Mary Ann Hopkins, M.D.

How international electives could save general surgery
Gumbs AA; Gumbs MA; Gleit Z; Hopkins MA
2009 Jan 27;:?-? #, American journal of surgery
— id: 138359, year: 2009, vol: , page: ?, stat: Journal Article,

Preliminary evaluation of the Web Initiative for Surgical Education (WISE-MD)
Kalet, Adina L; Coady, Sarah H; Hopkins, Mary Ann; Hochberg, Marc S; Riles, Thomas S
2007 Jul;194(1):89-93, American journal of surgery
BACKGROUND: Major changes in health care delivery and financing have negatively impacted students' experience during the surgery clerkship, particularly their exposure to physicians' decision-making processes and to the continuity of patient care. In response to these dilemmas in surgical education, we have developed the Web Initiative for Surgical Education (WISE-MD), a comprehensive surgery clerkship curriculum delivered through multimedia teaching modules and designed to enhance exposure to surgical disease and clinical reasoning. METHODS: As part of the process of creating WISE-MD, we conducted preliminary studies to assess the impact of this computer-assisted approach on students' knowledge, clinical reasoning, and satisfaction. RESULTS: Compared to students who did not view the modules, early data show a trend toward improved knowledge and an improvement in clinical reasoning for students who used the WISE-MD modules. This effect was specific to the clinical content area addressed in the module seen by the students. Most students felt the module was superior to traditional teaching methods and enhanced their understanding of surgical technique and anatomy. CONCLUSIONS: WISE-MD, a theory-driven example of a concerted technology-based approach to surgical education, has the potential to address the myriad problems of today's clinical learning environment.
— id: 73032, year: 2007, vol: 194, page: 89, stat: Journal Article,

International experience, electives, and volunteerism in surgical training: a survey of resident interest
Powell, Anathea C; Mueller, Claudia; Kingham, Peter; Berman, Russell; Pachter, H Leon; Hopkins, Mary Ann
2007 Jul;205(1):162-168, Journal of the American College of Surgeons
BACKGROUND: Sustainable international surgery expertise is more frequently being discussed in the US surgical community. At the resident level, there is discussion about incorporating international experience into residency training, but current opportunities for residents are limited and often require personal funding and use of vacation time. This study analyzed resident interest in acquiring international experience. STUDY DESIGN: A structured questionnaire was administered anonymously to all New York University general surgery residents. The questionnaire elicited demographic information and information about interest in an international surgery elective and future volunteerism. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were performed for the completed data. RESULTS: Fifty-two of 63 residents (82.5%) completed surveys. Fifty-one residents (98%) were interested in an international elective, and 38 residents (73%) would prioritize such an elective over all other electives. Twenty-three (44%) and 25 (48%) residents would be willing to use vacation and finance the elective, respectively. The most frequent expectations of international training were acquiring technical and clinical skills (94% of residents) and cultural skills (88%). Residents believed financial difficulties and scheduling conflicts were the most significant barriers to international training (82% and 53%, respectively). Thirty-two residents (62%) planned to incorporate volunteer work into their future practice. Chi-square analyses revealed a significant relationship between residents who would prioritize international training and those who planned to incorporate volunteerism into their future practice (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: International training represents an opportunity for US surgical education to provide residents with broader clinical expertise and increased cultural awareness. Our data suggest that surgical residents at NYU are strongly interested in acquiring this experience and that international training may provide an opportunity to encourage lifelong volunteerism. National study of US residents and faculty is warranted to further investigate these conclusions
— id: 73819, year: 2007, vol: 205, page: 162, stat: Journal Article,

Online classrooms enhance clerkship small group teaching
Coady, Sarah; Kalet, Adina; Hopkins, Mary Ann
2005 Nov;39(11):1152-1153, Medical education
— id: 61270, year: 2005, vol: 39, page: 1152, stat: Journal Article,

Educational imperatives drive technological advancement in the surgery clerkship
Hopkins, Mary Ann; Nachbar, Martin; Kalet, Adina
2004 Nov;38(11):1186-1187, Medical education
— id: 55903, year: 2004, vol: 38, page: 1186, stat: Journal Article,

