Research Day 2014

The UF Department of Surgery celebrated it’s 10th Research Day on Wednesday, April 16. 

Award Winners

The UF Department of Surgery had an excellent collection of quality abstract submissions for both Basic and Clinical/Translational Science. The following are this year’s awardees:

Best Basic Science Abstract Award

  • Lori Gentile, M.D.  
    Primary Mentor: Lyle L. Moldawer, Ph.D.
    Enhanced Protective Immunity & Extramedullary Myeloiesis in Neonatal Sepsis by Ablation of Caspase-1 Signaling

Best Clinical/Translational Science Abstract Award

  • Michael M. McNally, M.D.  
    Primary Mentor: Adam Beck, M.D.
    3D Fusion CT Capabilities Decreases Procedure Time, Radiation Exposure and Contrast usage in Complex Endovascular Aortic Repair

Research Career Development Award(s)

This year the Department of Surgery continued to award Research Career Development Award (RCDA) to faculty in the Department of Surgery. These annual awards, consisting of up to $25,000 in direct funding, are intended to support clinical, translational and basic research programs for junior faculty within the Department of Surgery that will lead to independent external funding. The following are this year’s awardees:

  • Janice Taylor, M.D.  
    Restructuring of Website Content for Surgical Education to Maximize and Improve the Didactic Experience
  • Ryan M. Thomas, M.D.  
    Circulating tumor cells shed in operative blood during pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer is responsible for peritoneal recurrence

Lester Dragstedt Visiting Professor

  • K. Craig Kent, M.D., F.A.C.S.
    A.R. Curreri Professor of Surgery
    Chairman, Department of Surgery
    Professor, Division of Vascular Surgery
    University of Wisconsin College of Medicine
    “Advancing the Practice of Surgery: the Importance of Surgical Research”
Craig

K. Craig Kent, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. K. Craig Kent was appointed the A.R. Curreri Professor and chairman of surgery at the University of Wisconsin in 2008, following a successful tenure as chief of the division of vascular surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.

Dr. Kent has authored more than 285 peer-reviewed manuscripts, as well as 60 book chapters and reviews related to vascular surgery and intervention. His work in restenosis and the pathogenesis of aneurysms has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for the past 17 years. He is also the principal investigator of a T32 Research Training Grant in vascular biology. He has contributed significantly to the clinical research arena with publications in Circulation, JAMA and Stroke, as well as other leading journals. Among these contributions are reporting and practice standards and guidelines that have emanated from collaborations with multiple other specialty societies.

Dr. Kent has held leadership positions in numerous organizations including serving as president of The Society for Vascular Surgery and director of the Vascular Board of the American Board of Surgery. In addition, Dr. Kent was recently named as a director to the American Board of Surgery. Reflecting his international reputation in the field of vascular surgery, Dr. Kent has been a visiting professor to nearly 50 departments of surgery around the world and has delivered many invited lectures and keynote addresses. Dr. Kent completed a general surgery residency at the University of California, San Francisco and fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where he was the John Homans Vascular Fellow. He received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Nevada. In addition to his academic accomplishments, Dr. Kent has remained an active and busy vascular surgeon with a referral practice of complex aortic and carotid disease. He has been listed among America’s Best Doctors by Castle Connolly for the past 12 years.