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Alumni Journal - Volume 95, Number 2, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | School of Medicine News
10 | Alumni News
12 | Students
14 | This & That
16 | AIMS Report: Global Presence: Teaching and Healing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Graduation 2024
19 | Graduation Feature

Features
36 | By the Graduates: Stories and reflections
42 | Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum: Transforming the Globe
45 | Spiders and C. S. Lewis
48 | Alumni Spotlight: Christine Shen '17
49 | Life After Medicine

In Memoriam
50 | Alumni Remembered: Featured obituary - Anton N. …

Mitigating Algorithmic Bias: Strategies For Addressing Discrimination In Data, Sonia Gipson Rankin

Faculty Scholarship

This article examines the pervasive issue of algorithmic bias, particularly within large language models (LLMs) and the legal system. It argues that unlike simple programming bugs, these biases are deeply ingrained in the design and training data of artificial intelligence (AI) systems. By understanding the historical roots of bias and its realworld consequence across various sectors, we can develop effective strategies to mitigate its impact and ensure AI serves as a tool for progress. Weaving together historical insights, case studies, and forward-looking recommendations, the article aims to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead the charge …

Quillen Magazine - Summer 2024, Quillen College Of Medicine, East Tennessee State University

Quillen Magazine

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate And Graduate Course Descriptions, Summer 2024, Wright State University

Course Descriptions

Wright State University undergraduate and graduate course descriptions from Summer 2024

Heparin-Binding Protein Stratifies Mortality Risk Among Ugandan Children Hospitalized With Respiratory Distress, Hridesh Mishra, Núria Balanza, Caroline Francis, Kathleen Zhong, Julie Wright, Andrea Conroy, Robert Opoka, Quique Bassat, Sophie Namasopo, Kevin Kain

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background Current prognostic tools do not reliably and objectively identify children with pneumonia at risk of a severe or life-threatening episode. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a host immune protein that is released in response to infection. We hypothesized that measuring HBP concentrations at hospital admission could help risk-stratify children with pneumonia and identify those at higher risk of an adverse prognosis.

Methods We evaluated the prognostic accuracy of HBP for predicting in-hospital mortality among children with respiratory distress, and whether HBP could improve the accuracy of validated composite clinical severity scores.

Results Of 778 Ugandan children under 5 years of …

Introduction To Programming And Applied Analytics Using Python, Matt Brown

ATU Faculty OER Books and Materials

This open electronic textbook is a collection of lecture notes, assignments, and additional background material for a junior level analytics course targeted for business students, it is free to use and copy. The text assumes readers have not had prior programming or computing courses, but have had at least one analytics course. The textbook differs from other textbooks because it serves a dual purpose, to first introduce to students the Python programming language and secondly to introduce analytics programming in Python. It is not meant to be a comprehensive book on the Python language or data analytics, rather a semester’s …

Role Of Hospital Leadership In Pandemic Preparedness: Experience At A Tertiary Hospital In Kenya During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Lucy Wangari, William Macharia, Benjamin Wachira, Jemimah Kimeu, Boniface Mativa, Lukoye Atwoli

Emergency Medicine, East Africa

Introduction Pandemic preparedness refers to being ready for, responding to and recovering from public health crises, and is integral for health security. Hospital leadership is a critical building block of an effective healthcare system, providing policy, accountability and stewardship in a health crisis.

Objectives and methods We aimed to describe the leadership and governance structures put in place at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, a private not-for-profit tertiary healthcare facility, following the COVID-19 pandemic. We reviewed over 200 hospital documents archived in the COVID-19 repository including those received from the Kenya Ministry of Health, emails, memos, bulletins, meeting minutes, …

Multicountry Spread Of Influenza A(H1n1)Pdm09 Viruses With Reduced Oseltamivir Inhibition, May 2023-February 2024, Mira C Patel, Ha T Nguyen, Philippe Noriel Q Pascua, Rongyuan Gao, John Steel, Rebecca J Kondor, Larisa V Gubareva

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Since May 2023, a novel combination of neuraminidase mutations, I223V + S247N, has been detected in influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses collected in countries spanning 5 continents, mostly in Europe (67/101). The viruses belong to 2 phylogenetically distinct groups and display ≈13-fold reduced inhibition by oseltamivir while retaining normal susceptibility to other antiviral drugs.

Issue 9: Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider, Bharat Bajantri Md, Sarah Ellsworth-Hoffman Mls, Ya Gao Md, Sivaprakash Sivaji Do, Caleb Hoppe Pharmd

Critical Care & Pulmonary

Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider Issue 9

Compiled by Bharat Bajantri, MD, and librarian Sarah Ellsworth, MLS for the clinicians of the Pulmonary and Critical Care team of Parkview.

The Pulmonary & Critical Care Insider newsletter was created by Dr. Bharat Bajantri, MD and Sarah Ellsworth, MLS in 2023 as a form of current awareness for current practice at our hospital, Parkview Health.

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Topics:

VIEWPOINTS:

Non-Shockable Cardiac Arrest Management

Try and try again till CPAP succeeds!

