Conference Activity

See a map of all the places I have contributed to a conference presentation.

Lymph node yield is not associated with survival in total laryngectomy patients

May 15, 2025

Poster, American Head and Neck Society Annual Meeting at COSM, New Orleans, LA, USA

Lymph node yield (LNY) has been proposed as a quality metric in head and neck cancer care, but its impact on outcomes in total laryngectomy (TL) remains unclear. Analyzing 699 TL patients, this poster found that LNY≥18 was not independently associated with improved overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), or regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS), even after adjusting for covariates. These findings suggest that LNY may not be a reliable standalone metric for predicting oncologic outcomes in TL patients.

Recommended citation: Jin W, Habib DR, Si CD, Swain BB, Sridhar S, Sinard R, Topf MC. Lymph node yield is not associated with survival in total laryngectomy patients. Poster at: American Head and Neck Society Annual Meeting at COSM; May 15, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA.

Outcomes following neoadjuvant immunotherapy for oral cavity cancer: A propensity score matched analysis of the National Cancer Database

May 15, 2025

Poster, American Head and Neck Society Annual Meeting at COSM, New Orleans, LA, USA

This poster discussed how neoadjuvant immunotherapy (NI) for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is a promising approach, but its impact on surgical outcomes and survival has not been well studied. From over 31,000 patients, 1% receieved NI. We found that patients receiving NI had similar postoperative outcomes 30-day mortality, unplanned 30-day readmission, hospital length of stay, surgical margin status, and time to adjuvant radiation. However, NI was associated with improved overall survival, as shown by both Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analyses. These findings suggest NI may enhance survival without worsening postoperative outcomes for OCSCC patients, pending validation through future clinical trial results. For more details, see slide deck.

Recommended citation: Habib DRS, Shou M, Naranjo C, Adegboye FO, Philips R, Tassone P, Langerman A, Khan A, Topf MC. Outcomes following neoadjuvant immunotherapy for oral cavity cancer: A propensity score matched analysis of the National Cancer Database. Poster presented at: American Head and Neck Society Annual Meeting at COSM; May 15, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA.

Kaplan-Meier Survival Curves by Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy

Adjuvant chemotherapy does not improve overall survival in positive surgical margin oral cavity cancer patients without extranodal extension

May 15, 2025

Poster, American Head and Neck Society Annual Meeting at COSM, New Orleans, LA, USA

The benefit of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) over radiotherapy (RT) alone for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) patients with positive margins but no extranodal extension (ENE) remains unclear after two landmark clinical trials (EORTC 229311 and RTOG 95-01) included only a small minority of patients with positives margins and no ENE. Among a matched cohort of National Cancer Database (NCDB) patients with positive margins but no ENE, this poster found no overall survival (OS) benefit for CRT compared to RT alone. These findings highlight the need for further research to refine adjuvant therapy recommendations for specific high-risk groups.

Recommended citation: Habib DRS, Li Y, Tassone P, Philips RH, Yalamanchi P, Holsinger FC, Topf MC. Adjuvant chemotherapy does not improve overall survival in positive surgical margin oral cavity cancer patients without extranodal extension. Poster presented at: American Head and Neck Society Annual Meeting at COSM; May 15, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA.

Kaplan-Meier Survival Curves by Postoperative Therapy with and without Extranodal Extension

Neuropsychological effects of GPi deep brain stimulation in medication resistant dystonia

April 25, 2025

Poster, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, USA

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus interna (GPi) is a treatment option for dystonia, but its effects on neuropsychological functions are not well understood. This poster examines whether DBS affects thinking and mood in patients with treatment-resistant dystonia by analyzing pre- and post-surgery neuropsychological test results. We found no significant changes in depression, anxiety, memory, attention, or other cognitive functions after surgery. These results suggest that GPi DBS is a safe treatment for treatment-resistant dystonia without negative effects on mental functions.

Recommended citation: Bishay AE, Tay A, Habib DRS, Qian H, Ball TJ, Englot DJ, Dhima K, Bick SK. Neuropsychological effects of GPi deep brain stimulation in medication resistant dystonia. Poster presented at: American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting; April 25, 2025; Boston, MA, USA.

