Hundreds of Loma Linda University School of Medicine alumni and friends gathered at venues across the campus of Loma Linda University Health for the 83rd Annual Postgraduate Convention March 6–9.
Sponsored by the alumni association of the School of Medicine, the convention was designed to diminish the gap between evidence-based medicine and practice.
The conference boasted a number of exemplary speakers, including R. Shaw Martin, vice president for advocacy and practice enhancement, American Academy of Family Physicians; Christopher B.D. Levy, MD, senior research fellow and professor, Nuffield department of orthopedics at the University of Oxford, Great Britain; and Richard Thorp, MD, immediate past president of the California Medical Association, to name a few.
The opening session keynote address was offered by Sigve K. Tonstad, MD, PhD, Loma Linda University School of Religion, who spoke about “Our Ministry of Healing: Three Elements Certain to Endure.” Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine, spoke on “The Amygdala and the Stethoscope: How Emotions Affect the Practice of Medicine.”
The weekend was dotted with a number of opportunities for workshop and seminar participation, as well as fellowship and worship. The Loma Linda University School of Medicine classes of 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 were welcomed and honored.
On March 9, the session opened with a new lecture format called the Physician Vitality Conference.
A scientific poster session was held at various times throughout the conference in which current basic science and clinical research conducted by students, residents and faculty was displayed and presented. Duane Baldwin, MD, head of the scientific poster session, said, “We had approximately 80 poster submissions this year, all of which represented the exciting, compelling research that is being done at this institution. It was so inspiring to see this.”
Winners of the 83rd Annual Postgraduate Convention scientific poster sessions were announced as:
• Overall Winner: David Tryon, department of urology
Title: Effect Of Renal Vascular Clamp Type And Position Upon Renal Artery Leak Point Pressure: A Bench Top Study
• Resident Winner: Priya O. Kalyan-Masih, department of physiology
Title: Consumption Of A High-Fat Diet During Adolescence Impairs Sensorimotor Gating In Adult Rats
• Medical Student Winner: Erica Couzens, department of endocrinology
Title: HDL-Mediated Enos Activation Falls Before The Onset Of T2DM In Obese Non-Human Primates