Research Resources
S-SPIRE is dedicated to serving the research efforts of the Department of Surgery's faculty and trainees. In addition to reading and presentations for designing your project and using surgical data sets, we have gathered a collection of resources to aid in your professional development as you pursue a career in academic surgery.
To find funding for your project, please look through the list of internal and external surgery-specific funding opportunities.
Resources
- CONSORT Randomized Trial Checklist
- ISSM COREQ Qualitative Research Checklist
- ISSM MOOSE Observational Study Checklist
- STROBE Case-Control Study Checklist
- STROBE Cohort Study Checklist
- STROBE Cross-Sectional Study Checklist
- STROBE Observational Study Checklist
- Tripod Checklist Prediction Model Development and Validation
- PRISMA Checklist
- PRISMA Flow-Diagram
- CONSORT Flow-Diagram
- Military Health System Tricare Encounter Data
- National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB)
- National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and Pediatric NSQIP
- Medicare Claims Data
- National Cancer Database (NCDB)
- Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Program (MBSAQIP)
- Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI)
- Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Database
- Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample (NIS)
Intro to Qualitative Methods
By Sylvia Bereknyei Merrell, DrPH, MS
Research Scientist
S-SPIRE Center
Stanford School of Medicine
&
Janine Bruce, DrPH, MPH
Research Scientist
General Pediatrics
Stanford School of Medicine
Review of Quantitative Methods
By Amber Trickey, PhD
Senior Biostatistician
S-SPIRE Center
Stanford School of Medicine
Fundamentals of Qualitative Research Methods
- Leslie Curry, PhD, MPH
Senior Research Scientist, Yale School of Public Health
Co-Director, Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program
Yale School of Medicine - Module 1: What is Qualitative Research
Additional Modules:
- Module 2: Developing a Qualitative Research Question
- Module 3: Interviews
- Module 4: Focus Groups
- Module 5: Data Analysis
- Module 6: Scientific Rigor
NVivo 14
Beyond Open-Ended Questions: Purposeful Interview Guide Development to Elicit Rich, Trustworthy Data
by George Sayre, PsyD ; Jessica Young, MPH, MSW
Seminar date: 3/21/2018
Description: This session will cover the following: a. Describe rigorous framework for qualitative interview data collection; b. Apply core concepts and methods for developing interview questions and guides; c. Understand the process of developing and refining interview questions and guides. Intended audience: New and experienced qualitative researchers, investigators using mixed methods, and interviewers.
Thanks to the U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs for making this content publically available.
Causal Language Notes from JAMA
2024
Presentations & Readings
Introduction & Goal Setting
August 7, 2024
Presented by: Arden Morris, MD, MPH
Robert L. and Mary Ellenburg Professor of Surgery, and Professor, by Courtesy, of Health Policy, S-SPIRE Center Director and Vice Chair of Clinical Research
Stanford University
Readings:
"Setting Goals, Who, Why, and How?"
"How to Write SMART Goals"
Writing Workshop
August 14, 2024
Presented by: Clifford Sheckter, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University
Presentation:
"Purpose, Academics & Writing"
Readings:
"The Mechanics of Writing"
"Preparing a Manuscript for Submission to Medical Journals"
Literature Review
August 21, 2024
Presented by: Christopher Stave, MLS
Information Services Librarian
Lane Medical Library, School of Medicine
Reading:
"Quick Start Literature Searching Toolkit"
Planning and Conducting a Succesful Interview
August 28, 2024
Presented by: Marc Melcher, MD
Professor of Surgery, Chief of Abdominal Transplantation
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
Presentation:
"Nailing the Fellowship Interview"
How To Work With Your Mentor
September 4, 2024
Presented by: Lisa Marie Knowlton, MD, MPH, FACS, FRCSC
Associate Professor of Surgery, General Surgery
Stanford University
Presentation:
"Working With Your Mentor"
Reading:
"Power of Mentorship"
Research Design and Statistics
September 11, 2024
Presented by: Katherine Arnow, MS
Senior Biostatistician, S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
Presentation:
"Research Design and Analysis"
How to Give a Great Presentation
September 18, 2024
Presented by: Stephanie Chao, MD
Assistant Professor, Pediatric Surgery
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
Presentation:
"How to Give a Great Presentation"
Debrief and Goal Achievement
September 25, 2024
Presented by: David Spain, MD, David L. Gregg, MD Professor of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University
FY2025
Presentations & Readings (when available)
"Despite improvements after expansion, continuity of Medicaid enrollment has decreased over time."