Patient-reported non-routine events for same-day discharge after mastectomy

April 06, 2025

Poster, Southwestern Surgical Congress Annual Meeting, Sonoma, CA, USA

This poster describes how patients discharged the same day as their mastectomy often encounter non-routine events (NREs), or deviations from expected medical care, that can significantly impact their experience. Patients reported NREs such as post-surgical discomfort, communication gaps, and challenges navigating the hospital. While most NREs were mild and preventable, they highlight the need for addressing uncertainties and establishing a reliable line of communication during the transition from hospital to home.

Recommended citation: Habib DRS, Sullivan LE, Salwei ME, Hewitt KC. Patient-reported non-routine events for same-day discharge after mastectomy. Poster presented at: Southwestern Surgical Congress Annual Meeting; April 6, 2025; Sonoma, CA, USA.

Table with columns: NRE Theme (Subtheme), Patient Response to NRE, Was NRE Preventable?, NRE Severity, Did NRE change condition/treatment?

Risk factors and rates for hypocalcemia after pediatric thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

January 23, 2025

Oral Presentation, Triological Combined Sections Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA

This oral presentation determined hypocalcemia rates and risk factors following total thyroid removal surgery in children. This work reviewed 67 studies with over 7,000 pediatric patients to determine how often transient (lasting under 6 months) and permanent (lasting over 6 months) hypocalcemia occur. Our results established that the pooled incidence rates were 32.1% for any hypocalcemia, 25.2% for transient hypocalcemia, and 7.4% for permanent hypocalcemia. We found thyroid cancer, Graves’ disease, and lymph node dissection to be risk factors for hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy in children.

Recommended citation: Aweeda M, Fassler C, Habib DRS, Miller AB, Ortega C, Prasad K, Chen CL, Lopez M, Duffus SH, Belcher RH. Risk factors and rates for hypocalcemia after pediatric thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Oral presentation at: Triological Combined Sections Meeting; January 23, 2025; Orlando, FL, USA.

Association of neoadjuvant immunotherapy with postoperative major morbidity after oncologic surgery

October 19, 2024

Poster, Surgical Outcomes Club Annual Scientific Session, San Francisco, CA, USA

This poster assessed the impact of neoadjuvant immunotherapy on surgical outcomes across six cancer types using the National Cancer Database. Among 953,612 patients who underwent non-palliative oncologic surgery, only 0.5% received neoadjuvant immunotherapy. The analysis found no significant association between neoadjuvant immunotherapy and major postoperative complications in rectal, colon, anal, esophageal, lung (non-small cell), or oral cancers. The findings suggest that neoadjuvant immunotherapy does not increase the risk of postoperative complications.

Recommended citation: Habib DRS, Shou M, Idrees K, Khan A. Association of neoadjuvant immunotherapy with postoperative major morbidity after oncologic surgery. Poster presented at: Surgical Outcomes Club Annual Scientific Session; October 19, 2024; San Francisco, CA, USA.

Forest plot of Adjusted Odds Ratios for Major Morbidity Associated with Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy by Cancer Type

Facilitating primary care connections for emergency department discharge patients

September 24, 2024

Poster, American Interprofessional Health Collaborative Nexus Summit, Virtual

This poster addresses Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding and barriers to primary care physician (PCP) follow-up. Our interprofessional team identified patients with chronic conditions in the ED, conducted telephone surveys, provided primary care education, and linked patients with appropriate clinics. Of the 78 patients identified, 67 were reachable, and 18 completed the survey. Barriers included language, financial insecurity, and low medical literacy. Post-education, all patients correctly defined a PCP. In sum, many patients visit the ED due to barriers in accessing primary care and a lack of understanding of PCPs. Addressing these barriers, considering individual complexities, and expanding social work support are crucial to reducing ED overcrowding and improving health equity.

Recommended citation: Habib DRS, Labenberg A, Bilicki M. Facilitating primary care connections for emergency department discharge patients. Poster presented at: American Interprofessional Health Collaborative Nexus Summit; September 24, 2024; Virtual.

