Nicole Pilar Bernal

Picture of Nicole Pilar Bernal
Assistant Clinical Professor, Surgery
School of Medicine
M.D., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 2001, Surgery
Phone: (714) 456-5840
Email: bernaln@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
333 City Blvd. West
Suite 705
Mail Code: 5375
Orange, CA 92868
Academic Distinctions
8/1993 - 5/1997:
Miami University; Oxford, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology received May 1997
Major: Microbiology, 1994-1997 Senior Capstone: Fine Arts 1994-1997
• Miami University Alumni Scholarship, 1993-1997
• Minority Student Academic Achievement Award 1994-95, 1995-96
• Gold Key National Honor Society 1995-96

7/1997 – 5/2001:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Cleveland Ohio
M.D. Degree received May 2001
Area of Concentration: International Medicine, Aug. 1997- May 2001
• Dean’s Academic Scholarship, 1997-2001
• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Research Fellowship; NIH May-Aug 1998

First Prize Rosenkrantz Resident Research Award
American Academy of Pediatric Section of Surgery - Annual Meeting,
October 2004, San Francisco, CA

Poster of Distinction
Digestive Diseases Week;
May 2005 Chicago, IL
Research Abstract
1. Bernal NP, Stehr W, Zhang Y, Profitt S, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Evidence for Active WNT Signaling During Postresection Intestinal Adaptation. 56th Annual Meeting of the Section on Surgery of the American Academy of Pediatrics. San Francisco, CA. October 9-13, 2004.

2. Bernal NP, Stehr W, Profitt S, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Combined Stimulation of Enterocyte Proliferation and Inhibition of Apoptosis Maximally Enhances Intestinal Adaptation. 38th Annual Meeting of the Association for Academic Surgeons. Houston, TX. November 11-15, 2004.

3. Bernal NP, Stehr W, Coyle R, Erwin CR, Warner BW. EGF Rescues Adaptation and Survival in Bcl-w Deficient Mice after Small Bowel Resection. 66th Annual Meeting of the Society of University Surgeons. Nashville, TN. February 9-12, 2005.

4. Stehr W, Mercer TI, Bernal NP, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Alterations in Cell Adhesion Modulate the Magnitude of Resection-Induced Intestinal Adaptation Independent of Enterocyte Proliferation. Digestive Disease Week, 2005. Chicago, IL. May 14-19, 2005.

5. Bernal NP, Stehr W, Profitt S, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Combined pharmacotherapy that increases proliferation and decreases apoptosis optimally enhances intestinal adaptation. 57th Annual Meeting of the Section on Surgery of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Washington, DC. October 7-9, 2005.

6. Bernal NP, Vasquez I, Grammer ME, Mark JR, Dyk PT, Garvin PJ? Surgical Thrombectomy Remains Standard of Care for the Treatment of Thrombosed Arteriovenous Grafts. 3rd Annual Academic Surgical Congress. Huntington Beach, CA. February 12-15, 2008.

7. Bernal NP, Modanlou KA. Surgical Management of Hepatic Endometriosis: A Rare Liver Lesion. 2008 Annual Meeting of American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. Ft. Lauderdale, FL. March 27-30, 2008.

8. Bernal NP, Hoffman GM, Ghanayem NS, Arca MJ. Cerebral and Somatic NIRS Oximetry in Normal Newborns. 31st Annual Meeting of the Section on Surgery of the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition. Washington, DC. October 16-20, 2009.

9. Bernal NP, Latenser BA, Born JM, Lewis RW, Wibbenmeyer LA, Kealey GP. Single Institution Trends in Treating 393 Necrotizing Acute Soft Tissue Infection Patients 2000-2008. 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association. Boston, MA. March 9-12, 2010.

10. Barrios C, Pham J, Lush S, Lekawa M, Dolich M, Bernal N, Kong A, Hoyt D, Cinat M. Implications for an Aging Trauma Population. Poster presentation at Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (SCCACS). Santa Barbara, CA. January 2011.

11. Kaiser M, Cinat M, Whealon M, Dobson S, Barrios C, Kong A, Bernal N, Lekawa M, Dolich M. The Clinical Significance of Pneumomediastinum in Blunt Trauma Patients. Poster presentation at Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (SCCACS). Santa Barbara, CA. January 2011.

12. Kaiser M, Cinat M, Whealon M, Dobson S, Barrios C, Kong A, Bernal N, Lekawa M, Dolich M. The Clinical Significance of Pneumomediastinum in Blunt Trauma Patients. Poster presentation at UC Irvine School of Medicine Clinical, Basic & Translational Science Festival. May 24, 2011, Irvine, CA.

