Scholarly Activities

We are very proud of our residents’ many publications and presentations at regional and national meetings. Below is a list of their work from the 2018-2019 academic year.

Note: UPMC Mercy Internal Medicine resident authors are listed in bold.

Academic Year 2018 – 2019 Publications

Verceles, A.C., Bhatti, W. The Ethical Concerns of Seeking Consent from Critically Ill, Mechanically Ventilated Patients for Research - A Matter of Possessing Capacity or Surrogate Insight. Clinical Ethics. 2018 Aug 22.

Arunmozhi Aravagiri, Waqas Bhatti, Jetina Okereke, Avelino C. Verceles. Families in the Intensive Care Unit: A Guide to Understanding, Engaging, and Supporting at the Bedside Chapter 13 - Identifying, Analyzing, & Combating Family Intensive Care Unit Syndrome in Long Term Acute Care Hospitals. 2018 Oct 31.

Zahid. M.F, Ali. N, Nasir. M, Baig. M. H, Iftikhar. M, Bin Mahmood. S.U, Godil S. Malik. A, Beg.“Infections in patients with multiple myeloma: a single - center 10 year experience from Pakistan” MA Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia. Feb 2019.

Jorge A, Szulawski R, Abhishek F Metastatic calcinosis cutis due to refractory hypercalcaemia responsive to denosumab in a patient with multiple sclerosis BMJ Case Reports CP 2019;12:e223992.

Szulawski R, Kourlas PJ, Antonchak M. Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) in a Recently Released Prisoner with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Am J Case Rep. 2018;19:734-738.

Anupam Kumar Bilal A. Ansari Jessica Kim Arpita Suri Sowmya Gaddam Sowjanya Yenigalla Jagan M. Vanjarapu Senthil Selvaraj Dheera Tamvada Jonathan Lee Scott R. Akers Julio A. Chirinos. Axial Muscle Mass as a Strong Predictor of Death in Subjects with and without Heart Failure, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cardfail.2018.07.048. August 2018,Volume 24, Issue 8, Supplement, Page S16. Journal Of Cardiac Failure.

Anupam Kumar Bilal A. Ansari Jessica Kim Arpita Suri Sowmya Gaddam Sowjanya Yenigalla Jagan M. Vanjarapu Senthil Selvaraj Dheera Tamvada Jonathan Lee Scott R. Akers Julio A. Chirinos. Axial Muscle Size as a Strong Predictor of Death in Subjects With and Without Heart Failure Originally published 13 Feb 2019 https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.118.010554 Journal of the American Heart Association. 2019;8.

Sowjanya Yenigalla MD, Navneet Kaur MD, UPMC Mercy An unusual trigger for stress cardiomyopathy, Case report and literature review, J Med Cases. 2018;9(12):386-389 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3132w

Academic Year 2018 – 2019 Presentations

Ahuja, Ashish. “Non-erosive Reflux Disease: Bravo pH Capsule and its Complications.” (Presented at Pittsburgh Chapter of Society of Hospital Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, January 2019).

Ahuja, Ashish, M.D.“Change Can Be Difficult to Swallow: Progression of Esophagogastric Junction Outflow Obstruction to Overt Achalasia Documented by High-Resolution Manometry.” (Presented at American College of Gastroenterology in Philadelphia, PA, October 2018).

Ahuja, Ashish; Chandrasekaran, Neena, M.D. “The Drunken Kidney: The Utility of Renal Replacement Therapy in Hepatic Encephalopathy.” (Presented at American College of Gastroenterology in Philadelphia, PA, October 2018).

Ahuja, Ashish; Kondaveeti, Bhagat; Yassin, Mohamed, M.D. “Gastrointestinal Endoscope-Related Bacteremia: A 3-Year Single Center Review.” Major outcome:We found that objective metrics such as ASA score and CCI were found to independently increase odds for bacteremia after endoscopy.(Presented at Pittsburgh Chapter ACP, October 2018).

Ahuja AC, Aijazi M, Kondaveeti B, Yassin M. Association or Causation? 3 Year Review of Bacteremia after Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Poster presented at Digestive Disease Week, San Diego, CA, May 20 2019.

Syed Aleem, Sunil Ramaswamy. “Dress Syndrome manifesting as Vancomycin Induced Acute Interstitial Nephritis” Poster presented at Society for Hospital Meeting, Pittsburgh PA 2019.

Syed Aleem, Sunil Ramaswamy. “Nivolumab Induced Colitis, All Inclusive or All Exclusive?” Poster presented at Society for Hospital Meeting, Pittsburgh PA 2019.

Syed A. Ali, Brendan Gill – 'An Interesting Case of Doxycycline Induced Pancreatitis'. Society of Hospitalist Medicine National Conference 2019.