Bar graph depicting responses about barriers to primary care physician follow-up and reasons to go to the emergency department instead of Urgent Care or a primary care physician

Impact of neoadjuvant immunotherapy on postoperative complications after oncologic surgery

September 06, 2024

Oral Presentation, Society of Asian Academic Surgeons Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA

This study examines the impact of neoadjuvant immunotherapy on postoperative complications in various cancers. We analyzed data from over 950,000 cases involving curative-intent cancer surgery between 2010 and 2020, 0.5% of which were preceded by immunotherapy. Our findings indicate that neoadjuvant immunotherapy does not significantly increase postoperative major morbidity, suggesting surgery in the setting of neoadjuvant immunotherapy is safe.

Recommended citation: Shou M, Habib DRS, Idrees K, Khan A. Impact of neoadjuvant immunotherapy on postoperative complications after oncologic surgery. Oral presentation at: Society of Asian Academic Surgeons Annual Meeting; September 6, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA.

Flowchart of inclusion criteria for cancer surgery patients by neoadjuvant immunotherapy

Mood and cognitive effects of deep brain stimulation for essential tremor

June 03, 2024

Poster, American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Biennial Meeting, Nashville, TN, USA

This poster discussed the impact of ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) DBS on anxiety, depression, and cognition in essential tremor (ET) patients. Our results suggest that VIM DBS for ET is unlikely to cause adverse neuropsychological changes.

Recommended citation: Bishay T, Lyons AT, Habib DRS, Hughes NC, Qian H, Summers JE, Ball, TJ, Englot, DJ, Dhima K, Bick SK. Mood and cognitive effects of deep brain stimulation for essential tremor. Poster presented at: American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Biennial Meeting; June 3, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA.

NCCN guideline adherence in rectal cancer and outcomes in low-volume vs. high-volume centers

June 02, 2024

Oral Presentation, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, Baltimore, MD, USA

This study investigated if adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines would reduce disparities in oncologic outcomes between rectal cancer patients treated at high-volume and low-volume centers. Using 55,497 patients from the the National Cancer Database (NCDB), we found a survival benefit associated with adherence to NCCN guidelines and treatment at high-volume centers. While controlling for NCCN adherence alone does not remove the survival benefit at high-volume centers, this analysis shows that controlling for specific high-risk tumor and patient factors can mitigate this difference.

Recommended citation: Shroder M, Bai K, Habib DRS, Ye F, Hawkins A, Khan A. NCCN guideline adherence in rectal cancer and outcomes in low-volume vs. high-volume centers. Oral presentation at: American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting; June 2, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA.

Graph of Kaplan-Meier curve with y-axis survival probability, x-axis months, lower red line denoting no NCCN adherence, and upper teal line denoting NCCN adherence

Augmented reality in facial plastic & reconstructive surgery: A systematic review

May 15, 2024

Poster, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Annual Meeting at COSM, Chicago, IL, USA

This poster discussed the applications, uses, and limitations of augmented reality (AR) in facial plastics and reconstructive surgery (FPRS). The most significant areas of application are within hard tissue reconstructions such as orthognathic surgery and trauma. AR has a significant applications in preoperative planning, intraoperative guidance, and postoperative assessment. The most common AR modality is head-mounted display, with computer-assisted design (CAD)/computer-assisted modification (CAM) and mobile app/monitor following closely behind. Soft tissue AR visualization, manual registration not keeping up with tissue rearrangement, and AR availability/unfamiliarity are challenges for AR applications in FPRS to break past its predominantly preclinical stage.

Recommended citation: Adegboye F, Si CD, Habib DRS, Stephan SJ, Patel PN, Yang SF. Augmented reality in facial plastic & reconstructive surgery: A systematic review. Poster presented at: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Annual Meeting at COSM; May 15, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA.

Bar graph of purpose/setting on y-axis and number of included studies on x-axis with two orange bars depicting the most common purposes of intraoperative guide and preoperative planning

Novel substance use and support themes on Reddit: Lessons for researchers and practitioners

November 14, 2023

Poster, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA

This poster discussed how to leverage big data from Reddit to identify and analyze substance use and support themes in popular subreddits related to substance use. This project captured fast-evolving substance use and harm-reduction patterns that can improve practitioners’ understanding of diverse substance use experiences. Additionally, our annotated list of subreddits will help researchers immediately identify relevant online communities to monitor emerging substances and routes of administration, identify benefits of digital recovery networks, analyze substance use and support language, and develop targeted secondary prevention strategies.

