Postgraduate Fellowship

Yusha (Katie) Liu, MD, PhD (AΩA, University of Washington School of Medicine, 2016) University of Washington School of Medicine
Digital Curriculum to Enhance Patient-Centered Communication in Surgery
Mentor: Jeffrey B. Friedrich, MD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2000)

Aida Nourbakhsh, MD, PhD (AΩA, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 2019) University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Overcoming Radiation Resistance in Vestibular Schwannoma: Radiobiology and Targets for Therapeutic Intervention
Mentor: Christine Dinh, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2008)

Arpan Prabhu, MD (AΩA, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, 2022) University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine
Using Virtual Reality Technology to Improve the Patient Experience and Quality of Care during Brachytherapy
Mentor: Gary D. Lewis, MD

Jennifer Sedler, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine
Teaching Pediatric Residents a Communication Framework for Delivering Difficult News: A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Teaching Methods
Mentor: Carrie (Caroline) Rassbach, MD, MA

Mayur Sharma, MD, MS (AΩA, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 2020) University of Louisville School of Medicine
Patterns and Impact of Surgical Approaches on 30-day Outcomes in patients with Lumbar Isthmic Spondylolisthesis. A National Registry Analysis
Mentor: Maxwell Boakye, MD, MPH, MBA

Christopher Conner, MD, PhD (AΩA, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, 2020) University of Texas McGovern Medical School

Rideshare utilization and motor vehicle trauma

Mentor: Ryan Kitagawa, MD (AΩA, Baylor College of Medicine, 2006)

Carlos Green, MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Exploring Careers and Inspiring Teens to Excel (EXCITE): improving attitudes towards otolaryngology through one day workshops for underrepresented college students

Mentor: Giovana Thomas, MD (AΩA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 2019)

Adham Khalafallah, MD, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Improving cost-effectiveness education in neurosurgical training: A personalized, team-oriented, real-time, web-based intervention

Mentor: Debraj Mukherjee, MD, MPH

Benson Ku, MD, Emory University School of Medicine

Impact of Residential Instability on Conversion to Psychosis in Adolescents at High Risk: A nationwide, multi-site longitudinal case-control study

Mentor: Elaine Walker, PhD

Abigail McCallum, MD, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Topology Defines Ontogeny: Exploring the Development of Commissural Fibers in the Mammalian Brain

Mentor: Haring J. W. Nauta, MD, PhD (AΩA, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 1973)

Raja Narayan, MD, MPH (AΩA, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, 2014) Stanford University School of Medicine

Developing Artificial Intelligence Models to Define Grade and Predict Outcomes from Neuroendocrine Liver Metastases

Mentor: Marc L. Melcher, MD, PhD (AΩA, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1999)

Jeans Santana, MD, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

The Effect of Educational Anesthesia Videos (Anesthesia & Me) on Pre-Operative Anxiety

Mentor: Ketan Shevde, MD

Michael J. Strong, MD, PhD, MPH, MS (AΩA, Tulane University School of Medicine,2017) University of Michigan Medical School

Differential Immune Landscape in the Pre-Metastatic Niche may Promote Metastatic Growth in Axial Skeleton

Mentor: Nicholas Szerlip, MD

Harun Thimmiah, MD, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Implementing a Clinician Educator Track for Medicine-Pediatric and Pediatric Residency Programs

Mentor: Michael Fahey, MD

In 2011, the Board of Directors of Alpha Omega Alpha established the Postgraduate Award to encourage and support AΩA residents or fellows from programs or institutions with an active AΩA Chapter or association to pursue a project in the spirit of the AΩA mission statement that could fulfill the ACGME requirements for scholarly activity. Project applications were accepted in the categories of:

1. Research: Support for clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, or social science/health services research.
2. Service: Local or international service work, focusing on underprivileged or immigrant populations or those in the developing world, as well as patient and population education projects.
3. Teaching and education: Research, development, or implementation of education academic curricula, with the focus on postgraduate education.
4. Leadership: Leadership development.
5. Humanism and professionalism: Projects designed to encourage understanding, development, and retention of traits of humanism and professionalism among physicians, directed to physicians in postgraduate training.

Eleven applicants received $2000 awards to support their work. The recipients of the 2019 awards are:

Mudit Chowdhary, MD, Rush Medical College
It Starts at the Top: An Analysis of Female Representation in Academic Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Surgical Oncology Program Leadership Positions
Mentor: Gaurav Marwaha, MD

Jordan Derck, MD, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Screening in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Mentor: Tessie October, MD, MPH

Tarini Goyal, MD (AΩA, Stanford University School of Medicine, 2019), Stanford University School of Medicine
Development and Effect of a Novel Goals of Care Skills Curriculum For Neurology Residents
Mentor: Carl Gold, MD, MS (AΩA, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2011)

Molly Hillenbrand, MD, (AΩA, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 2017), University of Cincinnati
Ocular Complications of Candidemia in the Era of Echinocandins as First-line Systemic Therapy
Mentor: Senu Apewokin, MD

