Digital Commons Network^™

Specific Effects Of Pulsed Field Ablation On The Cardiac Tissue, The Nervous System And The Conduction System In Experimental And Clinical Studies, Josselin Duchateau, Iwanari Kawamura, Gurukripa N Kowlgi, Elad Maor, Moritz Nies, Christian W Zemlin, Tomás García-Sánchez, Samuel J Asirvatham

2020-Current year OA Pubs

AIMS: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as a novel ablation modality for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and has rapidly reshaped contemporary electrophysiology practice. This article provides a comprehensive analysis on the mechanisms underlying the specific effects of PFA on myocardial, neural tissue structures, and the cardiac conduction system, integrating biophysical principles with preclinical and clinical evidence relevant to contemporary electrophysiology practice.

METHODS AND RESULTS: This document provides an exhaustive mechanistic explanation for the preferential effects of PFA on myocardium and the limits of the 'tissue-selectivity' concept. The complex interplay between cellular and tissue-level biophysics, biological responses, and tissue …

Bridging The Gap: Patient Perspectives On Transition Of Care In Hirschsprung Disease, Stefanie F. Faucher

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Narrative Medicine: Essays On Health And Care Vol 2, Robert B. Hackey, Will Toner, Megan Lessard, Jessica A. Smith, Glorimar De Los Santos Mejia, Jillian M. Spinali, Paige M. Daly, Brianna De La Fuente, Julia M. Renzelmann, Clare C. Diffin

Narrative Medicine: Essays on Health and Care

No abstract provided.

Listening To Patients, Michael Stout Md

Narrative Medicine: Essays on Health and Care

No abstract provided.

Innovative Development Of Synthetic Biology Industry From Perspective Of Deep Integration Of Four Chains, Qin Guo, Chao Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Future industries represent the development direction of technological innovation and emerging industries, and are the main path to accelerate the formation of new quality productivity. As an important subsector of the future industry, synthetic biology industry is becoming a new track and new format for new quality productivity, and various regions are making cutting-edge directions such as synthetic biology industry a hot topic for future industrial layout. Based on the analysis of typical cities such as Shenzhen, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Changzhou, the current integration of the Four Chains in the synthetic biology industry is facing a four-dimensional dilemma …

Ai-Driven Drug Innovation Research: Trends, Challenges, And Countermeasures, Tian Miao, Qi Zhou, Lianzheng Zhou, Weijun Xu, Siyuan Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly transforming the innovation paradigm, industrial ecosystem, and business model of drug research and development. In recent years, the global AI-driven pharmaceutical market has grown rapidly. Major economies, multinational pharmaceutical enterprises, and technology giants are accelerating their strategic deployment. AI pharmaceutical industry has entered a critical stage of transitioning from proof-of-concept to commercial-application. China attaches great importance to the integrated development of AI and the biopharmaceutical industry, but it still faces challenges, including data scarcity, talent shortages, algorithmic black-boxes, regulatory lag, and weak foundations. This study proposes measures from the aspects of data supply, talent cultivation, …

Murine Typhus In Georgia: Historical Context And A Probable Case Of Resurgence Where Previously-Thought Eradicated, Giovanni Mella-Velazquez, Christopher He, Bolanle Akinsola, Judson Miller

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Murine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a flea-borne illness historically endemic to the southeastern United States, with initial cases reported in Atlanta, Georgia in 1913. Following vector control efforts, incidence declined significantly, and the disease was removed from the nationally notifiable disease list in 1987. While recent cases have been reported in select regions, murine typhus has not been documented in Georgia for decades. We present a pediatric case in Atlanta that may represent the first reported instance in nearly 40 years, suggesting possible reemergence in the Southeast.

