Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Icare Home Tonometry On Glaucoma Management: A Retrospective Observational Study, Irene P. Kim, Natasha Nayak Kolomeyer, Jonathan Myers, Reza Razeghinejad

Phase 1

Introduction/Purpose: Home intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring helps detect elevated IOPs that may be missed during routine office visits for glaucoma. This study examined whether home IOP tonometry provides additional information that changes glaucoma management.

Methods: This study included 82 eyes from 46 patients examined by the Wills Eye Glaucoma Service that had iCare HOME tonometry done between 2020 to 2023. Patient demographic data, prior surgical interventions and medications, and management changes following home tonometry were collected. iCare HOME tonometry data and the presence of IOP spikes were also recorded. Physician interpretations of optical coherence tomography imaging and visual field testing …

Maternal Microchimerism In Cord Blood Of Neonates With Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy, Saniya Lakhiani, Elizabeth Wright-Jin

Phase 1

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) affects three million neonates every year, often leading to conditions including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and motor or cognitive deficits. A risk factor for neonatal HIE is maternal inflammation; however, little is known about the mechanism behind this. Maternal inflammation may increase maternal microchimerism, maternal cells that enter the fetal compartment. Maternal microchimerism may change fetal inflammatory pathways, organ repair, and immune system development. We hypothesized that patients with HIE have a greater percentage of maternal cells in their cord blood or circulating postnatal blood than those without HIE. To test this hypothesis, fetal cord blood or early …

The Impact Of Follow-Up Visits For Pediatric Patients Readmitted With Asthma, Keerti Mallur, Talia Gillespie, Kanika Gupta, Adil Solaiman

Phase 1

Introduction/Purpose: Asthma is a leading cause of hospital admissions in pediatric patients. In addition, kids may end up readmitted to the hospital after being discharged. This negatively affects the quality of life and health of children in our country, while also placing stress on the healthcare system. Follow-up visits may improve asthma management, therefore reducing readmissions. We aim to elucidate a potential relationship between short-term readmissions and follow-up visits in pediatric patients readmitted with asthma.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 128 patients at Nemours Children’s Hospital from Jan 2020 to Oct 2024 who were initially admitted with …

Evaluating Overuse Of Nicu For Hypothermia, Solomeya Marynovych, Lillian Walton Masters, Julie Cooper, Neera Goyal

Phase 1

Introduction/Purpose: Hypothermia of the newborn may be environmental or due to immature physiology but also may be an early sign of sepsis or other complications. Our study aimed to assess outcomes of newborns who were transferred to the NICU for hypothermia, and to evaluate if clinical risk factors are associated with receiving interventions in the NICU.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of neonates born from July 2021 to January 2025 at TJU Hospital transferred from the nursery to the NICU was conducted. Data was manually abstracted from electronic medical records to REDCap by single reviewers. Descriptive statistics were performed, and …

Time From Stereotactic Electroencephalography To Surgery: Effect On Seizure Outcome, Sanyam Ratan, Robert Ziechmann, Katelyn Mann, Chengyuan Wu

Phase 1

Introduction: Epilepsy is a major neurological disorder affecting approximately 1% of adults in the United States. Among the nearly one-third of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, resective surgery guided by prior stereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) can be curative. However, the optimal interval between the procedures remains poorly defined. Prolonged intervals may allow for evolution of the epileptogenic network, potentially affecting surgical outcomes. This study evaluated seizure outcomes in patients undergoing both SEEG and subsequent resective surgery.

Methods: In this retrospective, single-institution study, electronic medical records of 29 patients who underwent SEEG followed by resective surgery were reviewed. Patients were divided into early …

Impact Of Solid Organ Transplant History On Outcomes In Head And Neck Microvascular Reconstruction, Domenica Voli, Sarah R. Harrington, Daniel Uralov, Janvi J. Shukla, Hani Samarah, Marina Aweeda, Krishna Koka, Shaunak Ganju, Kelly Bridgham, Eric V. Mastrolonardo, Arielle G. Thal, Richard A. Goldman, Adam J. Luginbuhl, Larissa Sweeny, Mark K. Wax, Joseph M. Curry

Phase 1

Introduction/Purpose: Free tissue transfer (FTT) is a commonly used technique in head and neck reconstructions. Many factors influence FTT success, including immunosuppression. Patients with solid organ transplants represent a unique population, as the lifelong immunosuppression predisposes them to head and neck cancers and poor wound healing. This study assesses postoperative outcomes and long-term survival in patients with head and neck cancer requiring FTT with a history of solid organ transplant (SOT), compared to matched non-transplant controls.

