In a testament to its dedication to fostering a culture of collaboration and mentorship, the Weill Department of Medicine’s (WDOM) 9th annual Research Retreat Day attracted 200 faculty, residents, and postdoctoral trainees throughout its day-long schedule of lectures and poster presentations on Nov. 1, 2024. The conference is unique in its aim to promote engagement among faculty at various stages of their career through both structured Q&A sessions and informal discussions. Many of the WDOM’s divisions were represented, including Cardiology, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, Global Health, Hematology & Medical Oncology, and Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine.
This year’s event featured 110 poster presentations and emerging research presented by WDOM junior and senior faculty on topics including key trends in health disparities among Syrian refugee women and Hispanic populations at risk for diabetes, the use of technology to enhance the wellbeing of older adults, the role of genetics in exploring microbe-host interactions, and more. Dr. David Meltzer, a globally renowned researcher in health economics, delivered the keynote address titled “Integrated Inpatient and Outpatient Care for Socioeconomically Diverse Medicare Patients at Increased Risk of Hospitalization: Results from Two Randomized Trials of the Comprehensive Care Program.” The presentation centered on Dr. Meltzer’s decades-long work on using randomized trials to analyze the costs and outcomes of care for frequently hospitalized Medicare patients.
Dr. Sasha Fahme opened the day discussing her research on the complex health challenges of Syrian refugee women. Titled “Developing a Refugee Women’s Health Research Program in a Complex Humanitarian Setting: Lessons Learned and Future Directions,” Dr. Fahme shared mixed-method findings investigating the structural determinants of sexual health violence among Syrian refugee women in an urban refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. A 2022 Fund for the Future recipient, Dr. Fahme was awarded the 2024 Lila A. and Benedict Wallis Prize for Women’s Health Research earlier this year.
Dr. Christopher Gonzalez shared insights on leveraging federally qualified health centers to prevent diabetes-related inequities among Hispanic populations. Dr. Caitlin Gribbin, a fourth-year fellow in Hematology & Medical Oncology, presented “Understanding the Follicular Lymphoma Microenvironment for the Advancement of Therapeutic Advancements” while Dr. Chun-Jun Cho gave a talk titled “Using Genetics to Explore Microbe-Host Interaction at the Molecular Level.”
Dr. Walter Boot opened the senior faculty presentation portion of the day with a presentation on emerging technology solutions to support the wellbeing of older adults. Dr. Heather Stout-Delgado gave a lecture titled “Oxysterol Metabolism in the Aged Lung During Infection.” Abstract oral presentations were given by Drs. Cheuk Man Cherle Au, Lasha Gogokhia, a third-year fellow in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Aaron Holmes, a senior resident, and Lisa Stoll, a postdoctoral associate. View the full program here.
The annual event was organized by Drs. Steven Lipkin, Professor and Vice Chairman of Research, John P. Leonard, Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Innovation and Initiatives, and Myles Wolf, Chair, Weill Department of Medicine. We thank all our participants for an informative and lively event!