Syed A. Ali - 'The Giant Atrial Wall Vegetation'. Society of Hospitalist Medicine National Conference 2019.

Waqas Bhatti, James Eubanks, Mohamed Yassin, Jeremy Tilstra, The Benefits of Lumping vs Splitting in Complex Diagnostic Cases: A Case of Concomitant Scurvy and Lupus Nephritis, PA-ACP Western Region - 11/3/2018.

Zachary Bugos, Joseph Tholany, Brandon Smith, When Stool Happens: Cost-benefits Analysis of Reflex Testing vs Shotgun Approach Abstract presented at the 22nd Annual MAD-ID Conference, Orlando, FL May 2019.

Neena Chandrasekeran, “HD (Hemodialysis) for AE (Ammonia Ibduced Encephelopathy) Presented at AMA (American Medicine Association) Nov 19, 2018.

Sheel Chokshi, Kathrin Tofil. Improving screening rates for diabetic retinopathy in a resident based clinic. Presented at ENDO 2019; New Orleans, LA. 03/23/2019.

Sheel Chokshi Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Associated with SGLT-2 Inhibitor Use . Presented at 2018 PA-ACP Western Region Abstract and Doctor's Dilemma Competition; Pittsburgh, PA. 11/03/2018.

Sheel Chokshi Karen Selk. Methimazole Treatment of Thyrotoxicosis in the Setting of Ischemic Hepatitis. Presented at ENDO 2019; New Orleans, LA. 03/24/2019.

Kylee Dawson, Chester V. Oddis, Siamak Moghadam-Kia, Diane Koontz, Nicole Niemen, Rohit Aggarwal,. “Improving EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies.” Poster Presented at: American College of Rheumatology National Conference; October 23, 2018, Chicago, IL.

Dawson K, Tholany J, Milanos H, Hussain M, Godil SA, Helfrich D. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center A case of ANCA negative Vasculitis ACP West Pennsylvania Regional Conference, Nov 2018.

Brendan Gill, James Doney, Syed A. Ali - 'Early detection of acute Hepatitis A, and the potential benefits of plasmapheresis in acute liver failure.' SHM Pittsburgh chapter annual conference 2019.

Brendan Gill, MD and Kevin Laltoo MD “Syncope as presentation of ruptured aortic aneurysm” SHM Pittsburgh chapter annual conference 2019.

Godil, K, Godil, S Lehigh Valley health network, University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, Delayed Diagnosis of HHV-6 meningoencephalitis due to anchoring bias, Diagnostic error in medicine 11th international conference New Orleans, 2018.

Ahmed SM, Qamar Z, Godil S, Akhtar J, Lehigh Valley health network, University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, Do not miss this diagnosis: Discitis Diagnostic error in medicine 11th international conference New Orleans, 2018.

Godil. S, Akhtar J, University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre A plague of rats Diagnostic error in medicine 11th international conference New Orleans, 2018.

Chelsey L. Hill, Brandon Smith, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: Lurking in Lungs Near You, Abstract presented at the 22nd Annual MAD-ID Conference, Orlando, FL May 2019.

Navneet Kaur, MD and Sowjanya Yenigalla MD."A Usual Case of Acute Alcohol Withdrawal Leading to an Unusual Case of Cardiomyopathy" Poster presentation at Nov 2018 ACP Pennsylvania Chapter Western Region Annual Abstract Competition. Also presented at ACP Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, April 2019.

Kaur N, Khalif A, Kondaveeti B. Acute Cor Pulmonale As The Initial Presentation For Limited Systemic Sclerosis. CHEST. 2018 October.

Ahmed Noor, Maryam Zia, Jamil Masood, Waqas Bhatti, Brad Butcher, “Pneumomediastinum: Trauma is Not Always the Answer,” Poster Presentation ACP Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, April 2019.

Ahmed Noor, Matthew Suffoletto, “An Echocardiogram Battle: TTE vs TEE in the Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis,” Poster Presentation at Society of Hospital Medicine Meeting, Washington, DC March 2019.

Ahmed Noor, “Vasopressor Use in Acute Right Ventricular Failure,” Poster Presentation at ACP Western Pennsylvania Regional Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA Nov 2018.

Ahmed Noor, Waqas Bhatti, Jamil Masood, “Syncope- A Life Threatening Presentation for Cardiac Sarcoidosis,” Poster Presentation at CHEST 2019.

Catherine D. Quinn, MD; Hebist Berhane, MD; Jay Mathur, MD; Mershid Kiazand, MD; James Withers, MD Mortality Analysis in Unsheltered Homeless, Understanding Those Uncared for Poster Presented at the International Symposium for Street Medicine Conference Rotterdam, Netherlands October 2018.

