Eric Andrew Elster
3223 Geiger Ave
Kensington, MD 20895
(301) 949-1194
Married, Two children
Professor and Chairman
Norman M. Rich Department of Surgery
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
COM: (301) 295-3157
E-mail:
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LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Diplomate, American Board of Surgery - 048557 (October, 2003)
Fellow, Southeastern Surgical Congress
State of Virginia - 0101056879
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Advanced Trauma Life Support (Instructor)
EDUCATION
University of South Florida College of Medicine, MD...... 1991 - 1995
University of South Florida (Honors Program), BA Interdisciplinary Studies...... 1987 - 1991
POSTGRADUATE TRAINING
National Naval Medical Center, General Surgery. Program Director: John DeNobile MD.
Internship...... 1995 - 1996
Resident in General Surgery...... 1997 - 2001
Chief Resident, General Surgery...... 2001 - 2002
National Institutes of Health, Organ Transplant Service. Program Director: Allan D. Kirk MD PhD.
Transplant Fellow...... 2003 - 2005
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS
Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Bethesda, MD...... 2012 -
Associate Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Bethesda, MD ….2009- 2012
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Bethesda, MD..2003-2008
Teaching Fellow, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Bethesda, MD...... 1999-2003
Teaching Assistant for Anatomy and Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine. Tampa FL.....1995
AWARDS AND HONORS
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Alumni Society Distinguished Physician Alumnus Award, 2015
Outstanding Achievement Award (Health Sciences), Washington Academy of Sciences 2014
Recipient, Baron Dominique Jean Larrey Award for Excellence in Military Surgery 2013
Vice chair, Navy Medicine Committee for Healthcare Ethics Educational Development
Associate Editor, Chair Academic Review Committee, The Journal of Healthcare, Science, and the Humanities. Appointed 2010
Recipient, Advancing Force Health Protection Award, USN, 2010
David C. Wherry Emerging Technology Award 2008
Recipient, NIH Bench to Bedside Award, May 2004. Infrared and Near Infrared Image Guided Minimally Invasive Assessment of Renal Perfusion during Donor Nephrectomies and Partial Nephrectomies for Renal Cell Cancer.
First Place Basic Science, Resident’s Competitive Forum. American College of Surgeons, 2001
Recipient, Zehner Traveling Fellowship. American College of Surgeons, 2000
Recipient, Charles A. Hufnagel Residents Paper Competition. USU Department of Surgery, 2000
Traveling Fellowship, American Society of Transplant Physicians, 2000, 2001
Outstanding Surgical Resident, 1999
Armed Forces Health Professional Scholarship.
USF Honors Surgery Course.
Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity Alumni Scholarship.
Florida Scholars Program and USF Honors Scholarship.
SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
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American Society of Transplantation
American Society of Transplant Surgeons
American College of Surgeons – Fellow
American Board of Surgery – Diplomate
American Board of Surgery – Associate Examiner Southern Surgical Association United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Halsted Society
Association for Academic Surgery
Southeastern Surgical Congress
Society of University Surgeons
Surgical Infection Society
Washington Academy of Sciences
American Surgical Association
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MILITARY EXPERIENCE
BRANCHUnited States Navy / RANKCaptain (O6)STATUSActive / UNITUniformed Services University
Assignments
Chairman, Norman M. Rich Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University…………………………………2012 -
Deputy Department Head, Regenerative Medicine, NMRC...... …2005 –2012
Director Surgical Services/Chief of Surgery, Role 3 MMU Kandahar Afghanistan...... …...2010 - 2011
Division Chief, Transplant Division, General Surgery Department, NNMC...... …..2005 - 2011
Assistant Program Director, General Surgery, NNMC...... 2006 - 2008
Attending Surgeon(General and Transplant), WNMMC...... 2003 -
Senior Staff Scientist, Naval Medical Research Center, Bethesda, MD...... 2002 -2003
Ship’s Surgeon, USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), Japan...... 2002 - 2003
Attending Surgeon, NH Yokokuska, Japan...... 2002 -
Surgical Resident, NNMC Bethesda MD...... 1997 - 2002
Surgeon, 31st MEU (SOC) Okinawa, Japan...... 1996-1997
Surgical Intern, NNMC Bethesda MD...... ….1995 - 1996
Surgical Extern, NMC San Diego CA...... 1995
Research Associate, Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory...... 1992
Training and Qualifications
Surface Warfare Qualifications, USS Ft. McHenry (LSD 43)...... 1997
Field Medical Service School, ...... 1996
Combat Skills Training,...... 1996, 2010
Aviation Indoctrination,...... 1992
Decorations
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Meritorious Service Medal
Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (x2)
Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Sea Service Deployment Medal (x2)
Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Medal
Fleet Marine Force Medal
Naval Unit Commendation (x2)
Meritorious Unit Commendation
NATO ISAFMedal
National Defense Service Medal (x2)
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RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Senior Staff Scientist and Program Director,Operational and Undersea Medicine Department,
Naval Medical Research Center...... 2002 –
Immune Cell Biology Program, NIDDK/Navy Transplant and Autoimmunity Branch,
Naval Medical Research Center.Director: Allan D. Kirk MD PhD...... 1998 – 2003
Wound Healing Program, USF Division of Plastic Surgery. Director: Thomas J. Krizek, MD...... 1994 – 1995
ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS
2015
Buxton Lecture. University of Maryland Department of Surgery. Baltimore, MD: June.
