Kerri E. Lopez, MD

About Dr. Lopez

Dr. Lopez is a fellow in Colon & Rectal Surgery. She graduated with honors from the University of Florida with a degree in Microbiology and received her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her general surgery training at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland, which included a two-year T32 research fellowship in sepsis-related cardiovascular dysfunction. She plans to pursue an academic career as a surgeon-scientist, and is interested in the axis of the microbiome, diet, and epithelial health and how this relates to inflammation and anastomotic healing.

Education

2017 - 2023
General Surgery Residency
University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland

2011 - 2017
MD - University of Michigan Medical School
Ann Arbor, Michigan

2005 - 2009
BS - University of Florida, Honors College (Microbiology and Cell Science)
Gainesville, Florida

Societies

• American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons
• Women in Surgery
• American College of Surgeons

Awards

2021, 2022, 2023
Finalist, Resident Physician of the Year
University of Maryland Medical System

2021
Finalist, Consultant of the Year
University of Maryland Medical System

2021
Resident Humanism Award
University of Maryland Dept of Surgery

2021
Teaching Resident of the Year Award
University of Maryland Dept of Surgery

2020
Shock Society Diversity Enhancement Award

2020
Presentation Award, Getz Research Retreat

2017
Intern of the Year, University of Maryland Dept of Surgery

2011
Ralph L. Morse Merit Scholarship
University of Michigan Medical School

2011
Margary H. Ruth Merit Scholarship
University of Michigan Medical School

2009
Superior Performance Award
Henry M Jackson Foundation

2008
Travel Award, American Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)

2008
Presentation Award, ABRCMS

2008
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
University of Iowa

2005
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Research

6/2018 - 6/2020 
Shock, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland 
Trauma, Sepsis, and Cardiac Physiology Laboratory, Dr. Wei Chao
Characterized the innate immune response to trauma in a murine polytrauma model. Specifically studied the role of endothelial dysfunction in the development of shock and the relationship of endothelial injury to hemodynamics, organ injury, and shock severity.

9/2009 - 6/2011 
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 
Department of Microbiology, Dr. Alison O’Brien
Examined the role of toxins in the pathogenesis of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) infection.

6/2008 - 8/2008 
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Department of Microbiology, Dr. Linda McCarter
Studied the quorum sensing pathway of a pathogenic marine bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus. 

Publications

Journal Publications

1. Suen AO, Chen F, Wang S, Li Z, Zhu J, Yang Y, Conn O, Lopez K, Cui P, Wechsler L, Cross A, Fiskum G, Kozar R, Hu P, Miller C, Zou L, Williams B, Chao W. Extracellular RNA Sensing Mediates Inflammation and Organ Injury in a Murine Model of Polytrauma. J Immunol. 2023 May 3;210(12):1990-2000.
2. Brammer J, Wolf G, Baliban SM, Allen JC, Choi M, Kambouris AR, Simon R, Fiskum G, Chao W, Lopez K, Miller C, Singh NJ, Cross AS. A non-lethal full-thickness flame burn produces a seroma beneath the forming eschar thereby promoting Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in mice. J Burn Care Res. 2022 Jul 1.
3. Lopez K, Suen A, Yang Y, Wang S, Williams B, Zhu J, Hu J, Fiskum G, Cross A, Kozar R, Miller C, Zou L, Chao W. Hypobaria Exposure Worsens Cardiac Function and Endothelial Injury in AN Animal Model of Polytrauma: Implications for Aeromedical Evacuation. Shock. 2021 Oct 1;56(4):601-610.
4. Brammer J, Choi M, Baliban SM, Kambouris AR, Fiskum G, Chao W, Lopez K, Miller C, Al-Abed Y, Vogel SN, Simon R, Cross AS. A Nonlethal Murine Flame Burn Model Leads to a Transient Reduction in Host Defenses and Enhanced Susceptibility to Lethal Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection. Infect Immun. 2021 Sep 16;89(10):e0009121.
5. Ulrich R, Bott J, Imlay H, Lopez K, Rao K. Clostridioides difficile Enteritis in Patients Following Total Colectomy—a Rare but Genuine Clinical Entity. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2019 Nov; 6(11): ofz409.
6. Dedhia P, Lopez K, Reddy A, McHugh J, Langer E, and Miller B. Intravascular Large B-cell Lymphoma Presenting as Thyroid, Adrenal and Mesenteric Nodules. AACE Clinical Case Reports: Spring 2017, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. e106-e110.
7. Stewart DA, Junn J, Adams MA, Spencer-Segal JL, Perdoncin E, Lopez K, Kim CS. House Staff Participation in Patient Safety Reporting: Identification of Predominant Barriers and Implementation of a Pilot Program, South Med J. 2016 Jul; 1097(7)
8. Heidemann L, Reagan-Steiner S, Lopez K, Cinti S, Wells E. “Impact of vaccination on hospitalized adults with influenza A”, 2012-2013 Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice. 2015;23(2):91-97

Book Chapters

1. Lumpkins K, and Lopez K. “Postoperative Complications” NMS Surgery 7e. Eds. Jarrell B, and Kavic, S. Wolters Kluwer Health: Medical Education. 2020.

