 | Name: Catherine Vecere Home Institution: Belmont University, Thomas J. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Dan Stinner Division: Trauma Class of 2028 | Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a surgical emergency requiring timely recognition and decompression to preserve limb function. Delays in diagnosis or errors in fasciotomy technique increase the risk of amputation and mortality. Despite its urgency, clinical exposure is limited by the low prevalence of ACS, and existing training models are often cost-prohibitive or logistically impractical. To address this, we developed a low-cost, reusable trainer that replicates key anatomical landmarks and procedural steps. |
 | Name: Daniel Faraj Home Institution: University of North Carolina, School of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Courtney Baker Division: Joints Class of 2028 | Pelvic tilt (PT) influences acetabular inclination and anteversion, and therefore affects acetabular component positioning when performing Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA). PT for a single patient can vary based on patient positioning; thus, component placement in the supine position during Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) for THA may not reflect desired component placement in the standing position. Therefore, our aim is to assess the efficacy of a novel surgical technique to place acetabular components during DAA THA consistent with standing functional position. |
 | Name: Samarth Menta Home Institution: University of Connecticut, School of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Eric Bowman Division: Sports Class of 2028 | Lower extremity (LE) injuries can disrupt the kinetic chain, which is required for efficient force generation and transfer during pitching, placing increased stress on the upper extremity (UE). Prior research suggests that impairments in lower-body mechanics may contribute to upper extremity injury risk in overhead athletes. However, the relationship between LE injuries and subsequent UE injuries in baseball pitchers remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate this relationship in MLB pitchers using one of the largest datasets to date. |
 | Name: Madison Brna Home Institution: University of North Carolina, School of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Nathaniel Lempert Division: Pediatrics Class of 2028 | Supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures are one of the most common pediatric elbow fractures. Type III extension-type fractures present with no meaningful cortical contact and have a high degree of displacement and angulation. Closed reduction percutaneous pinning (CRPP) with three-pin constructs are accepted as best management. However, some literature suggests the third pin may be unnecessary and presents an opportunity for complications. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of two-pin and three-pin lateral constructs as treatment for Type III SCH fractures. We hypothesized that there would be no differences in post-operative outcomes. |
 | Name: Christopher Ngo Home Institution: Belmont University, Thomas J. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Dan Stinner Division: Trauma Class of 2028 | The public release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in November 2022 marked a pivotal moment in the development and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs), across multiple fields such as education, healthcare, software development, and scientific research. This release demonstrated the accessibility, usability, and transformative potential of LLMs at scale particularly in real world applications. This project outlines foundational concepts and development strategies for transformer-based LLM support in academic medicine. This framework utilizes technical documentation and benchmark data to leverage the strengths of multiple models such as the reasoning depth of ChatGPT and the design of Claude 3 that self-critiques within a set of ethical and behavioral principles. |
 | Name: Hardik Bhaskar Home Institution: Upstate Medical University Summer Mentor: Dr. Ryan Martin Division: Joints Summer Alum 2024 | Accurate component placement is essential for successful total hip arthroplasty (THA). One method for improving component placement is to assess pelvic orientation through two-dimensional (2D) imaging which can help guide implant placement. This study aimed to optimize an existing deep learning model to accurately determine pelvic orientation, including rotation and the amount of flexion/extension of the pelvis, relative to implant position in THA. |
