2019-2020 FELLOWSHIPS
Robert and Helen Appel Fellowship in Biomedical Engineering Sophia Ziemian The Robert and Helen Appel Fellowship in Biomedical Engineering enhances training opportunities at HSS for Cornell University graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, strengthening the collaboration between the two institutions. Sophia Ziemian is a PhD candidate in biomedical engineering at Cornell University whose research is focused on preventing and better treating osteoarthritis (OA). Using a preclinical model of OA, her efforts are aimed at elucidating the interaction between the subchondral bone—the layer of bone just below the cartilage that acts as a shock absorber—and joint degeneration. Ultimately, Zieman hopes to assess the potential of subchondral bone as a therapeutic target for disease-modifying treatments.
Patty and Jay Baker Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Avani Vaishnav, MD As the Research Fellow for the Patty and Jay Baker Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Program, Dr. Avani Vaishnav has been actively involved with creating and maintaining a comprehensive minimally invasive spine surgery registry, and analyzing this data to answer various clinical questions. Some current projects include evaluating clinical and radiographic outcomes of minimally invasive spine procedures, determining the validity of new patient-reported outcome measurement tools, and comparing various surgical implants and techniques. Dr. Vaishnav has given 29 oral presentations and been involved with 125 scientific posters presented at various academic conferences. She has also co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and three book chapters, with a number of other studies currently underway. Dr. Vaishnav was the recipient of the SOLAS Young Investigator Travel Stipend Award 2018 and AANS Spine E-Poster Award 2019.
Finn and Barbara Caspersen Fellowship for Spine Research Benjamin M. Rosen Fellowship in Spine Surgery Nicole Utah, BS The Finn and Barbara Caspersen and Benjamin M. Rosen Fellowships provide research support for the Integrated Spine Research Program (ISRP), led by Drs. Frank Cammisa and Celeste Abjornson, which conducts both basic science and clinical research. Nicole Utah, a researcher in the Integrated Spine Research Program, is currently studying the biological response of mesenchymal stem cells on various 3D-printed titanium spinal implants to assess the most favorable surface characteristics for bone regeneration and healing. She is also prospectively researching clinical outcomes of spinal devices made from a certain polymer (PEKK) when used in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. Additionally, Utah is involved with two clinical trials: investigating the use of intravenous acetaminophen compared to oral acetaminophen, aiming to minimize both pain levels and opioid use among patients; and analyzing the effectiveness of 3D intraoperative spine navigation as an alternative to standard 2D imaging technique, with the goal of reducing radiation exposure while improving surgical precision. Advancing the Frontiers of Medicine | 13