Faculty Bibliography

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:The transition from resident to junior faculty in academic emergency medicine (EM) may be shaped not only by formal training and institutional policies but also by the "unwritten curriculum," a set of norms and expectations embedded in institutional culture. However, the unwritten curriculum and its potential to impact junior faculty development remains largely unexplored. Little is known about how junior faculty perceive, experience, and navigate these informal expectations, or the formal and informal structures that influence this process. In this study we aimed to explore junior faculty members' experiences with the unwritten curriculum in academic EM, with a focus on how they interpret and navigate institutional norms and identify supports and barriers encountered during their early faculty development. METHODS:Within their first five years, EM faculty at academic institutions distinct from their residency training sites completed an anonymous, iteratively developed survey designed to explore experiences with the unwritten curriculum, informed by Schlossberg's transition theory framework. The primary analytic focus was identification of themes describing how junior faculty perceive and navigate implicit institutional norms. Open-ended responses underwent thematic analysis using a structured codebook, applied by two independent reviewers with consensus-based coding and adjudication by a third when disagreements arose. RESULTS:A total of 35 junior faculty members completed the survey. All participants indicated influence of the unwritten curriculum on their professional development. Major themes identified include the unspoken importance of mentorship and peer guidance; implicit expectations and norms surrounding engagement, productivity, and visibility; work-life integration; cultural adjustment; scholarly output; and gaps in onboarding, feedback, and role clarity. Participants emphasized challenges in navigating departmental politics, understanding hierarchical nuances, and balancing unspoken expectations for committee involvement and informal social participation. Additionally, unclear feedback processes, inconsistent evaluation expectations, and cultural norms for active engagement were noted as barriers to integration and professional growth. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Junior faculty in academic EM described the unwritten curriculum as a meaningful influence on their early faculty experience. Within this sample, participants highlighted mentorship, feedback transparency, and structured faculty development as potential mechanisms to support navigation of implicit expectations during the transition to junior faculty. These findings reflect individual perceptions rather than program characteristics and should be interpreted within the context of the study's scope.

OBJECTIVES/UNASSIGNED:The scholarly activity requirement by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is broadly defined and variably applied by residency programs. The scholarly productivity of trainees is variable and it is unknown why some may struggle to meet this requirement. This study aims to explore the perspectives of residents who struggled in completing scholarship during residency. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:We performed a qualitative study using a constructivist paradigm and conducted semi-structured interviews at four ACGME-accredited emergency medicine residency programs. The programs reflect diverse locations and training formats. We invited residents who self-identified as struggling with scholarship. Two researchers independently performed a content analysis of interview transcripts. We resolved discrepancies through in-depth discussion and negotiated consensus. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:We interviewed 13 residents (6 Male and 7 Female; median age 31; 7 PGY-3, 3 PGY-4, 3 post-graduation). Many participated in scholarship before residency. We identified three major themes: barriers/challenges to scholarly activity, recommendations to programs to support residents in scholarly work, and strategies for residents to mitigate challenges. Challenges to scholarly activity included lack of understanding of the scholarly project requirement, lack of time, lack of perceived value, and mentorship challenges. Participants recommended programs set clear expectations, provide infrastructure, and facilitate high-quality mentorship, including a faculty champion. Participants advised residents to start the project early, seek out good mentorship, and find a meaningful, but simple, project. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:Our study reveals that even residents with prior experience can struggle with scholarship and we identified multiple barriers trainees face. Strategically investing in infrastructure, clarifying expectations, and prioritizing mentorship represents an actionable roadmap that may transform the scholarly project from a burdensome requirement into a meaningful educational opportunity.