A rapid clerkship redesign to address new realities
Kalet, Adina; Hopkins, Mary Ann; Riles, Thomas
2004 Nov;38(11):1193-1194, Medical education
— id: 55904, year: 2004, vol: 38, page: 1193, stat: Journal Article,

Impact of mandatory resident work hour limitations on medical students' interest in surgery
Miller, George; Bamboat, Zubin M; Allen, Frederick; Biernacki, Peter; Hopkins, Mary Ann; Gouge, Thomas H; Riles, Thomas S
2004 Nov;199(4):615-619, Journal of the American College of Surgeons
BACKGROUND: The number of US medical students applying for general surgery residency has been declining. Recent studies have shown that the issue of 'controllable lifestyle' has become a critical factor in medical students' decision-making process. We postulate that widespread implementation of resident work hour limitations would bolster medical students' interest in pursuing surgical careers. STUDY DESIGN: Students from New York University School of Medicine were surveyed about their attitudes toward work hour limitations and its effect on their interest in pursuing a surgical residency. One hundred thirty-two students participated. RESULTS: Nearly 95% of respondents believed that work hour limitations were a positive change and, if all other factors were equal, they would choose a training program that used work hour limitations over one that did not. The most common reasons cited in favor of limits were improvements in resident lifestyle (42%) and patient safety (34%). Fifty-three percent of respondents indicated that presence of work hour limitations alone would increase their interest in considering a surgical residency and only 2% of medical students indicated that it would lessen their interest in surgery. Not surprisingly, intellectual interest in a specialty was the most important factor in choosing a residency for 86% of students. Nevertheless, work hour limitations were designated a higher priority than future salary by 55% of medical students. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of work hour limitations has a positive impact on medical students' interest in surgery. Widespread implementation of work hour limitations may bolster the number of applications for surgical residency
— id: 46084, year: 2004, vol: 199, page: 615, stat: Journal Article,

Attitudes of applicants for surgical residency toward work hour limitations
Miller, George; Bamboat, Zubin M; Allen, Frederick; Hopkins, Mary Ann; Gouge, Thomas H; Riles, Thomas S; Nalbandian, Matthew M
2004 Sep;188(2):131-135, American journal of surgery
BACKGROUND: There is an ongoing debate regarding the merits of resident work-hour limitations. We postulated that this issue would be a factor in the decision-making process of applicants to surgical residency. METHODS: Candidates for surgical residency at a university-based program completed an anonymous survey during their visit. Data was analyzed by analysis of variance and the chi-square test. RESULTS: Most candidates viewed work-hour limitations as being favorable to their future training. Nevertheless, work-hour limitations ultimately were not a critical factor in the decision-making process compared with issues such as quality of training and program reputation. Candidates ranked 'reading in surgery' the most likely way they would spend the leisure time afforded by work-hour limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Most applicants for surgical residency consider work hour-limitations as being favorable to their training and view the extra free time as an opportunity for furthering their education. However, other issues take precedence when choosing a residency
— id: 46008, year: 2004, vol: 188, page: 131, stat: Journal Article,

The Virtual Surgery Patient: Development of a digital, three-dimensional model of human anatomy designed for surgical education
Qualter J; Triola M; Weiner M; Hopkins MA; Kirov M; Nachbar M
2004 ;:34-?, Proceedings (IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society)
Teaching medical students about the anatomical principles of surgical procedures is achallenging task. In an effort to design a new tool that allows a third year medical student toexplore specific surgical problems, the New York University School of Medicine Department of Surgery and the New York University School of Medicine Advanced Educational Systems lab collaborated to develop a Virtual Surgery Patient (VSP). The VSP is a realistic set of three-dimensional models of human anatomy. Unlike previous applications, our objective was to create lightweight 3-D models with the inherent ability to deform smoothly upon animation,with an architecture that allowed for enhanced texturing as well as polygon reduction.We developed a technique for using reconstructed volume data from the Visible HumanProject to create surface models that were easy to manipulate, avoiding artifacts introducedwhen resurrecting volumes from cadaveric sliced stacks. Surface shading can be used to give the models the appearance of living tissue, as well as allow for enhancements sometimesnecessary to achieve an educational goal
— id: 106186, year: 2004, vol: , page: 34, stat: Journal Article,

