Welcome to the 11th Annual Research Symposium of the Department of Surgery at the University of New Mexico. We are excited to showcase the excellent work being done by our faculty, fellows, residents, and students across all the surgical disciplines represented at UNM. Over the past year, we had 81 peer-reviewed publications, more than 50 national and regional presentations, and 11 grant submissions from members of the Department. I am grateful for the brilliant ideas, energy, and enthusiasm of my surgical colleagues who are committed to innovation and science in addition to our primary duty of patient care. This year, we received over 80 abstract submissions from which we have selected the best papers for 10 podium presentations and 3 video presentations. Additionally, we have introduced new sessions on Quickshots, which are brief 3-minute podium presentations.
This year’s keynote speaker for the Donald E. Fry, MD lectureship is Dr. Kenji Inaba MD, FACS, FRCSC, internationally renowned trauma surgeon and educator. His keynote topic is “Priorities in Hemorrhage Control: Where Research and Clinical Knowhow Meet”. Dr. Inaba is currently Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery and program director for the General Surgery Residency training program at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. He is also Chief of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Los Angeles General Medical Center. In addition to his work at USC and LAGMC, Dr. Inaba is a sworn Reserve Police Officer and the Medical Director for the Los Angeles Police Department in the Metropolitan Division. He brings his expertise in trauma, emergency surgery, and surgical critical care to research, education, and patient care.
I look forward to a fun and exciting day exchanging ideas, sharing knowledge, meeting old and new friends, and developing new research collaborations in Domenici Auditorium. I hope you all enjoy this year’s research symposium!
Sharmila Dissanaike, MD, FACS, FCCM
Chair, Department of Surgery
University of New Mexico