McCormack JE, Huang E, Lee TK. A comparison of nonoperative management of pediatric splenic injury in Suffolk County. Annual New York State Surgical Symposium, Lake George, April 13, 2007. Winner of resident paper contest of New York Chapter of American College of Surgeons.

Taira B, Scriven RJ, Shapiro MJ, McCormack JE, Huang E, Lee TK. A comparison of nonoperative management of pediatric splenic injury in Suffolk County. Conjoint Scientific Session of the New York Surgical Society and the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY, April 18, 2007.

Taira B, Scriven RJ, Shapiro MJ, McCormack JE, Huang E, Lee TK. Ventilator-associated pneumonia in pediatric trauma patients. Annual Meeting and Young Surgeons' Dinner, May 24, 2007. Winner of Murray Friedman Resident Competition of the Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and the Brooklyn Surgical Society.

2005-06

Alizadeh K, Melendez MM, Navarro JA. An algorithm for the treatment of complications in the peri-areolar augmentation mastopexy [poster]. American Society of Plastic Surgeons National Meeting, Chicago, IL, September 24-28, 2005.

Melendez MM, Chen W, Smith E, Barry M, McCormack JE, RN, Shapiro MJ. Management of an uncommon event: noniatrogenic traumatic tracheobronchial injuries in Suffolk County [poster]. American Medical Association, Research Forum Symposium, Dallas, TX, November 2005.

Melendez MM, Martinez R, McClain SA, Simon M, Arora B, Sobanko J, Zimmerman T, Wetterau M, Singer A, Dagum AB. Porcine wound healing by secondary intention: dermal repair with Integra incorporation on fibrin glue and keratinocytes [poster]. Annual Meeting of American Burn Association, Las Vegas, NV, April 4-7, 2006.

Melendez MM, Prechtl A. Preventing accidental scalding in Hispanic children. Annual Meeting of American Burn Association, Las Vegas, NV, April 4-7, 2006.

2004-05

Kochupura PV, Azeloglu EU, Kelly DJ, Doronin SV, Badylak SF, Krukenkamp IB, Cohen IS, Gaudette GR. A tissue engineered myocardial patch derived from extracellular matrix performs regional mechanical work. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, New Orleans, LA, November 7-10, 2004. Winner of Vivien Thomas Young Investigator Award.

Lunati F, McCormack J, Azu M, Brebbia J, Scriven R, Lee T. Thromboembolic incidence in pediatric trauma: is prophylaxis necessary? Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Ft. Lauderdale, FL, January 11-15, 2005.

2003-04

Dias CE, Reed WP, Vithiananthan S. An earlier onset of breast cancer in obese patients and relation of other prognostic indicators to body mass index. Podium Presentation, North American Chapter Meeting, International College of Surgeons, Montreal, Canada, July 19, 2003.

Maitra SR, Chen E, Valane PD, El-Maghrabi MR, Brathwaite CEM. Modulations of signal transduction pathways during sepsis [keynote speaker]. Indian Science Congress, Bangalore, India, January 2003.

2002-03

Dias CE, Schwartz JC, Reed WP. Differential hepatic distribution of colloid with low flow infusions and rapid injections. Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium, Los Angeles, CA, March 5-9, 2003.

Ortega D, O’Hea BJ, Tornos C. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) without microinvasion: is sentinel lymph node biopsy indicated? Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium, Los Angeles, CA, March 5-9, 2003.

Reed WP, Kilkenny JW, Dias CE, Wexner SD; SAGES EGD Outcomes Study Group. A prospective analysis of 3525 esophagogastroduodenoscopies performed by surgeons. Scientific Session and Postgraduate Courses of SAGES, Los Angeles, CA, March 15, 2003.