Digital Commons Network^™

Reirradiation Treatment Effects In The Clinic (Retec) Proposal - Proof Of Concept Based On Spinal Cord Dose Tolerance For Reirradiation With Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy, Jimm Grimm, Anand Mahadevan, Olusola Obayomi-Davies, Scott G. Soltys, Arjun Sahgal, Kristin J. Redmond, Michael T. Milano, Wolfgang A. Tomé, Kenneth Brooks, Scott Dodd, John Austin Vargo, Gopal Subedi, Jinyu Xue, Bisher Ebid, Felix Ehret, Byung-Han Andrew Rhieu, Christoph Fürweger, Rachel Grimm, Alexander Muacevic, Vitali Moiseenko, Shalom Kalnicki, Mark Mclaughlin, Lawrence R. Kleinberg, John R. Adler, Iris C. Gibbs

College of Health Professions Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Since the inception of spinal radiosurgery decades ago, the factors influencing spinal cord recovery have remained unclear. Elucidating these factors would aid in reirradiation planning and delivery. We describe modeling reirradiation normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) from compiled published data, akin to the collaborative Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (QUANTEC) and High Dose per Fraction, Hypofractionated Treatment Effects in the Clinic (HyTEC) projects.

PURPOSE: Simple dose-time recovery factors for the spinal cord serve as a basis to propose the Reirradiation Treatment Effects in the Clinic (ReTEC) project. ReTEC aims to define human organ recovery factors …

Onboarding And Resource Guide Development At Lipscomb University Ideal Program, Folasade S. Alalade

OTD Capstone Projects

The Lipscomb IDEAL program is a two-year inclusive postsecondary program that supports young adults with intellectual disabilities in areas such as education, employment, and independent living. Following the IDEAL program, students have the opportunity to continue their postsecondary experience through the Advanced Program (AP), where they further develop skills. This capstone project focused on creating onboarding materials for students and families transitioning from the IDEAL program to the AP in order to better support and prepare them for this next phase. The second component of the project involved researching assistive technology (AT) and artificial intelligence (AI) tools beneficial to this …

Resource Navigator Passport: From "Resource Lists" To Trackable Next Steps For Veterans, Amanda Keeler, Seth M. Owens, Elizabeth Kubala, Ken Marfilius

Voices of Service Symposium

Veterans participating in the Veteran's Legal Clinic (VLC) in partnership with Altamont often face a familiar challenge at program exit: knowing exactly which supports to contact next, how to reach them, and how to follow through-especially when needs are specialized (e.g., financial planning/credit building, transportation, behavioral health supports) and enrollment pathways are complex. Altamont staff and the VA social worker identified a need for a practical, targeted resource list prior to discharge, while VLC law students requested a resource guide that is usable without overwhelming clients.

To address this gap, we developed the Resource Navigator Passport, a personalized, living document …

Pain Catastrophizing As A Distinct Predictor Of Pain Interference Among Veterans, Annie Zusin, Emily Rabinowitz, Victoria E. Carlin, Qiuxi Huang, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: Pain catastrophizing, defined as a cognitive distortion that magnifies threat of pain, is a strong predictor of pain interference. However, the construct of pain catastrophizing has been criticized for potentially reflecting underlying psychopathology rather than a distinct pain-specific process. The present study examined whether pain catastrophizing uniquely predicts pain interference after accounting for symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Clarifying this distinction is critical for understanding whether the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) captures a construct that is meaningfully distinct from general psychological distress or if the measure is conceptually and statistically redundant with psychopathology Method: A sample of 266 …

Co-Occurring Hallucinogen Use And Mental Health Symptoms, Emerson Hoagland, Grant H. Ripley, Joseph W. Ditre, Dessa Bergen-Cico

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: Mental health concerns, including depression and psychological distress, remain highly prevalent among U.S. military veterans and are associated with elevated functional impairment, suicide risk, and barriers to care. Public discourse increasingly suggests the potential therapeutic effects of psychedelic substances in treating mental illness. However, population-level data examining associations between psychedelic use and mental health burden among U.S. military veterans remain limited. The present study examined associations between past-year hallucinogen use and past-year major depressive episode (MDE) and serious psychological distress (SPD) among veterans. Method: Data were drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2021-2024). Analyses were …