IMPORTANCE/UNASSIGNED:In a phase 2 randomized clinical trial, high-dose vitamin D3 added to standard treatment improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with standard-dose vitamin D3 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:To determine if high-dose vitamin D3 added to standard chemotherapy improves outcomes in patients with previously untreated mCRC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS/UNASSIGNED:Double-blind phase 3 randomized clinical trial enrolling 455 patients with previously untreated mCRC, conducted in the US through the National Clinical Trials Network from October 2019 to December 2022 (database freeze: July 15, 2024). INTERVENTIONS/UNASSIGNED:mFOLFOX6 (modified FOLFOX6 [5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin]) or FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan) plus bevacizumab every 2 weeks with either high-dose vitamin D3 (8000 IU daily × 14 days as loading dose followed by 4000 IU daily) or standard-dose vitamin D3 (400 IU daily) until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES/UNASSIGNED:The primary end point was PFS assessed by the unstratified log-rank test. Secondary end points included objective response rate, overall survival, and toxicity. Prespecified subgroup analyses of PFS were performed according to known prognostic factors. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Among 455 randomized patients (median age, 59 years; 181 [40%] female) with median follow-up 20 months, the median PFS for high-dose vitamin D3 (n = 228) was 11.8 months (95% CI, 10.3-13.3) vs 10.3 months (95% CI, 9.4-12.2) for standard-dose vitamin D3 (n = 227) (1-sided log-rank P = .25). There were no significant differences in objective response rate between high-dose and standard-dose vitamin D3 (51% [95% CI, 44%-58%] vs 44% [95% CI, 37%-50%], respectively; P = .12), or in overall survival (median, 25.6 vs 27.0 months; 1-sided log-rank P = .66). There were no clinically meaningful differences in the most common grade 3 or greater adverse events between the high- and standard-dose groups, including neutropenia (n = 67 [32%] vs n = 62 [30%]) and hypertension (n = 42 [20%] vs n = 49 [23%]) or in incidence of vitamin D-associated toxicities. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE/UNASSIGNED:Among patients with previously untreated mCRC, addition of high-dose vitamin D3, vs standard-dose vitamin D3, to standard chemotherapy plus bevacizumab did not improve PFS. TRIAL REGISTRATION/UNASSIGNED:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04094688.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:Lifestyle interventions are effective in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but few target mothers of toddlers and preschool-aged children. Cardiovascular risk factors may emerge or worsen during this life stage due to high child-rearing demands, with the potential to persist long-term. We scoped the literature to synthesize findings and highlight future research opportunities regarding CVD prevention interventions among mothers of young children. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, and APA PsycINFO for 2010-2024 peer-reviewed, English-language articles about CVD risk reduction lifestyle interventions for mothers with young children aged 1-5 years. Due to limited initial results, we broadened this demographic criterion to include mothers with children either <1-5 years (infants to young children) or 1-12 years (young to school-age children). RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:= 2). None addressed nicotine exposure nor sleep. Five studies reported statistically significant results for at least one of their outcomes. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:Very few studies discuss lifestyle interventions for CVD prevention among mothers of young children, highlighting a salient gap and opportunities for additional research in this population.

BACKGROUND:Despite the important role of Geriatricians in our society, there is a shortage of Geriatric Medicine specialists. This study surveyed fellows enrolled in ACGME approved Geriatric Medicine fellowships in the United States for insight into why they joined a Geriatric Medicine fellowship. METHODS:Survey links were sent to all Geriatric Medicine Program Directors from July-Sept in 2019 and 2020 and we asked them to share the surveys with their fellows. Survey responses were summarized using descriptive statistics. The Likert-scaled dataset was analyzed with percentage of responses for each item related to "influence" and "barrier" domains. We examined the associations between variables using the Chi-Square test. The free-text fields were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS:There were 149 respondents (80% female) and approximately half of the respondents were from foreign medical schools (52%). Geriatric Medicine was the first fellowship choice for 75% of respondents. Among respondents who were US medical graduates, 89% chose Geriatric Medicine as first-choice specialty for fellowship, in contrast to 61.5% among the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) (p < 0.001). Major reasons why fellows chose Geriatric Medicine were unique career opportunities and care of complex patients. The largest barrier/concern for pursuing Geriatric Medicine fellowship was the low salary associated with the field. CONCLUSIONS:As the first national survey of Geriatric Medicine fellows evaluating their reasons for pursuing a Geriatric Medicine fellowship, these results can be used by Geriatric Medicine fellowship programs and health care systems to improve recruitment into Geriatric Medicine fellowships.

BACKGROUND:The Essentials in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (EMIGS) is a new assessment employed by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology to evaluate physicians' surgical skills for certification. The program assesses the minimal laparoscopic skills needed to qualify for the certifying exam. We aimed to use checklist assessments to predict performance on the Running Stitch task of EMIGS OBJECTIVES: We strove to develop and evaluate a novel metric to predict competency in the EMIGS Running Stitch task. Secondarily to assess resident PGY year, prior laparoscopic suturing experience, and prior laparoscopic simulation experience correlation with passage. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:A novel task specific checklist was developed by expert teaching surgeons to assess the Running Stitch task of EMIG. The checklist was tested for inter-rater reliability. Settings Residency programs at four participating academic centers PARTICIPANTS: 71 participants completed 97 videotaped trials Interventions participants completed a pre-study survey prior to each video-taped laparoscopic skills session (one to four sessions over four months of study). The video and the completed EMIGS task Penrose were evaluated both by the study team with checklists and later by EMIGs MEASUREMENT: The two scores were correlated using linear regression and Bland-Altman plots for agreement. RESULTS:53% of trials received a passing score by AAGL. AAGL and study team checklist scores were moderately correlated (0.73) however study team metrics consistently overrated performance. Laparoscopic case numbers and PGY level correlated with passing score. CONCLUSIONS:Scoring using our novel metric correlated with passing scores but overrated performance. This tool may aid educators in assessment during resident preparation for the EMIGS skills exam, but metrics for grading of this examination remain poorly understood.

