Group for Research Education & the Future of Transplantation
About This Program
What is GRaFT?
Through active mentorship, the Group for Research Education and the Future of Transplantation (GRaFT) at Massachusetts General Hospital aims to empower students and trainees who are interested in learning more about the field and future of transplantation and organ donation, and equip them with the skills they need to reach their research and academic goals. We strive to foster an equitable, inclusive and productive environment for all, and support people from diverse experiences, skills and backgrounds in their pursuit of academic advancement.
At GRaFT, we emphasize mentorship and collaboration at all levels. Our group comprises people at various stages in their careers, including:
- Undergraduate students
- Medical students
- General surgery residents
- Research fellows
- Clinical transplant fellows
- Transplant surgeons
Group Activities
As a member of GRaFT, you will have the opportunity to:
- Participate in twice monthly virtual meetings to discuss research project progress with associated educational presentations
- Join quarterly in-person social gatherings in Boston
- Access Harvard Catalyst courses and Division of Clinical Research open courses in biostatistics, protocol development, grant application and more
- Receive biostatistics education and basic support
Current Areas of Transplantation Research
- Obesity and abdominal organ transplantation
- Peri-transplant palliative care
- Alcohol related liver disease
- Liver allocation, organ quality and policy research
- Access to transplantation
- Lifestyle and wellness interventions in kidney and liver transplant recipients
- Kidney utilization and discard
- Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) for kidney transplant patients
- Peer mentoring of teen and young adult transplant recipients
- Quality improvement initiatives in transplantation
- Education projects related to organ transplantation and donation
Our Publications and Presentations
Publications
Criss SD, Dageforde LA, Coe TM, Brandes RA, Li S, Keegan-Pitts E, Ritter R, Luby B, Ladin K, Yeh H. Acceptability and Utility of a Virtual Pediatric Transplant Peer Mentoring Program: A Mixed Methods Analysis of a Novel Quality Improvement Program. Pediatric Transplantation. Accepted for Publication June 2022
Chirban AM, Shah A, Coe TM, Yeh H, Galpern J, Witchey J, Castaldo L, Elias N, Fitch A, Dageforde LA. Understand the Patient Perspective of Weight Management While on the Liver Transplant Waitlist. Clinical Transplantation. Submitted November 2021. Revisions under review
Coe TM, Chirban AM, McBroom TJ, Cloonan DJ, Brownlee SA, Moses J, Yeh H, Petrusa E, Saillant N, Dageforde LA. Virtual Student-Transplant Patient Interactions Empower Patients and Enhance Student Transplantation Knowledge. American Journal of Surgery. 2021 Dec;222(6):1120-1125
Coe TM, McBroom TC, Brownlee SA, Regan K, Bartels S, Saillant N, Yeh H, Petrusa E, Dageforde LA. Medical Students and Patients Benefit from Virtual Non-Medical Interactions due to COVID-19. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development. 2021 July 21;8:23821205211028343
Cloonan D, Dageforde LA. Utilization and Effectiveness of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network ‘Safety-Net’ Policy. Surgery. Accepted December 2021
Cloonan D, Dageforde LA, Coe T. Future Transplant Surgeons. The Academic Surgeon. Sept 24, 2021
Presentations at National Meetings
Coe TM, Chirban A, McBroom TJ, Brownlee SA, Bartels S, Saillant N, Yeh H, Dageforde LA. Virtual Student-Transplant Patient Interactions Empower Patients and Enhance Student Transplantation Knowledge. Association for Surgical Education Annual Meeting. April 27 – May 1, 2020. Plenary Presentation
Shah A, Aaron A, Yeh H, Kawai T, Simpson JC, D’Alessandro D, Markmann J, Crowley J, Dageforde LA. Use of Biventricular Assist Devices for Acute Heart Failure After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: A Case Report. AHPBA August 1-5, 2021. Mini Oral Presentation
Chirban A, Shah A, Fruscione M, Aaron A, Yeh H, Elias N, Dageforde LA. Pre-Liver Transplant Patient Perspective on Weight and Activity Level. AHPBA Aug 1-5,2021. Mini Oral Presentation
Chirban AM, Shah A, Coe TM, Yeh H, Galpern J, Witchey J, Castaldo L, Elias N, Fitch A, Dageforde LA. Pre-Liver Transplant Patient Perception of Current Weight and weight Loss Motivation. American College of Surgeons. October 2021. Poster Presentation
