The Role of Research

Charles F. Bellows, M.D.

Guest Editor
Jacksonville Medicine

This issue of Jacksonville Medicine focuses on research from a broad spectrum of local residents. These physicians, most of whom are just starting out in their practical careers, often have a different perspective of the healthcare environment than those of us who have spent years perfecting our various specialties. They're in a unique position to offer fresh questions and unusual insights.

A quick glance at these research abstracts will tell you they vary widely in their concentration and possible applications for further research, but they all represent the culmination of many hours of research, with each writer formulating a hypothesis and testing it using scientific principles.

One resident examines the health system effects of repealing Florida's motorcycle helmet law. Other research asks questions about how carefully we assess our patients' health risks. Are women under-screened for osteoporosis? Are family practice patients under-screened for cholesterol levels?

Our contributing residents also look at the effectiveness of various treatment options. How do children suffering from chronic osteomyelitis or empyema benefit from antibiotic therapy? How do various drugs compare in preeclampsia outcomes and the management of biopsy pain?

And a few of these residents take a look at themselves (and us). Do we as physicians practice what we preach? Well, yes and no; the specific research is worth taking a look at.

These studies are the result of an academic and scientific collaboration of Faculty, Fellows, Residents, Graduate Students, and Undergraduate Students at University of Florida Health Science Center/Jacksonville (UFHSC/J), as part of their annual Research Day. Research Day is designed to recognize the scholarly activities of these investigators and showcase campus-wide research activities. For sparking our local residents' enthusiasm and showcasing their work, we want to offer our thanks to the UFHSC/J and its Office of Research Affairs.

Every abstract in this collection reflects the passion and curiosity of the residents. They are well written, and some are very sophisticated. Like all good research, each abstract leads the reader to ask another question. These questions lead to new directions in research.

The effort that went into each of the research projects reflects the maturity and commitment of these residents to the advancement of medicine. In time, you may see that one or two of these questions and speculations were the early seeds of new options in treatment that may help you and your patients in a very tangible way.

With that in mind, these abstracts are an interesting and worthwhile read.

www . DCMS online . org Jacksonville Medicine Resident Research 2003

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