Get to Know our Staff: Shamrez Haider, Clinical Research

Get to Know our Staff: Shamrez Haider, Clinical Research

by | Feb 23, 2023 | Spotlight

Scottish Rite for Children offers a Medical Student Research Fellowship (MSRF) for medical students interested in gaining experience in clinical research. Fellows work with a lead faculty mentor throughout the year and several project supervisors who are pediatric orthopedic faculty at Scottish Rite. Fellows work as a crucial part of the research teams in various Centers for Excellence at Scottish Rite and are responsible for a variety of research projects.

Meet Shamrez, a 2022 MSRF at Scottish Rite, who works with William Z. Morris, M.D., in the Center for Excellence in Hip.

What inspired you to apply for the MSRF position?
I had numerous reasons to apply to the MSRF program, but a main motivating factor was to gain the necessary skills and experiences in research that I will need in the future, as I hope to have a career in academic medicine as an orthopedic surgeon.

Have you always been interested in medicine and/or research?
I was previously on trajectory for a career in finance, but eventually pivoted to medicine and found my way to medical school at UT Southwestern. From there, I was interested in orthopedics from early on in medical school and hope to apply into orthopedic residency next fall. 

What is it like working at Scottish Rite for Children?
Scottish Rite is a welcoming and pleasant place to work. There is plenty of support and easy access to the faculty for guidance and networking. 

Can you share a few sentences about someone at Scottish Rite who has been a mentor to you and how they have impacted your experience? What project are you working on with that mentor?
My main mentor here has been William Z. Morris, M.D., who has been a fantastic mentor. He used his previous experience from doing a research year himself to prioritize all the things that he learned worked well in his mentorship for my experience. He is incredibly approachable, supportive and knowledgeable about research and always finds opportunities to educate. We are working on numerous hip projects together, including projects on femoral neck fractures, hip dysplasia and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). 

How do you think this experience will impact your career path?
I hope this year in the MSRF program leads me to my next goal of matching to a great orthopedic residency program, so I can begin my career in orthopedics. 

What progress have you made toward your career goal since beginning the program?
Since beginning, Dr. Morris, the team and I have completed a review article on SCFE, which has been published in the Journal of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society North America (POSNA). We additionally have finished two other projects for which we submitted abstracts to POSNA and hope to have completed manuscripts to submit for publication soon. 

What is your favorite project that you are currently working on or have worked on at Scottish Rite?
I don’t have a specific favorite, but the project we are nearly finished with about treatment of traumatic femoral neck fractures with locking plates has been very interesting. That is something that has not been previously studied in the pediatric population, so this project will be the first to report on locking plates for this specific injury. 

What advice do you have for future CORA/MSRF participants?
Specifically for future MSRF candidates, don’t be afraid to take an extra year to ensure your career goals are more within reach. Matching to an orthopedic residency is getting more competitive, and an extra year to knock out some projects could help make the difference. Looking toward the long-term target of a career in orthopedics, one extra year of training doesn’t seem to be much at all. 

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
I used to be a marathon runner, completing five full marathons. Medical school has kept me busy and prevented me from running at a high level for the past two years. My year off has allowed me the time to renew my love for running and hopefully run a full marathon by this spring. I also ran a five-person relay with other CORA/MSRFs last December at the BMW Dallas Marathon. 

Anything else you would like to add?
Nothing else.

We’re recruiting Medical Student Research Fellows for 2023! If you are a third-year medical student looking to take a gap year before applying to residency, take advantage of this unique opportunity! Only three positions are available for 2023.

Learn more and apply here on our Careers page.

Sports Medicine Team from Scottish Rite for Children Had Strong Presence at PRiSM 2023

Sports Medicine Team from Scottish Rite for Children Had Strong Presence at PRiSM 2023

by | Feb 15, 2023 | Research & Innovation

The sports medicine team from the Scottish Rite for Children Center for Excellence in Sports Medicine recently attended the 10th Annual Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRiSM) society meeting in Denver, Colorado. Several of our team are founding members in this group leading the way in pediatric sports medicine research.

Medical director of clinical research Henry B. Ellis, M.D., says, “Most conferences are designed to gather one discipline, but this one is inclusive. Scottish Rite had an impressive presence not only in attendance, but also with most of the 23 staff who attended actively contributing.” The Scottish Rite team included sports medicine physicians, pediatric orthopedic surgeons, a radiologist, advanced practice providers, physical therapists, researchers, psychologists and more. Many of them presented and led discussions about important care and treatment techniques for young athletes.

The three-day meeting included a variety of formats for collaboration and learning. Our team presented results from studies at the podium and during poster sessions where authors held conversations with attendees about the projects. The program also included a variety of didactic sessions designed to inform the participants of available evidence on a topic while stimulating discussion for future research.

