Dr. Alex Kesler and Dr. Yara Sarkis Win 2022 Research Competition

The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce the results of its annual Research Competition. The competition was coordinated and moderated by Rakesh Mehta, MD, the department's Vice Chair for Education. 

"The quality of the abstracts and presentations were excellent, and the competition was close," said Kara Wools-Kaloustian, MD, Vice Chair for Research.

Fellows Competition

Winner: Alex Kesler, MD  – PGY5 in Gastroenterology
Title: "Improvement of pyloric distensibility after G-POEM for gastroparesis did not correlate with improved gastric emptying"
Primary Mentor: John Wo, MD
Content: The aim of the study was to identify which pylorus functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) parameters will correlate with improvement of gastric emptying after gatric peroral endoscopic myotomy (G-POEM) in patients with gastroparesis. The study found that improvement of pylorus distensibility measured by FLIP did not correlate with improvement of gastric emptying in patients with gastroparesis at 6 months after G-POEM.

Residents Competition

Winner: Yara Sarkis, MD – PGY1 Medicine Resident
Title: "Outcomes and safety of same-day discharge after peroral endoscopic myotomy"
Primary Mentor: John Dewitt, MD
Content: The aim of the study was to assess the frequency and reasons for emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations for patients discharged the same day as peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). The study found that eligible patients who follow and fulfill a strict protocol after POEM could be safely discharged the same day.

Abstracts by three fellows (Drs. Guardiola, Kesler, Hicks) and five residents (Drs. Wehbe, Sarkis, Sabra, Cho, Needleman) were selected for presentation at Medicine Grand Rounds on May 27 and June 3, respectively.