13. Amaan Mazhar, David J Cuccia, Steven Saggese, Stuart Nelson, Nicole Bernal, Meghann Kaiser, Marianne Cinat, Bernard Choi, Anthony J Durkin. An LED based Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging System for Clinical Applications. Engineering Conferences International, June 5-10 2011, Naples, FL.

14. Amaan Mazhar, Seyed A. Sharif, Steve Saggese, David J. Cuccia, Nicole Bernal, Bernard Choi, Anthony J. Durki. A Clinical Optical Imaging System for Quantitative, Wide-field Assessment of Burn Wounds. Advanced Technology Applications for Combat Casualty Care Conference, August 2011, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

15. Barrios C, Ewing T, Cinat M, Lekawa M, Dolich M, Kong A, Bernal N, Lush S. Early initial detection of venous thromboemboli as a result of aggressive ultrasound screening. Presented at American College of Surgeons (ACS) Surgical Forum. San Francisco, CA. October 2011.

16. Finigan R, Pham J, BS, Mendoza R, NP, Lekawa ME, MD, Dolich MO, MD, Kong A, MD,
Bernal NP, MD, Lush S, MSN, Barrios C, MD. Risk for Contrast Induced Nephropathy in Elderly Trauma Patients. Presented at the Southern California Chapter of American College of Surgeons (SCCACS) Annual Meeting, Santa Barbara, CA, January 2012.

17. Barrios C, Ramandeep D, Dolich MO, Bernal NP, Kong A, Lush S, Lekawa ME. Utility of Microhematuria as an indication for CT Cystogram to diagnose traumatic bladder injury. Poster presentation at the 41st Annual Congress of Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), Houston, TX, February 2012.

18. Pham JK, Barrios C, Kong AP, Dolich MO, Lekawa ME, Cinat ME, Bernal NP. Early Detection and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism Results in Decrease of Complications. Oral presentation at the 33rd John A. Boswick Symposium, Maui, HI, February 2012.

19. Pham JK, Ewing T, Kong AP, Bernal NP, Dolich MO, Lekawa ME, Barrios C. Early Initial Detection of Venous Thromboemboli as a Result of Aggressive Ultrasound Screening. Oral presentation at the 63rd Southwestern Surgical Congress (SWSC) Annual Meeting, Palos Verde, CA, March 2012.

20. Pinette A, Pham JK, Kong AP, Bernal NP, Dolich MO, Lekawa ME, Barrios C. A Prospective Study Comparing Thoracic CT and Abdominal CT for the Identification of Thoracic Blunt Trauma. Oral presentation at the 63rd Southwestern Surgical Congress (SWSC) Annual Meeting, Palos Verde, CA, March 2012.

21. Lau C, Pham JK, Kong AP, Bernal NP, Dolich MO, Lekawa ME, Barrios C. Effectiveness of Alcohol Screening in Emergency Department vs. Inpatient Setting. Poster presentation at the 63rd Southwestern Surgical Congress (SWSC) Annual Meeting, Palos Verde, CA, March 2012.

22. Pham JK, Barrios C, Kong AP, Dolich MO, Lekawa ME, Cinat ME, Bernal NP. Early Detection and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism Results in Decrease of Complications. Presented to the 2012 Western American Burn Association (WABA) Conference, Los Angeles, CA, October 2012.

23. Dhillon R, Lau C, Pham J, Bernal N, Kong A, Dolich M, Lekawa M, Barrios C. The Utility of the Seatbelt Sign as an Indication for CT Angiogram of the Neck to Diagnose Blunt Carotid Artery Injury. Presented at the 2012 Southern California American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Resident Essay Competition held at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, November 2012.

24. Najafi KN, Deane M, Pham JK, Dolich MO, Kong AP, Bernal NP, Lekawa ME, Barrios C. Management of Anterior Abdominal Stab Wounds in Mentally Incapacitated Patients. Presented at the 2012 Southern California American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Resident Essay Competition held at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, November 2012.

25. Imayanagita B, Pham JK, Kong AP, Dolich MO, Bernal NP, Lekawa ME, Barrios C. Correlating Injuries and Blood Alcohol Concentration with Injury Severity Score and Injury Patterns in Trauma Patients. Poster presentation at the 2013 Surgical Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 2013.

26. Dhillon RS, Lau C, Pham JK, Bernal NP, Kong AP, Dolich MO, Lekawa ME, Barrios C. The Utility of the Seatbelt Sign as an Indication for CT Angiogram of the Neck to Diagnose Blunt Carotid Artery Injury. Presented at the 2013 Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (SCCACS) Conference, Santa Barbara, CA January 2013.

27. Zamary K, Barrios C, Pham JK, Dolich MO, Kong AP, Bernal NP, Lekawa ME. Delayed Diagnostic Laparoscopy to Diagnose Diaphragmatic Injury in Penetrating Thoracoabdominal Trauma. Presented at the 2013 Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (SCCACS) Conference, Santa Barbara, CA January 2013.

