BROOKLYN, NY (May 11, 2023), On May 10, members of the Maimonides Health community came together for the annual Maimonides Evening of Research, a showcase of the latest cutting-edge scholarship from Maimonides fellows, nurses, residents, and staff.

Co-sponsored by Maimonides Health and the Maimonides Research and Development Foundation, this event was first held in 2014. It was established by Maimonides leadership to celebrate the hospital’s culture of innovative research. Since then, the number of abstracts submitted has increased yearly. The ninety-five abstracts showcased at this year’s event focus on a wide range of clinical and operational issues and can be categorized as research or performance improvement. Each submission generates a meaningful impact on patients by investigating improvements and effecting change in patient care and processes.

All submitters were invited to post their abstracts at the event and answer questions from attendees during a poster-viewing cocktail hour at the Dyker Heights Golf Club. Five abstracts were chosen as winners – one from each of the categories of Fellow, Nurse, Performance Improvement, Resident and Staff – and the winners had the opportunity to give an oral presentation of their research to the members of the Maimonides community gathered for the event.

The five winners were:

• David Guernsey III, DO, MPH (Category: Fellow): “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Mental Health: A Pediatric Emergency Department’s Perspective.”
• Kris-Angelo Natividad, DNP, NP-BC (Category: Nurse): “Improving the Discharge Process of Heart Failure Patients Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities Utilizing a Multidisciplinary Approach to Reduce 30-day Readmissions Rate.”
• Ridhima Ghei, MD (Category: Performance Improvement): “Impact of Specific Resident-Driven Virtual Recruitment Sessions on Residency Applications and Match Preferences.”
• Qi Zhang, MMed (Category: Resident): “Minimally Invasive Surgery is Associated with Improved Survival in Patients with Type II Endometrial Cancer: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database.”
• Otuwe Anya, BA (Category: Staff): “A Randomized Controlled Trial of Guanfacine Extended-Release for the Reduction of Aggression and Self-Injurious Behavior Associated with Prader-Willi Syndrome.”

Afshin E. Razi, MD, was presented with the Austin A. Schlecker Academic Achievement Award at the reception in recognition of a career dedicated to medical research, education, and scholarship. Dr. Razi serves as the Vice Chair of Operations, Research and Education as well as the Residency Program Director of the Department of Orthopedics at Maimonides Medical Center. Dr. Razi is an active member of the Maimonides Research and Development Foundation, an executive member of the GME committee, and a reviewer for the Maimonides Evening of Research. He has held numerous leadership roles in the areas of patient safety, quality improvement, pain management, and continuing medical education.

For more information on submissions and winners, visit https://maimonidesevents.org/maimonides-evening-of-research/.