A New Reality: Preparedness for Military Trauma Surgery. ABA. Chicago, IL: April.
AOA Distinguished Professor Lecture. USF. Tampa, FL: April.
Surgical Grand Rounds. Duke. Durham, NC: March.
Surgical Grand Rounds. Philippine General Hospital. Manila, PI: March.
2014
SC2I and the Response to Injury. ASGBI. Harrogate, UK: May.
Preparedness for Military Trauma Surgery: the US perspective. ASGBI. Harrogate, UK: May.
Understanding the Response to Injury. LIJ Grand Rounds. New Hyde Park, NY: January.
Understanding the Response to Injury. ISR Research Seminar. San Antonio, TX: January.
2013
New Reality in a Dangerous World. ACS Clinical Congress. Washington, DC: October.
Dismounted Complex Blast Injuries. AAST. San Francisco, CA: September.
Critical Skills Sustainment. AAST. San Francisco, CA: September.
Advances in Combat Casualty Care.AVPACVS 2013 Critical Care Meeting. Long Island, NY: July.
Technological Advances in the treatment of war wounded.Denver Health Grand Rounds. Denver, CO: May.
Technological Advances in the treatment of war wounded.DARPA Biochronicity. Alexandria, VA: April
Biomarker Driven Care.USFCOM Grand Rounds. Tampa, FL: October
2012
Perineal Injuries. NEMTI. San Diego, CA: August.
Systemic Response to Injury. USUHS Department of Medicine. Bethesda, MD: July.
Pediatric Trauma: New Concepts and Controversies Case Western Reserve Medical School Webinar: February.
2011
Battlefield to Bedside: Understanding the Role of Inflammation in Traumatic Injury IBMIPS, San Francisco, CA: June.
2010
Heterotopic Ossifications: Research Approach TATRC Research Symposium, San Antonio, TX: January
Wound BiomarkersMilitary Medical Technology Summit, Washington, DC: April
Combat Casualty Care: A Systems Biology Approach Navy Medicine Research Symposium, Landsdowne, VA: April.
Wound Biomarkers: High Energy Penetrating War Injuries Royal Society of Medicine, Bethesda, MD: May.
2009
International Research Strategies: Lessons from Transplantation Retrieving the Human Face of Science: Understanding Ethics and Integrity in Healthcare, Medicine and Research, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana: December
Combat Casualty Care: A Systems Biology Approach The Halsted Society 83rd Annual Meeting, Bethesda, MD: September
Systemic Response to Trauma Naval Medical Center San Diego Surgery Grand Rounds, San Diego, CA: May
Systemic Response to Trauma USU Research Week 2009, Bethesda, MD: May
Wound Biomarkers SAWC 2009. Dallas, TX: April
Systemic Response to Trauma Emory University Surgery Grand Rounds, Atlanta, GA: March
Wound Cytokine ProjectUSAMRMC MIDRP W Wound conference, Silver Spring, MD: February
Systemic Response to TraumaCornell University Surgery Grand Rounds, NYC: January
2008
Military / Navy Research – A Translational Resource for Non-Military Medical NeedsSociety for Research Administration, Washington, DC: October
The Systemic Response to Combat CasualtiesUSUHS Trauma Day. Bethesda, MD: August
Wound Biomarkers: High Energy Penetrating War InjuriesATACCC 2008. St. Petersburg, FL; August
Lymphocyte Depletion and ShockATACCC 2008. St. Petersburg, FL; August
Applying Multidisciplinary Care to the Acute Wound: The Military ApproachFirst annual Wound Care SST Conference. Chicago, IL: July
Wound Biomarkers: High Energy Penetrating War InjuriesSWAC 2008. San Diego, CA: May
Enhanced Surgical RealityUSUHS Emerging Technologies 2008. Hamburg, Germany: May
Wound Biomarkers: High Energy Penetrating War InjuriesChristiania Healthcare Systems Surgical Grand Rounds: March
Moving Towards Enhanced Surgical RealityACS All Surgeon’s Day. Washington, DC: April 2008.
