The Department of Surgery at WashU Medicine hosted the 2026 Samuel A. Wells, Jr. Department of Surgery Resident Research Day on the 10th of February, beginning at 4 pm at the Farrell Learning & Teaching Center (FLTC). Poster presentations were showcased in the FLTC atrium, followed by finalist presentations in Connor Auditorium. The research day aims to showcase the remarkable work of our surgical residents, combining both poster presentations and detailed talks on clinical and basic science research projects.
The event was hosted by Matthew Rosengart, MD, MPH, director of resident research for the general surgery residency. The finalists and their exceptional work are a testament to the dedication and excellence that the program fosters.
- In the category of clinical, epidemiology and education research, Nikki Rossetti, MD, presented Trends in Lung Cancer Survival: Dramatically Superior Outcomes in US Veterans Compared to General Population, stemming from the research program of Benjamin Kozower, MD, and Varun Puri, MD, MSCI.
- Edie Threlkeld, MD, discussed her project, Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Impact of Gallbladder Complexity on Outcomes and Costs, which was developed under the guidance of Dominic Sanford, MD, chief of the Section of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Surgery.
- For basic and translational research, Ryan Wahidi, MD, presented his research, “Sex-Based Differences in Fibroblast Phenotype Correlates with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Fibrosis,” from the research program of Brigida Rusconi, PhD, and Mohamed Zayed, MD, PhD, MBA.
- Charles Liu, MD, shared his findings on “Activating resolution pathways dampens inflammation and prolongs graft survival after heart transplantation,” mentored by Daniel Kreisel, MD, PhD, the G. Alexander Patterson, MD/Mid-America Transplant Distinguished Endowed Chair in Lung Transplantation and Vice Chair for Research.
The department welcomed Ginny Bumgardner, MD, PhD, as the distinguished guest judge and Samuel Wells Visiting Professor for the event. Bumgardner is highly respected in the field of transplantation surgery and holds the Olga Jonasson, MD, Professorship in Surgery at The Ohio State University. Her extensive experience and contributions to the field made her presence an invaluable asset to the event as she provided critical insights and evaluation of the resident research projects. She presented grand rounds on Wednesday, February 11, before the announcement of the poster and oral presentation winners. Her presentation was called “Fortifying the Surgeon-Scientist Workforce.”
After the visiting professor lecture, Rosengart announced the winners of the Wells Day research presentations. Threlkeld and Liu won first place in their respective categories. Rosetti and Wahidi were runners up. Abby Hatcher, MD, won for clinical research poster presentation and Mary Siki, MD, and Usman Panni, MD, tied for the basic and translational category.
Samuel A. Wells Jr., MD, served as director of the Department of Surgery at WashU Medicine for 17 years, starting in 1981. His advocacy for trainee research stems from his belief in fostering the next generation of surgeons and advancing medical knowledge. His leadership extended beyond professional organizations to editorial responsibilities, where he edited and contributed to leading surgical journals, ensuring the dissemination of high-quality surgical research and practice guidelines. He is celebrated for his commitment to surgical education and his profound influence on both practice and policy within the surgical community. His work has left a lasting legacy, celebrated on Samuel A. Wells Jr., MD, Resident Research Day, emphasizing the importance of trainee involvement in research to continue the evolution and improvement of surgical techniques and patient care.
The Department of Surgery congratulates all participants and to the winners!