Focus on Medical Student and Resident Research

This research focus is an initiative by the SAEM Research Committee to highlight research presented by students and residents at SAEM regional and national meetings. All the projects below were presented at 2022 SAEM Great Plains Regional Meeting at Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee.

Impact of an Education Module on the Knowledge and Attitudes of Emergency Physicians Towards Prescribing Buprenorphine for Opioid-Use Disorder

Jamie Jasti, Jonathan Birdsall, Jennifer Hernandez-Meier, Julie Owen, Amy Zosel, Jeffrey Liu

First author

Jamie Jasti is the immediate past resident member of the SAEM Board of Directors and a third-year in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). He will be graduating this summer and staying on as faculty as the assistant director of the Resuscitation Research Center at MCW with Dr. Tom Aufderheide.

Author conclusion: This education module utilizing an evidencebased emergency department (ED) buprenorphine induction pathway with EMR integration changed the attitudes of emergency medicine physicians towards buprenorphine treatment and demonstrated an increase in willingness and confidence to prescribe it.

Most rewarding aspect of my work on this project: Working to translate this proven intervention to actual changes in behavior and practice that will benefit our patients with opioid-use disorder.

Effect of Skin Pigmentation on Accuracy and Certainty of Cellulitis Diagnosis in the Emergency Department

Alexandra Center, Helena Ikenberry, Rebecca Schwei, Thomas Schneider, Michael Pulia

Alexandra Center is a second-year medical student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, WI.

Author conclusion: This is the first study to compare diagnostic accuracy of cellulitis in patients with different skin pigmentations. We calculated a point estimate indicating lower odds of diagnostic accuracy of cellulitis in patients with dark skin pigmentation as compared to light skin pigmentation. While not statistically significant, our findings support further investigation of this relationship with studies that include a more balanced representation of skin pigmentation and a larger sample size across all pigmentation levels.

Most rewarding aspect of my work on this project: Learning more about the process of creating a research question and conducting data analysis, as well as bringing attention to racial health disparities in the diagnosis of dermatologic conditions.

Qualitative Experiences with Specialty Consultants at a Large Academic Medical Center Emergency Department

Deep Patel, Samantha Boettcher, Nancy Jacobson, Jamie Aranda

Deep Patel is a second-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His current academic interests are centered around quality improvement and patientcentered clinical research.

Author conclusion: Emergency physicians attributed consultant delays to consultant-specific behaviors (e.g., batching), poor communication and inappropriate use of emergency department (ED) resources. Efforts to improve consultant interactions with the ED could focus on clarifying expectations for consultant response times, enhanced communication, and education regarding appropriate use of the ED.

Most rewarding aspect of my work on this project: Sharing this work regionally and with departmental and hospital leadership has prompted productive conversations and process improvement projects impacting patients in the ED.

Workplace Violence Experiences: Differences Between Health Care Providers and Other Hospital Employees

Cole Wymore, Pam Hoogerwerf, Kristel Wetjen, Charles Jennissen

Cole Wymore is a second-year medical student at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Before starting medical school, he spent two years working in the emergency department at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics conducting clinical research. Cole’s academic interests include injury prevention, sepsis care, and he is interested in pursuing a career in emergency medicine.

Author conclusion: Issues of hospital workplace violence focusing on high-risk departments and healthcare providers have been well described; however, our analysis showed that other hospital workers, including those who do not provide patient care, are also at risk for workplace violence and the associated negative consequences.

Most rewarding aspect of my work on this project: Having the opportunity to continue to learn and develop my research skills under great mentors and contribute to work that will hopefully improve the hospital work environment for all people.

Identifying the Prevalence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leaders in Emergency Medicine

Neema Mbele, Zoey Chopra, Joel Moll, John Burkhardt, Daniel Hekman, Marcia Perry, Ryan E. Tsuchida

Neema Mbele is a second-year medical student at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Author conclusion: From our study, we were able to deter- mine the current landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leadership in emergency medicine (EM). The first phase of the study revealed that there are many DEI leaders in academic EM. In the second phase, we will be capturing the demographics, roles, and responsibilities of these DEI leaders.

Most rewarding aspect of my work on this project: Bringing awareness about the importance of establishing a robust diversity, equity, and inclusion infrastructure in emergency medicine. My hope is for there to be stronger supports in place within academic medicine that will show aspiring underrepresented in medicine (URiM) students that there is a place for them and for current URiM students, that they do belong.

Expansion of Pre-clinical and Clinical Ultrasound Education: A Student Needs Assessment

Lisa D. Bell, Daniel P. Runde, Brooks Obr, Cory Wittrock

Lisa Bell is a first-year resident physician in emergency medicine at Harbor UCLA in Torrance, CA. She completed medical school at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, where this project was completed when she was an fourth-year medical student. Her academic interests include medical education, global health, and critical care.

Author conclusion: Most medical students desire early exposure to ultrasound education in both preclinical and clinical phases of training and believe it will have a positive impact on their educational experience. Preclinical students most desired expansion of this curriculum into physical exam skills sessions and gross anatomy; while clinical students most desired creation of a dedicated advanced ultrasound elective, as well as increased integration into their core rotations.

Most rewarding aspect of my work on this project: By conducting this student needs assessment, I had the opportunity to be an advocate for my peers’ educational needs and be a part of implementing real-time curricular change.