Recommended citation: Habib D, Giorgi S, Kady A, Demko Z, Curtis B. Novel substance use and support themes on Reddit: Lessons for researchers and practitioners. Poster presented at: American Public Health Association Annual Meeting; November 14, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA.

Red word cloud showing words related to different substance use categories with larger and darker words being more common

Flap to floor: Free flap comparative outcomes outside the ICU

October 01, 2023

Oral Presentation, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN, USA

This presentation examined operative outcomes for patients transferred to a general ward following microvascular free flap reconstruction of the head and neck as compared to patients transferred to an intensive care unit (ICU). We found that there was no change in overall hospital length of stay (LOS), postoperative complications, readmission rates, or flap failure rates. We found a significant decrease in ICU LOS despite a significant increase in rapid responses. Transfer to a stepdown unit rather than an ICU would allow for a better quality hospital experience with improved sleep, decreased cost of care, and a higher number of available ICU beds for patients in greater need of critical care management with no significant increase in postoperative complications.

Recommended citation: Prasad K, Stevens MN, Sharma R, Habib D, West M, Langerman A, Mannion K, Rosenthal E, Topf MC, Rohde S. Flap to floor: Free flap comparative outcomes outside the ICU. Oral presentation at: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting; October 1, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA.

Infographic comparing rates of readmission, complications, flap failure, ancillary consults, and rapid responses between patients initially transferred to stepdown versus ICU

How often is cancer present in oral cavity re-resections after initial positive margins?

May 04, 2023

Poster, Triological Society Annual Meeting at COSM, Boston, MA, USA

This poster discussed the frequency of carcinoma in oral cavity re-resections, oncologic outcomes of reresection after a positive margin, and difficulties surgeons may experience relocating the site of positive margin and resecting the remaining cancer.

Recommended citation: Prasad K, Sharma R, Habib D, Sinard R, Mannion K, Rohde S, Langerman A, Netterville J, Rosenthal E, Lewis JS, Topf MC. How often is cancer present in oral cavity re-resections after initial positive margins? Poster presented at: Triological Society Annual Meeting at COSM; May 4, 2023; Boston, MA, USA.

Graphic of oral cavity with cancer with arrow pointing to re-resection specimens with and without cancer

Trends in the dehumanization of people who use drugs in American news articles from 1986 to 2020

November 09, 2022

Roundtable Presentation, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, USA

This presentation leveraged big data to study dehumanizing language throughough the War on Drugs to today. We discovered trends that can help inform humanization strategies specific to each substance to which stereotypes are attributed.

Recommended citation: Habib D, Curtis B, Giorgi S, Bellew D. Trends in the dehumanization of people who use drugs in American news articles from 1986 to 2020. Roundtable presentation at: American Public Health Association Annual Meeting; November 9, 2022; Boston, MA, USA.

Timeline of Key Drug-Related Events from 1971 to 2021

Segregation, coronavirus racial bias, and relationships with COVID-19 distress

November 07, 2022

Roundtable Presentation, American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, USA

This presentation showed how both individual coronavirus racial bias and county-level segregation were associated with pandemic distress while higher social status and social support had a protective effect.

Recommended citation: Habib D, Curtis B, Giorgi S, Turpin R. Segregation, coronavirus racial bias, and relationships with COVID-19 distress. Roundtable presentation at: American Public Health Association Annual Meeting; November 7, 2022; Boston, MA, USA.

Applying social network theory to vaping in high school: Implications for school-based prevention programs

July 15, 2022

Oral Presentation, XLII International Social Networks Conference, Virtual

Vaping in high schools has skyrocketed partly due to social factors. Peer influence on risky behavior is especially potent in adolescence and varies by gender. Smoking prevention programs focused on peer-group leaders have shown great promise, and a social influence model has proved effective in understanding adult smoking networks but has not been applied to adolescent vaping. This study applies the social influence model to vaping in a high school social network and helps inform school-based vaping prevention programs by examining the roles of social network centrality and gender on vaping behavior. An online survey was emailed to a high school’s student body asking for gender, age, grade level, vape status, self-reported peer influence status, and the names of three friends. Available at github.com/njha02/surveyAnalysis, custom Java and MATLAB scripts were used to read the survey data spreadsheet, create a directed graph, compute centrality measures, and perform student’s t-tests to compare centrality measures by gender and vape status. Of 192 students in the school, 102 students responded to the survey. Students who vape were in more tightly knit friend groups than students who do not vape (p<0.05). Compared to males who vape, females who vape had more social ties to other students who vape, exhibiting greater homophily (p<0.01). Compared to females who do not vape, females who vape were in more tightly knit friend groups (p<0.05) and had more ties to other students who vape (p<0.01). Applying social network theory can reveal previously untapped information to address vaping among a unique student body. In this case, an intervention targeting close-knit networks may prove more effective for females than males, but establishing trends across student bodies requires additional research to control for differences between schools (e.g., public/private or urban/rural). This study supports a general framework for assessing peer-influenced behavior.