Wound Biomarkers: High Energy Penetrating War InjuriesIDGA Battlefield Health Care 2008. Washington, DC: April
2007
Biomarkers Associated with Wound Failure in Combat Wounded8th Annual Wound Healing: Science and Industry.St. Thomas, USVI. December
Biomarkers Associated with Wound Failure2007 Advamed Meeting.Washington, DC. November
Combat Wound Initiative: A Programmatic Approach to Wound CareThe Michael E. DeBakey, MD Cardiovascular & Diabetes Healthcare Session. New Orleans, LA. September
Combat Wound Initiative: Executive Summary10th International Congress of the International Society for Musculoskeletal Shockwave Therapy. Toronto, Canada. June
Renal Transplantation: The Ethics of Clinical Trial DesignNational Naval Medical Center Ethics Grand Rounds, Bethesda, MD. April
Advanced Operative Imaging: Use of IR and Near-IR to Evaluate Tissue Perfusion and FunctionUPMC Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Pittsburg, PA. March
Cytokine expression correlates with wound dehiscence in wartime extremity injuries2nd Annual Meeting Academic Surgical Congress, Phoenix, AZ. February
Shock Wave Therapy for Acute and Chronic Soft Tissue Wounds: A Phase II Clinical Trial2nd Annual Meeting Academic Surgical Congress, Phoenix, AZ. February
2006
Trauma and the Immune Response: Strategies for SuccessSan Antonio Trauma Symposium, San Antonio, TX, September
Non-invasive Renal Vessel Differentiation During Laparoscopic Donor NephrectomiesWorld Transplant Congress, Boston MA, July
2005
Imaging of Decreased Tissue Perfusion2005 Medical Free Electron Laser Symposium, Stanford, CA: September
Four Year Experience with Alemtuzumab InductionAmerican Transplant Congress, Transplant 2005. Seattle, WA: May
Wound Regeneration and Stem Cell PlasticityIDGA Battlefield Health Care 2005. Washington, DC: March
Transplantation Immunology PrimerACS Basic Science Review Course, Bethesda, MD: January
2004
IR Imaging and Shock2004 Medical Free Electron Laser Symposium, Boston, MA: December
Steroids Have No Calories: Weight Gain Post Transplantation Is Not Prevented By Steroid AvoidanceXX International Congress of the Transplantation Society, Vienna, Austria: September
Correlation Of Renal Resistance Index And Biopsy Proven Chronic Allograft Nephropathy: A Part Of The General Transplant Physical ExamXX International Congress of the Transplantation Society, Vienna, Austria: September
Skin Transplantation in Non-Human PrimatesAATCCC/NATO Conference 2004. St. Petersburg, FL: August
Steroids Have No Calories: Weight Gain Post Transplantation Is Not Prevented By Steroid AvoidanceAmerican Transplant Congress, Transplant 2004. Boston, MA: May
Correlation Of Renal Resistance Index And Biopsy Proven Chronic Allograft Nephropathy: A Part Of The General Transplant Physical ExamAmerican Transplant Congress, Transplant 2004. Boston, MA: May
Correlation Of Renal Resistance Index And Biopsy Proven Chronic Allograft Nephropathy: A Part Of The General Transplant Physical ExamTransplant Fellows’ Conference, Dallas, TX: March
2002
ModeratorUSU Department of Surgery: Surgical Forum.Bethesda, MD: July
Turning Blood Into Kidney: A Model To Test The Capacity of Ex-vivo Expanded Hematopoietic Stem Cells To Differentiate In Vivo Into Renal Epithelial CellsAmerican Transplant Congress, Transplant 2002. Washington, DC: April
Basic Science Review: ImmunologyACS All City Grand Rounds, Washington, DC: April
Soft Tissue SarcomaUniformed Services University, Triservice Grand Rounds. Bethesda, MD: March
2001
Long-term rejection-free survival in primate allotransplantation with costimulation blockadeResident’s Competitive Forum, All Surgeons’ Day, American College of Surgeons.Bethesda MD: March.