Methods: Patients with head and neck cancer who underwent FTT were identified in multi-institutional databases and the national TriNetX database. Patients with a history …

Progression Of Optic Nerve Head And Macular Parameters From Optical Coherence Tomography In Glaucomatous Eyes With Concomitant Epiretinal Membrane, Alisha Desai, Fabio Lavinsky, Joel S. Schuman

Phase 1

Introduction/Purpose: Epiretinal membrane (ERM) can distort macular and peripapillary architecture, altering optical coherence tomography (OCT)–derived measurements and potentially obscuring glaucomatous progression. The present study aimed to determine whether glaucoma-related structural progression can still be detected over time in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes with concomitant ERM by evaluating longitudinal changes in optic nerve head (ONH) and macular parameters. Understanding these changes may reduce the risk of delayed diagnosis and irreversible vision loss.

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study included adults (>18 years) with POAG and ERM from two tertiary care centers. Eyes with at least three visits were included, while …

Interrelationship Between Body Mass Index, Venous Sinus Pressures, Craniospinal Elastance, And Intracranial Pressure In Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, Rachel Wang, Scott W. Keith Phd, Pascal Jabbour Md, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris Md, Michael J. Marmura Md, M. R. Gooch Md, Hsiangkuo Yuan Phd

Phase 1

Introduction/Purpose: Body mass index (BMI), venous sinus pressure (VSP), and craniospinal elastance each correlate with lumbar puncture opening pressure (LP OP) in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), but their mechanistic interactions remain unclear. This study examined how these factors jointly influence OP, hypothesizing that BMI has a stronger positive association with intracranial pressure (ICP) when elastance is elevated.

Methods: A single-center retrospective review was conducted to identify patients who underwent venous manometry (8/2021–11/2025) followed by LP within 7 days. VSPs were recorded at the torcula (TP) and sigmoid/jugular (SIJ) sinuses. Elastance was calculated as (OP – closing pressure)/volume of CSF removed. …

Cardiovascular Outcomes In Smoking And Nonsmoking Psoriasis Patients On Low- And Moderate-Intensity Statin Therapy, Eliana Khojasteh, Mahaa Ayub, Julianne Bartz, Matthew Keller, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: Psoriasis is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, and smoking amplifies this burden by worsening cardiovascular outcomes and psoriasis severity. Statins are the cornerstone of cardiovascular risk reduction; however, their lipid-lowering effectiveness in psoriasis patients across smoking statuses remains incompletely understood. This study evaluated whether smoking status influences LDL-C before and after statin initiation in adults with psoriasis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of adults with psoriasis treated at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital between 2014 and 2024 who were prescribed low- or moderate-intensity statins. Data collected included smoking status (current vs. former/never) and LDL-C values before and at …

Effect Of Adherent Cpap Use On Dyslipidemia, Evelyn Miller, Cindy Cheng, Md, Phd

Phase 1

Introduction/Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by upper airway closure during sleep, resulting in surges of sympathetic activity, elevated blood pressure and arterial oxygen desaturation. Over time, this can lead to systemic hypertension, congestive cardiac failure, and acute coronary syndrome. The current gold standard treatment is CPAP (continuous positive pressure airway),  which reduces blood pressure and heart rate while improving oxygen saturation. However, the effect of CPAP treatment on dyslipidemia is less understood.  Accordingly, this study aims to determine the effect of adherent CPAP use on dyslipidemia in our sleep medicine practice in Philadelphia.

Methods: The retrospective …

Commonwealth Times 2026-02-11

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Concordance Between Ai-Generated Cartilage Grading And Physician-Reported Systems: A Scoping Review, Alex R. Charlton, Bs, Caroline A. Markmann, Bs, Isabella T. Wu, Md, Mph, Kevin B. Freedman, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: Accurate grading of cartilage pathology is essential for diagnosis and operative planning, yet physician-reported grading systems remain difficult to standardize. Artificial intelligence (AI)has the potential to automate cartilage assessment, but its methodology and clinical applicability remain unclear. This scoping review evaluates current applications of AI for cartilage grading and assesses their translational readiness.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines, including a systematic literature search, predefined eligibility criteria, transparent study selection, and structured data extraction. Eligible studies included English-language human research describing AI models for cartilage evaluation that were assessed against human or clinical grading …

Evaluating The Clinical Utility Of Large Language Models In Otolaryngology Patient Education, Shaunak Ganju, Bs, Adam Luginbuhl, Md

Phase 1

Introduction

Large Language Models (LLMs) have rapidly entered consumer-facing health information platforms, yet their reliability for patient education remains uncertain. Otolaryngology involves complex surgical procedures where clear perioperative counseling is essential for patient understanding and safety. This project evaluates whether LLMs can provide accurate and readable answers to common perioperative questions for septoplasty and cochlear implant procedures. We hypothesized that LLMs would generate accurate responses with readability levels appropriate for patients, with ChatGPT performing best.

