Not Just Another PowerPoint: Internal Medicine’s Research Seminar Series

Presenters at the newly initiated Research Seminar Series are preparing for the second half of the series, which resumes on Tuesday, August 1. Department leadership and members of the Research Committee remain as committed to its concept as ever: a presentation of breakthrough discoveries in ongoing research that could either benefit from outside collaboration or spark ideas and conversation among attendees.

The format at each session has remained the same all year. Two investigators split the hour: each presents an overview of their research in twenty minutes and reserves the remaining ten minutes for discussion, questions, and answers. Unlike a division-specific Grand Rounds or Journal Club, the audience for the Research Seminar Series has been broad; organizers have reached out for attendees from all departments and disciplines.

Presenters at the first half of this year’s series kept the audience in mind while crafting their presentations. “I made sure that I started off with a slide that introduced my major research area,” Dr. Sanjana Dayal said. Dr. Dayal, Assistant Professor of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, discussed her work on thrombosis and aging in June. Dr. Nedim Ince, Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, also said that he tried to avoid overly technical details in his March presentation.

Although tailoring one’s material broadly can be a valuable exercise for most investigators, it was what came after their talks that they enjoyed most. Dr. Michael Eberlein, Clinical Associate Professor of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine, shared his research on a novel device to treat COPD at the same session as Dr. Dayal. “I had several very interesting conversations immediately following the presentation and in the days that followed,” he said. In fact, were he to present again in this forum, Dr. Eberlein says that he would allow for even more time for input on where his research is headed.

Dr. Rebecca Dodd, Assistant Professor of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, was similarly impressed with the audience participation after her presentation in May. “I had several discussions with members of the audience after my presentation, and I value the different perspectives from audience members working on so many different fields. These interactions are a true strength of our department!”

Dr. Ince noted that although attendees may not have expertise in exactly the same area as the investigator presenting, what he found is that discussions around equipment or methodology can lend insight, whether one is presenting or in the audience. “Listening to other investigators from other divisions has given and will give me ideas on how to approach a question from a different angle using some of these common biochemical or molecular tools.”

After taking off the month of July, the Research Seminar Series will resume on Tuesday, August 1, with Drs. Ryan Boudreau and Anil Chauhan presenting, and continue every first Tuesday for the remainder of the year.