William Beaumont Army Medical Center hosted its annual Research Day on May 7, 2025, celebrating innovation, collaboration, and the future of military medicine. Held in the hospital’s Clinical Assembly Room, the event brought together medical professionals, researchers, residents, and students to share scientific advancements aimed at improving patient outcomes and enhancing military health readiness.

The day began with welcome remarks from hospital leadership, followed by a keynote address from Dr. Katja Michael, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Texas at El Paso. Dr. Michael presented her collaborative research project on nanoparticle-based wound healing—technology that may accelerate tissue regeneration while minimizing scarring and infection risk.

"This project has tremendous implications not only for military injuries but also civilian and elderly patients who struggle with healing," said Michael.

Michael also felt WBAMC’s Research Day fostered collaboration, sparked new ideas, and motivated young physicians and scientists to push the boundaries of what's possible. "It’s such a privilege to be here,” she said. “This is my second Research Day that I’m attending, and I find the quality of the presented research very high.”

WBAMC Department of Clinical Investigation Chief, Dr. Karl H. Wenger, emphasized the importance of showcasing the diverse research conducted at WBAMC.

“Today is Research Day and it’s our annual celebration of the hard work our residents and staff put into investigating real-world medical issues for the past year,” Wenger said. “We had ten podium presentations and 28 posters this year, ranging from mental health studies to battlefield medical innovations like plasma thawer technology.”

Wenger also highlighted the strategic importance of research to the Army’s medical mission. “We’re doing more translational medicine,” he said. “This kind of work can strengthen our ability to treat battlefield injuries and support long-term Soldier readiness.”

Following the keynote, attendees heard from presenters during podium sessions and then later in the day, viewed scientific posters displayed throughout the room. Volunteer judges evaluated each entry and selected first and second place winners in both categories.

Award recipients included:

Podium Presentation, First Place: Lt. Col. Hemant Pal, M.D., and Cuong T. Phan, M.S., for Adaptive Trial for the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms Associated with Concussion, using Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Protocols.

Podium Presentation, Second Place: Maj. Marjorie K. Brooks and Maj. Amanda Bischoff for Impact of a Female Warfighter Urogenital Health and Field Hygiene Education Intervention.

Poster Presentation, First Place: Capt. Alexis B. Sandler for Outcomes Following Microfracture for Concomitant Glenoid and Humeral Head Osteochondral Defects in Active-Duty Military Patients Under 55 with Minimum 5-Year Follow-up.

Poster Presentation, Second Place: Officer Candidate Jennifer Jackson for Risk and Treatment of Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Marfan Patients.

Research Program of the Year: Family Nurse Practitioner Training Program, managed by Maj. Alison L. Patton, DNP and director of Phase II Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Phase II site at WBAMC.

Judges for the event included Maj. Melissa P. Young, WBAMC Interservice Physician Assistant Program Phase II Site program director, Dr. Germán Rosas-Acosta, UTEP associate professor of biological sciences, Dr. Elisa Robles Escajeda, UTEP coordinator and research assistant professor of biological sciences, and Ms. Rebecca Smiley, retired microbiologist.

For Michael, the experience was more than academic. “Once you’ve completed your poster and present it, you realize how much you’ve accomplished,” she said of residents showing their posters. “It’s a moment of pride and an opportunity to improve your work through valuable feedback.”

Dr. Wenger believes that continued investment in research at WBAMC will elevate the hospital's reputation and support long-term partnerships. “This facility was built for research,” he said. “When we connect with other institutions and focus on meaningful, applied science, we’re contributing not just to medicine, but to the readiness and resilience of our military force.”

Research Day at WBAMC is held annually and demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to medical excellence, education, and advancing care for the military family.

Caption: Pictured are a few of the winners from William Beaumont Army Medical Center’s Research Day, which occurred on May 7, in the hospital’s clinical assembly room, with Dr. Karl H. Wenger, chief of the WBAMC Department of Clinical Investigation (middle). From left to right are Maj. Amanda Bischoff and Maj. Marjorie K. Brooks for Impact of a Female Warfighter Urogenital Health and Field Hygiene Education Intervention, second place for podium presentation, Capt. Alexis B. Sandler for Outcomes Following Microfracture for Concomitant Glenoid and Humeral Head Osteochondral Defects in Active-Duty Military Patients Under 55 with Minimum 5-Year Follow-up, first place for poster presentation, and Maj. Alison L. Patton for best research program award for Family Nurse Practitioner Training Program.

Photo: Amabilia Payen