 | Name: Raegan Kelley Home Institution: Mercer University School of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Strasser Division: Foot & Ankle Summer Alum 2024 | Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in an athlete is a rare but devastating event. Pre-participation screening is a commonly used protocol to identify potentially harmful cardiac conditions, but has limited efficacy as many athletes are asymptomatic until the point of cardiac arrest. Medical providers and coaches must be sufficiently trained in early recognition of cardiac collapse and implementation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. This pilot study aims to assess the feasibility of a virtual micro-learning simulation that requires the learner to recognize cardiac collapse and implement appropriate treatment. |
 | Name: Mallory Podosin Home Institution: University of Nevada Summer Mentor: Dr. Nathaniel Lempert and Dr. Craig Louer Division: Pediatrics Summer Alum 2024 | Supracondylar humerus fractures are among the most common pediatric fractures. The metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction (MDJ) fracture is a variant of these, most akin to a Gartland type III supracondylar (SC3) fracture. Despite their anatomical similarity, a small pool of research paints MDJs as distinct and difficult, with a high rate of complications. Utilizing a pediatric elbow fracture database containing over 4500 patients, we retrospectively analyzed all patients with operative MDJ and SC3 fractures. Additional review of MDJ cases was performed to determine fracture morphology and alignment at multiple post-operative timepoints. |
 | Name: Jake Reed Home Institution: University of North Carolina Summer Mentor: Dr. LeClere Division: Sports Summer Alum 2024 | There are few reported cases of adolescent acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries and return to sport (RTS) rates in the literature. To determine the management and RTS rates following AC joint injuries in adolescent athletes. Using a database from a large tertiary referral hospital and large children’s hospital, we identified patients who were under 18 years old who had an AC joint injury between June 1, 2014 and June 1, 2024. Data regarding patient demographics, injury pattern, injury management, and RTS rates were extracted. |
 | Name: Ryan Ross Home Institution: Keck School of Medicine, USC Summer Mentor: Dr. Stinner Division: Trauma Summer Alum 2024 | Significant fracture-related soft tissue damage increases the likelihood of postoperative wound healing and infectious complications. Infrared (IR) thermographic cameras have been shown to accurately measure temperature changes in soft tissue. This is a prospective observational study of patients presenting to a single Level I trauma center with isolated high-risk orthopaedic injuries. Clinical photographs and thermographic images were taken of the injured and uninjured extremity at the fracture site. Images were obtained pre-operatively, post-operatively, and at follow-up visits. Patients were followed and assessed for surgical wound complications. |
 | Name: Tia Shutes Home Institution: East Tennessee Quillen College of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Nathaniel Lempert and Dr. Craig Louer Division: Pediatrics Summer Alum 2023 Recent Awards: Kay Scholarship, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society | Femur fractures are among the most common lower extremity injuries in the pediatric population. Management options for a pediatric femur fracture include early spica casting, flexible intramedullary (IM) nailing, rigid IM nailing, and plate fixation. Selecting a treatment option depends on age, fracture pattern, body mass, and canal diameter. The objective of this research is to retrospectively assess trends in case volume based on fellowship training of surgeons conducting the procedures, patient age distribution, and occurrence of postoperative complications. |
 | Name: Peter Chan Home Institution: University of Texas Southwestern Summer Mentor: Dr. Ryan Martin and Dr. Jake Wilson Division: Joints Summer Alum 2023 | Proper implant position in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is vital to successful surgery. To plan the position of the prosthesis, surgeons often make pre- and intraoperative annotations on hip/pelvis radiographs and/or fluoroscopy images. Pelvic tilt varies between patients and with postural changes and has been associated with periprosthetic dislocation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a novel deep learning model that can annotate pelvic fluoroscopic and radiographic images to determine both implant position and pelvic orientation. |
