The latest developments in breast lesion detection, robotic cancer resection, liver transplantation, and pancreatic cancer tumor detection are some of the topics to be covered by UCLA doctors and scientists at the 20th annual Academic Surgical Congress (ASC).
More than 70 abstracts from UCLA researchers have been accepted for presentation at the annual conference, to be held Feb. 11-13 in Las Vegas. The ASC is a joint meeting of the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) and the Society of University Surgeons (SUS). Together have more than 6,000 members from leading institutions nationwide.
The annual meeting provides an opportunity for physician/researchers to present work that highlights the important role of academic research in improving the quality of medical treatment and patient outcomes, said Dr. Gerald Lipshutz, professor of surgery and vice chair for research at the UCLA Department of Surgery.
“This is an example of the tremendous breadth and quality of the research coming from the UCLA Department of Surgery and the opportunity that this presents for the medical students, residents and fellows in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA,” Lipshutz said.
Highlights of the conference include the following:
Dr. Serena Zheng, a general surgery resident at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, will evaluate a new localization system for breast cancer localization called the OneMark clip and console, which utilizes novel doppler technology embedded with nanoparticles that emit an audible signal plus visual overlay, and compares it to standard target lesions in a training setting. The findings will be presented during the Education: Multidisciplinary Quickshot Session I on Feb. 11 from 7:30 to 9:45 a.m. Pacific Time in Primrose Hall 4. Dr. Nimmi Kapoor, an associate professor of surgery and breast surgical oncologist at the Geffen School, is the study’s senior author.
Sara Sakowitz, a medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, will present on how market forces such as competition and hospital profit drive utilization of robotic cancer resection in the U.S. The findings will be presented Feb. 12 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time during the Clinical/Outcomes: Oncology Oral Session I in Primrose Hall 5. Dr. Peyman Benharash, professor-in-residence of surgery and bioengineering at the Geffen School, is the study’s senior author.
Nicole Charland, a medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, will discuss the impact of prior abdominal surgery on liver transplantation outcomes. These findings will be presented during Clinical/Outcomes: Transplantation Quickshot Session I on Feb. 12 from 2:45 to 5 p.m. Pacific Time in Primrose Hall 9. Dr. Fady Kaldas, a professor of surgery at the Geffen School, is the study’s senior author.
Dr. Joon Park, a general surgery resident at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, will present on the research team’s evaluation of histologic staining patterns in the prognostic value of serum Ca 19-9, which is the most commonly used tumor marker for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) but whose value is limited by false positives in benign disease and negatives in nonproducers. The findings will be discussed during the Clinical/Outcomes: Multidisciplinary Oral Session V on Feb. 13 from 78:30 to 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time in Agave Hall 8. Dr. Mark Girgis, assistant professor of surgery at the Geffen School, is the study’s senior author.