Associations Between Psychological Distress And Benzodiazepine Use And Misuse Among U.S. Veterans, Joshua Soh, Victoria E. Carlin, Joon Kyung Nam, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction: Psychological distress, defined as a generalized state of emotional suffering characterized by depressive and anxiety symptoms, is common among U.S. military veterans. The use of benzodiazepines, which are central nervous system depressants often used to treat symptoms of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and insomnia, is also prevalent in this population despite ongoing concerns regarding dependence, misuse, and potential adverse mental health outcomes. Although benzodiazepines may provide short-term symptom relief, both their use and misuse may contribute to increases in symptoms of psychological distress. As such, this study examines the relationship between psychological distress and BZD use and misuse among …

Supporting Holistic Wellness In Transitional Housing: Implementation Of A Wellness Program For Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, Ashley Lauren Kirk

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Housing insecurity and homelessness continue to increase in the United States, with over 771,480 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024—an approximate 18% increase from 2023 (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2024). Individuals facing homelessness often experience complex physical, mental, and emotional health challenges that can hinder successful community reintegration. The capstone site was a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing through a relationship-centered model emphasizing individualized support and resource accessibility to those experiencing homelessness. The purpose of this project was to develop a comprehensive toolkit to educate residents on holistic wellness, provide practical strategies for …

Retaining Teachers In High-Need Schools, Myram Chapman Brady

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Myram Chapman Brady on April 9, 2026.

2026 Student Research Colloquium Program

Research Colloquium

The program for DMU's 2026 Student Research Colloquium includes the Schedule of Events as well as the title and presenting students of the poster sessions. This event was hosted by DMU's Office of Research on April 9, 2026.

From Intention To Action: Training Future Health Professionals To Champion Exercise Adherence In A Medical Fitness Setting, Gage Degarmo

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Center for Health Improvement at HaysMed Internship

The CHI was a great learning experience for FHSU students. Job shadowing at this facility allowed us to interact with people that were trying to remain active or also recover cardiac, neurological or other physical injuries. The CHI provided opportunities for a lot of people to work out who otherwise would have a sedentary lifestyle. CHI had 4 different programs that let people workout at their own pace, depending on their capabilities. Other than recovering from injuries, the CHI gave these individuals an opportunity to be part of a community where they could …

Professional Practice Areas Of Occupational Therapy, Jaycie Theis

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Jaycie Theis- Professional Practice Areas of Occupational Therapy Occupational therapy (OT) is a dynamic healthcare profession focused on promoting independence, functional skills, and quality of life for individuals across the lifespan. This poster outlines the professional practice areas of occupational therapists, including hospitals, schools, home health, and long-term care facilities, highlighting the unique roles, responsibilities, and client populations in each setting. Core job tasks such as patient assessment, individualized treatment planning, therapeutic intervention, and caregiver education are emphasized, along with essential skills like communication, adaptability, and clinical reasoning. The poster also reviews common goals of OT, including improving physical, cognitive, …

How Reliable Is Your Run Data? A Framework For The Physiological Validation Of Coros Wearable Technology, Tyler Lampert, Christian Darrah, Gage Degarmo

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Wearable technology such as COROS has advanced athletic monitoring; however, the accuracy of its physiological measurements must be validated to ensure effective use in training and performance settings. The purpose of this study is to compare physiological metrics obtained from COROS running watches with gold-standard laboratory instruments to determine their validity. Methods will include three separate testing sessions. The first, an indoor laboratory session, will assess VO2 max, lactate threshold (heart rate and pace), and energy expenditure using a metabolic cart, electrocardiogram (EKG), and a portable lactate analyzer. The second, an outdoor session, will evaluate GPS-derived distance, pace, and running …

From Survival To Significance: The Unfinished Work Of Pediatric Surgery, Ed Barksdale

Grand Rounds

ACCME Objectives

1. Describe the case definition of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome according to the 2015 Institute of Medicine case definition.
2. Describe the epidemiology and impact of pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
3. Describe the modern management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in light of research advances over the past 3 decades.

ANCC Learning Outcomes

1. Maintain and advance knowledge and skills related to pediatric conditions seen in our region.
2. Increase collaboration across professions of the healthcare team.

The Pathways Study: Findings From Surveys Of People With Recent Experience Of Homelessness In Multnomah County, Kathleen P. Conte, Amy Laird, Desiree' J. Duboise, Susan Avila, Carlton Bone, Transformational Research For Equity And Experience In Shelter (Trees) Committee, Marisa Zapata

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

As historic levels of funding to resolve and prevent homelessness draws down in Multnomah County, entities providing homeless services want to know the most effective ways of supporting people experiencing homelessness. The “Pathways” study aims to help answer that question. Through surveys and interviews, we sought to understand how people navigate their lives while homeless, and in particular how they interacted with homeless services. Overall, the findings reinforce what previous studies have found: people want housing, need housing to be affordable and within their means, and value helpful effective services. This report presents findings from surveys with 541 people with …

Spectator 2026-04-09, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

Social Determinants Of Sleep Health Inequities Among Rural Appalachian Adults, Mairead E. Moloney, Emily Slade, Joon Chung, Maliha Mehnaz Mitu, Michael A. Grandner, Daniela C. Moga

Sociology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

April 9, 2026, Caa

Minutes

No abstract provided.

