Darrell R. Schroeder, M.S.

Location

SUMMARY

Darrell R. Schroeder, M.S., is a biostatistician with over 30 years of clinical research experience. His work includes randomized clinical trials and observational study designs. He primarily focuses on the areas of nicotine dependence and anesthesia.

Focus areas

• Perioperative outcomes research. Schroeder uses various statistical methods to examine the associations between patient and anesthetic management characteristics and postoperative outcomes, including nausea and vomiting, pulmonary complications, pain control, and length of hospital stay.
• Lasting effects of anesthetic exposure on cognitive function. Schroeder was involved in a series of population-based studies. These studies investigated whether undergoing general anesthesia as an infant is associated with subsequent development of learning disabilities. Studies also investigated whether undergoing general anesthesia after age 40 has a potential role in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
• Nicotine dependence. Schroeder designs and conducts randomized clinical trials evaluating interventions to help patients stop smoking. He also helps design and conduct observational studies to assess the association of tobacco use with healthcare utilization and patient outcomes.

Significance to patient care

Schroeder studies outcomes of anesthesia to find characteristics that can be changed to lower how often complications occur around the time of surgery. Knowing which patients are at greater risk of problems allows anesthesia professionals to be better prepared to respond.

The goal of finding effective treatments to help patients stop smoking is to help lower the risk of many harmful smoking-related health effects.