Methods: We conducted a case report analysis of a pediatric …

Intouch Week Of October 19, 2026, New York Medical College

InTouch

• Class of 2030 Dons White Coats and Embraces the Values of Medicine
• 5th Annual Meeting of the Minds Showcases Research and Innovation
• Campus Celebrates National Physical Therapy Month
• NYMC Students Have a Gourd Time at Pumpkin Carving Contest
• NYMC Community Shows Off Its Safety Style
• From the Collection of Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A.
• Survival Benefits Outweigh Cognitive Risks for Diabetics Taking GLP-1s
• TCDM Launches New Digital Training Center
• Student Spotlight: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with LMSA Co-President Melissa Arboleda
• Alumni Spotlight: Allison Zeitounian, M.S. ‘18, Breaking Communication Barriers as a Bilingual SLP

From Zoom To The Room: A Practical Model For Holographic Instructor Presence In Multi-Campus Dpt Education, Stacie Mae Larreau Christensen, Brad Dexter

Posters and Presentations: Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Use Of Standard Visual Education Tools To Improve Npo Compliance In Pediatric Day Surgery, Alma Rivera

EBP Fellowship

Practice Problem Non-compliance with perioperative fasting (NPO) instructions is an ongoing safety and operational challenge in pediatric day surgery. Day-of-surgery cancellations result in financial losses, with unproductive OR time costing $1,430-$2,025 per hour. NPO violations cause 4.5% - 13.6% of lost OR time in children's hospitals and are the third leading cause of elective surgery cancellations. At our pediatric hospital, NPO violations contribute to same-day surgical delays and cancellations, particularly in the high-volume Otolaryngology (ENT) service line. This Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) project sought to answer whether, among caregivers of pediatric patients scheduled for ENT Day surgery (P), implementing a health …

Taking Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Further: Reviewing Recent Developments And Innovations In Ipa Research, Jonathan A. Smith

The Qualitative Report

This paper reviews recent developments in interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research methodology: longitudinal; multi-modal; mixed methods. For each of these developments the paper describes how the innovation is being implemented and the distinctive contribution arising from making these advancements in IPA design. I also provide two detailed examples of studies using each of the advanced methodologies along with suggestions for further reading. The paper also includes briefer discussion of recent changes in some of the terminology employed in IPA analysis and recent guidance on writing and evaluating high quality IPA.

Testing Personalization In Llm-Based Mental Health Support: A Proposed Experimental Design For College Students, Tchalim P. Agninoube, Greg Williams

Annual DBA Scholars Conference

Rising student mental health demand has outpaced campus counseling capacity. This paper proposes a 2x2 between-subjects experimental design to test whether a personalized LLM-based chatbot, grounded in just-in-time adaptive intervention principles and cognitive load theory, provides better short-term anxiety reduction than a standard chatbot across stress and neutral contexts. The personalized chatbot uses wearable stress data, sleep quality, self-reported overwhelm, and support preferences to select between low-load and elaborative support paths. The design contributes a practical framework for evaluating personalization in AI-driven mental health tools and informs scalable, responsible institutional deployment.

Bridging Awareness And Action: A Multilevel Model Of Organizational Learning, Safety Climate, And Sickle Cell Trait Safety Compliance, Kimberly Snowden

Annual DBA Scholars Conference

Despite the existence of NCAA and National Athletic Trainers’ Association guidelines, preventable sickle cell trait (SCT)-related adverse events continue to occur in athletic settings. This study examines how organizational learning capacity, safety climate, leadership commitment, and individual risk perception influence compliance with SCT safety protocols and related safety outcomes. Drawing on Organizational Learning Theory, Safety Climate Theory, and the Health Belief Model, the study proposes a multilevel framework tested through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Findings are expected to identify organizational predictors of compliance and provide practical recommendations to strengthen SCT safety implementation and reduce preventable athlete harm.

