The Office of Clinical and Translational Research, the Clinical Research Institute (CRI) and the Fellowship and Residency Research Program (FRRP) at the Faculty of Medicine (FM) and the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) held their fifth Annual Clinical Research Open House on Friday May 4, 2018 in the Halim and Aida Daniel Academic and Clinical Center (Daniel ACC). This year’s open house highlighted research work under the FRRP (Fellowship and Residency Research Program) conducted by the graduating residents, as well as students under the Medical Research Volunteer Program (MRVP).
In her opening speech, Dr. Samia Khoury, Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research, welcomed all attendees, and highlighted the high impact of these programs.
Dr. Hani Tamim, Director of the FRRP, introduced the FRRP program. Since 2011, AUBMC residents enroll in the FRRP where they are provided with a comprehensive research opportunity to end up with a publication in a peer-reviewed journal. So far, 454 residents have enrolled in the FRRP program and 26% of its graduates have published peer-reviewed papers. During the event, a total of 13 graduating residents from different AUBMC departments, delivered oral presentations of their research work. A panel of 9 faculty members evaluated the oral presentations. Accordingly, the awards for the best 3 oral presentations were granted to the following residents:
- 1st Prize: Dr. Mickael Sebaaly - Advisor: Dr. Roula Hourany - Department: Diagnostic Radiology “Optic Nerve Measurement on MRI in the Pediatric Population: Normative Values and Correlations”
- 2nd Prize: Dr. Charbel Matar – Advisor: Dr. Elie Akl – Department: Internal Medicine “Anticoagulation for perioperative thromboprophylaxis in patients with cancer: a systematic review”
- 3rd Prize: Dr. Ali Mourad – Advisor: Dr. Dina Chamsy – Department: Obstetrics and Gynecology “Uterine hysteroscopy versus abdominal metroplasty for the management of septate uteri: review of safety and reproductive outcomes”
In addition, the 71 graduating residents presented their research projects as poster presentations. These posters were evaluated based on scientific content, presentation and design by 30 faculty members. Moreover, awards were granted to the 5 best poster presentations to the following residents:
- Dr. Vanessa Akiki – Dr. Hazem Assi – Department: Internal Medicine "Diagnostic Performance of FDG-PET/ CT scan as Compared to US-Guided FNA in prediction of axillary Lymph node involvement in patients with early breast cancer"
- Dr. Dib Sassine – Advisor: Dr. Labib Ghulmiyyah– Department: Obstetrics and Gynecology “Accuracy of Pelvic Ultrasound in Diagnosing Adnexal Torsion”
- Drs. Mohammad Ayach and Mohamad-Karim Kechli - Advisor: Dr. Sahar Siddik – Department: Anesthesiology “Fiberoptic Guided Fiberoptic Intubation in a Manikin-Simulated Difficult Airway” • Dr. Ghaith Rukby – Advisor: Raja Sawaya – Department: Family Medicine “Effect of Correction of Vitamin D Level on Idiopathic, Non-Surgical Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; A Protocol for A Placebo Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial”
- Dr. Farah Malaeb – Advisor: Dr. Ziad Bulbul – Department: Pediatrics “Accuracy of Pulse Oximetry Screening for Detecting Congenital Heart Disease in the Newborns”
To acknowledge the contribution of the advisors and coordinators, the following awards were presented:
- Advisor of The Year Award which was presented to Dr. Ossama Abbas from the Department of Dermatology for his generous commitment, support and inspiration to our residents.
- Department Coordinator of The Year Award which was presented to Ms. Maha Mouteirek form the Department of Pediatrics for her outstanding support, dedication and commitment to excellence.
Afterwards, Dr. Bilal Kaafarani, co-director of the MRVP introduced the MRVP program. In MRVP, AUB undergraduate students are matched with researchers from AUB FM to work on medical research projects on a volunteer basis. The MRVP was founded in May 2014 and is now under the umbrella of CRI where Dr. Hani Tamim serves as co-director. So far, 444 undergraduate students have worked with 70 researchers from the AUB FM on 229 projects and 18 students have already co-authored 14 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals. Each year, the Ibrahim and Loulu Durr Endowed MRVP awards are given to two students enrolled in MRVP who have demonstrated outstanding medical research capabilities, where one male and one female receive 1,000$ each.
The winners of the 2018 awards were announced:
- Ms. Lara Chaaban majoring in Nutrition & Dietetics (working with Dr. Ahmed Fawzi El-Yazbi in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology)
- Mr. Bashar Hassan majoring in Biology (working with Dr. Eman Sbaity in the Surgery Department)
Moreover, the 2017 award winners delivered oral presentations during the event:
- Ms. Zahraa Rahal on “Etiology of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs)”. Zahraa was biology senior student when she worked on this project with Dr. Humam Kadara, who is currently a 1st year medical student at AUB.
- Mr. Daniel Badin on “Targeted Educational Program Improves Infant Positioning Practice in the NICU”. Daniel was biology senior student when he worked with Dr. Lama Charafeddine on this project, who is currently a 1st year medical student at AUB.
In addition, the poster session displayed two posters prepared by students under the MRVP program.
