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Awards, recognition highlight annual Celebration of Research event

Phyllis Hendry, MD, a tenured professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville, won this year’s Robert C. Nuss Researcher/Scholar Award, which is given to a faculty member with a distinguished record of current research. UFCOMJ Dean Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, stands beside her.
James R. Scott, MD, second from right, was the keynote speaker during Celebration of Research. Scott, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, discussed alarming trends in medical research. Standing with him are, from left, Alan Berger, MD, associate dean of research affairs; Tina Bottini, assistant dean of research affairs; and Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, dean of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville.
Lydia Engwenyu, MD, a cardiovascular disease fellow, won first place in the poster presentation category at the Celebration of Research event.
Melissa McGuire, MD, a pediatric emergency medicine fellow, won first place in the platform presentation category at the Celebration of Research event.

Phyllis Hendry, MD, has been recognized in a major way for her medical research efforts in Jacksonville and beyond.

Hendry, a tenured professor of emergency medicine and pediatrics at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, is the winner of this year’s Robert C. Nuss Researcher/Scholar Award. The award, named after the former UFCOMJ dean, is given annually to a UF faculty member in Jacksonville who has a distinguished record of current research that places that person among the leaders in his or her respective academic discipline.

She received the accolade May 21 during UFCOMJ’s annual Celebration of Research event, which also featured platform presentations, poster viewings, a guest speaker and other award presentations. The event was sponsored by the Office of Research Affairs.

“I am honored to receive an award named after Dr. Nuss, especially since he was dean of our campus for much of my career. I have many fond memories working with ‘The Admiral,’” Hendry said. “It’s also rewarding to receive an award that two of my mentors, Drs. Tepas and Wears, received in past years. I am grateful for my department’s support of my research and scholarly activities.”

Hendry’s research interests include EMS data systems, pain management, patient safety, pediatric emergency care, health literacy, end-of-life care and bereavement. Since 2008, she has served as assistant chair of research in the department of emergency medicine.

Hendry has been the principal investigator, or PI, for numerous federal grants, private grants and clinical trials that total more than $6 million. She is the PI for two ongoing patient-safety efforts: the Pediatric Emergency Care Safety Initiative (PECSI) and the Pain Assessment and Management Initiative (PAMI), which will offer free online training and resources for emergency care providers.

Hendry is also the Jacksonville site investigator for UF’s first PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) grant, which ultimately aims to help improve the lives of chronically ill patients who seek care via the emergency room. 

“I love the challenge of creating a new proposal and ‘winning’ grant support for projects that improve patient care,” Hendry said. “Additionally, I enjoy helping other faculty, residents and fellows develop proposals and reach their research goals.”

Keynote speaker

James R. Scott, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, was the keynote speaker during Celebration of Research. His presentation, “The Medical Literature: Don’t Believe Everything You Read,” highlighted several trends in medical research that physicians, academics and patients should be aware of.

Among the concerns, Scott said there has been a significant rise in the number of online journals, many of which aren’t credible. He said the phrase “evidence-based” is being used loosely when describing studies.

Also, Scott said about 75 percent of clinical trials in the country are industry-funded, with just 33 percent of trials being done at universities. He said you should worry about who’s controlling the data, writing the papers and interpreting the studies. Many times, it’s done with a particular bias.

“The study may be done right, but it’s often how it’s interpreted (that influences perception),” Scott said. “You have to be aware that this is what’s happening.”

Poster and platform presentation awards

Of the fellows, residents and faculty who submitted presentations for Celebration of Research, six were chosen for poster presentation awards and six received platform presentation awards for their excellence:

Poster Presentation Winners

  • 1st Place: Lydia Engwenyu, MD, Department of Medicine; Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Platelet P2Y12 Receptor Signaling in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus 
  • 2nd Place: Kamaldeep Singh, DO, Department of Medicine; Impact of Timing from Blood Sampling to Pharmacodynamic Assessments of Measures of Platelet Reactivity in Patients Treated with P2Y12 Receptor Inhibitors
  • 3rd Place: Danish Vaiyana, MD, Department of Pediatrics; Comparison of High-Dose Magnesium Infusion Regimens in the Treatment of Status Asthmaticus
  • 4th Place: Leigh Bragg, MD, Department of Pediatrics; Financial Impact of Pediatric Blood Culture Contamination: Is There Room for Improvement?
  • 5th Place: Rohit Sharma, MD, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; False Positive Drug Screens in Outpatient Pain Management Programs
  • 6th Place: Kirsten Busey, PharmD, College of Pharmacy; Comparison of Weight-Based Dosing of 23.4% Hypertonic Saline Versus Fixed Dosing for Intracranial Pressure Reduction in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study

Platform Presentation Winners

  • 1st Place: Melissa McGuire, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine; Optimal Design on Intraosseous Needles Based on the Average Anterior Cortical Depth of the Tibial Bone in Children
  • 2nd Place: Jared Roeckner, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Increasing Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents’ Awareness and Use of E-FORCSE, Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, in an Effort to Decrease Prescription Drug Abuse
  • 3rd Place: Katherine Puckett Parikh, DO, Department of Surgery; Can Protocol Development Improve Breast Cancer and Breast Surgery Quality Measures?
  • 4th Place: Kaitlin McCurdy, MD, Department of Medicine; Ultrasound Applications in Medical Education: Can Residents be Trained to Use Ultrasound Examination to Predict Central Venous Pressure?
  • 5th Place: Jared Hudspeth, MD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation; MRI Evaluation of Anterolateral Ligament in the Knee
  • 6th Place: Saif Ibrahim, MD, Department of Medicine; Controlling Atrial Fibrillation by Atrial Flutter Ablation in the Presence of LA Enlargement: A Ten-Year Review

“Research is such an integral part of what we do at UF Health,” said Daniel R. Wilson, MD, PhD, dean of the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. “It is great to have a day set aside to recognize the many discoveries, advances and achievements in research on the part of our faculty, residents and fellows.”

Featured Faculty

Phyllis L. Hendry, MD, FAAP, FACEP

Phyllis L. Hendry, MD, FAAP, FACEP

Professor
Associate Chair of Research