 | Name: Rob Danford Home Institution: Tulane School of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Dan Stinner Division: Trauma Summer Alum 2023 | In 2017, the US Army created the U.S Army Military-Civilian Trauma Team Training (AMCT3) program to maintain the combat casualty care competency of its Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachments (FRSDs). At Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), the AMCT3 program has been optimized to a three-year curriculum designed to provide superior combat casualty care training for emergency medicine (ER) and critical care (CC) nurses. This paper discusses the VUMC AMCT3 curriculum, the CC nurse’s program experience, and potential next steps. |
 | Name: Arpitha Pamula Home Institution: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Eric Bowman and Lance LeClere Division: Sports Summer Alum 2023 | There are numerous, easily accessible online resources designed to educate patients about orthopedic injuries and procedures, though they largely lack interactive capabilities. Recently, artificial intelligence applications such as the Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) have become mainstream and freely available. We found that the generated responses had a lack of specifics and a need for further detail to appropriately educate patients in the setting of ACL injury. Importantly, while the answers were far from complete, there was no identified inaccuracy or misinformation delivered by the chatbot. |
 | Name: Dalton Bannister Home Institution: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Summer Mentor: Dr. Phil Mitchell Division: Trauma Summer Alum 2022 | I’m writing a pathoanatomy paper on anterior column posterior hemitransverse acetabular fractures to better characterize the variability in the fracture pattern and help guide further research and implant development. I’m also working on a review paper on sexual dysfunction after traumatic pelvic injuries that is geared towards what orthopedic surgeons should know about this issue and how they can provide better patient education on screening, diagnosis and treatment options. |
 | Name: Alice Bouchard Home Institution: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Summer Mentor: Drs. Stephanie Moore-Lotridge & Jon Schoenecker Division: Translational Science Summer Alum 2022 | My project is focused on the osteoporosis that arises following a polytrauma. Currently we are examining the role of IL-1β in this process using a mouse-model of polytrauma, longitudinally tracking bone density with serial DXA, and measuring inflammatory markers in blood and muscle at the experiment’s conclusion. |
 | Name: Gabriel Lane Home Institution: Meharry Medical College Summer Mentor: Dr. Eric Bowman Division: Sports Summer Alum 2022 Residency Match: 2025 Orthopaedic Residency at Saint Louis University | Tommy John surgery is a common procedure performed on athletes, especially baseball players. Our work aims to identify misperceptions within the public on Tommy John surgery and provide education regarding its benefits and risks. |
 | Name: Kartik Reddy Home Institution: University of Texas Health McGovern Medical School Summer Mentor: Drs. Craig Louer and Nate Lempert Division: Pediatrics Summer Alum 2022 | I am analyzing data from the country’s largest institutional pediatric fracture database to assess postoperative outcomes of different supracondylar humeral fractures treatments. This study aims to assess the validity of the current dogma surrounding how these fractures are traditionally treated in the OR. |
 | Name: Emil Varas Home Institution: Ponce Health Sciences University, Puerto Rico Summer Mentor: Dr. Amir Abtahi Division: Spine Summer Alum 2022 | I am developing a database on anterior lumbar interbody fusions to assess postoperative pelvic alignment and spinal outcomes. I am also working on building a thoracolumbar burst fracture database to assess postoperative outcomes. |
PRESENTATIONS / PUBLICATIONS | |
| 2022 | Vickery JW, Varas EE, Abtahi AM. Crossing the Cervicothoracic Junction: A Review of the Current Literature. Clin Spine Surg. 2022 Dec 1;35(10):451-457 |
| 2023 | Moore-Lotridge, SN., Coronado, R., Louer, C., Lempert, N., Abtahi, A., Mitchel, P., Bowman, E., Obremskey, WT., Schoenecker, JG., Wright, RW., Archer, KR. Development of a Comprehensive Medical Student Summer Research Program in Orthopaedic Surgery. ORS Annual Meeting 2023. Rees AB, Croft AJ, Varas-Rodrguez E, Stephens BF, Abtahi AM. Case Report-Traumatic L5-S1 Instability: Are Upright Radiographs Potentially Dangerous? Int J Spine Surg. 2023 Apr;17(2):324-332. doi: 10.14444/8432. Epub 2023 Apr 13. PMID: 37055177; PMCID: PMC10165652. |