"Out Of Step": How Executive Department Must March Together In Recognizing "Honorable" Service, Brent Filbert, Elizabeth Kubala, Seth M. Owens

Voices of Service Symposium

This article examines how veterans with less-than-honorable discharges must navigate two separate systems--the VA's Character of Discharge (COD) process and the Department of War's discharge upgrade system--despite both addressing similar underlying issues. These systems apply different legal standards and priorities, leading to inconsistent outcomes, delays, and duplicative proceedings. The lack of coordination between the agencies creates an administrative burden that can prevent eligible veterans from accessing benefits and health care. The article argues that recent expansions in VA COD regulations have made the systems functionally similar, but without shared legal effect between their decisions. To address this, it proposes a …

Bridging The Gap: How My Internship In The Veterans Legal Clinic Helps To Narrow The Civilian-Military Divide, Anna Lupardo, Elizabeth Kubala

Voices of Service Symposium

Anna Lupardo, an undergraduate student at Syracuse University, describes how her internship in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic has helped bridge the civilian-military divide on campus. Her work has included coordinating the AFCCA outreach visit, observing the Onondaga County Veteran Treatment Court, and conducting weekly visits to support homeless veterans at Altamont. She has taken on a leadership role as the VLC's Volunteer Coordinator, working to expand undergraduate involvement in veteran and military community events. Additionally, she was named a Veteran and Military Learning Scholar through the Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation, allowing her …

Enhancing Student Development In Social Work Through Military Culture And Mental Health Practice, Ken Marfilius, Allyson Donovan

Voices of Service Symposium

The Introduction to Military Culture and Mental Health Practice course refines students' clinical skill sets through therapeutic frameworks tailored to the lived experiences of active-duty service members and veterans. By addressing a population often overlooked in social work education, the course strengthens both professional identity and ethically grounded practice. It stands as a practically relevant and essential component of MSW training.

Federal Funding Opportunities For Veterans Research, Chetna Chianese, Katherine Mcdonald, Tessa Livingston, Mcallister & Quinn

Voices of Service Symposium

Veterans and military-connected populations face distinct health challenges-including traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, chronic pain, military environmental exposures, and substance use disorders-that require dedicated research attention. Multiple federal agencies fund research on these topics through a range of mechanisms. This poster provides a landscape overview of current and anticipated funding opportunities to help university-based researchers identify sponsored funding pathways for Veterans' health research.

Predicting Request Resolution In Coordinated Care Networks For Military-Affiliated Populations, Zachary Bridgewater, Joshua-Paul Miles, Catherine Annis, Julia Carboni, Gilly Cantor, Michelle Shumate

Voices of Service Symposium

Coordinated care is an interorganizational network approach to care that connects individuals to diverse services (e.g., housing, income assistance, job support, social and spiritual support, etc.) via human navigators and shared referral platforms. This approach has become prevalent in the military-connected sphere to help service members, veterans, and their families (SMVF) access care. Yet, prior research suggests variation in the resolution of coordinated care referrals"”25% for one United Way 211 (Boyum et al., 2016), and 66% and 88% for two Unite Us networks (Drake et al., 2024; White et al., 2025). This research explores why some referrals resolve while others …

Strength In Partnership: Advancing Veteran Resilience Through The Orp-Va Vital Collaboration, Ken Marfilius, Ron Novack, Dwayne Murray, Margo Lance, Daijon Richards

Voices of Service Symposium

"Strength in Partnership: Advancing Veteran Resilience through the ORP-VA Vital Collaboration": demonstrates how meaningful collaboration transforms ideas into action and creates pathways for lasting community impact. This initiative connects the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs Resiliency Program (ORP) with the VA's Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) Program to advance the health, academic success, and overall well-being of student veterans. Through this collaboration, student veterans gain direct access to VA healthcare, mental health counseling, and transition support, integrated into their campus experience. This partnership bridges federal and university systems and ensures that veterans receive holistic care that addresses the …

Syracuse Veterans Field Guide: The Homefront Edition, Amanda Keeler, Seth M. Owens, Elizabeth Kubala, Ken Marfilius

Voices of Service Symposium

Social services are available to veterans in the Syracuse area, yet locating and accessing help can remain challenging-particularly when needs span multiple systems and eligibility requirements are unclear. The goal of this project was to create a brief, pocket-sized resource guide that can be distributed to area veterans and used quickly "in the moment": to identify actionable supports.

