Anesthesia Researcher Wins

2016 E. Donnall Thomas Prize

COOPERSTOWN – Shashank Kotakonda, M.D., internal medicine resident in his third year of training at Bassett Hospital, has won the 2016 E. Donnall Thomas Award for exceptional research.

The award is named for the Bassett’s physician-in-chief from 1955 to 1963, who received the 1990 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation.  He performed the first such transplant at Bassett in 1956.

Kotakonda’s research study project is titled “Topical Pharyngeal Anesthesia during Sedation for EGD.” The study explores differences in patient tolerance during an EGD (upper endoscopy procedure) when topical pharyngeal anesthetics are used in conjunction with intravenous sedatives.

Kotakonda worked on the study project at Bassett with mentors Sheikh A. Saleem, M.D., and David Ullman, M.D., at Bassett Medical Center.

The study explored combining topical pharyngeal anesthetics with sedatives such as Propofol.  “This combination may ease the endoscopy experience by diminishing the gag reflex, thereby improving patient tolerance during the procedure, which is our ultimate goal,” the researcher said.

Kotakonda earned his medical degree from Andhra Medical College in India. After completing his residency at Bassett, he plans to specialize in hospital medicine.