Methods

Two common pre-operative and two post-operative questions for septoplasty and cochlear implantation were converted into standardized prompts. Each prompt was submitted to ChatGPT-5.1 and …

Utility Of Neurosurgery-Specific Rag-Llm In Accurate Patient Outcome Prediction, Alexander Hone, Basel Musmar, Joanna Roy, Pascal Jabbour

Phase 1

Large Language Models (LLMs) have been previously utilized in the medical field to successfully generate information. However, LLMs may hallucinate, which generates a response based on false or misleading information. This can negatively impact healthcare outcomes, thus, there is an increasing need to develop a model free of hallucinations.

A multi-target voting ensemble (Random Forest with HistGradientBoosting) algorithm was utilized in the analysis of 454 training data and 114 test data. Raw accuracy and macro-F1 statistics determined that the model is capable of identifying clinically meaningful data for majority classes, while minority-class detection was insignificant. This demonstrates moderate predictive value …

Noninvasive Patient-Level Detection Of Nafld Using Mri Radiomics And Machine Learning, Vladimir Kirichenko, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli

Phase 1

Introduction— Current noninvasive assessment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) relies primarily on MRI-based fat quantification, such as proton density fat fraction (PDFF). This study explored the use of an MRI radiomics–based machine learning approach for accurate patient-level classification of NAFLD.

Methods— Liver MRI images from patients with suspected NAFLfD were retrospectively analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted using PyRadiomics from full-liver masks across 4–6 axial slices per patient. Slice-level features were aggregated to the patient level using summary statistics (mean, median, and standard deviation). To reduce redundancy and multicollinearity, features were pruned using Pearson correlation analysis with a threshold of …

Smart Heart: Assessing The Impact Of An Electronic Health Record Intervention On Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Prescribing In Heart Failure, Shriya Baweja, Bsc, Alan Kubey, Md, Facp

Phase 1

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) affects millions in the U.S., yet guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and the supportive utilization of EHR-based clinical decision support systems (CDSS) for uptake remain underexplored. This project evaluated whether CDSS implementation increased GDMT prescribing at discharge for patients with HFrEF/HFimpEF.

Methods: The analysis included HF patients discharged from 11 hospitals on our enterprise EHR (Epic) from July 2023 to June 2025. Data was extracted from an automated data platform (Qlik). Patients were grouped into matched pre- and post-intervention periods, accounting for seasonality and concurrent financial and multidisciplinary workgroup HF initiatives. CDSS tools implemented in November 2024 …

Shield-Up: Screening For Home Gun Inventory: Education And Lock Distribution In Urban Philadelphia, Brendan Chen, Tinysha Mims, Chanel Sumpter, Kevin Carroll, Wanique Handy, Darnell Gray-Taylor, Patrick Moeller, Quinn Plunkett, Christine Pham, Mph, Nicola Cianci, Christine James, Phd, Lsw, Amy Leader, Drph, Mph, Joria Le, Rn, Bsn, Christopher Wetzel, Jen Geller, Md, Rosemary Frasso, Phd, Msc, Cph, Stanton Miller, Md, Mph

Phase 1

Purpose: Between 2009-2017, there was an average of 42,847 emergency department (ED) visits per year for unintentional nonfatal gun injuries. Current literature shows gun locks are effective in preventing unintentional gun-related injuries. We hypothesize that cancer screening outreach events with community health workers are an effective manner of distributing gun locks and the distribution of gun locks results in behavior modification towards utilization of safe storage practices.

Methods: Community health workers at the screening events register participants through an 8- question consent form. Participants then complete a 24-question baseline survey to consenting participants asking about firearm ownership status, firearm storage …

Comparative Analysis Of Demographic Data For Eligible Lifestyle Medicine Program Participants, Cajetan Ejianreh, Amy Cunningham

Phase 1

Introduction: Obesity is a major comorbidity linked to a myriad of health complications and poor treatment outcomes. Through partnership with the PCORI Institute, a comprehensive lifestyle medicine program is being developed to refer eligible patients within the Jefferson Health System. This comparative analysis aims to identify the demographics of these eligible patients.

