People

Current Members

Alissa Cooper

PGY-3

Hometown: Winchester, MA

Medical School:

Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Research Project:

Retrospective cohort study of inpatients with sepsis from 2003-2014 and examined trends in mortality rates for patients with and without cancer. We found that although mortality rates were higher in the cancer patients, they significantly declined over the study period in patients with cancer but not in patients without cancer.

Why did you choose to come to Brigham? Why did you join CIP?

BWH is a place where one can’t help but be surrounded by colleagues who are brilliant and kind, by mentors who will help foster careers regardless of their direction, and by overwhelming institutional support. I chose to join CIP because I knew that I wanted to incorporate clinical research into my future career, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to gain exposure to experienced clinical researchers to offer guidance and advice.

Ben Atkinson

PGY-3

Hometown: 

Medical School:

Research Project: Evaluation of Sepsis using Prior and Current Definitions of Sepsis in the BWH ICU

Why did you choose to come to Brigham? Why did you join CIP? 

I have always had a strong interest in clinical research, and CIP offered the tools to develop a better grasp of the skills needed for clinical investigation. This pathway has allowed me to form some basic skills needed in biostatistical analysis, and provided excellent insight into career development in clinical research by outstanding faculty mentors here at BWH.

Dan Loriaux

PGY-3

Why did you choose the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
Interest in clinical research and opportunity to independently run statistical analyses, better understand clinical trial design, and learn from world-renowned clinical investigators at the Brigham.

What have you liked the most about your time in the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
The opportunity to explore the many clinical investigation opportunities open for resident contribution; this track effectively highlights resources available to residents who are interested in clinical investigation and greatly facilitates finding the right clinical mentor.

Title or topic of your research project
The link between cardiovascular disease and obstructive sleep apnea.

David Sanchez

PGY-2

Hometown: New York City

Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine

Research Project: 

Determining whether severe reactions during aspirin desensitization in AERD dictate the likelihood of high dose aspirin working as therapy

Why did you choose to come to Brigham? Why did you join CIP?

My decision to choose Brigham for residency was primarily influenced by it’s incredibly supportive environment and the program’s willingness to nurture my interest in becoming a physician-scientist. I chose the CIP pathway to get more training on statistics and learn more about a clinical research career since most of my previous work was basic science oriented. 

Geneva DeGregorio

PGY-3

Why did you choose the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
As members of the Clinical Investigation Pathway we have protected time for research, access to free resources like biostatistics courses and software, and connections to research faculty who are invested in our future as investigators. This makes pursuing clinical research possible in an otherwise busy residency!

What have you liked the most about your time in the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
CIP gives you time to spend talking and learning with your co-residents who have a similar interest in a career in clinical research. It is inspiring to hear what my co-residents have been doing and plan to do in the future. They provide feedback and a support network that is incredibly valuable.

Title or topic of your research project
A one-day, 90-minute aspirin desensitization protocol in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

DeGregorio G, Singer J, Cahill K, Laidlaw T. A one-day, 90-minute aspirin desensitization protocol in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Accepted with revision.

Katherine DiNardo

PGY-2

Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA

Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Research Project: Determining the effect of dietary insulin load on recurrence of metastatic colorectal cancer

Why did you choose to come to Brigham? Why did you join CIP?

Brigham allows you the flexibility and support to pursue unique clinical or research interests during residency,  all within the uniquely supportive environment of the Brigham family of co-residents and faculty. The CIP pathway has opened my eyes to the multitude of ways I can incorporate research into my further career and has help prepared me to become a better clinical investigator. I also loved the trip we took to the FDA, our journal clubs, and the amazing and delicious dinners with top researchers in the field.

Sid Patel

PGY-3

Why did you choose the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
The opportunity to interact with true luminaries and transformative thinkers in clinical science and to further my investigative skill set with applied biostatistics training.

What have you liked the most about your time in the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
The breadth and depth of lecturers and journal club guests, hanging out with CIP co-residents.

Title or topic of your research project
Vorapaxar for Secondary Prevention in the Elderly: Insights from the TRA2°P-TIMI 50 Trial

Vorapaxar for Secondary Prevention in the Elderly: Insights from the TRA2°P-TIMI 50 Trial

Danny Pipilas

PGY-3

Why did you choose the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
I did a year of basic science research through the HHMI Medical Fellows Program, but I want to do more translational/clinical research and I wanted an opportunity to learn skills related to clinical investigation.

What have you liked the most about your time in the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
Having dinner with successful clinician investigators that are well-known in their discipline. Also, the statistics courses are very valuable.

Title or topic of your research project
Cardiac sarcoidosis

Marisa Winkler

PGY-3

Why did you choose the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
I want to gain experience in clinical research and skills like statistics.

What have you liked the most about your time in the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
The statistics course is fantastic and it’s great to spend two weeks with co-residents with similar career interests.

Title or topic of your research project
In progress

Marla Lipsyc-Sharf

PGY-3

Why did you choose the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
My favorite work in medical school was my work on clinical research. I plan to pursue a career in academic medicine with a focus on clinical research in my area of expertise.

What have you liked the most about your time in the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
Exposure to key people and organizations to help with clinical research (head of the IRB, director of Harvard Catalyst, world-renowned clinical researchers) and direct instruction in biostatistics with the opportunity to pursue certification in biostatistics.

Title or topic of your research project
Feasibility and Effect of a Yoga Program for Resident Physicians

Mike Foote

PGY-3

Why did you choose the Clinical Investigation Pathway? The Harvard Catalyst program is absolutely fantastic with the mentorship, statistical training, comprehensive look at grant writing and evening talks with trialist leaders. What have you liked the most about your time in the Clinical Investigation Pathway? I have gained a ton of skills and feel comfortable writing my own IRBs, grants and designing trials. The statistics course was taught by one of the best professors I’ve encountered and the evening dinners were fun. Title or topic of your research project Analysis of plasma cfDNA for risk stratification of lung incidentalomas

Omar Bayomy

PGY-3

Hometown: Moscow, ID

Medical School: Harvard Medical School

Research Project: Dietary Sodium Intake, the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, and the Risk for Kidney Stones

Why did you choose to come to Brigham? Why did you join CIP?

Brigham Medicine provides an infrastructure with tremendous support where trainees not only become outstanding in clinical care, but also have the flexibility to pursue other endeavors to give them a head start in how they want to contribute and give back. I chose CIP because the pathway provides mentorship and resources to help trainees begin their careers as investigators in clinical and/or translational science. I found myself using the tools I gained from CIP in my own research project, and had advocates invested in my success.

Ramkumar Venkateswaran

PGY-3

Why did you choose the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
I chose CIP because I wanted to get a better foundation in biostatistics to complement the current research I am working on.

What have you liked the most about your time in the Clinical Investigation Pathway?
I love the productive didactics we have with leaders/pioneers within clinical research, along with the unstructured time we are given to work on our research.

Title or topic of your research project
Biomarkers within Sudden Cardiac Death