Inaugural Seidenfeld Symposium 2026

Keynote Address

Oral Presentations

Awardees

Cameron Mitchell, B.A.

Best Clinical Oral Presentation

Low Utilization of First-Line Latent Tuberculosis Regimens in People with HIV in the Short-Course Era

Mentor: Hayden Andrews, M.D.

Jennifer Berger, Ph.D.

Best Basic Science Oral Presentation

Bystander CD8+ T Cells Make up an Important Immune Response in the Brain

Mentor: David Beckham, M.D.

Julian Merville, M.D.

Best Clinical Poster Presentation

HIV Care Cascade Among Individuals Diagnosed during Incarceration

Mentor: Ank Nijhawan, M.D.

Kubra Naqvi, Ph.D.

Best Basic Science Poster Presentation

Mycobacterial Phenolic Glycolipid Triggers ATP-Mediated Neuronal P2X3 Signaling and Cough

Mentor: Michael Shiloh, M.D., Ph.D.

Poster Presentations

• Basic Science

  Engineering Honey-based Antimicrobial Bone Cements

  Lauren Kemp – Research Technician II

  Mentor: Alexander Tatara, M.D., Ph.D.

  Establishing a Murine Burn Model for Trauma Related Infections

  Celine J. Agnes – Non-GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Alexander Tatara, M.D., Ph.D.

  Virulence of Individual Antigens from a Scaffold Vaccine Against Orthopaedic Device Infection

  Walid Bibi – Research Technician II

  Mentor: Alexander Tatara, M.D., Ph.D.

  Mycobacterial Phenolic Glycolipid Triggers ATP-Mediated Neuronal P2X3 Signaling and Cough

  Kubra Naqvi – Non-GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Michael Shiloh, M.D., Ph.D.

  SMURF2 inhibits autophagic control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in macrophages

  Priscila Campos, Ph.D. – Instructor

  Mentor: Michael Shiloh, M.D., Ph.D.

  M cells and WISP cells: specialized epithelial players shaping human airway mucosal immunity

  Samuel Alvarez-Arguedas, Ph.D. – Instructor

  Mentor: Michael Shiloh, M.D., Ph.D.

  Structure informed xrRNA2 mutations in Zika virus provide a roadmap for vaccine development

  Camille Merrick – Research Associate

  Mentor: J. David Beckham, M.D.

  Molecular characterization of neuronal sensing and signaling in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis phenolic glycolipid

  Lois Warden – Medical Student Training Program (MSTP)

  Mentor: Michael Shiloh, M.D., Ph.D.

  An alveolus lung-on-a-chip model of Mycobacterium fortuitum lung infection

  Victoria Eknitphong, M.S. – Research Associate

  Mentor: Michael Shiloh, M.D., Ph.D.

  Acute Antiviral Innate Immunity induces Alpha Synuclein Phosphorylation at Serine129 in Neurons Independent of Aggregation

  Dustin Lee Heiden, Ph.D. – Non-GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: J. David Beckham, M.D.

  The Role of Type I Interferon Stimulation on the Aggregation of Alpha Synuclein in Neurons

  Robert Cole Evans – Non-GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: J. David Beckham, M.D.

  Differential Regulation of Ryanodine Receptor Isoforms and Calstabin in Immune Cells in Chronic ART-Treated HIV Infection

  Leila Fotoohabadi – Non-GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D., Ph.D.

• Clinical Science

  Enterococcus hirae Endocarditis: A Report of Two Rare Cases

  Michel Toutoungy – Intern

  Mentor: Trish Perl, M.D.

  Short Courses, Long Lines? Quantifying the Need for Alternatives to Parenteral Therapy in GNR Bacteremia.

  Jacob Powell – Intern

  Mentor: James Cutrell, M.D.

  HIV Care Cascade Among Individuals Diagnosed during Incarceration

  Julian Merville – Intern

  Mentor: Ank Nijhawan

  HIV-associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Drug-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Case Report

  Hannah Blanchard – GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Ank Nijhawan, M.D.

  CNS Cryptococcosis in an Immunocompetent Host

  Evan Aders – Intern

  Mentor: Jhee Lee, M.D.

  Antibiotic Exposure as a Risk Factor for Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction (Ogilvie Syndrome)

  Chelsea Missi – Non-GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Ezra Burstein, M.D., Ph.D.

