About Dr. Whitlock
Dr. Anna Garcia Whitlock is a chief resident in general surgery interested in Trauma, Critical Care, and Emergency Surgery. During her time in the lab she completed a PhD in Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism with Dr. Paul Titchenell in the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism through the Measey Surgeon Scientist Training Program, a joint venture between the Department of Surgery and Penn School of Biomedical Graduate Studies. Anna’s research interests center on the contribution of metabolic derangements to organ failure in the critically ill. Anna’s other academic interests include violence prevention and interprofessional education.
Education
2018 - 2023
PhD, Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism, University of Pennsylvania
Thesis: Elucidating Drivers of Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia in Trauma and Hemorrhage
Advisor: Paul Titchenell, PhD, http://tiny.cc/AGWSIH
Certificate in Translational Science, Institute of Translational Medicine, and Therapeutics
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2010 - 2015
MD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
2006 - 2010
BSPH Nutrition, Minor Chemistry, Gillings School of Global Public Health,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Highest Honors
Societies
2023 - present
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Associate Member
2022 - present
Eastern Association for Surgery of Trauma, Provisional Member
2020 - present
Latino Surgical Society, Trainee Member
2019 - present
Shock Society, Trainee Member
2014 - present
Association for Academic Surgery, Candidate Member
2014 - present
Association Women Surgeons, Grants and Fellowships Committee (2020-2023)
2012 - present
American College of Surgeons, Resident Member
Awards
Research Fellowships
2019 - 2022
NIDDK T32, Training Program in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
University of Pennsylvania
2018 - 2023
Measey Surgeon Scientist Training Program
University of Pennsylvania
2012 - 2013
NIDDK T32, Medical Student Research Training Program
Vanderbilt University
Summer 2011
NIDDK T35, Medical Student Summer Research Training
Vanderbilt University
Other Research Funding
2023 - 2025
NIH Loan Repayment Award Renewal, NIGMS
Health Disparities Research
2020 - 2022
NIH Loan Repayment Award, NIGMS
Health Disparities Research
Awards and Honors
2024
Finalist, 8th Annual Chris Tzarnas Surgical Trainee Paper Competition,
Philadelphia Academy of Surgery
2023
Student Speaker (1/6 selected out of entire graduate school)
26th Annual Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group Symposium
University of Pennsylvania
2023
Best Resident Abstract, Ali Naji MD PhD Research Day Poster Competition
Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania
2022
Best Poster – Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism
25th Annual Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group Symposium
University of Pennsylvania
2022
3rd Place, Best Completed Research Trauma Outcomes Registry
Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation
2021
“90’s Club” Award, Penn Surgery Recognition for 90th Percentile or more on National In-Service Surgery Exam (ABSITE)
2021
Finalist, 5th Annual Chris Tzarnas Surgical Trainee Paper Competition
Philadelphia Academy of Surgery
2019
NIH Course on Isotope Tracers in Metabolic Research Scholarship
2019
American College of Surgeons Leadership and Advocacy Summit Scholarship
2015
Oscar B. Crofford Diabetes Research Award, Vanderbilt University
2015
Student Research Award, Association for Academic Surgery (AAS)
2014
Student Surgery Leadership Weekend Scholarship, University of Michigan
2014
Physicians of Tomorrow Award, American Medical Association
2012
National Quality Scholar, American College of Medical Quality
2011
Highlight paper, Orthopedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting
2011
Patient Safety Scholar, Telluride Patient Safety Roundtable/Doctors Company
2010
Highest Honors, School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina
2010
Sister of the Year Award, Kappa Delta Sorority, University of North Carolina
2010
UNC 10 Years Ahead Conference (1/50 students), University of North Carolina
2010
UNC Leadership Institute (1/50 students), University of North Carolina
2009
Senior Marshall Class of 2010 (1/55 students), University of North Carolina
2009
Sarah Steele Danhoff Undergraduate Research Award, UNC
2008
Order of Omega Academic and Leadership Society, University of North Carolina
Research
2018 - present
Elucidating drivers of stress-induced hyperglycemia after trauma and hemorrhage
Role of AKT in the regulation of insulin-mediated glucose flux in skeletal muscle
PI: Paul Titchenell, PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2010 - 2015
Drivers of reduced insulin resistance and fatty liver disease in bariatric surgery
PI: Naji Abumrad, MD, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
2007 - 2010
Interplay of adiponectin and apolipoprotein E in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
PI: Nobuyo Maeda, PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Publications
Research Publications
- Uehara K., Lee WD, Stefkovich M, Biswas D, Santoleri D, Garcia Whitlock AE, Quinn WJ, Coopersmith TN, Creasy KT, Rader DJ, Sakamoto K, Rabinowitz JD, Titchenell PM. mTORC1 controls murine postprandial hepatic glycogen synthesis via Ppp1r3b. J Clin Invest. 2024 Jan 30. PMID: 38290087.