| 2024 | Reed J, Hymas A, LeClere L. Outcomes After AC Joint Injuries in Adolescent Athletes. 57th annual UNC School of Medicine John B. Graham Student Research Day. Chapel Hill, NC. 11/4/2024 Reed J, LeClere L. Update on Hockey Research 2024. NHL Team Physician Society Meeting Orlando, FL. 06/22/2024 Chan, P.Y.W., Chandrashekar A.S., Baker C.E., Wilson J.M., Mika A.P., Martin J.R. The Effect of Recreating Pelvic Tilt on Arthroplasty Component Positioning. Southern Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting 2024. Danford JR, Davis PJ, Brown SR, Stinner DJ. Physician Leadership: Does Military Service increase a Physician Desire to be a Physician Leader, US Army Medical Center of Excellence-The Medical Journal, Fall 2024: 68-78. Danford JR 3rd, Reyes F Jr, Gurney JM, Smith JP, Stinner DJ. Optimizing Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) to Maximize Readiness. Mil Med. 2024;189(9-10):e2206-e2210. doi:10.1093/milmed/usae073 Savakus JC, Skacel T, Jindia M, Al-Madani Y, Spoletini L, Ross RC, Gehring A, Stinner DJ. Biomechanical validation of the field-expedient pelvic splint. BMJ Mil Health. Published Online First: 2024 Nov 9. doi: 10.1136/military-2024-002815 Ross RC, Stinner DJ. Letter to the Editor Regarding "Telemedicine-Guided Two-Incision Lower Leg Fasciotomy Performed by Combat Medics During Tactical Combat Casualty Care: A Feasibility Study". Mil Med. 2024;189(9-10):255-256. doi:10.1093/milmed/usae374 Chan PYW, Mika AP, Martin JR, Wilson JM. Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists: What the Orthopaedic Surgeon Needs to Know. JBJS Rev. 2024 Jan 5;12(1). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.23.00167. PMID: 38181103. Danford JR 3rd, Stinner DJ. World War I and the Thomas Splint: A Historical Review. Mil Med. 2024 Apr 24:usae108. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usae108. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38656831. Danford JR 3rd. World War I and the Origins of Blood Transfusion for the Trauma Patient. Mil Med. 2023 Dec 22:usad483. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usad483. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38140985. Lane G, Smith MV, Goldfarb CA, Coronado RA, Bowman EN. Outcomes and return to sport after osteochondral autograft transplantation for osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum: a systematic review. JSES Rev Rep Tech. 2024 Mar 28;4(3):563-570. doi: 10.1016/j.xrrt.2024.02.011. PMID: 39157219; PMCID: PMC11329020. Ross RC, Stinner DJ. Letter to the Editor Regarding "Telemedicine-Guided Two-Incision Lower Leg Fasciotomy Performed by Combat Medics During Tactical Combat Casualty Care: A Feasibility Study". Mil Med. 2024 Aug 30;189(9-10):255-256. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usae374. PMID: 39083213. Wollenman CC, Davis PJ, Lane GC, Fox JA, Bowman EN, LeClere LE. Outcomes and performance following posteromedial elbow débridement in major league baseball players. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024 Jul 23:S1058-2746(24)00488-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2024.05.035. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39025355.
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| 2025 | Danford JR, Hearn K, Barrigan C, Bickett E, Dennis BM, Stinner DJ. A Military-Civilian Training Partnership for Army Nurses. Am J Nurs. 2025;125(2):44-48. doi:10.1097/AJN.0000000000000005 Chan PYW, Baker CE, Suh Y, Moyer D, Martin JR. Development of a Deep Learning Model for Automating Implant Position in Total Hip Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2025 Aug;40(8):2092-2100. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2025.01.032. Epub 2025 Jan 27. PMID: 39880053. Wollenman CC, Young MW, Lane GC, Bowman EN, Wright RW, Cox CL 3rd, Dickens JF, LeClere LE. Posterior Shoulder Soft Tissue Stabilization Return Lane GC, to Play Criteria Vary Among Investigations: A Systematic Review. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2025 May 28. doi: 10.1097/JSA.0000000000000431. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40426285. Bowman EN, Lane G, Goldfarb CF, Smith MV. Management of osteochondritis dissecans lesions of the elbow including return to sport remains variable among orthopaedic surgeons. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2024 Dec 16;145(1):42. doi: 10.1007/s00402-024-05635-5. PMID: 39680201; PMCID: PMC11649728 Mallory Podosin BS, Andrew Rees MD, Lucas Wollenman MD, Jacob Schultz MD, Stephanie Moore-Lotridge PhD, Jon Schoenecker MD PhD, Craig Louer MD, Nathaniel Lempert MD. Metaphyseal-diaphyseal Junction Fractures of the Distal Humerus Have High Rates of Adverse Outcomes. International Orthopaedic Trauma Association 2nd Triennial Meeting. Guadalajara, Mexico. 10/22/25
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