Dr. Kevin Shea: Speaker at Oscar Miller Day

On October 29th, 2021, Dr. Kevin Shea was invited to speak at the 40th Annual Oscar Miller Day in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosted by the physicians of the OrthoCarolina Pediatric Orthopedic Center. The topic this year was, "Can't Miss Orthopedic Injuries in Children and Adolescents."

Remote Summer Research Program Launch

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Research Program launched a pilot remote summer research program, funded by the department diversity grant. The 8-week summer research program consisted of 17 students from all across the country interested in learning more about orthopaedics - majority of which were first year medical students. Students were matched with a faculty and peer mentor for the summer, and attended weekly instructional courses lead by faculty and staff. Instructional courses included topics such as bibliographies/citation managers, introduction to electronic databases, biostatistics, manuscript writing, diversity in orthopaedics, family planning in orthopaedics, applying to orthopaedic residency programs, and specialties within orthopaedics.  Students also had the opportunity to engage in research with their faculty mentor.

Team Members Moving on to Graduate School and Medical School

Five of our team members are moving on to graduate programs this Fall. It is always bittersweet to say goodbye to our team members, but rewarding to see everyone pursuing their dreams. We have loved watching our team members being mentored under our faculty, creating their own research projects, presenting abstracts at conferences each year, and publishing first-author manuscripts. Congratulations everyone! We will miss having you all on our team.

• Katie Hastings, Research Program Manager, will be starting her PhD in Population and Health Sciences at UBC-Vancouver. 
• Brian Vuong, CRC to Dr. Kevin Shea, will be starting his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Stanford University. 
• Shayna Mehta, CRC to Dr. Emily Kraus, will be starting her MD program at Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine. 
• Joanna Langner, CRC to Dr. John Vorhies, will be starting her MD program at UC-San Diego. 
• Danika Baskar, Research Fellow to Dr. Steven Frick, will be returning as a MS4 to Rutgers University.

POSNA 2021 Conference

From May 12-15, the Pediatric Orthopaedic team travelled to Dallas, Texas to attend the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society for North America annual meeting. 

Stanford Medicine presented the following topics:

• Clubfoot Activity, Recurrence & Exercise (CARES): A Pilot Study (Dr. Steven Frick)
• Trans-articular versus Retro-articular Drilling of Stable Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial by the ROCK Multicenter Study Group (Dr. Kevin Shea)
• Proof of Concept for Articifical Intelligence Based Estimation of Skeletal Maturity from Biplanar Slot Scan Scoliosis Imaging (Dr. John Vorhies)
• Quantitative Assessment of the Medial Patellofemoral Complex: A Pediatric Cadaveric Study (Dr. Kevin Shea)
• What Your Practice Really Needs is an NP (Dr. Meghan Imrie)

Congratulations to the team!

Dr. Steven Frick Awarded Saul Halpern Orthopaedic Educator of the Year

Congratulations to the Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Frick, for being selected for the Orthopaedic Educator Award. Download the PDF document below to see the comments from the chief residents regarding Dr. Frick’s mentorship and leadership.

Dr. Kevin Shea Awarded for Excellence in Clinical Teaching

Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Shea for being selected as a recipient for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching.  This award recognizes faculty who have made innovative, outstanding contributions to medical education at Stanford University, School of Medicine.

The trails were calling!

As a final goodbye to some of our staff and students, we hiked outdoors along the beautiful trails in Portola Valley together. It’s never easy to say goodbye to members of our team, but we are excited for all of the opportunities ahead for them! 

Stanford University joins ANCHOR

Dr. Stephanie Pun has been invited to participate in a multi-center data repository investigating adolescent and adult hip disorders. This registry started in 2008 and is under the Academic Network of Conservational Hip Outcomes Research (ANCHOR) team. The goal of this study is to longitudinally collect and analyze data from patients undergoing hip preservation surgery across multiple research institutions nationally. Stanford University is 1 of 23 sites participating in the data repository, with Washington University in St. Louis as the lead site. Congratulations Dr. Stephanie Pun - this is an exciting opportunity for our team to expand our impact in Hip Dysplasia research!

To learn more about the team, visit the website https://www.anchorhipsurgeons.com/

Stanford-Coulter Grant Awarded

The Coulter Grant from the Stanford Department of Bioengineering has been awarded to Dr. Michael Gardner and Dr. John Vorhies for the study “An artificial intelligence-aided app for detection and management of musculoskeletal deformity.” This research project aims to validate three-dimensional topographical scanning technology as a tool for evaluation of orthopedic injury and deformity, specifically adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Through the incorporation of 3D topographical technology in the measurement of deformity, investigators hope to validate a novel approach to quantify deformity progression and provide an accessible alternative to traditional radiographic workup. Over the next year, the team will be investigating various 3D topographical technology in multiple Stanford clinics for patients being treated or evaluated for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). If you are interested in learning more about this project, please contact our spine team for more information! This project is led by fourth year medical student, Yousi (Josey) Oquendo.

