Surgery Education - Our Residents & Fellows
Karan Patel, MD
General Surgery Resident
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Education:
MD, St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies, 2011
Other Postgraduate Training:
MPH, St. George's University, True Blue, St. George's, Grenada, West Indies, 2007
Publications:
Presentations:
Patel, K. (2006, October). Hypertension in India: A Growing Concern. Oral
Presentation presented at: St. George's University: Master of Public Health
Thesis Symposium; St. George's, Grenada.
Patel, K. (2010, August). Current Advances in Management and Treatment of Acetabuli Protrusio. Oral Presentation presented at: Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds; St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center; Paterson, NJ.
Patel, K. (2010, February). Neonatal Indirect Hyperbilirubinemia: Causes and Treatment. Oral Presentation presented at: Pediatric Grand Rounds; Jamaica Hospital Medical Center; Jamaica, NY.
Professional organizations:
American College of Surgeons (ACS), Student Member (2010-Present)
Research experience:
07/2011, UT Health Science Center San Antonio: Orthopaedics, San Antonio, TX
Orthopaedics Research Fellow, Dr. David Dean/ Dr. Amanda Marshall. Third body
wear is a form of abrasive wear that occurs when particulates become entrapped
between two articulating surfaces.
The present project is examining whether calcium sulfate pellets used to deliver
antibiotics and function as a bone graft may contribute to third body wear after
revision surgery. Samples of aspirates are digested and then analyzed for the
presence of calcium sulfate and UHMWPE particles using scanning electron
microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDAX) analysis. My duties in this
project have included collecting particles on filters for analyses and then
obtaining images and EDAX spectra with the SEM.
07/2011, UT Health Science Center San Antonio: Orthopaedics, San Antonio, TX Orthopaedics Research Fellow, Dr. David Dean/ Dr. Amanda Marshall/ Dr Chen. Peri-implant osteolysis remains the primary mode of implant failure in total joint arthroplasty. Current literature documents no reported studies that have evaluated the effects of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanoparticle wear debris on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), especially at the clinically relevant nanometer sized wear particles. The present study focuses on determining the effect of varying UHMWPE particle size (micron, submicron, and nanometer) and dose on mesenchymal stem cell proliferation, and their ability to differentiate into mature bone forming osteoblasts. The study also assesses the osteogenic potential of MSC subjected to wear particles in an in vivo immunodeficient mice model. The project aims to demonstrate that nanometer-sized particles have the most deleterious effect on MSC replication and differentiation and would therefore result in decreased bone formation in our mice model. My duties in this study include conducting experiments, data collection and analysis
07/201, UT Health Science Center San Antonio: Orthopaedics, San Antonio, TX Orthopaedics Research Fellow, Dr. Amanda Marshall. Recent evidence has demonstrated that radiation sterilized polyethylene bearing components undergo substantial in vivo oxidative degradation via free radicals, which consequently resulted in decreased mechanical and fatigue strength properties of the implant. The present study aims to evaluate the changes in the chemical, mechanical, and physical properties of metal-backed acetabular components post-sterilization (shelf life) and post-implantation as a function of time. Furthermore, we aim to determine the effect of patient characteristics (weight, age, and activity level) on polyethylene mechanical properties and wear rates. In doing such, we hope to elucidate the role of current manufacturing procedures, such as sterilization, and product formulation, on long-term prosthesis survivorship. My duties in this project include data collection and shipping processed implants to the main study center.
07/2011, UT Health Science Center San Antonio: Orthopaedics, San Antonio, TX Orthopaedics Research Fellow, Dr. David Dean. Prior studies have shown that titanium (Ti) surface roughness mediates osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, matrix production, hormonal response, and growth factor production. In addition, arachidonic acid metabolites have been demonstrated to modulate cell response to surface roughness. The present study examines the effect of cell maturation state on response to Ti surface roughness and treatment with arachidonic acid. MC3T3-E1 cells (immature osteoblasts which differentiate over the course of 28 days into mature osteoblasts) are cultured on smooth and rough Ti disks for 4,7,14,21,and 28 days. One day prior to harvest, the cultures are treated with varying amounts of arachidonic acid. At harvest, osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and growth factor production are measured. The project aims to determine if cell maturation state plays a role in osteoblast response to surface roughness and arachidonic acid. My duties in this project include conducting experiments, data collection and analysis
07/2011, 50 UT Health Science Center San Antonio: Orthopaedics, San Antonio, TX Orthopaedics Research Fellow, Dr. David Dean. Wear mediated osteolysis is considered to be one of the main factors responsible for aseptic loosening of orthopaedic endoprostheses. The present study focuses on examining the phagocytosis of particles by MG63 (osteoblast like) cells to try to understand how particles mediate their effects on osteoblasts. The project examines the effect of particle size (20nm to 1um), dose, and length of treatment on phagocytosis by the cells. The goal is to better understand which factors are critical to phagocytosis of particles and what mechanisms of uptake are involved. The hope is that a better understanding of this process may lead to improved performance of implants and better patient outcomes. My duties in this project include designing and conducting experiments as well as data gathering and analysis.
