ASCI / Young Physician-Scientist Awards, 2024
The Young Physician-Scientist Awards (YPSA) recognize physician-scientists who are early in their first faculty appointment and have made notable achievements in their research.
About the awardee
Lisa Rong, MD, appointed as Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology in 2016 on a 100% clinical track without a prior research background, made an unusual transition into clinical research in 2018 when she was awarded a Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) clinical training grant, which jumpstarted her research career, leading to a Masters degree in clinical epidemiology and health services research, and a K23 grant award in 2021. Her research accomplishments have been exceptional. She has distinguished herself through her ability to design and execute sophisticated clinical trial protocols of intraoperative imaging to address key knowledge gaps with the goal of improved patient outcomes in cardiac surgery. Her productivity has been remarkable: she has published 81 peer reviewed papers with 52 as first/senior author. She is currently in the third year of her K23 award, is coinvestigator for an active R01, and is submitting her own R01 proposal in February. Her outstanding track record of academic productivity and grant funding has been paralleled by her national recognition as a leading expert in cardiac anesthesiology, in roles as chair of the American Heart Association statement on perioperative transesophageal echocardiography and director-at-large on the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) board of directors. She also has developed a national reputation for mentoring women and advocacy for women in research, including proposing the SCA Diversity Grant for those underrepresented in research. She is exemplary for her successful transition from a clinically focused career into a successful physician-scientist.