Some of the noteworthy accomplishments of our team include:

  • Our director of Movement Science Sophia Ulman, Ph.D., had an active role in multiple aspects of the meeting. Ulman hosted a program with other movement science experts teaching best practices on applying motion capture in return to sports decision making. Bioengineer Alex Loewen, M.S., and Ben Johnson, P.A.-C., presented a study on measuring changes in pelvic tilt before and after hip surgery. Ulman and Loewen shared another study designed to improve accuracy of trunk testing across movement science labs. Additionally, biomechanist Ashley Erdman, B.S., M.B.A., presented results of a ballerina survey on pointe readiness.
  • Perfectly aligned with her passion, Ulman officially assumed responsibility as chair of the Injury Prevention Research Interest Group and provided her peers with the latest research updates on using movement science to facilitate sports injury prevention protocols.
  • Musculoskeletal ultrasound expert and sports medicine physician Jacob C. Jones, M.D., RMSK, gave a report on the state of pediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound to the society attending the conference. His specialty in this methodology solidified him as the top choice to address the group with the latest and greatest in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for pediatric sports medicine patients. Additionally, Jones presented a poster addressing the use of diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound in gymnasts.
  • Shane M. Miller, M.D., concluded his two-year term as chair of the PRiSM Concussion Research Interest Group. This means he led collaborative efforts with others from around the country to improve the identification and treatment of concussions in young athletes and to create a better understanding of the condition. In addition to this national collaboration, our team worked on other concussion projects. Jones shared results of a study on concussions in young athletes, comparing injuries by position in soccer players.
  • Elbow and shoulder injuries in throwing athletes continue to be a concern for pediatric sports medicine experts across the country. Sports surgery pair Philip L. Wilson, M.D., and Chuck Wyatt, M.S., CPNP, RNFA, shared results from several projects aimed at improving all aspects of care in two upper extremity scientific sessions. In addition to sharing results of Scottish Rite studies on elbow injuries in young athletes, Wilson shared results from a multi-center group focused on clavicle fractures called FACTS.
  • Three of our physical therapists, Jessica Dabis, P.T., D.P.T., O.C.S., Katie Holehouse, P.T., D.P.T., CSCS, and Jacob Landers, P.T., D.P.T., O.C.S., CSCS, presented projects at the meeting.
  • Our sports psychologists Emily Stapleton, Psy.D., and Emily Gale, Ph.D., presented on mental health screening tools and the presentation of suicidality in young athletes.
  • One of our student interns Sarp Sahin was one of five students awarded a grant from PRiSM to attend and present at the conference. As an undergrad at Washington and Lee University, Sarp was proud to present a novel project that he has been working on since high school. His efforts were recognized by sports medicine clinicians and appreciated by many.

The sports medicine staff’s expertise was shared with other sports medicine clinicians around the country to improve care for young athletes near and far. In return, our team learned valuable information that will impact how we care for young athletes at Scottish Rite. With 23 staff members from the Scottish Rite Sports Medicine team attending, we had a well-rounded, multi-disciplinary representation, and the team returned inspired to continue to contribute to the future of the field of pediatric sports medicine.

Learn more about our Sports Medicine team.

Scottish Rite For Children Adds ACGME-Accredited Sports Medicine Fellowship Program

Scottish Rite For Children Adds ACGME-Accredited Sports Medicine Fellowship Program

by | Feb 14, 2023 | Sports Medicine

Scottish Rite for Children and UT Southwestern Medical Cente are beginning a new Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME-accredited Sports Medicine fellowship program with a specialized pediatric focus. Led by program director Henry B. Ellis, Jr., M.D, and associate program director Philip L. Wilson, M.D, the program will take place primarily at the Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center in Frisco. The first in the North Texas region, this new program is one of a small number of subspecialty training programs that provides significant exposure to the care of young and growing athletes

The field of pediatric sports medicine includes operative and nonoperative management of sport-related injuries and consideration of how conditions and treatment affect long-term athletic development during continued physical and mental maturation. The program provides in-depth training for managing common and complex conditions, including ACL injuries, osteochondritis dissecans, patellar instability, meniscus, hip preservation, shoulder instability and more. In the United States, approximately 45 million children between the ages of 5 and 18 participate in organized sports according to a paper published in theInternational Journal of Sport Communication, which makes the need for specially trained pediatric sports medicine physicians and surgeons important for the well-being of today’s youth

Fellows are frontline members of the sports medicine care team at Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Frisco, Texas. In addition, they rotate with sports medicine surgeons at UT Southwestern and other adult colleagues for the full gamut of operative sports training. Additionally, the fellow assists in the management of pediatric fractures and acute orthopedic conditions at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, one of Texas’ only Level 1 pediatric trauma centers

The one-year fellowship program is available to postgraduate surgeons who have completed an orthopedic residency. The fellowship provides the recipient the opportunity to pursue advanced study, in-depth training, management and research in sports medicine, musculoskeletal, and complex injuries. The fellowship accommodates one fellow and begins on August 1

Learn more on our Fellowship & Graduate programs page

Six Ways to Prevent Toddler Fractures

Six Ways to Prevent Toddler Fractures

by | Feb 9, 2023 | Fractures

According to Gerad Montgomery M.S., F.N.P.-C. from our Fracture Clinic, toddlers are naturally at an increased risk for certain fractures and other injuries. This is because they are in a phase of rapid growth, very active and very unsteady when walking. Toddler’s bones are soft and will often break or buckle with seemingly harmless injuries. He tells us that many injuries that cause a sprain or strain in an adult will cause a fracture in a toddler. The good news, for patients like 22-month-old Kye, is that these injuries generally are stable and do not require casts or splints for very long, if at all.

