Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 13th Annual Resident Research Day. Resident physicians from every one of the hospital’s training programs participated, with a record of 90 submissions. Reports included unique cases of clinical interest and controlled trials seeking to determine the effectiveness of new interventions benefiting patient care.
A panel of judges evaluated the presentations awarding first place and $1,000 to Jeffrey Kopstein, D.O., and Vincent Rowley, M.D. (Internal Medicine), for their study entitled “Cardiac Arrest and Death in Hospitalized Patients with Pneumonia, Treated with Azithromycin Versus Levofloxacin;” second place and $750 was awarded to Hesam Hekmatjou, M.D., and Eman Ahmad, M.D. (Family Medicine), for their analysis of “Increased Healthcare Cost and Burden Incurred Due to Inappropriate Use of ANA Testing, a Retrospective Review;” and receiving third place and $500 was Julian Choi, D.O., and Julie Smithwick, D.O. (Internal Medicine), for their study on “Phase II In Decreasing Blood Culture Contamination Rates at ARMC – An Ongoing Quality Initiative.”
“It is inspiring to see multiple projects, which were first presented at one of the ARMC Research Days, go on to influence and change clinical practice at this institution, as well as to provide the genesis for such research projects,” said Dr. David Lanum, chairman of Family Medicine at ARMC. “The work exemplifies the commitment of our residents not only to the day-to-day bedside care of our patients, but also to the goal of always improving that care.”
Research summary posters from all 90 submissions were showcased in the hospital’s Oak Room in May, available for viewing by hospital administration and staff members, as well as the public. Since the program began, ARMC Residents have submitted nearly 700 research projects.
ARMC is a university-affiliated teaching health care facility with 10 residency programs and more than 150 residents. ARMC regularly showcases work done by its resident physicians to help increase participation in regional research efforts.