Celebrating the AO Trauma NA 2024 Fellows Research Grant Winners

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the AO Trauma North America 2024 Fellows Research Grant! This prestigious funding is awarded to support innovative clinical and translational trauma-focused research conducted by fellows at AO Trauma NA-sponsored sites across North America. These projects represent the cutting edge of trauma care, with the potential to make significant advancements in the field. 

If you’re interested in applying, the 2025 grant applications will open in the Summer of 2025—stay tuned for updates! 

Now, let’s shine a spotlight on this year’s winners and their remarkable research projects: 

Meet the Winners

Avrey Novak 

School: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston 

Research: Single-incision intracompartmental leg fasciotomy; technique description and cadaveric validation 

 

Danielle Peterson 

School: University of California, Davis 

Research: Examining the Impact of Chronic Methamphetamine Use on Fracture Healing 

 

Erick Heiman 

School: The Curators of the University of Missouri 

Research: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study of Lateral Compression Pelvic Ring Fractures with Continuous Activity Measurement Outcomes 

 

Jonathan Yawman 

School: Emory Orthopedics 

Research: The Impact of Opioids on Sleep Quality and the Efficacy of a Multimodal Sleep Pathway in Hospitalized Orthopedic Trauma Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial 

 

Justin Hellwinkel 

School: R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center 

Research: Characterization of Gait Changes After Tibia Fractures 

 

Megan Audet 

School: Cedars-Sinai 

Research: Does Fibular Displacement Predict Tibial Malrotation in a Cadaveric Model? 

 

Michelle Lawson 

School: Trustees of Indiana University 

Research: The Effect of Lower Extremity Non-union on Gait Speed: A Pilot Study 

 

Phillip Grisdela Jr. 

School: Keck School of Medicine 

Research: Longitudinal Relationships Between Pain, Depression, and Anxiety in Patients with Lower Extremity Injuries 

 

Rachel Honig 

School: University of Maryland, Shock Trauma 

Research: A Predictive Model for Preoperative Counseling Using Days at Home and Alive After Geriatric Hip Fracture

 

Soudabeh Sedghi 

School: University of California, San Diego 

Research: Biologic Age Versus Chronologic Age in Hip Fracture Surgical Management: A Prospective Cohort Study 

 

Timothy Murphy 

School: Trustees of Indiana University 

Research: Debridement, Antibiotics, and Implant Retention (DAIR) Versus Debridement, Antibiotics, and Fixation Revision (DAFR) for the Treatment of Fracture-Related Infections 

 

Vishvas Shetty 

School: Vancouver General Hospital 

Research: BOOST - Blood Flow Restriction Therapy to Optimize Muscle Size and Strength in Recovery from Lower Limb Orthopedic Trauma: A Pilot Study 

 

Waleed Mohammad 

School: The Curators of the University of Missouri 

Research: Preservation of Infected Osteoarticular Fracture Fragments for Delayed Re-implantation: A Preclinical Canine Model 

 

Advancing Trauma Research 

These projects highlight the diverse and innovative approaches being taken to improve trauma care, from optimizing recovery techniques to understanding the effects of substance use and addressing unique surgical challenges. The AO Trauma NA Fellows Research Grant provides essential support to fuel these groundbreaking studies, ensuring that trauma care continues to evolve and improve. 

Looking Ahead 

Congratulations to all of our grant recipients! Your dedication and research will undoubtedly make a lasting impact on the field of trauma care. For those interested in following in their footsteps, keep an eye out for the 2025 grant application announcements later this year. 

Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of trauma research and improving outcomes for patients.