Two research studies emerge as overall best among MMC resident physicians

Long Branch — Two studies by resident physicians at Monmouth Medical Center received top honors in the 2014 Ellen M. Cosgrove, M.D., Housestaff Research Awards competition.

Monmouth Medical Center recognizes outstanding researchers.

The annual review rewards excellence in scholarly activity in 14 categories among Monmouth’s 107 physicians-in-training.
“The research competition provides an opportunity for our resident and attending physicians to work together to develop habits of inquiry, learn to evaluate research findings and gain new knowledge in a wide range of medical and surgical areas,” says Joseph Jaeger, chief academic officer at Monmouth, which is a major regional medical campus of Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia. “The awards recognize the fact that we’re all dedicated to enhancing this collaborative environment among our physicians, which promotes both academic and clinical growth.”

Sharing the coveted Award for Overall Excellence were: Orthopedic surgery residents Adil Samad, M.D., and Alexander Willis, M.D., for “Radiographic Fusion of Mulit-Level Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion with PEEK Interbody Implants and Local Autograft,” — a study that also was honored with the F&J Orthopaedic Award. Mentoring and co-authoring the study were spine surgeons Steve J. Paragioudakis, M.D., program director for Orthopaedic Surgery, and Jason D. Cohen, M.D., chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and radiologist Andrew Kwak, M.D.

Pediatrics resident Jigar Chauhan, M.D., for “Improvement in the Timing of Administration of Antibiotics to Neonates with Suspected Sepsis.” Mentoring and co-authoring the study was pediatrician Richard DeGroote, M.D., director of pediatric inpatient services for The Unterberg Children’s Hospital.