Foot/Ankle Outcomes Assessment Center

Our team has been working on learning how to use the Tekscan Strideway mat to collect pedobarographic data and various gait parameters. In the next few months, we will be working on implementing the Strideway mat at the Sunnyvale clinic along with gathering patient reported outcomes and photo/video assessments to follow patient progress and report on clinical outcomes through research.

Research coordinators taking over virtual presentations

Shayna Mehta presented her work, "National Multicenter Retrospective Chart Review of Adolescent Tarsal Navicular Bone Stress Injuries" at the 3rd annual Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) symposium. 

Congratulations, Shayna!

Establishing Anatomical Relationships from Donor Specimens

Together with a team of medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty, we are working on characterizing relationships between crucial anatomical landmarks using pediatric donor specimens. Our group aims to identify these structures through a series of careful dissections and obtain data through measurements, photographs, videos, and advanced imaging. Current projects include trochlear development anatomy, Tib-Fib joint anatomy, ligament biomechanical properties, knee joint contact mechanics, biomechanical evaluation of meniscus repair techniques, and ACL repair instrument testing. Through our work, we hope to gain a deeper appreciation for the relationships between critical structures in pediatric joints to expand our knowledge of the known anatomy and enhance surgical planning.

Congrats to Japsimran, CRC on matriculating to medical school!

One of our coordinators, Japsimran Kaur is heading off to medical school at the University of Rochester, New York. While it is always hard to say goodbye to our fellow staff, it’s more exciting to see them go off and follow their dreams!

Congratulations, Japsimran - we are so excited to hear about your next achievements!

Dr. Kali Tileston and Dr. John Vorhies awarded $30,000 SRS Grant

Co-investigators Drs. Kali Tileston and John Vorhies have been awarded $30,000 from the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) for their study, “Health Mindset in Postoperative Mobilization after Posterior Spinal Fusion.” Patients wear a Fitbit for 3 months after posterior spinal fusion, and take surveys related to pain, mobility, physical activity, and health mindset each week. The project aims to understand how health mindset and other factors relate to a patient’s mobility after posterior spinal fusion surgery.

POSNA Grant Awarded to Drs. Vorhies and Tsui

POSNA has awarded the Zimmer Biomet Spine Research Grant to Drs. John Vorhies and Chi-Ho Ban Tsui in the amount of $30,000. This award will be used to fund the project “Erector spinae plane catheters and clinical outcomes after spinal fusion” which is investigating the use of erector spinae plane blocks as a new technique for localized pain management to improve how well pain is controlled after spinal surgeries.

Another Fantastic Summer of Research

It's always a sad time of the year when we have to say goodbye to our summer research students. This summer, we hosted four medical students and one undergraduate - Sahej Randhawa (UC San Diego), Sunny Trivedi (U of Florida), Dan Kim (SUNY Upstate), Kira Skaggs (Columbia University- not pictured), and Vincent Gnad (UC Berkeley). Collectively, the group has contributed to several manuscripts to be submitted for publication - including countless hours of MRI measurements - , abstract submissions to national conferences, cadaver lab dissections, shadowing in the OR/clinics, and most importantly, have formed a lasting friendship that will carry with them into their medical careers.

Student Attendance at 2019 WOA

A group of our student researchers attended Western Orthopaedic Association (WOA) this past weekend, August 1-3, 2019 to present their work under faculty mentorship. The following was presented:

Japsimran Kaur, Clinical Research Coordinator - Does Autism Alter the Risk Profile for Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery? (Rapid Fire Presentation)

Alex Karius, Georgia Tech '20 - Distinctive Opiate Prescription Patterns in Adolescent Subpopulations following ACL Reconstruction (Rapid Fire Presentation)

Dana Leonard, MS2 Stanford - Posterior Sternoclavicular Dislocation: Do We Need “Cardiothoracic Backup”? (Poster)

Maechi Uzosike, MS2 Stanford - Effect of Pavlik Harness Treatment on Infant Motor Milestones  (Eposter)

Blake Montgomery, MD Resident - Does Univalve Location Differentially Effect Pressures at the Three-Point Mold? (Rapid Fire Presentation)

Dr. Blake Montgomery Awarded OREF Resident Grant

On July 12, 2019, fourth year resident Dr. Blake Montgomery, was awarded the OREF/JRGOS Resident Grant to study, "Healthcare Disparities in Pediatric Fracture Care". The Resident Research Project Grant is a $5,000 research grant awarded to orthopaedic surgery residents that are conducting research in the area of health disparities and diversity in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Montgomery's study seeks to explore if healthcare disparities exist in the treatment and care of pediatric patients with common fractures based on race, ethnicity, and/or socioeconomic status.

