We are delighted to announce the first recipients of the Orthopaedic Academic Excellence Award (Ortho-AEA): Drs. Aresh Sepehri, Parth Lodhia, David Stockton, and Michael Neufeld.
“The Review Committee was impressed by the innovative techniques and clinically relevant topics proposed in these AEA applications. It is encouraging to have such motivated new investigators in our department!” – Dr. Thomas Oxland, Associate Head, Academic, UBC Department of Orthopaedics and Professor of Orthopaedics and Mechanical Engineering at UBC
Established in 2024, Ortho-AEA aims to foster a culture of academic scholarship in UBC Orthopaedics by developing faculty talent. The program provides three-year grant funding to new investigators who spend most of their time doing clinical work and show exceptional merit in areas of orthopaedic scholarship in research or education.
“I am excited by the active involvement of our new faculty members in academia and their pursuit of innovative programs. We are stronger together! These researchers are dedicated to our mission of providing mobility for all. I am thrilled that the new Orthopaedic Academic Excellence Award will support their research—research that will be felt locally and globally. I also want to express my gratitude to the review committee for doing an excellent job in evaluating the applications and providing feedback.” – Kishore Mulpuri, Head, UBC Department of Orthopaedics
Get to know these outstanding Ortho-AEA Investigators and discover their innovative methods for addressing clinical topics.
Dr. Aresh Sepehri
Dr. Aresh Sepehri proposed a clinical investigation into the management of pelvic fragility fractures. The proposal includes innovative methodology that will address this specific clinical problem and build a foundation for future research.
“Low energy geriatric pelvic ring fractures are a common, but understudied, injury that historically have been treated nonoperatively. With recent advances in surgical technique for pelvic ring fractures, we intend to investigate whether operative management in these injuries can provide a patient benefit in mortality, ambulation, and independence.” – Dr. Aresh Sepehri
Dr. Parth Lodhia
Dr. Parth Lodhia proposed a collaborative research program involving bioengineering and imaging specialists addressing two important clinical problems: femoroacetabular impingement and meniscal root tears. The proposal includes an innovative methodology that uses UBC’s upright open MRI and is expected to lay the groundwork for future research in this area.
“I am interested in how athletic injuries of the hip and knee interact in functional positions, which may be very different from the conventional positions in which we view them either during imaging or at the time of surgery. The Open MRI at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) led by Dr. David Wilson allows us to do just that. Hence, with this award, we will now be able to fund projects that can look at athletes with conditions in the hip (like femoroacetabular impingement) and knee (like meniscal root tears) in positions of function to understand bony and soft tissue interactions.” – Dr. Parth Lodhia
Dr. David Stockton
Dr. David Stockton proposed a clinical investigation into treating complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following a distal radius fracture. The proposal outlines a systematic approach to studying the issue, starting with a pilot study, and eventually leading to the launch of a nationwide randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Canada.
“Distal radius fractures are some of the most common fractures we treat, with some patients developing debilitating nerve symptoms during the course of their recovery. The Division of Orthopaedic Trauma at UBC has long been involved in research that positively impacts the trajectory of patients after injury, and I am motivated to contribute to patients’ recovery by investigating a novel treatment for this difficult syndrome.” – Dr. David Stockton
Dr. Michael Neufeld
Dr. Michael Neufeld proposed developing a system for collecting patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) from patients who have undergone hip and knee replacement surgeries. This data will be linked to the existing clinical database in the Division of Reconstructive Orthopaedics. The research project is a collaborative effort involving a UBC expert from the Centre for Health Sciences and Policy Research.
“Prospective collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) has become the gold standard to understanding whether procedures or health care initiatives make the expected difference to patients’ health status and quality of life, as well as enable patient-centred outcomes and healthcare policy. This collaborative initiative is an essential aspect of modern research and in our tertiary, subspecialty, high-volume unit will enable us to remain international leaders both clinically and academically, with the goal of providing the best possible care for all hip and knee replacement patients.” – Dr. Michael Neufeld
Congratulations to Drs. Aresh Sepehri, Parth Lodhia, David Stockton, and Michael Neufeld!