Here are some common toddler injuries we see in our Fracture Clinic:

Toddler’s fracture is a small break in the bone of the lower leg usually caused by a simple fall or a twisting injury. A common way these injuries occur is when a child’s foot is caught on a playground slide while going down the slide with a parent.

Nursemaid’s elbow occurs with a sudden forceful pull on an outstretched arm. This may happen when someone picks up the child or swings him or her by the arms. With this problem, the child often refuses to use the arm and holds it in a flexed position.

Fingertip injuries occur in thousands of young children each year, and they typically wind up in an outpatient clinic or emergency room. These injuries often result from accidents with common items such as home and car doors, drawers or scissors.

Broken bones from falls and collisions occur when playing with larger, stronger and faster kids or on equipment that is not age-appropriate.

Lessons to Learn:

  • Do not pick up or tug on your child while holding only his or her hands or wrists; this can put stress on the elbow.
  • Do not swing your child around when holding only their hands or wrists.
  • Toddlers should use age-appropriate playground equipment and slides.
  • Toddlers should ride down a playground slide alone.
  • Watch your toddler closely when climbing or playing with bigger kids.
  • Doors, drawers and sharp objects are not toys and young children should not play with them.

As experts in managing fractures and other injuries in growing bones, we are here for you when you need us. Learn more about our Fracture Clinic

Basketball Research at Scottish Rite for Children Revealing New Trends in Basketball Injury Prevention

Basketball Research at Scottish Rite for Children Revealing New Trends in Basketball Injury Prevention

by | Feb 1, 2023 | Sports Medicine

Our Sports Medicine research team is collecting data to learn more about injury prevention in young basketball players. As part of the SAFE program at Scottish Rite for Children, young athletes perform various tasks, including a movement screen and assessments of speed, agility and strength. Additionally, athletes complete surveys specific to their sport participation and injury history. As the research team tests more athletes, the information collected will provide evidence-based guidance for developing injury prevention programs specific for the youth athlete. The ability to identify movement patterns or behaviors that may increase the risk of sustaining a sport-related injury is imperative. Studies have shown that sports injuries can often lead to the athlete discontinuing their sport participation, negatively impacting their overall health and wellness. Therefore, this research is helping to develop more advanced screening tools to mitigate those risks, which is instrumental for keeping athletes healthy and out on the court.

Watch the MavsMan try out the SAFE testing activities.

In partnership with the Mavs Academy, our team has tested hundreds of basketball players throughout the past two years at events, such as the Mavs Youth Combine, Mavs Academy Development Camp and the Mavs SAFE Tip-Off. Coaches, athletes and parents expressed that they learned valuable information from the experience as well as asking how they can connect other athletes to the opportunity. The shared desire to make an impact on injury prevention is obvious in these conversations.

“The work that is being done by Scottish Rite has the potential to impact athletes now and well into their futures. We are excited to partner with them in making youth basketball safer.”

Brad Freeman
Senior Director
Mavs Academy & Mavs Gaming
Dallas Mavericks

 

Early results from this work are already pointing to a few messages your young athlete may want to know. Here are preliminary findings from a subset of this data that included 105 participants with an average age of 13 years.

  • 66% of athletes have limited ankle motion
  • 20% of athletes reported a prior knee injury
  • 39% of athletes reported a sport-related injury within the past 12 months

 

  • Stronger athletes jumped higher with more power and strength on a single-leg vertical jump. Athletes with more overall strength may perform better during single-leg basketball movements.
  • Faster athletes exhibited better coordination leading to improved performance on the triple hop for distance. Speed deficiencies may hinder single-leg hop performance.
  • Athletes with a prior knee injury exhibited greater single-leg vertical jump height asymmetry and larger side-to-side power deficits, which is an indicator of future injury risk. To avoid injury, it is important to land from a jump with proper technique and symmetry between limbs.
  • Limb symmetry observed in jump distance metrics were not reflected in jump height symmetry. Given basketball involves single-leg jumps, an assessment of injury risk via limb asymmetry may be more informative using a hop for height and not a hop for distance.
  • Limited ankle flexion was found to influence single-leg hop height (but not hop distance). Achieving adequate jump height is important for basketball-specific movements. For safer and more efficient running and jumping, ankle flexion should be at least 40 degrees. A lower number can indicate tightness in the calf muscle that may improve with stretching.

“The results from a complex data set like this may sound confusing to parents and coaches, however, through this research initiative we are already discovering trends that allow us to take action in community education.”

Ashley Erdman, B.S., M.B.A.
Lead Biomechanist
Movement Science Lab, Frisco

 

Scottish Rite for Children is continuing to partner with the Mavs Academy to learn more about injury prevention. Participants will be invited to participate in on-site testing when it is offered, but testing is also conducted at Scottish Rite for Children.

If you are interested in participating in this project individually or as a team, please email [email protected].