Student Features for February 2018

Vivek Pandrangi, School of Medicine

Pandrangi, a third-year medical student, was awarded first place in the allergy/rhinology scientific poster competition at the Triological Society’s 2018 Combined Sections Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, in January. He was notified of his first-place selection last week.

His poster, The Burden of Sinusitis in Hematologic Transplant Patients: A National Perspective, took the top prize in a competition that included submissions by residents and medical students.

“Immunosuppression and other risk factors in patients undergoing stem cell transplant increase their susceptibility to infections such as sinusitis, which can be a serious complication in some cases,” said Pandrangi, who is planning to pursue a career in otolaryngology.

Pandrangi worked on this research project with Evan R. Reiter, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Otolaryngology.

Using a nationwide database, Pandrangi and Reiter investigated the economic burden that sinusitis in stem cell transplant patients places on the health care system.

“Understanding the economic factors may help guide management strategies and hopefully improve outcomes,” Pandrangi said.

“This was my first experience at an otolaryngology conference, and it was a great opportunity to learn about new developments in this field as well as network with other medical students and residents,” he said. “I really appreciate the support from Dr. Reiter and the Department of Otolaryngology here at VCU.”

Pandrangi’s trip to the conference was supported by a 2018 Triological Society Travel Award.