Drooling In Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Retrospective Observational Study Of Clinical Characteristics, Severity, And Treatment, Kamel Awadh Alenazi, Lama Dakhakhni, Nancy Hassan, Wejdan Almuhraj

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To report the characteristics, severity, and treatment of drooling in cerebral palsy (CP) children.
Methods: This retrospective observational study included CP children with active complaints of drooling from the Drooling Clinic, Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Drooling severity was assessed via the Modified Drooling Questionnaire (MDQ). The functional motor and manual ability levels were classified via the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS).
Results: In total, 122 patients were identified. Mean age was 6.28 ± 2.71 years, and 67/122 (54.9%) were boys. Gastroesophageal reflux disease was noted in 23/122 (18.9%). …

Incidence Rate And Factors Predicting The Recurrent Cerebral Ischemic Events After The First-Ever Ischemic Stroke: A Single-Center Exploratory Study From The Eastern Region Of Saudi Arabia, Azra Zafar, Mustafa Al-Qarni

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: First-ever ischemic stroke (FIS) patients carry a higher risk of recurrent ischemic strokes (RIS). This study reports the incidence rate and describes the factors predicting recurrences in FIS patients.
Methods: This retrospective study, enrolling patients with FIS, was carried out at the King Fahd Hospital. Association between different variables and RIS was determined by estimating the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and odds ratio (OR).
Results: The majority of patients were Saudi (74.1%) and male (72.9%). Over a 5-year follow-up study, the incidence rate was 26.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 22.2-30.1) for all recurrences and 22.7% (95% CI …

Cultivating The Growing Self, Kelly Allen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Khanna Blithe O. Cortes-Amores, MAOT, OTRP, clinician, assistant professor at Cebu Doctors’ University, and co-founder of The Growing Self, a mental health occupational therapy clinic in Cebu, Philippines, provided the cover art for the fall issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). The watercolor painting, titled Peace (2017), features a dreamlike image of a serene female figure with hair that merges into the limbs and branches of a tree. A leafy green vine winds upward around her torso, becomes transparent as it partly overlays her face, and defines the crown of her head. Colorful abstract petal and earthen …

The Importance Of The New Caregiver Codes In Occupational Therapy, Jayna Niblock, Elizabeth G. Hunter, Carli Dimeo, Jackson Miller, Manali George, Allison M. Martin, Samantha M. Barefoot

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists play a critical role in supporting caregivers, a role that continues to grow with the rising number of unpaid family caregivers. Evidence shows that occupational therapists-led caregiver interventions, ranging from skills training to problem-solving and environmental modifications, significantly improve both caregiver and client outcomes. In 2024 and 2025, new Caregiver Training Services (CTS) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes were introduced, enabling occupational therapists to bill and allowing for reimbursement of caregiver education directly tied to client goals. While these codes offer a transformative opportunity to formalize and fund caregiver support, their adoption has been limited because of …

Policy Solutions For Traumatic Brain Injury: Advancing New York State's First Tbi Special Needs Assisted Living Program, Dianne Schwarz, Natalie F. Douglas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) presents long-term challenges that are poorly addressed by traditional assisted living and nursing home models. In New York State, individuals with moderate to severe TBI are often placed in settings unequipped to provide cognitive, behavioral, and neurorehabilitative care. This policy and advocacy paper proposes the establishment of a Special Needs Assisted Living Program (SNALP) specifically for individuals with TBI. Drawing from clinical expertise, stakeholder engagement, and a discontinued but promising pilot program, this manuscript outlines the systemic barriers to TBI-specific care, including regulatory gaps, lack of Medicaid reimbursement, and limited public awareness. The proposed model integrates …

Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of Sexuality And Intimacy Education: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jennifer H. Barnett, Amanda K. Giles

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Sexuality and intimacy are meaningful activities within the scope of occupational therapy (OT), encompassing valued roles and occupations that contribute significantly to a person’s health, well-being, and identity. Despite acknowledgement of their importance, many occupational therapists overlook these areas during routine assessment and intervention because of feelings of insufficient knowledge, comfort, and confidence. This study used a cross-sectional design to electronically survey 149 occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) students across their first, second, or third year of education to determine their perceptions of sexuality and intimacy education. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analyzed via codebook …