Turning Blood Into Liver: A Model To Test Whether Purified And Ex-Vivo Expanded Hematopoietic Stem Cells Can Home, Engraft, And Differentiate In Vivo Into Hepatocytes American Transplant Congress. Chicago, IL: May
2000
Tolerance and immunologyNational Naval Medical Center, Surgical Grand Rounds, Bethesda, MD: November
Blunt carotid artery injuryWashington Hospital Center, Washington Trauma Conference, Washington, DC: November
Long-term rejection-free survival in primate allotransplantation with costimulation blockade XVIII International Congress of the Transplantation SocietyRome, Italy: August
Long-term rejection-free survival in primate allotransplantation with costimulation blockadeTransplant 2000, Annual Scientific Meeting, AST & ASTS, Chicago, IL: May
Skin allograft acceptance with anti-CD154 in a non-human primate model 2000 USUHS Surgery USUHS, Bethesda, MD: March
1999
Adventitial Cystic Disease of the Axillary Artery27th Annunal Vascular Surgery Seminar Society , USUHS, Bethesda, MD: December
Regulatory Genes Bcl-2 and Bax are Induced Immediately Following Ischemic/Reperfusion InjurySurgical Forum, ACS, 1999San Francisco, CA: October
Apoptosis in Renal Ischemia/Repefusion InjuryNNMC Research Forum, Bethesda, MD: July
Primary Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the BreastSoutheastern Surgical Congress, Tampa, FL: February
1998
Unusual Breast Cancer PresentationsNIH Oncology Grand Rounds, Bethesda, MD: December
Genetic Testing for Breast CancerACS All City Grand Rounds, Washington, DC: September
GRANTS(as PI)
Grant: 0130-14-0003-00011 2013-2018 $45.74M total
Surgical Critical Care Initiative
Study Goals: Develop Clinical Decision Support Tools
Grant: D_MIDARA_I_11_J2_490 5/2012-14 $600,000 total
Identification and Enumeration of Bacteria/Fungal Infections in Wounded Warriors for Biomarkers.
Study Goals: Develop 16/18S based bacterial assays
Grant No.: 6.4 RFI 10/2010-2013 DOD DMRDP, $1,120,000 total
Effect of immunomodulatory agents on resuscitation of Non-Human Primates (Macaca fascicularis) after severe uncontrolled hemorrhage. Study Goals: Evaluate lymphocyte manipulation for shock
Grant No.: W00612_11_NM 10/2010-2013 DOD DMRDP, $691,000 total
Systemic Response to Combat Injury and Wound Colonization Study Goals: Link bioburden with the inflammatory response.
Grant No.: D_I_AR_J 10/2010-2013 DOD DMRDP, $399,000 total
Identification and development of endogenous antimicrobial peptides to combat wound infections Study Goals: Evaluate new anti-microbial strategy
Grant No.: OR090136 05/2010-2013 DOD CDMRP PRORP, $891,000 total
Imaging for heterotopic ossification and infection Study Goals: Develop imaging driven diagnostics for combat wounds
Grant No.: Pending 03/2010-2013 DMRDP/ARATDA, $500,000 total
Imaging for wound healing and infection Study Goals: Develop imaging driven diagnostics for combat wounds
Grant No.: 604771N.0933.001.A0604 2/2008- 2012 DOD BUMED 6.4/5 Program Grant, $500,000/yr
Vacuum Assisted Wound Closure Study Goals: Evaluate biomarkers for wound healing
Grant No.: Pending 2/2008- 2012 DOD BUMED 6.4/5 Program Grant, $500,000/yr
Heterotopic Ossification (HO) Study Goals: Mechanisms and treatment of HO
Grant No.: Pending 2010 BUMED WWP, $220,000 total
Vacuum Assisted Wound Closure Support Study Goals: Support for biomarker study
Grant No.: Pending 10/2009-2012 ONR ILIR Grant, $405,000 total
Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Contribution to the Formation of HO Study Goals: Characterize stem cell formation of HO
Grant No.: 601153N.04508.5180.A0801 9/2007-2010 ONR Core Capability Grant, $300,000/yr
Severe Trauma Alters Wound Healing and Tissue Reparative Responses Study Goals: Determine role of trauma in wound healing.
Grant No.: 602236N.42237.W160.A0806 10/2007-2011 DOD Office of Naval Research Grant, $400,000/yr
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Wound Repair: Mechanisms and Effects Study Goals: Determine mechanism of physical energy on wound healing.
