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Resident physician presents scholarly work at national cardiovascular conference
An Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education presented research at a national conference for cardiovascular innovations.
Dr. Shehroze Tabassum, a first-year medical resident based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, attended the Cardiovascular Innovations meeting in Austin, Texas, in July. At the three-day conference, which focused on state-of-the-art therapy for peripheral, coronary, and structural heart disease, Dr. Tabassum presented research on peripheral artery disease (PAD) mortality trends in patients 25 and older with metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of developing heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
Dr. Shehroze Tabassum
He led a research team, which included Dr. Douglas Klamp, the Internal Medicine Residency Program director, chief medical education officer, senior vice president, and physician chair of resident and fellow talent acquisition at The Wright Center, and Wright Center Internal Medicine resident physician Dr. Aroma Naeem, that analyzed data using a free, online public health information system maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The team examined data collected between 2000-2019 about patients’ biological characteristics, race and ethnicity, state, census region, and metropolitan status.
“We found a decline in PAD-related mortality among patients with metabolic syndrome,” Dr. Tabassum said. “However, notable disparities persist across demographic and regional groups, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and further research.”
Dr. Tabassum, a native of Faisalabad, Pakistan, developed an interest in cardiology through a combination of clinical exposure and academic curiosity.
“It was a pleasure and an honor to represent The Wright Center on a national stage,” Dr. Tabassum said. “Attending a conference with so many like-minded professionals was a great opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from leading experts, and stay updated on the latest advancements in cardiovascular care.”
The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education was established in 1976 as the Scranton-Temple Residency Program, a community-based internal medicine residency program. Today, The Wright Center is one of the largest U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration-funded Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Safety-Net Consortiums in the nation. Together with consortium stakeholders, The Wright Center trains resident and fellow physicians in a community-based, community-needs-responsive workforce development model to advance its mission to improve the health and welfare of communities through responsive, whole-person health services for all and the sustainable renewal of an inspired, competent workforce that is privileged to serve.
Dr. Shehroze Tabassum, a first-year Internal Medicine resident physician at The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, speaks about his research project during the Cardiovascular Innovations meeting in Austin, Texas. His project examined peripheral artery disease mortality trends in patients 25 and older with metabolic syndrome.
