Research & Scholarly Activity
Leadership
Key Personnel
Luis E. Tollinche
(Chair)
Maninder Singh
(Vice Chair)
Augusto Torres
(Residency Program Director)
Hesham Elsharkawy
(Vice Chair of Research)
Jonathan Alter
(Director of Informatics)
Robert Owen
(Director of Quality)
- Jerrica Schell (Operations Coordinator)
- Shannon Fujimura (Medical Education/Residency Coordinator)
- Kathy Glaser (Manager Perioperative Quality and Education)
- Samantha Pope (Research Regulatory Specialist)
- Elise Landsbergen (Clinical Research Coordinator)
- Faria Nisar (Research Fellow)
- Nicolas Mas D Alessandro (Research Fellow)
- Alexander Estright (PRN – CRC)
Departmental Summary
Research Statistics
- #1 Department in CREC Certifications in the Hospital System
- Undergraduate and Medical Student Mentored: 25
- Current Number of Projects: 47
- Number of Patients Enrolled: > 150
- Scholarly Work:
- Case Reports: 12
- Case Series: 4
- Book Chapters: 4
- Systemic Reviews: 3
Collaborators
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
Clodagh Mullen, MD - Surgery
Kevin El-Hayek, MD
Natalie Joseph, MD
Christin Collins, MD - Emergency Medicine
Robert Jones, MD - Infection Disease
Michelle Hecker, MD - Allergy
Fouseena Pazheri, MD - Weight Management
Eileen Seeholzer, MD - Center for Clinical Informatics Research and Education
David Kaelber, MD - Pharmacy
Karey Infante
L’Tanya Arthur-Mensah - Data Scientist
Hannah Hill
- European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care
- Clinical Trial Network
- Memorial Sloan Kettering
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- New York University
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Boston University
- University of Turin
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals
- Curonix Peripheral Nerve Stimulator
- Stanford Children’s Hospital
- Boston Children’s Hospital
Research Fellowship Development

Dr. Marianne Tanios
2023 -2024

Dr. Faria Nisar
2024 -2025

Dr. Nicolas Mas D Alessandro
2024 -2025
The Chester Scholar Summer Program
The mission of the program is to encourage students to enter the health science profession, preferably medicine, with a strong research interest, and offer exposure in a clinical environment. The Program was established over 27 years ago to honor Dr. Edward Chester. More than 425 students from over 40 colleges and universities across the country have experienced this unique program.
2022
Peyton Traxler
Ohio Northern University
Dexamethasone Quality Initiative Project
Dr. Augusto Torres
2023
Faith Kandie
Case Western Reserve University
The LOTUS Trial
Dr. Matthew Sikora

2023
Jaidah Allen
Case Western Reserve University
IDE KNEE Arthoplasty Spinal VS General
Dr. Justin Jones

Patient Safety Week Poster Contest
Sponsored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, this week is celebrated around the globe to bring awareness to patient safety and to recognize work that's already being done.
2023 First Place Winner
Dexamethasone Quality Initiative Project
Dr. Andrew Yurkonis
Dr. Augusto Torres
Dr. Luis Tollinche
Peyton Traxler
Hannah Hill

2024 First Place Winner
Optimizing Presurgical Antibiotic Use
Dr. Fouseena Pazheri
Dr. Michelle Hecker
Dr. Luis Tollinche
Dr. Marcos Izquierdo
Kathleen Glaser
Hannah Hill

Visiting Professor
MetroHealth Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine Visiting Professor
2023 Simon Gelman
MD PhD FANZCA

2024 Beverly Philip
MD FACA FASA

2024 Mary Dale Peterson
MD, MSHCA, FACHE

Alfred C. Pinchak MD PhD Research Symposium
The Pinchak Symposium remains the highlight of the academic year for our Department. It has now expanded into an international conference that includes attendees from several countries with a record number of submissions and attendees. The event is testament to the legacy and continued stewardship of our very own Dr. Pinchak. We owe a debt of gratitude for his enthusiasm, commitment, and support of ensuring the success of his namesake symposium.
2023 Sarah Rebstock MD PhD
University of Texas, Southwestern
Children’s Medical Center
Dallas, Texas

2024 Kokila N. Thenuwara MD MBBS MME MHCGS
University of Iowa
Carver College of Medicine
Iowa City, Iowa

2025 Monika Nanda MBBS, MPH FASA
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Research Highlights
NIH-Funded –
Optimizing the Use of Ketamine to Reduce Chronic Postsurgical Pain: The KALPAS Trial
Externally Funded –
Phase 3 Trial of TAK-330 for Reversal of Direct Oral Factor Xa Inhibitor-Induced Anticoagulation
Internally Funded –
Tight perioperative blood pressure management to reduce serious cardiovascular, renal, and cognitive complications: The GUARDIAN trial
Internally Funded –
Lumbar Ultrasound Utility in Obstetric Patients with a BMI > 40: The LOTUS Trial
Grant –
Peripheral Nerve Stimulator with Curonix Received
Grant –
Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Temporary Percutaneous Vagus and Stellate Ganglion Stimulation for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Feasibility Study (Submitted)
Textbook –
Closing the Gap of Acute/Chronic Pain; Perioperative Management (TPC)
Textbook –
Perioperative Anesthesia Considerations for Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)
Comprehensive Perioperative Pain Management: From Preoperative Optimization to Transitional Postoperative Care
Dr. Hesham Elsharkawy serves as editor of the book with multiple chapters that will be authored by MetroHealth staff and trainees, the first in Metro Anesthesia Pain Management Department history
Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Journal
Dr. Hesham Elsharkawy serves as Associate Editor
North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) Committee
Dr. Hesham Elsharkawy serves as committee member
American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine
Dr. Elsharkawy serves as committee Member
American Society of Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine,
Dr. Hesham Elsharkawy Meeting Chair; Chronic Postoperative Pain Symposium, March 2023