Recommended citation: Habib D, Jha Na, Jha Ni, Curtis B. Applying social network theory to vaping in high school: Implications for school-based prevention programs. Oral presentation at: XLII International Social Networks Conference; July 15, 2022; Virtual.

Network Graph With Arrows Between Nodes Representing High School Students and Their Friends Colored in Blue if They Do Not Vape and Red if They Do Vape

A preliminary network analysis of blighted neighborhoods in Baltimore City

July 14, 2022

Oral Presentation, XLII International Social Networks Conference, Virtual

Although literature exists on the contagion effect of neighborhood blight, this study aims to take the field a step further by applying network analysis to the spread of vacant properties in Baltimore. Data on vacant properties from Open Baltimore were used to create a city-wide network of vacancies. The spread of neighborhood blight was measured in different sized communities, and network metrics were leveraged to select what vacancies upon rehabilitation would minimize the influence of neighborhood blight on future vacancies. Rehabilitation programs were found to be most effective when they had a larger number of possible rehabilitations, began earlier, and selected vacant properties that exhibited higher connectivity. Although currently available network metrics are not ideal for minimizing neighborhood blight, the use of outdegree shows promise to warrant future work on developing predictive algorithms that can estimate what properties would likely become vacant and hence whose predecessors should be targeted for rehabilitation. When supplemented with sociodemographic considerations and predictive algorithms, these findings can inform the optimal selection of vacancies to rehabilitate and thus most effectively mitigate the spread of neighborhood blight.

Recommended citation: Mitsinikos C, Habib D. A preliminary network analysis of blighted neighborhoods in Baltimore City. Oral presentation at: XLII International Social Networks Conference; July 14, 2022; Virtual.

Large, Medium, and Small Network Graphs Representing Vacant Properties

The balance between health resource-oriented and restrictive COVID-19 policies in the Middle East

October 05, 2021

Oral Presentation, COVID-19 Public Health and Social Measures Research Outcome Conference, Virtual

This presentation highlighted disparities in how Middle Eastern countries with different fragility scores handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommended citation: Habib D, Elmore N, Gulas S, Ruhde N, Mathew D. The balance between health resource-oriented and restrictive COVID-19 policies in the Middle East. Oral presentation at: COVID-19 Public Health and Social Measures Research Outcome Conference; October 5, 2021; Virtual.

Linear Regression Graph Depicting an Association between Higher State Fragility and Higher Proportion of Restrictive rather than Health-resource Oriented COVID-19 Policies

Nuclear stiffening along with RhoGEF activity regulate RhoA/MyosinII-dependent contractility and cell migration phenotype in confinement

October 16, 2020

Poster, Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Virtual

This presentation highlighted signaling pathways that are activated in invasive breast cancer cells when nuclei are confined during migration in synthetic microfluidic devices – a finding that can be extrapolated to contricted passageways in the body such as pre-existing perineural spaces and bone cavities or channels created by macrophages and cancer-associated fibroblasts through ECM remodeling.

Recommended citation: Wisniewski E, Mistriotis P, Bera K, Zhang J, Nikolic M, Tuntithavornwat S, Law R, Zhao R, Habib D, Kalab P, Scarcelli G, Konstantopoulos K. Nuclear stiffening along with RhoGEF activity regulate RhoA/MyosinII-dependent contractility and cell migration phenotype in confinement. Poster presented at: Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting; October 16, 2020; Virtual.

Graphic of Breast Cancer Cell with Increased Cytoplasmic Pressure due to Channel Confinement that Leads to Increased MyosinII Activity at the Back of the Cell

Daniel Habib

Conference Activity