Findings may help to determine if healthcare disparities exists in pediatric patients undergoing basic fracture care. If health disparities do exists then this work would pave the way for further studies to determine how best to close a health disparity gap.

Faculty advisor: Dr. Kali Tileston

Congratulations, Dr. Montgomery!

Western States Ultramarathon Study

The Western States Endurance Run is the world’s oldest 100 mile trail race, starting in Squaw Valley, CA and ending in Auburn, CA. In the days leading up to the race, our team collected salivary DNA samples, DXA scans, and blood samples from 47 runners. We plan to use this data in conjunction with a pre-race survey to better understand how nutrition, bone density, genetic markers, and serum biomarkers affect bone stress injury risk and injury rate in ultramarathoners. With this understanding, we aim to develop prevention guidelines that clinicians, coaches, and athletes can follow to improve bone health in this unique population.  

A note from Kira Skaggs, summer research medical student from Columbia University:

Helping Dr. Kraus, an avid long-distance runner herself, pursue research in a field that she is passionate about has inspired me to explore the possibility of integrating my passions into my future research and career as a physician. So far, it has been an incredible experience learning about clinical research in Pediatric Orthopaedics!

We look forward to sharing the results of the study soon! Stay tuned.

MCHRI Grant Awarded to Dr. Tileston

Dr. Kali Tileston was one of the recipients of the Maternal Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) '19 Clinician Educator Award in the amount of $35,000. Her study entitled, "The Role of Health Mindset in Adolescents' Compliance with Brace Wear for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis". The purpose of the study is to utilize a previously validated psychological assessment tool to evaluate health mindset among patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing treatment with a brace.

A Reflection from the 2019 Annual Cadaver Lab in Centennial, Colorado

Thank you very much for giving me this incredible opportunity.   The experience was not only a learning opportunity but has really motivated me in my journey in medicine.  The tissues themselves were so strikingly different from those in my first-year medical school cadaver lab.  They were much smaller in size but also differed in texture and appearance.  When helping with the dissections and palpating important anatomical landmarks, the tissues felt much more alive and fragile.  During medical school anatomy lab, I became so accustomed to taking a scalpel and moving through the dissection manual word by word just to get to the anatomical structures I needed to memorize for the exam.  Visualizing, palpating, feeling, and reflecting on the difference in the fresh frozen pediatric sample was strikingly different.  I also refreshed on the basic anatomy I had learned during the first year and built up that knowledge with the new anatomy I learned.  More impactful for me was learning the significance of the structures and their functions in the larger context of the elbow or knee. 

Listening to the AlloSource presentation about the background beyond the tissues brought a whole new perspective on the experience.  Hearing the story of the family’s donation in times of such tragedy was inspiring.  I thought to myself I was fortunate to be learning from the tissues of children whose lives had been cut tragically short and grateful to the families who decided to help better the world in times of such tragedy.  A couple of years back my grandmother passed away and the topic of organ donation was discussed within our family.  At the time, I was not as open to organ donation; however, through my experience learning about the impacts of organ donation in my immunology class in medical school, listening to stories of patients who received transplantation, and through the cadaver lab last week, I gained a new perspective on organ donation.  I saw the impact it can have directly on individuals that need organ transplants and the indirect impact it can have through research.

Another important learning experience from the cadaver lab was the opportunity to learn from the surgeons.  One experience in particular that stuck with me was learning the basic ACL, PCL, meniscus anatomy from Dr. Vandenberg & Dr. Ellis using one of the adult anatomy knees.  In a group with many other students, Dr. Vandenberg & Dr. Ellis showed us the insertions points and the stresses that may cause injuries to these structures.  Dr. Vandenberg stimulated the stress that can be provided to the ACL that can lead to its stretch and tear.  That night while watching the finals basketball game, it was striking to see Klay Thompson put that same stress on his knee in a sudden motion that Dr. Vandenberg was showing us in lab on the cadaver sample.  As students we all had an aha moment seeing the mechanism of Klay Thompson’s injury, remembering back to what Dr. Vandenberg & Dr. Ellis had taught us in lab, and learning of Thompson’s ACL tear.  I also learned about knee arthroscopy from Dr. Ellis when practicing at the arthroscopy station and CT scans from Dr. Milewski when accompanying him to get the CT scans.   I also really appreciated the opportunity to network and have conversations with many different surgeons about their pathways to where they are today.  Gaining insight their professional interest, motivations, how they balance their lifestyles, and many other topics were extremely valuable.