28. Najafi KN, Deane M, Pham JK, Dolich MO, Kong AP, Bernal NP, Lekawa ME, Barrios C. Management of Anterior Abdominal Stab Wounds in Mentally Incapacitated Patients. Presented at the 2013 Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (SCCACS) Conference, Santa Barbara, CA January 2013.

29. John Quan M. Nguyen, Tuan Mai, Christian Crouzet, Nicole Bernal, Bernard Choi, Anthony J. Durkin. Quantitative Longitudinal Measurement in a Rat model of Controlled Burn Severity Using Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging. Paper 8565-28. BiOS, SPIE Photonics West, Feb 2013. Proc. SPIE 8565, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics IX, 85650S (March 8, 2013); doi:10.1117/12.2004894

30. J.Q. Nguyen, C. Crouzet, T. Mai, K. Riola, D. Uchitel, N. Bernal, A. Ponticorvo, L.H. Liaw, B. Choi, A.J. Durkin. Non-invasive assessment of burn wound severities in an acute rat model. Military Health System Research Symposium, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Aug 12-15. 2013

31. Rahimian R, Barrios C, Kaderi T, Moheimani R, Pham J, Imayanagita B, Lekawa M, Dolich M, Bernal N, Kong, A. Hyperglycemia is Associated with Venous Thromboembolism in Critically Ill Trauma Patients. Accepted for poster presentation at 2013 AAST Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 2013.

32. Najafi KN, Deane M, Pham JK, Lekawa ME, Dolich MO, Kong AP, Bernal NP, Barrios C. Significance of Isolated Free Fluid on CT Scan for Blunt Abdominal Trauma in Males. Oral poster presentation at the 2014 Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (SCCACS) Conference, Santa Barbara, CA. January 2014.

33. Amaan Mazhar, Steve Saggese, Alonda C. Pollins, Nancy Cardwell, Ata Sharif, Nicole Bernal, Anthony Durkin, Lillian Nanney, David J. Cuccia. Non-contact Assessment of Wound Severity and Extent with Modulated Imaging (MI). Aug. 2014 MHSRS Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FLA.

34. Bernal, N. Accurate Determination of Blood Loss in Burn OR: Novel Technology. Oral Presentation at the 2015 John Boswick Burn and Wound Symposium, Maui, HI, February 2015.

35. Bernal N. Intravenous Acetaminophen: A Non-Narcotic Adjunct for Burn Wound Care. Oral Presentation at the 2015 John Boswick Burn and Wound Symposium, Maui, HI, February 2015.

36. Bernal N. Sclerosing Lipogranulomatosis Secondary to Oil based Foreign Body Injection: Initial Case Series and Review of Literature. Oral Presentation at the 2015 John Boswick Burn and Wound Symposium, Maui, HI, February 2015.

37. Bernal NP. Intravenous Acetaminophen: A Non-Narcotic Adjunct for Burn Wound Care. Presented at the 2015 American Burn Association (ABA) 47th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 21-24, 2015.

38. Gahagan JV, Dolich MO, Hanna MH, Maximus S, Phelan MJ, Barrios C, Bernal NP. Racial Disparities in Access and Outcomes of Cholecystectomy in the United States. Accepted for oral presentation at the 2016 Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (SCCACS) Conference, Santa Barbara, CA January 2016.

39. Castro JM, Burton, K, Thurer RL, Bernal NP. Accurate Measurement of Intraoperative Blood loss Enables Prediction of Postoperative Day One Hemoglobin. Accepted for poster presentation at the 2016 Society for the Advancement of Blood Management Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI, September 29-October 1, 2016.

40. Castro JM, Burton K, Thurer RL, Bernal NP. Accurate Measurement of Intraoperative Blood loss Leads to Appropriate Transfusion, Reduced Blood utilization and Cost Savings. Accepted for poster presentation at the 2016 Society for the Advancement of Blood Management Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, MI, September 29-October 1, 2016.
Publications
1. Jarboe MD, Juno RJ, Bernal NP, Knott AW, Zhang Y, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Bax deficiency rescues resection-induced enterocyte apoptosis in mice with perturbed EGF receptor function. Surgery 2004 Aug; 136(2):121-126. PMID: 15300170.

2. Jarboe MD, Juno RJ, Stehr W, Bernal NP, Profitt S, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling regulates goblet cell production after small bowel resection. J Pediatr Surg 2005 Jan; 40(1):92-97. PMID: 15868565.

3. Bernal NP, Stehr W, Zhang Y, Profitt S, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Evidence for active Wnt signaling during postresection intestinal adaptation. J Pediatr Surg 2005 Jun; 40(6):1025-1029. PMID: 15991190.