Methods: Data was extracted from EPIC electronic health record from patients who had a “qualifying” encounter with one of the following specialties: OB/GYN, Geriatrics, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine. Qualification of patients in this data collection was based on an encounter with one of the aforementioned specialties within …

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors And Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Gabriela Skovronsky, Natalie Suozzi, Paul Nyirjesy

Phase 1

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are widely used for type 2 diabetes management, but are associated with increased risk of genital infections. Despite their use, there is limited evidence to quantify this risk. We conducted a systematic review to determine the incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in patients taking SGLT2is compared to other diabetes treatments. We hypothesized that SGLT2i use would be associated with an increased incidence of VVC compared to other treatments.

Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, we searched five databases using MESH terms for studies examining VVC in females with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with SGLT2is versus …

Patient Experiences With Provision Of Telehealth Addiction Treatment Services, Kaleigh Spollen, Shane Nieves, Mph, Gregory Jaffe, Md, Msed, Vanessa Short, Phd, Mph

Phase 1

Introduction: Substance use disorder (SUD) is a nationwide public health crisis, and deaths from opioids have risen significantly since 1999. In recent years, telehealth has emerged as a novel modality for SUD treatment. This study aims to evaluate patient experiences with a telehealth program for SUD, identifying barriers and facilitators to participation in the program, as well as opportunities for program improvement.

Methods: This qualitative study comprises an online survey and semi-structured interview. Individuals 18 years of age or older who have attended at least one session of Jefferson’s telemedicine program for SUD treatment were enrolled in the …

Training Protocol Efficacy On Empowerment And Sustainability In Staff Serving Marginalized Youth In Peru, Hannah Park, Abigail Sugarman, Stephen Didonato, Phd, Lpc, Ncc

Phase 1

Introduction: In Peru, there is limited longitudinal research evaluating trauma-informed care (TIC) training for residential child-care staff, despite evidence that it reduces distress, improves confidence and expertise. This project addresses this gap, studying the impact of a trauma-informed training protocol on staff perceptions of the residential care environment and on staff self-awareness. We hypothesize that an effective protocol would yield improvements in both domains.

Methods: As Phase 3 of a study under Dr. Stephen DiDonato (Jefferson College of Nursing) and Dr. Wayne Centrone (Health Bridges International, HBI), this phase evaluates supplemental training under an established protocol while introducing a self-sustainability …

Healthcare Capital: Leveraging Social Connections To Navigate The Healthcare System, Ona Ichoku, Nicholas Wahba, Rosemary Frasso, Phd, Sm, Cph

Phase 1

Introduction: Navigating the healthcare system can be overwhelming for patients, who face rising costs, long wait times, and complex health information. Many patients leverage personal connections to decode healthcare information, yet little is understood about that process. The objective of this study is to investigate how do patients leverage social connections, “Healthcare Capital,” to navigate their healthcare?

Methods: In this study, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of adults who sought healthcare within the last 12 months. Participants were selected through convenience and snowball sampling. 30-minute interviews were recorded on Zoom, transcribed, and de-identified. A directed content analysis …

Cardiovascular Outcomes Of Youth Female Athletes: Stratifications Of Risk Using Subdivisions In Sports, Jillian D'Souza, Nikta Nair, David Shipon, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in youth athletes is a rare, but devastating event that may proactively be prevented through identification of pathologic structural, functional and electrical cardiac remodeling changes. Pathological changes in female athletes along with the associated risk and protective factors related to SCD are understudied. This study aims to identify pathological cardiac changes in female athletes and inquire whether strength-based versus endurance-based sports carry different levels of risk.

Methods: The HeartBytes database was compiled from cardiac screenings of youth athletes in Southeastern Pennsylvania conducted from 2014 to 2021. Screenings collected information from health questionnaires, physical …

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors And Vulvovaginal Candidiasis, Natalie Suozzi, Gabriela Skovronsky, Paul Nyirjesy

Phase 1

Introduction: Sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are associated with an increased risk of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), negatively impacting quality of life. Most studies evaluate risk with individual SGLT2is or the class as a whole, rather than comparing risk between different SGLT2is. The objective of this study was to compare the risk of VVC across individual SGLT2is.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to find studies examining VVC rates in women taking SGLT2is. Of 74 studies identified, four met inclusion criteria for a meta-analysis, with several others used for background. For canagliflozin, ertugliflozin, and empagliflozin, we calculated risk ratios and …

Leveraging Social Media To Disseminate Evidence-Based Messaging About Substance Use To Reduce Stigma And Promote Harm Reduction In Adolescents And Young Adults, Jacob Mihalic, Gregory Jaffe, Md, Msed

Phase 1

Introduction

Substance use disorder (SUD) remains a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in Philadelphia, with adolescents and young adults (AYAs) particularly vulnerable due to peer influence and digital exposure. However, harm reduction messaging rarely targets AYAs directly. This project will explore how AYAs engage with social media, how these platforms shape their perceptions of SUD, and how digital messaging can be leveraged to reduce stigma and support prevention.