January 6, 2025
Presented by:
Aaron Dawes, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"Crafting your NIH Biosketch with (SciENcv) - Required Soon."
December 9, 2024
Presented by:
Kristen Davis, MPH, PMP
Project Manager, Stanford-Surgery Policy Improvement Research and Education (S-SPIRE) Center, Stanford University
"Does Prehabilitation Improve Surgical Outcomes? Results from the Preoperative Optimization with Enhanced Recovery (POWER) Study.”
December 2, 2024
Presented by:
Cintia Kimura, MD
Resident in General Surgery, Department of Surgery
Stanford University Medical Center
"Data Science to Improve Trauma Care Delivery.”
November 11, 2024
Presented by:
Jeff Choi, MD
Resident in General Surgery, Department of Surgery
Stanford University Medical Center
"Quick Start Research Toolkit."
November 4, 2024
Presented by:
Christopher Stave, MLS
Information Services Librarian
Lane Medical Library, School of Medicine, Stanford University
Reading:
"Quick Start Literature Searching Toolkit"
"Chronic Opioid Use in Young Adults with IBD + Digestive Disorders: Research in Progress.”
October 28, 2024
Presented by:
Salva Balbale, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Medical Social Sciences
Northwestern University Feinberg, School of Medicine
"How Can We Leverage the EHR for Evidence-Based Surgical Care: Use Cases for Surgical Site Infection and Advanced Care Planning.”
October 7, 2024
Presented by:
Elizabeth Wick, MD
Professor of Surgery, Vice Chair of Quality and Safety at Johns Hopkins and is currently in the role at UCSF.
"Using MRI, Radiomics, and AI to Predict Rectal Cancer Response: Insights from the SHORT-FOX Phase II Clinical Trial.”
September 30, 2024
Presented by:
Heather Selby, PhD
Research Scientist, S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"An Update Primer to VA Data (2024)”
September 23, 2024
Presented by:
Laura Graham, PhD
Health Services Researcher
VA Health Economics Resource Center (HERC), VA Palo Alto HCS
S-SPIRE Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford University
Presentation:
An Update Primer to VA Data
Now, with Surgery Data Sources
"EHR Analytics with GenAI: a Nationwide Case Study of the Longstanding Smoking History Problem."
September 9, 2024
Presented by:
Julie Wu, MD
Medical Oncologist
VA Palo Alto Healthcare System
VA National Oncology Program
FY 2024
Presentations & Readings (when available)
"Updating Your NIH Biosketch and Other Support Forms."
September 11, 2023
Presented by:
Kristen Davis, MPH, CAPM
Project Manager,
Stanford-Surgery Policy Improvement Research and Education (S-SPIRE) Center, Stanford University
"Colonoscopy-based cancer screening: transportation security and social support as social determinants of health"
October 9, 2023
Presented by:
Alexa Pohl, MD, PhD
PD Resident, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"Improving surgical decision-making for older adults with primary hyperparathyroidism”
October 30, 2023
Presented by:
Carolyn Seib, MD
Assistant Professor, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"Understanding Patient-Level Facilitators and Barriers of California Emergency Medicaid Programs”
December 4, 2023
Presented by:
Lisa Knowlton, MD
Assistant Professor, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"Predicting Complete Response To Chemoradiotherapy For The Safe Non-Operative Management Of Patients With Rectal Cancer Using An MRI Radiomic Model”
December 11, 2023
Presented by:
Heather Selby, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and The S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"How Should We Measure Patient Transportation Insecurity?"
December 18, 2023
Presented by:
Alexa Pohl, MD, PhD
PD Resident, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"Psychiatric Disease is Associated with Perception of Rectal Prolapse Severity”
January 29, 2024
Presented by:
Charlotte Rajasingh, MD
Resident, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"Obesity in Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury - A work in progress”
February 5, 2024
Presented by:
Dan Eisenberg, MD
Professor of Surgery, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
“The Changing Face of Veterans and Implications for Policy: Insurance Coverage for US Veterans from 2010-2021”
February 12, 2024
Presented by:
Todd Wagner, PhD
Professor (Research) of Surgery, S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
“Underrepresented Minority Students’ Sense of Belonging in Medical School: How Does Mentorship Matter?”