Reddy, S., Mehdi, N., O'Kane, E., & Kondaveeti, B. “Neurosarcoidosis: The Less Than 1%” (2019, March). Case report Presented at the Hospital Medicine Annual Conference, National Harbor, Maryland.

Brandon Smith, Sheel Chokshi, Don’t Go Chasing Mycobacteria, Please Stick to the Staphylococcus Aureus That You’re Used To Abstract presented at the 22nd Annual MAD-ID Conference, Orlando, FL May 2019.

Brandon Smith, The Lost Stakeholders in Antimicrobial Stewardship Abstract presented at the 22nd Annual MAD-ID Conference, Orlando, FL May 2019.

Brandon Smith, Appropriateness of Empiric Antibiotic Regimen for the Treatment of Enterococcal Bacteremia Abstract presented at the 22nd Annual MAD-ID Conference, Orlando, FL May 2019.

Brandon J. Smith, Bridget Batykefer, Alaina Koval, Mohamed H. Yassin, Mitigation of inappropriate aztreonam utilization by preemptive chart review Poster presented at University of Pittsburgh Internal Medicine Research Day April 29, 2019.

Brandon J. Smith, Joseph Tholany, Bridget Batykefer, Alaina Koval,; Mohamed H. Yassin, Inappropriate Aztreonam Usage Identified as an Opportunity to Reduce Pharmaceutical Expenditures Poster presented at University of Pittsburgh Internal Medicine Research Day April 29, 2019.

Sritharan, N., Szulawski R., Tuft, M., & Triulzi, D. (2018). Indications, Efficacy and Complications of Kcentra Use in Reversing Coagulopathy. Blood, 132(Suppl 1), 3820. Poster presentation at ASH 2018.

Joseph Tholany, Brandon Smith, Clinical Significance of the 2019 CLSI Fluoroquinolone Breakpoints in the Empiric Treatment of Enterobacteriaceae Bacteremia Abstract presented at the 22nd Annual MAD-ID Conference, Orlando, FL May 2019.

Prerna Sharma, Marc Simon, S. Mehdi Nouraie, Hristos Milonas, Melissa Saul, Alison Morris, “Hemodynamic outcomes of phosphodiesterase-inhibitor therapy in HIV-associated PAH” Poster Presented at Pittsburgh Lung Conference, October 4, 2018.

Prerna Sharma, Brandon Smith, Kylee Dawson, Bruce Johnson, Mohamed Yassin. “Epidemiology of Tuberculosis.” Poster Presented at: ACP PA Western Regional Abstract; November 3, 2018, Pittsburgh, PA.

Vora S, Sharma P, Rawal M, Khalif A. An Unusual Case of Langerhans’ Cell Histiocytosis. CHEST. 2018, Jun.

Vora, S. & Khalif, A.. (October, 2018). Electrical storm as the presentation of infective endocarditis Poster presented at: CHEST Annual Meeting 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA.

Vora, S. & Mathur, J.. (October, 2018). Persistence in the Face of Testing: The Importance of Keeping a Broad Differential Poster presented at: CHEST Annual Meeting 2018; San Antonio, TX, USA.

Sowjanya Yenigalla MD, Navneet Kaur MD, FNU Abhishek, MD ."Miraculous bug from faucet to the heart: A rare cause of Infective endocarditis” presented at annual SHM, meeting 2019, National Harbor, Maryland, March 24- 27,2019.

Julio A. Chirinos, Ali Javaheri, Jeremy Allegood, Harry Oldland, Rachana Miller, Zeba Hashmath, Sowjanya Yenigalla, Payman Zamani, Scott Akers Circulating Ceramides are Associated with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Heart Failure Prognosis: Research Abstract, accepted ACC, Annual Conference, New Orleans, March 16 -18, 2019.

Sowjanya Yenigalla MD, Navneet Kaur MD, Hasan Shamsul MD High Grade AV Nodal Block in Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea C73 - SRN: CURIOUS CASES IN SLEEP AND RESPIRATORY MEDICINE. Thematic Poster Session, American Thoracic Society, International Conference, Dallas, TX, 2019. Tuesday May 21, 2019 9:15 AM - 4:15 PM.

Maryam Zia, Syed Aleem, Munira S. Abbasi, A Missed Case of Pheochromocytoma Leading to Adrenergic Crisis and Rare Cerebrovascular Complications, Conference Poster Presentation. Presented at ACP National Competition April 12, 2019.

Maryam Zia, Karen Selk, A False Alarm: Elevated Thyroglobulin Levels in a Patient Receiving Intravenous Immunoglobulin, Conference Guided Poster Presentation. Presented at Endo 2019 March 23, 2019.

Maryam Zia, Prerna Sharma, Syed Hussain, Mehrshid Kiazand “Pneumococcal vaccination and the forgotten smokers” Poster Presentation at GME LEAPs conference.