Integrating Behavioral Health Practice Approaches And Occupational Therapy: Curricular Considerations, Kaylynn M. Garrison, Susan C. Burwash

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy programs preparing occupational therapists to work in the field need to enhance students' education surrounding mental/behavioral health (MH/BH) needs. Thus, a curricular approach is needed that not only includes OT conceptual practice models but also those practice approaches used in MH/BH care. Creating educational experiences that include knowledge from inside and outside OT establishes theoretical foundations that better equip students entering practice to address mental health needs of their clients. Further, educators can assist students to appraise the fit between specific practice approaches and OT practice. A review of current MH/BH literature found three common practice approaches used …

Exploring Career Pathways Of The Occupational Therapy Afwc Role: A Review Of Push, Pull, And Stay Factors, Kimberley Persons, Patricia Laverdure, Elizabeth Lequieu, Elizabeth D. Deiuliis

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Academic Fieldwork Coordinators (AFWCs) are essential to occupational therapy (OT) education, yet little is known about the career pathways, retention, and attrition associated with this role. With increasing faculty turnover, understanding the factors that influence AFWC career decisions is critical. This mixed-methods study surveyed 187 OT educators across the US, including current, former, and never-serving AFWCs. A researcher-designed Qualtrics survey gathered demographic, quantitative, and open-ended qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed using chi-square tests; qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis. Respondents reported psychological (e.g., burnout, satisfaction), job (e.g., mentoring, administrative burden), organizational (e.g., support, workload), and leadership/team (e.g., recognition, collaboration) factors …

Optimizing Academic Success For Otd Students: A Lassi-Based Pre/Posttest Study On Intervention Effectiveness, Mica Rutschke, Dailen Castillo, Lauren Peyton

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Graduate students frequently experience heightened anxiety that can interfere with academic performance, well-being, and persistence in graduate programs. This pilot study explored the effectiveness of a targeted academic intervention for Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students using the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) as a pre/post assessment tool. Ten first-year OTD students completed the LASSI at program entry and again after participating in a faculty-led intervention focused on growth mindset and anxiety management strategies. The intervention included a lunch-hour educational session on evidence-based techniques, such as mindfulness, test-taking skills, cognitive reframing, and stress regulation. Faculty advisors also used individualized LASSI …

Deliberate Practice In Occupational Therapy Education: A Conceptual Model For Professional Growth, Suzanne Marasco, Matthew A. Witenstein

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In response to national calls for a more representative health care workforce, this conceptual paper proposes the Model of Deliberate Occupational Therapy Practice (MDOTP), which aims to enhance pedagogical strategies related to supporting, engaging, and leveraging students’ unique cultural and experiential assets. Grounded in the scholarship of integration, authors draw from three theoretical frameworks, Funds of Knowledge, Therapeutic Use of Self, and Street-Level Bureaucracy, to provide a robust foundation for refining psychosociocultural approaches in occupational therapy education. After describing the MDOTP, a subsequent set of Guiding Principles (encourage reflective practice, development of the professional self, incorporate community-based learning, and promote …

School-Based Executive Function Guideline (Sb-Efg): A Practice Guideline For Executive Function Assessment And Intervention In School-Based Practice, Ida Koraitem, Amanda Sarafian, Lenin Grajo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Executive functioning (EF) is comprised of various cognitive skills, such as working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility, which monitor and guide goal-directed behavior and set a foundation on which healthy development may occur. Although the impact of EF skills on school participation has increasingly been recognized over the years, there are limited occupational therapy models that help occupational therapists integrate EF intervention into school-based practice. Children with limitations in EF have unique needs and challenges that impact school participation; therefore, it is imperative that occupational therapists address EF in school-based practice. This author- developed practice guideline discusses essential elements …

The Empower Model: A Framework For Fostering Neurodivergent Occupational Participation And Supporting Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy Practice, Bryden Carlson-Giving

