The 2025 Southwest Healthcare Research Symposium

The Fourth Annual Southwest Healthcare Research Symposium brought together clinicians, researchers, trainees, and community members for a full day of scientific discovery and innovation at the beautiful Temecula Creek Inn. The event showcased a diverse array of clinical research, quality improvement initiatives, and case-based presentations across multiple specialties, highlighting the strength and collaborative spirit of our medical education programs.

Keynote Address

Dr. Michael Ropacki, Principal Investigator at Esperanza Clinical and an internationally recognized leader in Alzheimer's disease research, delivered an inspiring keynote on the future of clinical trials, digital drug development tools, and regulatory innovation. His insights into precision neuroscience set the tone for a day focused on translational impact and future-ready healthcare.

8 oral presentations across two sessions

Over 30 poster presentations spanning clinical research, quality improvement, and clinical vignettes

Thought-provoking topics including:

Artificial intelligence in cardiac imaging

Emergency ultrasound in community hospitals

Population health curricula in residency programs

Environmental health and cardiovascular outcomes

Case reports ranging from Takotsubo cardiomyopathy to smartwatch-detected arrhythmias

Research Highlights

Awards & Closing

Symposium co-directors Dr. Michael Macias and Dr. Andrew Ho closed the event by recognizing outstanding abstracts and fostering connections among attendees committed to elevating healthcare through research.

We are grateful to our faculty judges, sponsors, and all who contributed to this year’s event. A special thank you to our partners at UHS and industry sponsors including Abbott, Medtronic, AstraZeneca, and more for their generous support.

View abstracts and more at: www.socalmecresearch.com/abstracts-2025

We look forward to seeing you next year!

Awards & Recognitions

Best Oral Presentations

- Evaluating Adherence to Brian Injury Guidelines in the Community; Presented by Dr. Karmen Kazma
- Deep Learning Analysis of Mechanical Dyssynchrony in Cardiac MRI; Presented by Dr. Albert Song
Future of Hypertension: Care Coordinators & Remote Monitoring for Better Management; Presented by Chris Kocar

Best ePoster Presentations

- Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Naloxone Efficacy and Opioid-Related Mortality/Morbidity; Presented by Kaitlin Wear
- Impact of Methamphetamine Route of Administration on Cardiac Function; Presented by Ananya Narasimhan
Impact of an Emergency Medicine Residency Program on POCUS in a Community Emergency Department; Presented by Malcolm Roberson
- Smart Watch Saves the Day: A Case of Incidental Ventricular Tachycardia; Presented by Dr. Benjamin Szumowski
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Causing Atypical Superior Mesenteric Artery Thrombosis; Presented by Dr. Akanksha Maurya