Our Work
Research
Awards, peer-reviewed publications, talks, posters, and grants from the lab. Newest first within each category.
Awards
Awards
- Spina A. "Best Poster" Award for "Deep Learning-Driven Glaucoma Medication Recognition: A Clinical Validation Study in Non-English Speaking Patients with Impaired Vision." American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Conference. 2024.
- Spina A. "Best Presentation" Award for "ChatGPT Has the Potential to Increase Accessibility to Cardiology Research." American Heart Association Annual Conference. 2023.
- Spina A. "Best Poster" Award for "Tailoring Glaucoma Education Using GPT-4: Addressing Health-Care Disparities in Patient Comprehension." American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Conference. 2023.
- Picton B. Top Abstract Award for "Artificial Intelligence for Improving Readability in Spine Research." Pacific Spine and Pain Society Annual Meeting. 2023.
Publications
Publications
- Andalib S, Spina A, Halaseh FF, Thiagarajan AB, Vermani R, Liang J, Wiechmann WF. An Organized Approach to Using Large Language Models for Medical Information. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2025;27(1):194-204. doi:10.5811/westjem.46577
- Andalib S, Spina A, Picton B, Thiagarajan A, Solomon SS, Scolaro JA, Nelson AM. Language Complexity Shapes Engagement with Orthopaedic Information on Social Media: A Prospective Analysis. JBJS Open Access. 2025;10(4):e25.00174. doi:10.2106/JBJS.OA.25.00174
- Andalib S, Spina A, Picton B, Solomon SS, Scolaro JA, Nelson AM. Using AI to Translate and Simplify Spanish Orthopedic Medical Text: Instrument Validation Study. JMIR AI. 2025;4(1):e70222. doi:10.2196/70222
- Spina A, Yang C, Jain A, Ha C, Chen L, Yee P, Lin K. Deep Learning-Driven Glaucoma Medication Recognition: A Multilingual Clinical Validation Study in Patients with Impaired Vision. Ophthalmology Science. 2025.
- Scherr R, Spina A, Dao A, Andalib S, Halaseh FF, Blair S, Wiechmann W, Rivera R. Novel Evaluation Metric and Quantified Performance of ChatGPT-4 Patient Management Simulations for Early Clinical Education: Experimental Study. JMIR Formative Research. 2025;9(1):e66478. doi:10.2196/66478
- Spina A, Fereydouni P, Tang JN, Andalib S, Picton B, Fox A. Tailoring Glaucoma Education Using Large Language Models: Addressing Health Disparities in Patient Comprehension. Medicine. 2025;104(2):e41059. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000041059
- Andalib S, Solomon SS, Picton B, Spina A, Scolaro JA, Nelson AM. Source Characteristics Influence AI-Enabled Orthopaedic Text Simplification: Recommendations for the Future. JBJS Open Access. 2025;10(1):e24.00007. doi:10.2106/JBJS.OA.24.00007
- Picton B, Andalib S, Spina A, Camp B, Solomon SS, Liang J, Chen PM, Chen JW, Hsu FP, Oh MY. Assessing AI Simplification of Medical Texts: Readability and Content Fidelity. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 2025;195:105743. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105743
- Spina A, Andalib S, Flores D, Vermani R, Halaseh FF, Nelson AM. Evaluation of Generative Language Models in Personalizing Medical Information: Instrument Validation Study. JMIR AI. 2024;3:e54371. doi:10.2196/54371
- Scherr R, Halaseh FF, Spina A, Andalib S, Rivera R. ChatGPT Interactive Medical Simulations for Early Clinical Education: Case Study. JMIR Medical Education. 2023;9:e49877. doi:10.2196/49877
Talks & Presentations
Talks & Presentations
- Spina A, McCormick C, Andalib S, Picton B, Wade M, Fox A, Lin K, Farid M, Nelson A. "Enhancing Cataract Surgery Education and Addressing Healthcare Disparities Through a Large Language Model: A Fidelity Assessment of a RAG-Trained Custom Chatbot." American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, October 18-20, 2025.
- Andalib S, Andalib R, Spina A, Picton B, Scolaro J, Nelson A. "A Quantitative Analysis of the Dissemination of Orthopedic Information on Social Media." Podium presentation, Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, February 7-11, 2025.