Acute cholecystitis affects ∼200,000 individuals annually in the United States, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy as the gold standard treatment. However, in high-risk surgical candidates, alternative drainage methods are necessary. Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PT-GBD) has traditionally served as the primary alternative intervention, offering rapid decompression, but is limited by a negative impact on the patient's quality of life, the risk of long-term or even permanent tube placement, adverse events, and high recurrence rates. Endoscopic approaches, such as endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ET-GBD) and, more recently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD), have emerged as viable alternatives to PT-GBD. EUS-GBD, first introduced in 2007, offers technical and clinical outcomes comparable to PT-GBD with fewer adverse events, shorter hospital stays, and lower rates of recurrence. The introduction of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) has revolutionized EUS-GBD, simplifying deployment and enabling subsequent internal gallbladder access, which allows additional interventions such as cholecystoscopy and stone removal. EUS-GBD is now supported by international guidelines, and 1 device has achieved FDA approval for the management of acute cholecystitis in nonsurgical candidates. Proper patient selection is essential, guided by multidisciplinary evaluation, with EUS-GBD contraindicated in specific scenarios such as gallbladder perforation, coagulopathy, and large-volume ascites. Technical considerations include choice of access site (transgastric versus transduodenal), stent type, and procedural route [direct (freehand) or wire-guided]. Postprocedural care and stent management remain variable and nonstandardized. Emerging data suggest that interval cholecystectomy can still be performed safely after EUS-GBD. As adoption of EUS-GBD with LAMS expands, structured training and standardization of practice are crucial to optimizing outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Anticancer treatments are associated with cutaneous adverse events (cAEs) that can severely impact patients' quality of life (QoL) and interfere with treatment outcomes. LACOM aims to support clinicians in preventing and managing cAEs to optimize patient outcomes. METHODS:A panel of dermatologists, clinical oncologists, and radiation oncologists developed an evidence-based algorithm for the prevention and treatment of cancer treatment-related cAEs using a skincare regimen that includes hygiene, moisturization, sun protection, and camouflage products. RESULTS:The LACOM II algorithm discusses patient education before cancer treatment, appropriate skincare, triage, and the importance of treating emerging cAEs with a multidisciplinary team. CONCLUSIONS:Integrating proactive education, safe and effective skincare, triage, and reaction-specific management of cAEs is essential to optimize the care of patients living with cancer. The LACOM II algorithm provides evidence- and opinion-based best-practice recommendations to support clinicians working with oncology patients throughout the continuum of care, achieving optimal outcomes and improving patients' QoL. &nbsp.

Trauma from explosions is among the most serious injuries faced by healthcare professionals. There are few studies that describe the risk factors for mortality, or the patterns of blast injuries in the civilian compared to the military population. Review of articles extracted from Medline, PubMed, and Scopus published (01/2014-03/2024). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Data on mortality and injury patterns were extracted from the articles that met the inclusion criteria to describe the type of injuries and to identify risk factors for mortality. Sixteen articles were included. Average age of civilians was 40.0 years ± 3.7, with men representing 79.4% compared to a mean age of 24.5 ± 1.4 and 79.0% for the military patients. While there was no difference in the distribution of injuries by body regions, the civilian population was more likely to sustain severe cranial and thoracic injuries (31.9% and 20.4% vs. 18.1% and 9.9%, respectively). Civilian population had a non-statistically significant lower risk of death (odds ratio = 0.96; 95% confidence interval = 0.82, 1.13). The findings of this review indicate that clinical experience derived from explosions occurring in one setting may not be fully generalizable to explosions occurring in other contexts, as demographic, environmental, and contextual factors contribute to distinct injury patterns.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Cornerstone therapies for metastatic prostate cancer include androgen deprivation and androgen receptor pathway inhibition, but cognitive impairment is a recognized, life-altering potential adverse effect of this treatment. Abiraterone acetate (AA), an androgen receptor pathway and CYP17A1 inhibitor, suppresses androgen synthesis and may contribute to cognitive changes. This cell culture-based study uses the BE(2)M17 human male neuroblastoma model to investigate AA-induced alterations in gene and protein expression that may underlie cognitive decline, laying the foundation for a mechanistic investigation aimed at identifying molecular targets to mitigate cognitive impairment in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen-directed therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:BE(2)M17 cells were pretreated for 12 h with dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 5 nM) or vehicle control, then exposed to AA (0, 5, 10 µM, 24 h). RNA and protein were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot for markers of amyloid processing, neuronal health, and mitochondrial function. RESULTS:= 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS:AA, alone or combined with DHT, disrupts key pathways involved in neuronal health, amyloid processing, and mitochondrial function. These findings suggest a potential mechanistic link between AA treatment and cognitive impairment.