Grigor S Simitian studies how the social and economic conditions of a community can influence whether patients have access to skilled surgeons, particularly for thyroid surgeries. He is particularly interested in how factors like education, healthcare resources, and insurance status affect the likelihood of patients receiving surgery from high-volume surgeons—surgeons who perform a large number of operations annually and usually have better patient outcomes. His work looks specifically at the challenges faced by patients from disadvantaged neighborhoods, revealing critical insights into health inequities.
Key findings
Patients from socially vulnerable communities are 30% less likely to receive care from high-volume surgeons compared to those from more advantaged communities.
Among nearly 376,000 thyroid surgeries analyzed, uninsured patients had a 25% higher chance of being treated by less experienced surgeons.
Men are 20% more likely than women to be treated by high-volume surgeons, indicating a gender disparity in surgical care access.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Simitian study thyroid surgery?
Yes, Dr. Simitian's research specifically focuses on thyroid surgery and the factors affecting access to skilled surgeons for this procedure.
What factors influence whether patients see experienced surgeons?
Dr. Simitian's work shows that community education levels, healthcare resources, and insurance status significantly influence access to high-volume surgeons.
Is Dr. Simitian's work relevant to patients from lower-income communities?
Yes, his research highlights the healthcare access disparities faced by patients from lower-income communities, showing how these factors can lead to poorer surgical outcomes.
Publications in plain English
The association of community-level social vulnerability with access to high-volume endocrine surgeons.
2026
Surgery
Kheng M, Manzella A, Simitian G, Laird AM, Beninato T
Plain English Researchers looked at whether people living in disadvantaged neighborhoods were less likely to have their thyroid surgery performed by experienced surgeons (those doing 50+ surgeries annually). They analyzed nearly 376,000 thyroid surgeries and found that patients from communities with worse education and healthcare resources were significantly less likely to see high-volume surgeons—the ones who typically have better outcomes—while uninsured patients and men were also less likely to get these experienced surgeons.
This matters because getting surgery from an experienced surgeon leads to fewer complications, and right now the healthcare system is failing patients from poorer, less-educated communities by funneling them toward less-experienced surgeons.
Consequences of anastomotic leaks after minimally invasive esophagectomy: A single-center experience.
2023
Surgery open science
Simitian GS, Hall DJ, Leverson G, Lushaj EB, Lewis EE +3 more
Plain English This study looked at the impact of anastomotic leaks, which are complications that can occur after minimally invasive surgery to remove esophageal tumors. Out of 172 patients, 35 experienced a leak, leading to longer hospital stays (about 18 days compared to 10 days for those without a leak) and more treatments needed afterward. However, these leaks did not affect how long patients lived, as survival rates were similar one and five years later for both groups.
Who this helps: This information benefits patients and doctors by identifying complications to watch for and manage after surgery.
Microfluidics in vascular biology research: a critical review for engineers, biologists, and clinicians.
2022
Lab on a chip
Simitian G, Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Sánchez-de-Diego C, Beebe DJ, Kosoff D
Plain English This paper examines how microfluidic technology can improve the study of new blood vessel formation, which is important for understanding various health conditions. The authors find that microfluidic models can better mimic natural processes than traditional methods, allowing researchers to control factors like cell interactions and nutrient flow. This matters because it could enhance drug discovery and improve treatment strategies for diseases related to blood vessel growth.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors working on vascular diseases and treatments.
In search of constrained FTY720 and phytosphingosine analogs as dual acting anticancer agents targeting metabolic and epigenetic pathways.
2018
European journal of medicinal chemistry
Garsi JB, Sernissi L, Vece V, Hanessian S, McCracken AN +2 more
Plain English Researchers created new versions of two cancer-fighting compounds, FTY720 and phytosphingosine, to see how they impact cancer cells. They found that these new compounds can reduce cancer cell survival and disrupt nutrient transport, but attempts to inhibit certain cancer-related proteins didn't work as hoped. This study is important because it contributes to the search for effective cancer treatments by targeting the way cancer cells metabolize and grow.
Who this helps: This helps cancer patients seeking more effective treatment options.
Effects of stereochemistry, saturation, and hydrocarbon chain length on the ability of synthetic constrained azacyclic sphingolipids to trigger nutrient transporter down-regulation, vacuolation, and cell death.
2016
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
Perryman MS, Tessier J, Wiher T, O'Donoghue H, McCracken AN +7 more
Plain English Researchers looked at different synthetic versions of natural molecules called sphingolipids to see how they affect cancer cells. They found that certain structures of these sphingolipids can effectively trigger cancer cell death by causing nutrient transporter proteins to shut down and leading to cell starvation. Specifically, changes in the molecule's design, like the length of its chain and its saturation, increased its ability to cause cell death; they observed a direct link where greater transporter loss led to increased cell damage.
Who this helps: This research helps patients with cancer by identifying potential new treatments.