Surgery Research - Residents in Research
Research Resident Program Links:
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News |
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Research Conferences |
Funding Opportunities
Surgical Research Conference:
11:00 a.m. Thursdays, Room 2.022 (under the Library/Subway)
Each week residents who are currently on research assignment will
present their work and receive feedback from faculty on their research
design, method, data analysis, and interpretation. Surgery faculty,
residents and students who wish to rehearse a research presentation to
better prepare for a meeting are encouraged to schedule an opportunity
to do so at this meeting.
MSCI Program:
(Master's of Science Degree in Clinical Investigation)
Conducted through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the UT Health Science Center,
the MSCI degree program offers coursework and mentored research for degree-seeking and
non-degree seeking students. Health Science Center faculty
members, staff, students, residents and fellows are invited to apply for
the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) degree program.
Visit MSCI website
Research Residents Timelines
Martin Schwacha, PhD, Director of Surgery Research Residents
Professor of Trauma Research
Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery
UT School of Medicine San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
Division: Trauma
Email: schwacha@uthscsa.edu
Dr. Schwacha's faculty profile
Trauma Immunopathology Lab website
Dr. Schwacha is a Professor of Surgery at UTHSCSA in the Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery. He also holds the position of Research Scientist at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research. He has served/serves on the editorial boards of Shock and International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine as well as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous other scientific journal. Martin has also served as a review committee member for the NIH, Shriner's Hospital and DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs and is an active member of a number of scientific societies focused on trauma, infection and/or immunology. He has obtained research funding from both the NIH and DoD. Martin received his BS from the University of Rhode Island in 1981. After working for the Veterans Administration in Providence RI as a research assistant he entered graduate school and obtained a PhD from Albany Medical College, Albany NY in 1992. Postdoctoral studies in immunology were completed at the Gamble Institute, Cincinnati, OH and Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. In 1997 he joined the Surgery faculty at Brown University, Providence RI and subsequently joined the faculty at University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2000. In 2008 he joined the faculty at UTHSCSA.
Current Research Residents
Johanna Bayer, MD
UT General Surgery Resident
Email
| Resident Profile
Research mentor: Scott Johnson, MD, Associate Professor,
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Research project: Effect of inhaled tacrolimus on cytokines and other indicators of
ischemia reperfusion injury in rat lung transplant model
Research laboratory: Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Laboratory
Biosketch:
Dr. Bayer graduated from the Justus Liebig University, Giessen Germany in
December 2006. She has been involved in research with the Laboratory for
Experimental Cardiology at the Clinic for Internal Medicine since 2002 and is
currently working on the completion of her German Medical Thesis.
Heather M. Brandfellner, DO
UT General Surgery Resident
Email
| Resident Profile
Research mentor: Ken Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, Professor & Chair, Department of
Endodontics, UT Dental School San Antonio
Research project: Inflammatory and pain response with burn injury
Research laboratory: Neuropharmacology Research Group Laboratory, UT
Health Science Center San Antonio
Biosketch:
Dr. Brandfellner was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She completed
her undergraduate degree at Colorado State University where she earned a BS in
Equine Science in May 2004. After graduation, she worked as a veterinary
technician for one year before entering medical school. While in medical school,
she was an active leader in the Texas Medical Association and American Medical
Association. Heather graduated from the University of North Texas Health
Sciences Center - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in May 2009. She is
passionate about surgery and also enjoys painting, photography and spending time
outdoors.
Heather Hancock, MD
UT General Surgery Resident
Email
| Resident Profile
Research mentor: Paula K. Shireman, MD, Professor of Vascular Surgery, Division of
Vascular / Endovascular Surgery, UT School of Medicine San Antonio Department of Surgery.
Research project: Dr. Shireman and Dr. Hancock are seeking successful
strategies for muscle regeneration — ultimately improving survival rates in
traumatic injuries — through studies of the interactions aging and skeletal
muscle regeneration as well as examining tissue-specific receptors on skeletal
muscle regeneration and angiogenesis (the process of developing new blood
vessels).
Research laboratory: Shireman Research Laboratory, UT School of Medicine San Antonio Department of Surgery
Biosketch: Dr. Hancock graduated with Honors from University of
South Florida supported by the H. Lee Moffit Cancer Research Center
Scholarhip prior to entering the Air Force where she was a Satellite
Sensor Engineer for DSP and GPS systems. After being awarded the John
Levitow and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year awards at Buckley Air
Force Base, she was accepted to medical school. She has continued to
volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and various women and children's
shelters throughout her educational pursuits.
Travis Holloway, MD
UT General Surgery Resident
Email
| Resident Profile
Research mentor: Martin Schwacha, PhD, Professor,
Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, UT School of Medicine at San Antonio Department of Surgery.
Research project: Immunoinflammatory response to burn injury
Research laboratory: Trauma Immunopathology Research Laboratory
Biosketch:
Dr. Holloway graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San
Antonio in 2009. He was nominated by his classmates and elected to the Gold
Humanism Honor Society for the constant compassion he showed to patients and
peers alike. He was married over the summer to Kathryn Swann, who will be
starting her OB/GYN residency this year, also at UTHSCSA. During his free time
Travis enjoys watching and playing sports, crossword puzzles, and live music.
Salvador Sordo, MD
UT General Surgery Resident
Email
| Resident Profile
Research mentor: Michael Corneille, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery,
Division of Trauma & Emergency Surgery
Research project: Use of Thoracic Bioimpedance for the detection of
pulmonary failure in trauma patients
Research laboratory: Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, University of Texas Health Science
Center San Antonio
Biosketch:
Dr. Sordo graduated from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico in
2006. During a year of rural service in the desert of Baja California, he was
able to obtain Local, State and Federal funding as well as private investors to
turn a one-room clinic in to an integral care facility serving well over 6000
people. Salvador enjoys running, sailing and spending time with family and
friends.
Carole M. Villamaria, MD
UT General Surgery Resident
Email
| Resident Profile
Research mentor:
Research project:
Research laboratory:
Biosketch:
Dr. Villamaria was born in a small province in the Philippines. At the age of
ten, she along with her mother and younger brother emigrated to the United
States, where her father, who was a Navy Petty Officer, awaited them. Dr.
Villamaria learned the English language within 3 months of moving to the United
States and is now fluent in three languages. She has lived in St. Petersburg,
Florida with her mother and father, a nursing assistant and retired Naval
Corpsman respectively, a younger brother who is a senior at the University of
South Florida, and a younger sister who is in 7th grade. Dr. Villamaria did her
undergraduate work at the University of Miami, earning a BS degree in Biology,
graduating with Cum Laude honors in 2004. During her undergraduate years, Dr.
Villamaria was very active in extracurricular activities (Air Force ROTC,
Filipino Student's Association (President), Mag Ka Isa Dance Troupe, etc.) that
supplemented her formal education. During her undergraduate career, her academic
achievements included the Dean's List and President's List, academic
scholarships, and election to National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the
Golden Key Honor Society. Dr. Villamaria entered the University of Miami Miller
School of Medicine in 2004 with an Air Force Health Professions Scholarship and
remains active in the community and within the school. In May of 2008 she
received her Doctorate of Medicine Degree. She then went on to complete a
preliminary year in general surgery which piqued her interest in pediatric
surgery. Consequently, she is now in pursuit of a career as a pediatric surgeon.
She has been awarded the coveted Air Force Civilian Sponsored residency for
General Surgery. And the journey continues ...