The guide organizes services into 12 categories: accessing veterans' benefits; mental and physical healthcare; education benefits; financial services; housing; nutritional support; legal services; documentation resources; technology access; and peer support. Within each category, the guide provides a curated, limited set of local …

Va Medical Center Collaboration With Coordinated Care Networks: Barriers And Benefits, Gilly Cantor, Zachary Bridgewater, Kimberly A. Hochstedler Webb, Kritee Gujral, Todd H. Wagner, Leslie R.M. Hausmann

Voices of Service Symposium

AmericaServes is a network approach for coordinating care among health and human service organizations to address the needs of the military-connected population. The IVMF and researchers with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) partnered on two studies to explore the extent to which Veteran Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) participate in AmericaServes and the benefits of collaboration for veterans.

First, we conducted a convergent parallel mixed-methods pilot study. We interviewed staff from 7 AmericaServes coordination centers and VAMCs in those locations. We then categorized VAMC participation into levels of intensity and complexity, and identified barriers and facilitators to participation. We found that …

Va Wholehealth Approaches To Treatment Of Ptsd, Mackenna Murphy, Justin Hirschberg, Emily Rabinowitz, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has implemented the Veterans Health Administration Whole Health model as a system-wide transformation toward personalized, proactive, and patient-driven care. Whole Health emphasizes the integration of conventional medical treatment with complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches, including mindfulness, yoga, meditation, tai chi, acupuncture, health coaching, and peer support. Given the high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and substance use disorders among veterans, Whole Health programming may offer a non-stigmatizing and holistic pathway to mental health support.

Exploring The Use Of Touch In Dance/Movement Therapy: A Literature Review, Alexis Pungitore

Expressive Therapies Theses

This literature review explores how touch influences the dance/movement therapy (DMT) process. As touch in DMT appears underexplored, the review draws extensively on related fields to inform DMT practice regarding touch. Drawing on interdisciplinary research and professional codes of ethics, it synthesizes theoretical and empirical findings on the regulatory and relational functions of touch, including co-regulation, attachment, interoception, and connectedness. Ethical considerations, particularly informed consent, boundaries, power dynamics, trauma- informed care, and cultural responsiveness, are emphasized. Findings from the collected data suggest that intentional, consensual, and clinically attuned touch can support emotional regulation and relational growth, while underscoring the need …

Narrative Strategies In Presidential Environmental Policymaking: An Examination Of The Executive Impacts Of Presidential Narratives, Gorgin Mansourian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examine how U.S. presidents employ narrative strategies to shape environmental policymaking through both rhetorical and institutional mechanisms. Specifically, I investigate how Presidents Donald J. Trump and Joseph R. Biden constructed, communicated, and institutionalized environmental narratives during their first terms, highlighting the relationship between presidential narratives and executive orders. Using the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) and Richard Neustadt’s Presidential Power Theory (PPT), this study conceptualizes presidential narratives as both rhetorical tools and instruments of persuasion within institutional contexts. This synthesis advances the NPF by highlighting the role of institutional positions on narrative credibility, by emphasizing the roles …

97% Of Recent Grads Report Getting Off On Right Foot Toward Career Success, University Of Dayton

News Releases

University of Dayton graduates continue to find success after graduation, with 97% reporting being employed, pursuing a graduate degree or participating in a service program within six months of graduation.

Β-Glucan Mitigates Valproic Acid-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity In Rats, Maha Mohammad Almutairi, Hussein Mohammad Ali, Mohamed Abdelbakky, Ahmad Hamad Alhowail

Saudi Toxicology Journal

Valproic acid (VPA) is a common medication used to treat epilepsy, known for its broad-spectrum efficacy but also associated with hepatotoxicity and metabolic disturbances. β-glucan, a natural polysaccharide with hepatoprotective properties, may mitigate druginduced liver damage. The study sought to assess hepatorenal toxicity of VPA and investigate the potential protective and therapeutic effects of β-glucan. Forty male rats were randomly distributed into four groups. The treated group received VPA (500 mg/kg), β-glucan (50 mg/kg), or combinations for 14–21 days via intraperitoneal injection. Serum biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, ALP, urea, creatinine, lipids) were measured. Histopathological evaluation of hepatic tissue was performed. …