March 4, 2024
Presented by:
Albaraa Basfar, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
“Implementation of the ENTRUST Learning and Assessment Platform in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)”
March 11, 2024
Presented by:
Cara Liebert, MD, FACS
Clinical Assistant Professor, General Surgery
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
“Using Modern Data Science Methods and Advanced Analytics to Improve the Efficiency, Reliability, and Timeliness of Cardiac Surgical Quality Data Project Update and Questions About Future Directions”
March 25, 2024
Presented by:
Alexander Sox Harris, PhD
Professor of Surgery, S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
“Causal Inference with Observational Data”
April 8, 2024
Presented by:
Liam Rose, PhD
Health Economist, Health Economics Resource Center (HERC),
Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto and S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
“Latino Perspectives on Rectal Cancer Care: Results and Insights from the ACUeRDO Study”
April 15, 2024
Presented by:
Julian Howland, MD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Dawes' Lab, S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
“Implementing a Systematic Shield in EMR to Protect All: A Qualitative Analysis of Medical Expert’ Commentary on Universal Child Abuse Screening”
April 29, 2024
Presented by:
Peiqi Chen, MA, BA
Social Science Research Professional, S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"Enhancing the accuracy of tumor response assessment in rectal cancer using radiomics: Insights from the SFX Trial”
May 6, 2024
Presented by:
Heather Selby, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and The S-SPIRE Center
Department of Surgery, Stanford University
"Adapting to CMS Policy Changes: What Medicare/Medicaid Researchers Using PHS Data Should Expect”
May 20, 2024
Presented by:
Sun Young Jeon
Biostatistician, Senior Data Lead
Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University
AcademyHealth Surgical and Perioperative Care Interest Group
Within AcademyHealth, the Surgical and Perioperative Care Interest Group is a unique network of multi-professional stakeholders focused on the research and policy issues most important to surgical and perioperative patients.
Association for Academic Surgery
Founded in 1866, the mission of the AAS is to inspire and develop young academic surgeons. Active members have traditionally held faculty appointments at a recognized academic center. Active membership is also available to senior/chief residents and fellows in approved training programs in general surgery and the surgical specialties. The impetus of the membership remains research-based academic surgery.
Mixed Methods International Research Association
The Mixed Methods International Research Association was founded in 2013 to promote the development of an international and interdisciplinary mixed methods research community.
Mixed Methods Program, University of Michigan
Our mission is to promote mixed methods research and scholarship across academic disciplines through education, training, consulting and mentoring with the support of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan.
Society for Medical Decision Making
If you are involved in health care decision making, working in a hospital, university, foundation, industry or government, at any stage of your career, SMDM can provide you with a scholarly home and opportunities for collaboration, professional growth, networking and mentorship.
Society of University Surgeons
The mission of the SUS is supporting and advancing leaders in academic surgery. The Society of University Surgeons was established in 1938 when Dr. Samuel J. Stabins, Chief Surgical Resident at the University of Rochester proposed the idea of a new surgical society whose members (1) had completed a rigorous training program in the tradition of Dr. William Halsted at Johns Hopkins Medical School and (2) held a faculty position at a United States medical school.
Surgical Outcomes Club
The Surgical Outcomes Club is a consortium of surgeons and scientists interested in advancing health services and outcomes research in surgery. Officially launched at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in 2005, SOC provides a virtual and real meeting place for investigators addressing some of the most pressing clinical and policy issues facing the surgical profession today.
SOC aims to facilitate networking with established surgical outcome researchers and provide a platform for fostering collaborations. It will also serve as a clearinghouse for educational materials and other resources for surgeons wishing to learn more about the field.
The Commonwealth Fund
The Commonwealth Fund was established in 1918 with the broad charge to enhance the common good.
Today, the mission of The Commonwealth Fund is to promote a high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society’s most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, and people of color.
The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. An international program in health policy is designed to stimulate innovative policies and practices in the United States and other industrialized countries.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. Since 1972, they have supported research and programs targeting some of America’s most pressing health issues—from substance abuse to improving access to quality health care.
Russell Sage Foundation
The Russell Sage Foundation was established by Mrs. Margaret Olivia Sage in 1907 for "the improvement of social and living conditions in the United States." In its early years the Foundation undertook major projects in low-income housing, urban planning, social work, and labor reform. The Foundation now dedicates itself exclusively to strengthening the methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences as a means of diagnosing social problems and improving social policies.
Abstract Submission Deadlines
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