Abstracts

1. Lopez K, Borden L, Nader M, Montero P, Grasso S, Roberson J, Maguire L, and Raghavan S. Developing an Ideal Biomaterial: Electroadhesive Hydrogels are a Novel Way to Augment Anastomotic Healing and Prevent Leak. Accepted for presentation at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Meeting. June 2024
2. Roberson J, Neylan C, Lopez K, Kim A and Maguire L. Exploring Rare Genetic Variants in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Neoplasia: Implications for HPV-Related Malignancy Susceptibility. Accepted for presentation at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Meeting. June 2024
3. Roberson J, Kim A, Neylan C, Lopez K, Hernandez P, Pettke E, Saur N, Bleier J, Mahmoud N and Maguire L. Adherence to NCCN Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Surveillance Guidelines is Low and Not Associated with Recurrence. Accepted for presentation at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Meeting. June 2024
4. Lopez K, Yang Y, Hu J, Wang S, Suen A, Zou L, Fiskum G, Cross A, Miller C, and Chao W. Impact of hypobaric exposure on inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and organ injury in a non-hemorrhagic mouse model of polytrauma. Accepted for poster presentation at the Military Health System Research Symposium. Aug 2020 *Canceled due to COVID-19
5. Lopez K, Yang Y, Hu J, Wang S, Suen A, Fiskum G, Cross A, Miller C, and Chao W. Impact of hypobaric exposure on inflammation and organ injury in a non-hemorrhagic mouse model of polytrauma. Accepted for oral presentation at the Annual Conference on Shock. June 2020 *Canceled due to COVID-19
6. Suen A, Wang S, Lopez K, Conn O, Zou L, Kozar R, Miller C, Chao W. Circulating plasma miRNAs trigger innate immune activation in a mouse model of polytraumatic injury. Poster presented by AS at the Association of University Anesthesiologists (AUA) Annual Meeting & International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS). Montreal, QC, Canada. May 2019
7. Bott, J, Lopez, K, Imlay, Hannah Cinti, S. Exploration of C difficile Enteritis in Post-Colectomy Patients. Oral presentation by JB at the Infectious Diseases Society of America Meeting, Oct 2015
8. Dedhia, P, Lopez, K, and Miller, B. MEN what? A tour of the endocrine glands. Oral presentation by PD at the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Annual Meeting, Apr 2015
9. Junn, J, Adams, M, Spencer-Segal, J, Perdoncin, E, Lopez, K, and Kim, C. Enhancing the Patient Safety Movement by Increasing Resident Awareness and Participation in Patient Safety Event Reports. Poster presented by JJ at the Society of Hospital Medicine Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV. Mar 2014

Invited Talks

1. Anastomotic Leak: New Approaches to an Old Problem. University of Maryland Department of Surgery Grand Rounds. April 2023.

Presentations

1. Lopez K, Kim A, Damrauer S, Roberson J, Neylan C and Maguire L. Genome-Wide Association Study Highlights Shared Inherent Risk for Diverticular Disease and Aortic Aneurysm. Accepted for oral presentation at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Meeting. June 2024
2. Lopez K, Sundel M, Diaz J. Midnight Rounds: Benefits of a Structured Resident/Nurse Rounding Program. Oral presentation at Assoc. for Surgical Ed. Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX. May 2023. 
3. Lopez K, Suen A, Yang Y, and Chao W. “Hypobaria Exposure Worsens Cardiac Function and Endothelial Injury in an Experimental Model of Polytrauma.” Oral presentation at the En Route Care Research Symposium. Virtual. Aug 2020.
4. Lopez K, Suen A, Yang Y, Chao W. “Hypobaria Exposure Worsens Cardiac Function and Endothelial Injury in an Experimental Model of Polytrauma.” Oral presentation at the Buxton Research Symposium. Baltimore, MD. July 2020.
5. Lopez K, Yang Y, Suen A, Kozar R, Miller C, and Chao W. “Transport following traumatic injury” Oral presentation at the Academic Surgery Congress, Orlando, FL. Feb 2020.
6. Lopez K, Suen A, Wang S, Miller C, and Chao W. “Plasma Extracellular Vesicles, miRNAs, and Inflammation in Trauma,” Oral presentation at Getz Research Symposium, Baltimore, MD. Jan 2019.
7. Lopez K, and McCarter L. Quorum Sensing in Vibrio parahemolyticus; Evidence for an OpaR independent Pathway. Poster presentation at the American Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Orlando, FL. Sept 2008.