Akhil Kher of Horsham presents research poster at TCT 2016 in Washington, D.C.

2016 Nov 8

Akhil Kher of Horsham, a fourth-year medical student at The Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) in Scranton, recently presented a poster of his research at TCT 2016 in Washington, D.C. His research received recognition as one of the Top 50 posters of the more than 1,000 posters presented at the conference. TCT is the transcatheter cardiovascular therapeutics annual conference presented by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. It is among the biggest conferences in cardiology and is considered among the most prestigious. The conference was held from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2.

Akhil conducted his research with a team of residents from The Wright Center in Scranton, under the direction of TCMC professor of medicine and Scranton cardiologist, Samir Pancholy, M.D. The research used a nationwide sample of patients from 1998 to 2013 to analyze every patient who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a procedure that examines the coronary arteries for blockages. PCIs are performed in many different settings, but most commonly are used for patients experiencing a myocardial infarction. These patients are rushed to a catheterization laboratory to undergo PCI in order to have a lifesaving procedure, such as placement of a stent, that will restore bloodflow to the heart. Unfortunately, there are some patients who suffer a stroke days after having this procedure. Scientists and physicians are still actively undergoing research to determine which patients are at highest risk for developing a stroke, and methods they can use to lower this risk before or during the PCI.

Akhil's team's research identified 2 million patients in the U.S. who had PCI done and then subsequently suffered a stroke during the same hospitalization. They analyzed this data in order to identify the largest risk factors for having a stroke, such as age, gender, previous stroke history, or other comorbidities. This research is a key milestone in identifying patients at high risk so that practitioners can then implement the appropriate preventive strategies.

Cardiology has been a key interest of Akhil's since his biology courses in Hatboro-Horsham High School. He took this a step further by shadowing cardiologists during his undergraduate career at the University of Michigan, as well as volunteering in the Cardiology Department of the University of Michigan Hospital. Upon earning his bachelor of science, Akhil said he was drawn to TCMC because of it's commitment to patient-based education, unique and innovative curriculum, and the supportive community. He said, "I have no doubt that I received a top-notch medical education at TCMC, and that it will prepare me for the future."