- Garcia Whitlock AE, Gill BP, Richardson JB, Patton DU, Strong BS, Nwakanma CC, Kaufman EJ, Analysis of Social Media Involvement in Violent Injury. JAMA Surgery. 2023 Dec 1. PMID: 37819673.
- Uehara K, Santoleri D, Garcia Whitlock AE, Titchenell PM. Insulin regulation of Hepatic Lipid Homeostasis. Comprehensive Physiology. 2023 Jun 26. PMID: 37358513.
- Tewksbury C, Garcia Whitlock AE, O'Connor K, Dumon K, Williams N. Reply to: Risk factors for postdischarge venous thromboembolism among bariatric surgery patients and the evolving approach to extended thromboprophylaxis with enoxaparin. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2022 Mar 18. PMID: 35027322.
- Sostre-Colón J, Uehara K, Gavin MJ, Ishibashi J, Garcia Whitlock AE, Potthoff MJ, Seale P, Titchenell PM. Hepatic AKT regulates adipose tissue thermogenesis via circulating FGF21 and catecholamine-induced lipolysis. Cell Reports. 2021 May 18. PMID: 34010646.
- Garcia Whitlock AE, Gavin M., Sostre-Colon J, Martin ND, Baur JA, Sims, C.A., Titchenell, PM. Loss of FOXO Transcription Factors in the Liver Mitigates Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia. Molecular Metabolism. 2021 May 5. PMID: 33964506.
- O’Connor K, Garcia Whitlock AE, Tewksbury C, Williams NN, Dumon KR. Risk factors for postdischarge venous thromboembolism among bariatric surgery patients and the evolving approach to extended thromboprophylaxis with enoxaparin. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2021 Feb 27. PMID: 33814315.
- Hatchimonji JS, Sharoky CE, Kaufman EJ, Ma LW, Garcia Whitlock AE, Smith BP, Holena DN. A Contemporary Analysis of Delayed Diagnoses After Traumatic Injury: The Role of Operative Therapy. Am Surg. 2020 Sep 29. PMID: 32993352.
- Garcia Whitlock AE, Titchenell PM. Glutamine Breakdown as a Potential Metabolic Biomarker for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Cell Mol Gastroenterolo Hepatol. 2020 Mar 24. PMID: 32220558
- Hatchimonji JS, Kaufman EJ, Sharoky CE, Ma L, Garcia Whitlock AE, Holena DN. Failure to Rescue in Surgical Patients: A Review for Acute Care Surgeons. J Trauma and Acute Care Surg. 2019 Sep. PMID: 31090684.
- Tamboli RA, Sidani RM, Garcia AE, Antoun J, Isbell JM, Albaugh VL, Abumrad NN. Jejunal administration of glucose enhances acyl ghrelin suppression in obese humans. Am J Physiol, Endocrinol and Metab. 2016 Jun 7. PMID: 27279247.
- Arbones-Mainar JM, Johnson LA, Torres-Perez E, Garcia AE, Peres-Diaz S, Raber J, Maeda N. Metabolic shifts toward fatty-acid usage and increased thermogenesis are associated with impaired adipogenesis in mice expressing human APOE4. Int J of Obes. 2016 May 10. PMID: 27163745.
- Garcia AE, Kasim N, Tamboli RA, Gonzalez RS, Antoun J, Eckert EA, Marks-Shulman PA, Dunn J, Wattacheril J, Wallen T, Abumrad NN, Flynn CF. Lipoprotein Profiles in Class III Obese Caucasian and African American Women with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. PLoS One. 2015 Nov 23. PMID: 26599819.
- Garcia AE, Bonnaig JV, Yoneda ZT, Richards JE, Ehrenfeld JM, Jahangir AA, Obremskey, WT, Sethi MK. Patient Variables which may Predict Length of Stay and Hospital Costs in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture. J Orthop Trauma. 2012 Nov 26.
Book Chapters
- Garcia Whitlock AE, Martin N. Operating Room Practices in Trauma Surgery Clerkship: A Guide for Senior Medical Students. Edited by Scantling, DR, Brahmbhatt, TS, Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA. 2023 - In Preparation.
- Fernandez-Moure J, Garcia Whitlock AE, Sims C. How Do I Diagnose and Manage Acute Endocrine Emergencies in the ICU? in Evidence-Based Practice of Critical Care. Edited by Deutschman C, Neligan P. Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA. 2019.
- Garcia, AE, Sims C. Functional assessment of hemostasis in Hemorrhagic Shock: Recognition, Pathophysiology and Management. Edited by Cannon J, Pascual JL. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, NY. 2017.