  Fish Tank Granuloma Without the Fish Tank: Cutaneous Mycobacterium marinum Following a Household Injury

  Garrett Hayes – Medical Student

  Mentor: Parisa Suthun, M.D.

  An interesting case of coccidioidomycosis

  Grace Schaack – Resident

  Mentor: Sharon Germans, M.D.

  The Great Mimicker: Neurosyphilis, a diagnostic challenge

  Priyanka Narvekar – Resident

  Mentor: Keith Liu, M.D.

  An interesting case of non-endemic visceral Leishmaniasis involving the bone marrow

  Grace Schaack – Resident

  Mentor: Sharon Germans, M.D.

  Predictors of Critical COVID-19 Development in Hospitalized Patients During Evolving Variant Eras

  Sophie Gao – Medical Student

  Mentor: Mamta Jain, M.D.

  Extraluminal Clostridioides difficile Infection in the Absence of Diarrhea

  Anay Hindupur, M.D. – GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Gayathri Krishnan, M.D.

  A Not-so-sweet Treat: A Case of Splenic Mucor in a Previously Healthy Individual

  Moeen Aboabdo, M.B.B.Ch., M.P.H.– GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Alexander Tatara, M.D., Ph.D.

  Invasive necrotizing cavitary Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in a heart transplant recipient

  Jessika Iwanski, M.D., Ph.D.– Resident

  Mentor: Robert Morlend, M.D.

  Clinical outcomes among Adult Inpatients who did not have specimens sent for cultures during work-up of undifferentiated clinical syndromes: a quality improvement project

  Anusha Govind, M.D. – Faculty

  Mentor: Siddharth Kogilwaimath, M.D.

  Latent Tuberculosis Infection in an Older Adult: Balancing Treatment Risks and Benefits

  Meeyah Davis – Medical Student

  Mentor: Parisa Suthun, M.D.

• Diagnostics

  D-[5-11C]-Glutamine PET Imaging for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring of Orthopedic Implant Infections

  Vicki Ea – Doctoral Student

  Mentor: Liping Tang, Ph.D.

  PET Imaging of Infective Endocarditis with D-[5-11C]-Glutamine

  Uyen Pham – PhD Student

  Mentor: Liping Tang, Ph.D.

• Epidemiology & Prevention

  Targeted Stewardship and Infection Prevention and Control Interventions reduced Clostridioides difficile Infection rates at a Veterans Affairs Hospital

  Reshma Narain, M.D. – GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Ikwo Oboho, M.D.

  Sustained Reduction in Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections Following Implementation of a Nurse-Driven Foley Removal Protocol at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center

  Zaynab Amin, M.D. – GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Ikwo Oboho, M.D.

  Loneliness in Adults Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) with the Three-Item University of California at Los Angeles - Loneliness Scale

  Anthony Sean de Leon – Non-GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Mamta Jain, M.D.

  US adults’ intention to vaccinate themselves and their children against measles, 2025.

  Krutika Kuppalli, M.D. – Faculty

  Mentor: Saad B. Omer, M.P.H., Ph.D., M.B.B.S.

  Measles Vaccination Intentions for children among Canadian Adults During National Outbreaks.

  Krutika Kuppalli, M.D. – Faculty

  Mentor: Saad B. Omer, M.P.H., Ph.D., M.B.B.S.

• Global Health

  A Structured Global Health Experience in Rwanda: Advancing Gastroenterology Training in Resource Limited Settings Through a Multinational Collaboration

  Edmond Fomunung, M.D. – GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Ariel Aday, M.D.

• Implementation & Public Health

  Evaluation of a Low-Barrier HIV Care Model to Improve Engagement in Care in Dallas County

  Lucia Cabrejos Hirashima, M.D. – Resident

  Mentor: Siddharth Kogilwaimath, M.D.

  Evaluation of Viral Load Suppression in a Low-Barrier HIV Care Model in Dallas County: A Retrospective Cohort Study

  Lucia Cabrejos Hirashima, M.D. – Resident

  Mentor: Siddharth Kogilwaimath, M.D.

  Low Knowledge, Awareness, and Availability of Sexual Health Services: An Assessment of a Diverse North Dallas Community

  Drew A. Beckman – Non-GME Masters/Doctoral Student

  Mentor: Jeremy Chow, M.D.

  Hemodialysis-Related Interventions for Reducing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas, North Texas

  Jose Antonio Mansen-Arrieta, M.D. – GME Post-Doctoral Fellow

  Mentor: Ikwo Oboho, M.D.