Andrew Katz, MD, (AΩA, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 2017), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
The Role of Social Support Systems and Identification of Barriers for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment Compliance at a County Hospital
Mentor: Elizabeth Nicolli, MD (AΩA, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 2010)

Nicolas Khattar, MD, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Adaptaquin neuroprotection in an In-vitro and In-vivo Models of Severe Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Mouse Model
Mentor: Michal Hetman, MD, PhD

Darae Ko, MD, MS, Boston University School of Medicine
Investigating Atrial Fibrillation-related Health Care Utilization and Outcome After Crypgogenic Stroke
Mentor: Emelia Benjamin, MD, ScM

Christopher McLaughlin, MD (AΩA, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, 2017), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Introducing Primary Care in Trauma Systems: Can Trauma be a Gateway to Long-Term Health?
Mentor: Steven Allen, MD

Sasha Mikhael, MD, MS, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Identification of Estrogen Receptor Mutations in Patients with Infertility
Mentor: Lawrence C. Layman, MD (AΩA, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 2012)

Ranjodh Singh Bopari, MD (AΩA, Weill Cornell Medical College, 2017), Sidney Kimmel Medical College
The Impact of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Elastin on Eyelid Anatomy and Function
Mentor: Sathyadeepak Ramesh, MD (AΩA, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, 2012)

Rachel Sprague, MD, University of South Florida College of Medicine
Transcriptomic Analysis of Catecholestrogen (4-OHE2)-induced Human Endometrial Stromal Cell Survival Via Adrenergic Receptor(s): Implications for Development of Endometriosis
Mentors: Charles J. Lockwood, MD (AΩA, New York University School of Medicine, 1998); Umit A. Kayisli, MSc, PhD

In 2011, the Board of Directors of Alpha Omega Alpha established the Postgraduate Award to encourage and support AΩA residents or fellows from programs or institutions with an active AΩA Chapter or association to pursue a project in the spirit of the AΩA mission statement that could fulfill the ACGME requirements for scholarly activity. Project applications were accepted in the categories of:

1. Research: Support for clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, or social science/health services research.
2. Service: Local or international service work, focusing on underprivileged or immigrant populations or those in the developing world, as well as patient and population education projects.
3. Teaching and education: Research, development, or implementation of education academic curricula, with the focus on postgraduate education.
4. Leadership: Leadership development.
5. Humanism and professionalism: Projects designed to encourage understanding, development, and retention of traits of humanism and professionalism among physicians, directed to physicians in postgraduate training.

Eight applicants received $2000 awards to support their work. The recipients of the 2018 awards are:

Clinton Enos, MD, MS
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Project category: Research
Investigating Geographic Trends in the Choice of Systemic Therapies for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis
Abby Van Voorhees, MD, mentor

David Hermel, MD
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Project category: Research
The Role of the CSCL1/CXCR2 Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer Dissemination
Amir Goldkorn, MD, mentor
Ed Crandall, PhD, MD, mentor

Burles “Rusty” Johnson, MD, PhD (AΩA, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, 2014, Resident)
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Project category: Research
Targeting Indoleamine 2, 3 Dioxygenase to Improve Anti-tumor Immunity
Linda Smith-Resar, MD, mentor

Kimberly Kopecky, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine
Project category: Research
Interactive Communication Curriculum for Surgical Residents
Marc Melcher, MD, PhD, mentor

Edmund Lee, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Project category: Research
A Competency-based Accelerated Intern Preparatory Curriculum for Incoming Surgical Residents
James Lau, MD, mentor

Christine Moore, DO (AΩA, James H. Quillen College of Medicine of East Tennessee State University, 2018, Resident)
East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine
Project category: Research
Development of Metformin and y-tocotrienol for Prostate Cancer Prevention
Koyamangalath Krishnan, MD, mentor

Mikhaylo Szczupak, MD (AΩA, University of Miami, 2015)
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Project category: Research
Fluorescein-Guided Detection of the Tumor-Nerve Interface in a Xenograft Model of Vestibular Schwannoma
Christine Dinh, MD, mentor

Jesse Xie, MD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Project category: Research
Validation of Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry and Phase Angle from Bioelectrical Impedance as Reliable Markers for Sarcopenia in Liver Transplant Candidates
Andres Duarte-Rojo, MD, mentor

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA)
Since its founding in 1902, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society has recognized and advocated for excellence in scholarship, demonstrated professionalism, and the growth of physician leadership in the profession of medicine. Through 132 active Chapters in the United States and Lebanon, more than 4,000 new members are inducted into the society each year. More than 55 Nobel Prize winners are members of Alpha Omega Alpha, as well as 12 of the 20 United States Surgeons General, including Dr. Vivek Murthy. Nearly 75% of deans of U.S. medical schools are members of AΩA. Alpha Omega Alpha annually grants more than $1.75 million in programs and awards to impact medical students, residents, teachers, and community physicians.