Resident Research

The Emergency Medicine Department at UPMC Hamot supports resident and faculty scholarly activities through multiple programming initiatives. Under the guidance of the Program Director, with support from the Director of Medical Research and faculty mentors, residents pursue research and quality improvement (QI) projects in areas of interest, preparing them with skills needed throughout their medical careers.

Lectures include the core content required by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for all residency programs. Topics include study design, ethics, statistical approaches, various forms of medical writing, and conference presentation skills.

Mentoring from the program director, faculty, and the research director is available for each resident. Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations with other medical departments and local universities are also available.

Journal Club is offered each month, co-led by residents and faculty members who select articles and facilitate discussion in areas of interest.

Each resident is required to complete a scholarly project prior to graduation and present the findings at a local, regional, or national conference. Residents are encouraged to publish work when appropriate. Assistance with manuscript preparation, journal selection, and submission is available during and after graduation.

Project Development Expected Timeline

First year residents

Complete online course modules for work with human subjects through CITI
In consultation with the program director outline areas of interest
Identify a faculty mentor

Second year residents

Submit application to IRB or QI Committee, if necessary
Initiate project and data collection

Third year residents

Complete project and data analysis
Present at UPMC Research Day and other conferences
Submit for publication

Examples of Recent Scholarly Work

Journal Publications:

Mediastinitis Secondary to Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Migration and Perforation after Minor Trauma: A Case Report.
Martinez O, Puller J. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2021 Feb;5(1):70-74. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2020.11.49408.PMID: 33560956 Free PMC article.

TRIAD XI: Utilizing simulation to evaluate the living will and POLST ability to achieve goal concordant care when critically ill or at end-of-life-The Realistic Interpretation of Advance Directives.
Mirarchi F, Juhasz K, Cooney T, Desiderio D.J Healthc Risk Manag. 2021 Jul;41(1):22-30. doi: 10.1002/jhrm.21453. Epub 2020 Dec 10.PMID: 33301646 Clinical Trial.

Madagascar Hospital Resource Assessment in Fianarantsoa and Toliara.
Bell, J, Unger, A Submitted for publication (2022)

Presentations:

Wagle, A and Juhasz, K:
Risk Factors, Management Strategies, and Outcomes in Patients with Isolated Parafalcine or Tentorial Subdural Hematomas
ACEP (American College of Emergency Physicians) Research Forum – Boston, MA October 2021

Kammerer, M and McQuone, B:
Mitral Valve Gonococcal Endocarditis: A Case Report
UPMC Hamot Research Days – Erie, PA April 2021

Books:

In 2022, faculty from the Emergency Medicine Department and the other Hamot residency programs published a book Research During Medical Residency: A How-To Guide for Residents and Faculty Mentors (CRC Press). This book covers ACGME required material including how to develop a new project, search the literature, collect and analyze data, write a grant proposal, and publish and present study results.