Effects of nicotine nasal spray on attention and memory in schizophrenia
Smith, RC; Warner-Cohen, J; Vaidhyanathaswamy, S; Hopkins, M
2004 JUN ;7(3):S228-S228, International journal of neuropsychopharmacology
— id: 50487, year: 2004, vol: 7, page: S228, stat: Journal Article,

Trauma outcome in the SICU: Does gender really matter?
Guth, AA; Petrulio, C; Hopkins, MA; Pachter, HL
2003 FEB ;31(2):A58-A58, Critical care medicine
— id: 37180, year: 2003, vol: 31, page: A58, stat: Journal Article,

Laparoscopy and unsuspected intra-abdominal malignancy with rapid peritoneal spread
Gave AA; Hopkins MA
2001 May;15(5):518-518, Surgical endoscopy
Use of the laparoscopic approach for intra-abdominal malignancy remains controversial because there have been multiple reports of tumor metastases at port sites after laparoscopy. Although several randomized trials have documented no difference in recurrence rates between laparoscopic and open surgery, there are still many questions about the behavior of tumor cells in laparoscopic conditions. The speed of tumor spread and time to recurrence appear to be variable. Abdominal insufflation and other effects of laparoscopy are only now being delineated. It is not clear whether tumor characteristics, preoperative tumor stage, or the laparoscopic milieu itself affect tumor spread during and after laparoscopic surgery. We present an unusual case of very rapid tumor dissemination in a young patient who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy
— id: 25227, year: 2001, vol: 15, page: 518, stat: Journal Article,

Portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic splenectomy for beta-thalassemia: a case study
Sok J; Su W; Hopkins MA
2001 Dec;15(12):1489-1489, Surgical endoscopy
Portal vein thrombosis is a rare but well-recognized complication of splenectomy. We present the case of a 31-year-old woman with transfusion-dependent b-thalassemia who underwent a laparoscopic splenectomy to reduce her transfusion requirements. Postoperatively, she developed portal vein thrombosis, diagnosed by abdominal CT scanning on postoperative day 4. After being treated with anticoagulation and antibiotic therapy, she obtained prompt resolution of her symptoms. This report summarizes the first reported incidence of portal vein thrombosis following laparoscopic splenectomy and presents the current theories regarding the etiology and treatment of postsplenectomy portal vein thrombosis
— id: 39455, year: 2001, vol: 15, page: 1489, stat: Journal Article,

Why aren't there more women surgeons?. Interview by Valerie A. Jones
Hopkins MA; Pannullo S; Svahn J
2000 Feb 2;283(5):670-670, JAMA
— id: 25229, year: 2000, vol: 283, page: 670, stat: Journal Article,

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication in children: a single surgeon's experience
Hopkins MA; Stringel G
1999 Oct-Dec;3(4):261-266, Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adult laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has been steadily growing since its introduction to the United States in the 1990s. Its advantage over the traditional open approach is manifold. Application of laparoscopic fundoplication to children is slowly but surely following this trend. This study evaluates our initial experience with pediatric laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 25 consecutive laparoscopic Nissen fundoplications performed by a single surgeon (GS) at our institution in the past three years. The patient ages ranged from 7 months to 18 years (mean, 7 years). All patients had documented gastroesophageal reflux disease. Complications from the reflux included vomiting in 15 patients, failure to thrive in nine, esophagitis in nine, and pulmonary symptoms in six. RESULTS: All Nissen fundoplications were performed laparoscopically without need for conversion to open technique. Blood loss was less than 50 cc in all cases. A tube gastrostomy was concurrently performed in 17. Mean operative time in all cases was 221 minutes. Average postoperative day on which feedings were begun was day 2, with an average resumption of regular feedings on postoperative day 3.5. Average date of discharge was postoperative day 6.8. Complications included difficulty controlling glucose in an insulin-dependent diabetic, and a lost needle, which added an additional hour to the operative time. There were eight admissions to the pediatric intensive care unit, all for observation secondary to their underlying medical problems. There was one postoperative death due to an underlying medical condition. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is a safe and effective treatment option for children suffering from significant reflux. Time to regular feeding, analgesia requirements and hospital stay are decreased when compared to traditional procedures. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication may well become the procedure of choice for pediatric gastroesophageal reflux disease
— id: 25228, year: 1999, vol: 3, page: 261, stat: Journal Article,