Research interests and approaches: My research focuses on utilizing novel therapies to improve outcomes in surgical and critical care patients. We are interested in using high intensity blue light to reduce organ injury in sepsis and pneumonia. We have identified the complex neural pathways by which light exerts its effect and seek to determine the circadian protein expression in innate immune effector cells. We continue to develop prospective clinical trials for patients at UTMCK to study these novel therapies in the clinical setting. I am also interested in determining ways to incorporate chest wall stabilization to improve outcomes in trauma patients with rib fractures.