Research Resident Spotlight - July 2024
Anthony Loria, MD
PGY3
Tell us a little about your path to Surgery Residency.
My journey to a surgery residency began as a patient undergoing and recovering from emergency surgery during medical school. I was fortunate to have surgeons who took me under their wing, providing mentorship and support during my recovery. This experience influenced my understanding of the doctor patient relationship, and I was inspired by the compassion, skill, and dedication of my surgeons. I aim to provide the level of care and support to my patients that I received from my mentors.
What was your motivation to pursue research during your residency?
I am passionate about critical appraisal and believe surgeons are essential for enhancing patient outcomes. This responsibility includes delivering excellent clinical care and improving our evidence base to understand short- and long-term risks and benefits of our care. I hope to contribute to this body of knowledge, aiming to refine surgical techniques, enhance patient care, and inform healthcare policy.
Who is your research mentor?
Paula Cupertino, PhD
Surgery Research Professor
Research Director, SHORE: Surgical Health Outcomes Reaching for Equity
Fergal Fleming, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Clinical Director, SHORE: Surgical Health Outcomes Reaching for Equity
Larissa Temple, MD
Professor of Surgery and Chief
Division of Colorectal Surgery
Co-Director, Surgical Value Incubator Program
What does the role of mentorship in research mean to you?
Mentors play an essential role in guiding and supporting research. They help develop new skills, provide critical feedback, and help network/career advice. Additionally, one of the most important aspects of a mentor is helping select which questions, among the many possible, could or should be studied.
What is your research focus?
I currently focus on three areas. First, I aim to improve methods for identifying incarcerated individuals in large datasets so that we can understand their surgical care needs and policy-level variations. Second, I study logistical challenges in organ preservation for patients with rectal cancer. Lastly, I explore how complications during surgery can develop into long-term health conditions.
What are your recent presentations/awards/manuscripts?
Awards:
SSAT Writer's Scholarship Award, 2023
Reviewer's Guild, Diseases of Colon and Rectum, 2023-2024 Wiley Top Cited Article in Colorectal Disease, 2022-2023 Best in Surgery, July 2023
Publications:
Loria A, Tejani MA, Temple LK, et al. Practice Patterns for Organ Preservation in US Patients With Rectal Cancer, 2006-2020. JAMA Oncol. 2024;10{1):79-86. http://doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.4845
Loria A, Ramsdale EE, Aquina CT, Cupertino P, Mohile SG, Fleming FJ. From Clinical Trials to Practice: Anticipating and Overcoming Challenges in Implementing Watch-and-Wait for Rectal Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(8):876-880. http://doi:10.1200/ JCO.23.01369
Loria A, Fleming FJ. Restoration of Quality of Life and Functional Recovery After Colorectal Cancer Surgery in Older Adults. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41{34):5225-5227. http://doi:10.1200/ JCO.23.01066
Dhimal T, Cupertino P, Ghaffar A, et al. Systematic Review of Surgical Care in the Incarcerated Population: Identifying Knowledge Gaps for Future Research. Annals of Surgery 5(2):p e434, June 2024. http://doi: 10.1097/AS9.0000000000000434
Loria A, Ammann AM, Olowokure 00, Paquette IM, Justiniano CF. Systematic Review of Neoadjuvant lmmunotherapy for Mismatch Repair Deficient Locally Advanced Colon Cancer: An Emerging Strategy. Dis Colon Rectum. 2024;67(6):762-771. http://doi:10.1097/DCR.0000000000003263
What are your future goals?
I want to be a good father, husband, and skilled surgeon. I am hopeful that our R21 project will receive funding, allowing me to continue working with SHORE fellows to tackle disparities in surgical care delivery. In the future, I can also see myself teaching a critical appraisal or epidemiology course and potentially leading a group like SHORE.
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