Grant No.: 602715E.A0714 8/2007-2008 DARPA Program Grant, $400,000 total
Evaluation of Platelet Substitutes as Haemostatic Agents Study Goals: Evaluate infusible hemostatics
Grant No.: 604771N.0933.001.A0708 8/2007-2008 DOD BUMED 6.4/5 Program Grant $550,000 total
Evaluation of Platelet Substitutes as Haemostatic Agents Study Goals: Evaluate infusible hemostatics
Grant No.: 604771N.0933.001.A0604 2/2006- 2008 DOD BUMED 6.4/5 Program Grant, $200,000/yr
Vacuum Assisted Wound Closure Study Goals: Evaluate biomarkers for wound healing
Grant No.: 602227D.0483.001.A0518 8/2005-2008 Medical Free Electron Laser Program Grant, $399,000/yr
Use of Near-IR to Evaluate Tissue Perfusion and Function Following Ischemia and Trauma Study Goals: Transition of advanced surgical imaging to the clinic
Grant No.: 603729N.02914.W280.A0515 4/2005-2008 DOD Office of Naval Research Grant, $400,000/yr
Lymphocyte Depletion in Hemorrhagic Shock Study Goals: Evaluate immunomodulation of shock
Grant No.: 602236N.04426.B26.A0505 1/2005-2008 DOD Office of Naval Research Core Capability Grant, $450,000/yrRepopulation of Composite Tissue and Solid Organ Transplants with Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cells Study Goals: Determine role of stem cell migration in wound healing
MENTORSHIP
Jonathan Forsberg MD. Winner, Navy-Wide Research Competition, 2007
Jason Hawkswoth MD. 2008 Diane S. Malcolm Research Award. Winner, Navy-Wide Research Competition, 2008. Young Investigator Award, American Transplant Congress, 2008
Trevor Brown PhD. Young Investigator Award, World Transplant Congress, 2008
Korboi Evans MD. Founder’s Award, SOMOS, 2008. Recipient, Charles A. Hufnagel Award, USUHS, 2009. Winner, Washington Orthopedic Association Resident Research Competition, 2009.
Ted Utz MD. AOA Research Scholarship, 2008. Winner, AAS Outstanding Medical Student Award, 2009
Forest Sheppard MD. Finalist, SUS-Wyeth Faculty Development Award, 2009
J Christopher Graybill MD. Recipient, Charles A. Hufnagel Award, USUHS, 2010
Kristin Stevens MD. Recipient, Joseph H. Baugh Award, USUHS, 2010
Fred O’Brien MD. Winner, Navy-Wide Research Competition, 2011 (with Thomas Davis)
Allan Strawn MD. Winner, Navy-Wide Research Competition, 2011 (with Forest Sheppard and Douglas Tadaki)
Mar Melindez MD. Winner, Sheikh Zayed Institute Award for Innovative Surgery, 2011 (with Shawn Safford)
Christiaan Mamczak MD. Winner, Founder’s Award, SOMOS, 2011.
Keith Alferi MD. Winner, WRNMMC Research Competition, 2012 (with Jonathan Forsberg)
Jay Sexton. Winner, Military Research Competition, 2014 (with Tom Davis)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Manuscripts:
- Radowsky JS, Brown TS, Lisboa FA, Rodriguez CJ, Forsberg JA, Elster EA. Serum Inflammatory Cytokine Markers of Invasive Fungal Infection in PreviouslyImmunocompetent Battle Casualties. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2015 Jun 25. [Epubahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26110227.
- Salander JM, Rich NM, Elster EA. Dr. John E. Hutton, Jr., physician toPresident Reagan, buried April 1. Bull Am Coll Surg. 2015 Jun;100(6):58-9. PubMedPMID: 26182530.
- Rowan MP, Cancio LC, Elster EA, Burmeister DM, Rose LF, Natesan S, Chan RK,Christy RJ, Chung KK. Burn wound healing and treatment: review and advancements. Crit Care. 2015 Jun 12;19(1):243. doi: 10.1186/s13054-015-0961-2. PubMed PMID:26067660; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4464872.
- Alfieri KA, Potter BK, Davis TA, Wagner MB, Elster EA, Forsberg JA. PreventingHeterotopic Ossification in Combat Casualties-Which Models Are Best Suited forClinical Use? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015 Apr 28. [Epub ahead of print] PubMedPMID: 25917420.
- Welling DR, Rich NM, Elster E. One Example of a Model Humanitarian Mission.World J Surg. 2015 Mar 31. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25821950.
- Polfer EM, Hope DN, Elster EA, Qureshi AT, Davis TA, Golden D, Potter BK,Forsberg JA. The development of a rat model to investigate the formation ofblast-related post-traumatic heterotopic ossification. Bone Joint J. 2015Apr;97-B(4):572-6. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.97B4.34866. PubMed PMID: 25820900.
- Harris M, Cilwa K, Elster EA, Potter BK, Forsberg JA, Crane NJ. Pilot studyfor detection of early changes in tissue associated with heterotopicossification: moving toward clinical use of Raman spectroscopy. Connect TissueRes. 2015 Apr;56(2):144-52. doi: 10.3109/03008207.2015.1013190. Epub 2015 Mar 4.
PubMed PMID: 25738521.