Research team

Surgery Service Line Research

The Surgery Service Line Research team supports the mission, vision, and values of Inova by integrating research and clinical practice. We put the patient first by constantly evaluating and improving our clinical practice and by introducing and studying new, improved treatments methods. We participate in innovative clinical trials that focus on improving our patients' quality of life. We strive to provide a collaborative research environment for our trainees, clinicians, and partners.

Surgery Service Line Research includes faculty members, affiliated surgeons, and investigators who are involved in research studies and clinical trials. The Inova Fairfax campus is strategically located in Northern Virginia in close proximity to Washington, DC, serving and caring for a culturally rich and diverse population. This allows us to study and address critical disparities in healthcare within our community.

Our team supports the research efforts for surgical services offered at all Inova hospitals in the region, including breast, cancer, cardiac, colorectal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, general, ophthalmology, plastic, thoracic, transplant, trauma, and vascular surgery care. As the only designated and verified Level 1 trauma center in Northern Virginia, the Inova Trauma Center has dedicated research staff who especially focus on improving safety, education, and trauma patient care through research.

Director of Research

Stefan Leichtle, MD, MBA, FACS

Dr. Stefan Leichtle is the Research Director for the Surgery Service Line. He is a Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon, Associate Trauma Medical Director, and Associate Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program Director at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, and an Associate Professor of Education at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. 

Core Research Team

Lori Schlege, RN, BSN, CCRCl
Research Manager

Saima Shafique, MS, MPH, PhD
Surgical Epidemiology Biostatistician

Arkadii Sipok, MD, PhD
Surgery Projects Research Coordinator

Hannah Jang, BSN, RN
Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator

Alma Khan, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, GERO-BC
Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator

Jane-Ann Norton, BS, CCRP
Clinical Research Regulatory Coordinator

Trauma Research

Laura Madarasz, MS, CCRC
Trauma Research Manager

Elena Lita, BS
Clinical Research Coordinator, Trauma

Blaise Hartsoe, MA
CIREN Program Coordinator, Trauma

Stephen Everhart
CIREN Crash Reconstructionist, Trauma

Projects

Resources

The Surgery Service Line, Department of Research, offers the following support to our researchers:

  • Protocol development
  • Regulatory consults
  • IRB submissions
  • Liaising with Office of Research at Inova and others for clinical research study start up (budgets, contracts, business office, pharmacy, lab)
  • Statistical analysis (power analysis; results analysis and interpretation)
  • Abstract writing
  • Manuscript and presentation support
  • Grant writing and submission
  • Research mentorship and support
  • Quarterly research education
  • Monthly SSL Research Committee reviews

Contact Us

Contact the Department of Surgery Research at Inova for research inquiries, education, and training opportunities: surgery.research@inova.org.

Make a Gift to Surgery and Research

About the Foundation:

The Surgery Research and Education Foundation in partnership with the Inova Health Foundation helps enhance the support for our research and education efforts. The private support we receive through this foundation enables us to provide world-class surgical education to medical students, residents, nurses, and faculty which impacts the lives of our patients. The direct impact of this foundation was the expansion of the Advanced Surgical Technology and Education Center (ASTEC). Additionally, this foundation supports our research efforts which affects our community by providing the necessary infrastructure our young and seasoned researchers need to change our patient experience, treatments, and outcomes.

Support Inova with a gift that saves lives!