4. Stehr W, Mercer TI, Bernal NP, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Opposing roles for p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 in enterocyte differentiation, proliferation, and migration. Surgery 2005 Aug; 138(2):187-194. PMID: 16153426.

5. Stehr W, Bernal NP, Erwin CR, Bernabe KQ, Guo J, Warner BW. Roles for p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 during the adaptation response to massive intestinal resection. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2006 May; 290(5):G933-41. Epub 2005 Dec 1. PMID: 16322092.

6. Bernal NP, Stehr W, Coyle R, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling regulates Bax and Bcl-w expression and apoptotic responses during intestinal adaptation in mice. Gastroenterology 2006 Feb; 130(2):412-23 PMID: 16472596.

7. Stehr W, Bernal NP, Bernabe KQ, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Absent STAT-1 expression perturbs adaptation and apoptosis after massive intestinal resection. J Pediatr Surg 2006 Apr; 41(4):713-8; discussion 713-
8.PMID: 16567182.

8. Bernal NP, Stehr W, Profitt S, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Combined pharmacotherapy that increases proliferation and decreases apoptosis optimally enhances intestinal adaptation. J Pediatr Surg 2006 Apr; 41(4):719-24; discussion 719-24. PMID: 16567183.

9. Bernal NP, Hoffman GM, Ghanayem NS, Arca MJ. Cerebral and Somatic Near-infrared Spectroscopy in Normal Newborns. J Pediatr Surg, 2010 Jun:45(6); 1306-10. PMID: 20620336.

10. Bernal NP, Latenser BA, Born JM, Liao J. Trends in 393 Necrotizing Acute Soft Tissue Infection Patients 2000-2008. Burns, 2012 Mar;38(2): 252-60. 2011 Oct 24:epub ahead of print. PMID: 22030440.

11. Finigan R, Pham J, Mendoza R, Lekawa M, Dolich M, Kong A, Bernal N, Lush S, Barrios C. Risk for contrast-induced nephropathy in elderly trauma patients. Am Surg. 2012 Oct;78(10):1114-7. PMID: 23085353.

12. Nguyen JQ, Crouzet C, Mai T, Riola K, Uchitel D, Liaw L, Bernal N, Ponticorvo A, Choi B, Durkin A. Spatial frequency domain imaging of burn wounds in a preclinical model of graded burn severity. J Biomed Opt. 2013 June;18(6):66010. PMID: 23764696.

13. Dhillon RS. Barrios C, Lau C, Pham J, Bernal N, Kong A, Lekawa M, Dolich M. Seatbelt sign as an indication for four-vessel computed tomography angiogram of the neck to diagnose blunt carotid artery and other cervical vascular injuries. Am Surg. 2013 Oct;79(10):1001-4. PMID: 24160787

14. Crouzet, C, Nguyen JQ, Ponticorvo, A, Bernal, N, Durkin, A, Choi, B. Acute discrimination between superficial-partial and deep-partial thickness burns in a preclinical model with laser speckle imaging. Burns. 2015 Aug; 41(5)1058-63 PMID: 25814299 Burns.2015 Mar 22; Epub ahead of print. PMID: 25814299

15. Munizcastro J, Burton K, Thurer R, Bernal N. Accurate Measurement fo Intraoperative Blood Loss Leads to Appropriate Transfusion, Reduced Blood utilization and Cost Savings. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 123 (3S, Suppl):30, September 2016.

16. Munizcastro J, Burton K, Thurer R, Bernal N. Accurate Measurement of Intraoperative Blood Loss Enables Prediction of Postoperative Day One Hemoglobin. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 123 (3S, Suppl):52-53, September 2016.

17. Gahagan J, Hanna MH, Whealon MD, Maximus S, Phelan MJ, Lekawa ME, Barrios C, Bernal NP. Racial Disparities in Access and Outcomes of Cholecystectomy in the United States. In Press, AM Surg, October 2016.
Grants
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatric Surgery Pediatric Surgery Research Fellowship: PI: Brad Warner M.D. 7/2003 – 6/2005 Focus: The characterization of small bowel adaptation after massive resection using a murine model. Funding Grant from National Institutes of Health 2/02 – 1/07; RO1 DK 59288-01 SB; BW Warner “Enterocyte apoptosis after intestinal resection” AND Recipient of Minority Research Supplemental Award (3R01DK059288-02S1; BW Warner – PI)
Professional Societies
American Medical Association
American Burn Association
Other Experience
General Surgery Resident
St. Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, MO 2001—2008
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin; Milwaukee, WI 2008—2009
Burn Surgery Fellowship
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Iowa City, IA 2009—2010
Last updated
11/03/2016