Criss SD*, Dageforde LA*, Coe TM, Brandes RA, Li S, Keegan-Pitts E, Ritter R, Luby B, Ladin K, Yeh H. Development and Virtual Adaptation of a Pediatric Transplant Peer Support Program. Academic Surgical Congress February 1-3, 2022. Quickshot Presentation
Chirban AM, Shah A, Coe TM, Yeh H, Galpern J, Witchey J, Castaldo L, Elias N, Fitch A, Dageforde LA. Pre-Liver Transplant Patient Perception of Stress and Stress management. Academic Surgical Congress February 1-3, 2022. Quickshot Presentation
Cloonan DJ, Broekhuis JM, Coe TM, Criss A, Li S, Bethea ED, Yeh H, Dageforde LA. Preferred Language And Disease Severity Predict Evaluation For Liver Transplantation Among Patients Admitted With Alcoholic Hepatitis. American Transplant Congress. June 4-8, 2022. Poster Presentation
Cloonan MC, Cloonan DJ, Westphal SG, Dageforde LA, Merani S. Long-Term Implication of Kidney Injury Prior to Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver Failure. American Transplant Congress. June 4-8, 2022. Poster Presentation · Mazur R, Cron D, Yeh H, Chang D, Dageforde LA. Evaluating the Impact of the National Liver Review Board on Regional Variation in Quality of Transplanted Livers for Patients with and without Hepatocellular Carcinoma. The 103rd New England Surgical Society Annual Meeting. September 19-18, 2022. Oral Presentation
Mazur R, Cron D, Yeh H, Chang D, Dageforde LA. Impact Of National Liver Review Board On Quality Of Transplanted Livers For Patients With And Without Hepatocellular Carcinoma. American College of Surgeons. October 2022. Poster Presentation
Podcasts Featuring Our Members
Behind the Knife:
Surgical Technique: Kidney Transplant: Part One
Surgical Technique: Kidney Transplant: Part Two
Charged, the Mass General podcast:
Restoring Life Through Transplant Surgery
Meet Our Transplantation Team
Surgeons
Leigh Anne Dageforde, MD, MPH
Transplant Surgeon, Mass General
Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School
Nahel Elias, MD
Surgical Director, Kidney Transplantation
Chair of Quality Improvement, Transplant Center, Mass General
Heidi Yeh, MD
Associate Professor in Surgery, Harvard Medical School Associate Director Liver Transplant Program
Surgical Director, Pediatric Transplant, Mass General
Active Members
Post-doctoral research fellows
- Dave Cron, MD
- Srilakshmi Atthota, MBBS
- Greg Leya, MD, MBA
Clinical general surgery residents
Medical students from:
- Harvard Medical School
- Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine
- Tufts University School of Medicine
- Touro University
- Washington State School of Medicine
- UC San Diego School of Medicine
Pre-medical undergraduate students from:
- Boston University
- Boston College
Available Positions
General Group Membership
To join GRaFT, interested students and undergraduates can email their CV and a short description of research interests and desired commitment level to our group at GRaFT@mgh.harvard.edu.
Research Fellow or Post-Doc
This is an unpaid one-to-two-year position available every year starting in July.
In addition to advancing our ongoing innovative projects, GRaFT research fellows and post-docs are strongly encouraged to pursue their research interests and take advantage of resources and experts in the Mass General Department of Surgery. The experience provides fellows with necessary skills, support and professional development opportunities to meet their academic and career goals. Additionally, post-doctoral research fellows are expected to help with organizing GRaFT meetings and communications, educational talks, and mentoring of junior residents and students.
Though this is a non-funded position, the applicant must have funding through another medical school or residency.
Qualifications
- MD or MD-PhD
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident (note that we are not able to provide visas)
- Excellent proficiency of the English language
- Biostatistics familiarity, experience in using statical packages (SPSS, STATA, R) preferred
- Two letters of support from previous/current supervisors
Interested applicants can email their CV and a short description of research interests to our group at GRaFT@mgh.harvard.edu.
Support the Transplant Center
When you support the Transplant Center, you are making a significant impact to advancing patient care, research and education at the hospital.