Overall, my experience at the cadaver dissection lab was a transformative one.  From learning about the tissue samples, the stories behind the donations, the anatomy & significance, the clinical decision-making process of surgeons, and the opportunity to network, I am thankful for this incredible learning experience.  From this experience, I am motivated to continue to learn, grow, and evolve.

-Sunny Trivedi, MD Candidate

Not Goodbye, but See You Later.

This month we celebrated the accomplishments of two critical team members, Aleksei Dingel, Clinical Research Coordinator under Dr. Shea, and Eli Cahan, Research Fellow, prior to their departure in May 2019. Both have spent a year on our team, and have played a large role in the success of our research productivity. 

Aleksei came from Boise, Idaho originally working with Dr. Shea as a research coordinator, and really tread the path for Dr. Shea's research program at Stanford.  Juggling four prospective research registries, implementing a phase 3 investigational randomized controlled trial, in addition to coauthoring several manuscripts/abstracts, it was inspiring to work along her side. We could always count on Aleksei's positive and enthusiatic energy around the office, and will be miss greatly!

Eli Cahan came in and hit the ground running with several project ideas and enthusiam to expand our work in the Health Policy realm, he coauthored on several manuscripts, attended various conferences, wrote grants, and continues his work with us during his Masters program. Thanks for all the work you do for us, Eli!

2019 POSNA Conference

From May 12-16, 2019, the Pediatric Orthopaedic team traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina to join Dr. Steven Frick in closing his Presidential term for the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society for North America.

This year, we represented Stanford Medicine with 7 podium and poster presentations on an array of topics. Presentations included:

• Deciding Without Data: Clinical Decision Making in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
• Virtual Reality and Bedside Entertainment and Relaxation Theater Usage in Non-Invasive Pediatric Orthopaedic Procedures
• Autism and Toe-walking: Are they related? Trends and treatment patterns from 2005-2016
• How many clubfoot patients undergo foot or ankle surgery as adults?
• Effect of Pavlik Harness Treatment on Infant Motor Milestones
• Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: Care Practices of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons.
• Race Independently Predicts Unsuccessful Healing of Osteochondritis Dissecans in the Pediatric Knee

Congratulations on a fantastic term, Dr. Frick!

Dr. Emily Kraus and mentee, Paige Skorseth, presenting at 2019 AMSSM

Dr. Kraus and former summer student researcher, Paige Skorseth (MS3 at University of Wisconsin-Madison), presented their respective work at the 2019 Scientific Sessions at American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) in Houston, Texas in April 2019. Paige’s work was featured as a press release at the conference.  The research found a high rate of individual Triad risk factors for these athletes, with increased rates of disordered eating, eating disorders, and other related factors. They also found low free T3 was significantly associated with higher Triad risk scores.

Dr. Kraus and Ms. Skorseth submitted a grant at AMSSM-ACSM, and hope to receive funding for continued work on the topic of Female Athlete Triad and Iron Deficiency. Congrats team!  

A link to their press release can be found here.

AAOS 2019

Dr Gamble presenting his work at 2019 AAOS Scientific Sessions

PRISM 2019 - Student Attendance

Aleksei Dingel and Alex Karius (summer intern ’18) presenting team’s poster entitled “The Distance Between Tibial Physis and Coronary Ligament: A Pediatric Cadaveric Study” at the 2019 annual PRISM Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

PRISM 2019

Dr. James Gamble presenting his poster entitled, “The Natural History of Type VII All-Epiphyseal Fractures of the Lateral Malleous” at the 2019 annual PRISM Conference

Mentoring Day

Dr. Kali Tileston at Hamlin Middle School for the 2018 "STEM the Gender Gap" Mentoring Day

Tileston - Awarded Young Investigator Award at 2018 WOA

Dr Steven Frick - President of POSNA

Dr Frick President of POSNA 2018-2019

POSNA Conference 2018

Dr Vorhies and Tileston awarded POSNA Microgrants to study bracing compliance with scoliosis and clubfoot patients.

Faculty at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America in Austin, TX, where Dr. Frick was installed as President.