07/2011, UT Health Science Center San Antonio: Orthopaedics, San Antonio, TX Orthopaedics Research Fellow, Dr. David Dean. Current literature has shown that Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles have an effect on osteoblast’s cellular response. Once formed, these highly bioactive particles stimulate an inflammatory reaction that ultimately leads to bone resorption. The present study will help to elucidate methods for characterizing and isolating UHMWPE particles into discrete size ranges (fractionated), especially at the clinically relevant nanometer sized wear particles. The project hopes to provide basic science foundation regarding purification, visualization, and characterization of polyethylene particles with the help of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDAX) analysis. My duties in this project include designing and conducting experimental protocols as well as utilizing SEM and EDAX analysis in characterizing the polyethylene particles (unfractionated and fractionated) for use in cell cultures.
07/2011, UT Health Science Center San Antonio: Orthopaedics, San Antonio, TX Orthopaedics Research Fellow, Dr. Victor Sylvia. Patients with chronic overuse injury frequently encounter tendon and ligament injuries. There is a considerable need for a clinically efficient and inexpensive synthetic tendon repair biomaterial in orthopaedics. The present study will focus on synthesizing and developing multifunctional aligned collagen-based fibers using a novel electrochemical process for tendon repair. In addition, the study aims to investigate the difference in healing potential of an aligned collagen tendon compared to a randomly oriented tendon (the current standard of care) in a rat model with an Achilles tendon defect. We postulate that multifunctional aligned collagen biomaterial will lead to superior clinical outcomes when compared to random oriented collagen biomaterial, both containing platelet-derived growth factor and/or mesenchymal stem cells. My duties in this study include: performing microsurgery in rats, designing and assessing ideal testing parameters for the aligned collagen fibers, data collection and analysis.
2010 Average Hours/Week: 30 NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, Jamaica, NY Research Assistant, Dr. Roy I Davidovitch. The utilization of the saline load test is the current standard of care in evaluating knee arthrotomy. Recent studies have shown the saline load test to have low specificity, along with the disadvantage that it is a painful procedure for many patients. A possible alternative to the saline load test is the use of the CT scan, which is considered the newest modality in evaluating knee arthrotomy. This study focused on comparing the effectiveness of the saline load test vs. the CT scan in evaluating knee arthrotomy among our patient population within the hospital network. The project hopes to show that the non-invasive CT scan is equally, if not more specific than the invasive saline load test in predicting knee arthrotomy among patients. My duties in this study include data gathering and analysis.
2006, St. George's University: Dept of Public Health, St. George's, Grenada M.P.H Thesis Research, Dr. Robert Kennedy. My master of public health thesis, "Hypertension in India: A Growing Concern," focuses on various ways to prevent hypertension in India and explores the latest effective interventions and public policies related to this condition.
2004-2005, Boston College: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Chestnut Hill, MA Research Assistant, Dr. William A. Armstrong. This undergraduate research worked toward development of catalytically active species, emphasizing those that operate at the oxidizing and reducing extremes of the redox scale. Group interested in multi-electron transformations occurring at the extremes of redox scale. Research focused on forming large multinuclear complexes involved in the conversion of water to dioxygen, as carried out in photosynthetic organisms at a tetranuclear manganese center of photosystem II. I utilized various chemistry techniques as well as instruments, such as a mass spectrometer, NMR, UV spectrophotometer, and a peptide synthesizer.
05/2002 - 09/2002 Average Hours/Week: 40 Mass General Hospital: Neuromuscular Day Lab, Boston, MA Research Assistant, Dr. Robert H. Brown. As a research assistant, I conducted genetic research in Parkinson's disease. The work included extracting DNA from cells and sequencing it using the Sanger method in hopes of finding the gene that causes Parkinson's disease in humans. I analyzed more than 200 DNA samples.
Medical School Honors and Awards:
Iota Epsilon Alpha Member (Medical School Honor Society), St. George's University (Inducted 2007)
Other Honors and Awards:
Chancellor/Dean List: St. George's University (2006-2008)
Dean's List: Boston College(2001-2005)
AHANA Scholar: Boston College (2001-2005)
National Dean's List (2001-2005)
National Presidential Scholar (2001)
Posse Foundation Top Youth Leader (2001)
Biosketch: Dr. Patel grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed his undergraduate from Boston College earning a double major in Biology and Chemistry. After finishing his undergraduate, he was accepted to the MD/MPH program at St. Georges University in Grenada. During his MPH practicum, he coordinated World AIDS Day in Grenada. For World AIDS Day, he organized a World AIDS Day Walk around the town of St. Georges and helped implement health fairs with HIV testing in eight districts of Grenada. During medical school, Dr. Patel tutored anatomy to incoming medical students. During his final year of medical school, Dr. Patel did 3 months of research with an orthopaedic faculty at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. After medical school graduation, Dr Patel moved to San Antonio and did a year of orthopaedic research fellowship at UTHSCSA in the Department of Orthopaedics. In his free time, he enjoys working out, playing tennis and participating in outdoor activities with his family and friends.
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