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Neurodivergent occupations are ways of embodying life and experiencing the world that speak true to their neurotype; they are vivid, complex, and need to be fostered by the occupational therapy profession. Though the neurodiversity movement is garnering increased attention in the profession, the medical model of disability remains the dominating lens influencing occupational therapy services. Neuronormativity remains the ideal form of participation, which can lead to occupational therapists manifesting occupational marginalization with their neurodivergent clients. To date, there is a lack of practical frameworks supporting occupational therapists in integrating neurodiversity-affirming and anti-ableist principles into everyday occupational therapy practice. This paper …

Occupational Therapy For Ostomy Patients In Acute Care: A Case Series, Carolina Orozco, John V. Rider, Pamela Morales

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Ostomy surgery, which diverts stool or urine through an abdominal stoma, significantly impacts individuals’ physical and psychosocial functioning. Skilled education and training are required to promote independence in ostomy self-care. Occupational therapists are uniquely equipped to address these needs through holistic, person-centered approaches.

Method: This retrospective descriptive case series examines the integration of occupational therapy services, including ostomy-specific evaluation and intervention, for three patients in an acute care hospital.

Results: Three cases, varying in age, diagnosis, and functional status, demonstrate individualized occupational therapy interventions targeting activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, and health management, emphasizing ostomy …

Interventions For Lgbtq+ Youth: A Scoping Review To Support Occupational Therapy Practice In The United States, Ricardo D. Ramirez, Iris Nosek, Alexandrea Guiritan, Annalise Valente, Francinne Fotopoulos, Jennifer Westrick

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Youth in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and other dissident genders and sexualities (LGBTQ+) community face extensive health disparities and dynamic political landscapes. Occupational therapy (OT) has potential to support LGBTQ+ youth; however, there is limited guidance for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants seeking to implement evidence-based interventions with this population. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review was to examine interventions within the scope of OT to support LGBTQ+ youth.

Method: We used Arksey and O'Malley’s framework to guide this scoping review and searched five databases: PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Using …

Autism And Air Travel, Joceline Rodriguez, Riley Rynders, Mckenzie Guth, Divya Sood

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Autistic children frequently encounter several difficulties during travel, especially in airport environments. This research study aimed to investigate the perceptions of parents of autistic children, as well as airport and airline staff, regarding the support available and barriers these children encounter during air travel.

Method: A qualitative descriptive design was used, involving data collection through interviews with two distinct groups of participants: airport and airline staff (n = 4) and caregivers of autistic children (n = 5).

Results: Caregiver participants shared that having access to quiet spaces, sensory rooms, and more readily available information on accommodation …

Group Occupational Therapy Sessions Using Hippotherapy: Growth Of Resilience And Leadership In Youth Facing Adversity, Marra I. Robert, Julie Jacob, Gerry Conti, Laura Alegre

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Youth experiencing adversity face significant challenges and are more likely to experience mental health concerns, low self-confidence, and difficulty with leadership skills, impacting their future occupational potential. This study examined the impact of using hippotherapy in a group occupational therapy intervention on the resilience, mental health, and leadership of youth facing adversity.

Method: Twenty-one youth experiencing adversity participated in a 10-week group occupational therapy intervention. Using a single-group pretest/posttest mixed-methods design, the Resilience Scale for Children and Adolescents (RSCA) was administered pr and postintervention alongside structured interviews.

Results: Quantitative results indicated statistically significant improvements in emotional …

Experiences Of Parents Of Children Diagnosed With Eating Disorders, Elizabeth C. Larson Traver, Crystal C. Barchacky

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Eating disorders are diagnoses found throughout the world regardless of race, gender, and age. Recovery for these diagnoses are typically demanding and on-going, leading parents and caregivers of those diagnosed to face substantial stress throughout the process. While many treatments use caregivers as agents of change, these are established with the client in mind and do little to aid the families through their own stress and decline in well-being.

Method: This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 caregivers during their children's recovery through in-depth interviews regarding that time of their lives. Participants were recruited via …