- Scherr R, Halaseh F, Spina A, Andalib S, Saadat S, Rivera R. "Assessing the Utility of Large Language Model Simulations for Clinical Medical Education: A Pilot Study." 19th Annual International Technology, Education and Development Conference, Valencia, Spain, March 3, 2025.
- Picton B, Andalib S, Camp B, Solomon S, Liang J, Chen P, Chen JW, Hsu FP, Oh MY. "Balancing Readability and Content Fidelity: Assessing GPT-4.0's Simplification of Neurological Education Materials." Podium presentation, American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, May 3-6, 2024.
- Spina A, Andalib S, Picton B, Kelly R, Nelson A. "Customized Consent Form Generation Using Large Language Models." American College of Legal Medicine Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 1-3, 2024.
- Spina A, Andalib S, Fereydouni P, Tang J, Picton B, Fox A. "Empowering Patients Through Increasing Accessibility to Glaucoma Literature." American Glaucoma Society Annual Meeting, Huntington Beach, CA, February 29-March 2, 2024.
- Picton B, Solomon S, Fereydouni P, Andalib S, Oh M. "Artificial Intelligence for Improving Readability in Spine Research." Pacific Spine and Pain Society Annual Meeting, Ko'Olina, HI, September 6-9, 2023.
- Spina A, Tang J, Picton B, Spiegel S. "Using ChatGPT to Improve Patient Accessibility to Neuro-Ophthalmology Research." World Congress of Neurology, Montreal, Canada, October 15-19, 2023.
Posters
Posters
- Scherr R, Halaseh F, Spina A, Andalib S, Saadat S, Rivera R. "Assessing the Utility of Large Language Model Simulations for Clinical Medical Education: A Pilot Study." Poster Presentation Finalist, American College of Physicians Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 5, 2025.
- Spina A, Yang C, Jain A, Ha C, Chen L, Yee P, Lin K. "Deep Learning-Driven Glaucoma Medication Recognition: A Clinical Validation Study in Non-English Speaking Patients with Impaired Vision." American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 18-21, 2024.
- Spina A, Yang C, Jain A, Ha C, Chen L, Yee P, Lin K. "Deep Learning-Driven Glaucoma Medication Recognition: A Clinical Validation Study in Non-English Speaking Patients with Impaired Vision." Tenth Annual UCI Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Bench to Bedside Symposium, Irvine, CA, June 1, 2024.
- Fereydouni P, Spina A, Tang J, Andalib S, Picton B, Fox A. "Addressing Health-Care Disparities in Patient Comprehension Using GPT-4." Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024. Abstract published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2024;65(7):357.
- Fereydouni P, Andalib S, Spina A, Nelson A. "ChatGPT as a Diagnostic Assistant: Distinguishing Proper Wound Healing from Infectious or Abnormal Progression." American Academy of Pain Medicine Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ, March 7-10, 2024.
- Tang J, Spina A, Andalib S, Fereydouni P, Picton B, Spiegel S. "Optimization of Patient Education Materials in Neuro-Ophthalmology." 50th Annual North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society Meeting, Honolulu, HI, March 2-7, 2024.
- Andalib S, Fereydouni P, Spina A, Scolaro J, Nelson A. "Advancing Diagnostic Assistance in Orthopedic Surgery: Differentiating Normal from Abnormal Wound Healing Post-Surgery with AI." Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA, February 2-6, 2024.
- Andalib S, Solomon S, Picton B, Spina A, Scolaro J, Nelson A. "Regulating Linguistic Factors to Optimize AI Simplification of Orthopedic Text." Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA, February 2-6, 2024.
- Atmar Z, Andalib S, Spina A, Dylewski J, Haspil-Corgan T. "ChatGPT Has the Potential to Increase Accessibility to Cardiology Research." American Heart Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November 11-13, 2023. Abstract MDP126; published in Circulation. 2023;148(Suppl_1):A18238.
- Spina A, Andalib S, Fox A. "Tailoring Glaucoma Education Using GPT-4: Addressing Health-Care Disparities in Patient Comprehension." American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November 3-6, 2023. Abstract PO287.
Grants
Grants
- Grant entries forthcoming.