Methods

This qualitative project will conduct three focus groups with Philadelphia AYAs aged 13-18, recruited through local Boys and Girls Clubs. Discussions will explore how AYAs engage with SUD-related content online, …

Deafmed Through Deaf Eyes: A Patient-Centered Approach Of The Deafmed Program, Allie Capik, Julia Croce

Phase 1

Introduction
DEAFMed, a Humanities selective within the JeffMD curriculum, aims to enhance cultural competency in caring for Deaf patients. This study predominantly assesses DEAFMed’s impact from the viewpoint of Deaf patients to determine whether the training improves medical student preparation for culturally competent care.

Methods
Deaf individuals were recruited and trained as Standardized Patients (SPs) for 15-minute history-taking encounters with first-year medical students. Twelve non-DEAFMed-trained and sixteen DEAFMed-trained students were randomized to SPs blinded to their training status. SPs evaluated students quantitatively on trust, eye contact, respect, communication, and comfort, and provided qualitative feedback on strengths and areas for improvement. …

Narrative Perspectives On Providing Gender Affirming Care In Primary Care Settings, Sofia Lemberg, Ma, Robert Mcclowry, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: Gender affirming (hormone) care (GAC) has come under bureaucratic scrutiny over the 21st century despite increasing social support of LGBTQ+ individuals. Primary care healthcare professionals (PCHPs) are uniquely situated to oversee and maintain patients’ GAC. Despite this, there is little research investigating PCHPs’ experiences providing GAC, particularly from a narrative lens. This approach may help us understand these perspectives, by promoting reflection upon personal experiences and emphasizing what PCHPs think is important for providing GAC.

Hypothesis: This study investigates what perspectives and experiences PCHPs hold regarding providing GAC in primary care settings. The investigators hypothesize that PCHPs will have …

Alumni Reflections On The Impact Of Participating In Artz @ Jefferson, Clarissa Martin, Rosemary Frasso

Phase 1

Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) are becoming increasingly prevalent, with 13.8 million Americans age 65 and older predicted to be living with ADRD by 2060. Humanities-based interventions in medical education can foster person-centered approaches towards people living with dementia (PLWD). ARTZ @ Jefferson pairs health-studies students (mentees) with PLWD and care partners (mentors) in arts-based sessions that facilitate discussion of the lived experience of dementia. This study aims to explore how health-studies’ alumni reflect on the long-term impact of their participation in ARTZ @ Jefferson.

Methods
A qualitative design was used to capture student alumni reflections on their …

Exploring Music As A Therapeutic Tool For Patients, Andrew Rosario, Josh Robinson

Phase 1

Introduction: Music is a remarkably powerful art form that has the potential to impact people in innumerable ways. This project seeks to explore the many ways patients think about and use music in their lives, whether it be as a source of healing, a reminder of their past memories, an outlet to express emotions, or a companion through whatever challenges they may face.

Methods: This project partnered with an existing workshop run by Josh Robinson for patients in the Headache Unit at Jefferson Methodist Hospital. The first part of these sessions involved a “Soundtrack to My Life” activity where …

Designing A Multilingual Instructional Language Tool For Patient Communication In Interventional Radiology, Ahlam Houssein, Samuel Almodóvar, Gregg Khodorov, Md, Mba, Sahib Sohal, Md, Robert Pugliese, Pharmd, David Dwyer, Md

Phase 1

Introduction: Language barriers in healthcare contribute to medical errors, reduced patient adherence, and increased procedural risk among patients with limited English proficiency (LEP), particularly in interventional radiology (IR), where real-time verbal instruction is essential for procedural success. Current virtual translation services lack the immediacy, specificity, and workflow integration required for intraprocedural communication. This project asks how a digital platform can enable IR professionals to communicate procedural instructions to LEP patients accurately and efficiently in real time, hypothesizing that a structured, phrase-based translation system will improve procedural efficiency and safety.

Methods: On-site interviews and workflow observations were conducted with IR physicians, …