ORIGINAL STUDY SUMMARY & PERSPECTIVE:

Fungal Pneumonias in the ICU: Clinical Insights and Diagnostic Strategies.

ARDS Update and Guidance

SNAPSHOTS:

Making sure massive …

Assessing The Feasibility, Effectiveness, And Outcomes Of Engaging Family Planning Services In Peri-Urban/Rural Areas Of Islamabad, Iqbal Shah, Ali M. Mir, Nauman Safdar, Saima Zubair, Mumraiz Khan, Muhammad Khalil, Irfan Masood

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

No abstract provided.

Serological Markers Of Transfusion Transmissible Infections And Abo Blood Groups In Najran, Saudi Arabia, Ahmad A. Alshehri, Ahmad Adebayo Irekeola, Mohammed Merae Alshahrani, Saeed Ahmed Asiri, Banan F. Aboluluy, Abdulaziz Hassan Alhasaniah, Ibrahim Abdullah Almazni, Saleh A. Alshamrani, Abdullah J. Alshahrani, Ahmad M. Saif, Osman Ae. Elnoubi, Abdulrahim R. Hakami, Abdulrazzag Abdulaziz Othman, Mansor H. Almohi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To ascertain the prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) across diverse donor groups in the Najran province. Additionally, to establish a potential association between the development of TTI and the donors’ blood group, as determined by the ABO/Rh blood grouping system. Methods: Blood donation data of 4120 donors, spanning from January to December 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. The blood were screened for TTI markers, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), anti-human immunodeficiency viruses 1 and 2 (anti-HIV1&2), anti-human T-lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 (anti-HTLV-1&2), and syphilis antigen. Results: Positive TTI …

Impact Of Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes Disinfecting Clostridioides Difficle On High-Touch Surfaces, Tyler Wolf Ramirez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrheas worldwide (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC], 2022). 15% of all hospitalized patients in the United States develop antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), with 15-25% of cases caused by C. difficile (CDC, 2022). C. difficile costs the United States Healthcare system $5.4-6.3 billion annually (Balsells et al., 2019). The project’s purpose was to see if implementing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) wipes using an interprofessional team leads to the following expected outcome(s): reduction in hospital-acquired C. difficile infections and comparable disinfection rates to sodium hypochlorite. An interprofessional team consisting of the primary lead, Clinical …

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates Among Adolescents In South Carolina, Rebecca Jane Morrison

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Among adolescents 11-17 years of age in South Carolina, low rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can negatively impact health outcomes through increased risk of acquiring HPV-associated cancers.

Purpose: To determine if the 4 Pillars™ Immunization Toolkit increased HPV vaccination rates among adolescent patients.

Methods: The 4 Pillars™ Immunization Toolkit was the framework for this bundled intervention. Pillar 1, convenience and easy access, included after-school HPV express clinics. Pillar 2, communication, utilized staff motivational interviewing skills, campaign promotion materials, documentation of declination, and second-dose callback appointments. Pillar 3, enhanced vaccination systems, was designed to use …

The Greenbook, Faculty Handbook, 2024-2025, Marshall University Academic Affairs

The Greenbook

This book has been published for the faculty of Marshall University for the specified period of time. This book was created by Academic Affairs and is for the period of 2024-2025.

Maggot Therapy And Its Clinical Application In The War Against Microbial Resistance, Nicholas Leidy, Ms

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Antibiotic resistance poses a growing threat across the globe. The United Nations estimates that up to 10 million deaths by 2050 will be due to superbugs and antimicrobial resistance. Finding effective solutions has been obstructed by the expensive and time-intensive research and development process. Maggot therapy, however, has emerged as a promising, cost-effective approach to wound debridement or cleaning. This unconventional method takes advantage of the natural capabilities of maggots to effectively debride chronic, non-healing wounds, even those infected with multidrug-resistant bacteria. Through the utilization of proteolytic and digestive enzymes, maggots are able to break down necrotic tissue and promote …

Risk Factors Of Ischemic Stroke In Covid-19 Patients, Rana Ismael Ali, Nameer Mohammed Altalib

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2), has become one of the worst pandemics in this century. COVID-19 may increase the risk of acute ischemic stroke similar to the increased risk of 3.2-fold to 7.8-fold seen within the first 3 days after other respiratory tract infections.Aim: To have the ability of predicting risk of stroke development in COVID19 patients by relaying on variable parameters involving clinical and inflammatory markers.Methods and materials: A case control study conducted in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq at Baghdad teaching Hospital, in a …

Evaluation Of Haematological Parameters In Patients With Covid 19 Infection In Nineveh Province, Saba Soltan, Muna Kashmoola, Marwa Alsaraj

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: In December 2019, a novel virus later named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 was isolated from the broncho-alveolar fluid of a patient in Wuhan, suffering from what became known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The first case was registered in Nineveh Province on March 22, 2020. Diagnosis was made by molecular identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 by polymerase chain reaction. So , clinical, haematological, and haemoststic parameters should take in account as they are important in determining the severity of the illness and outcome. This study focus on haematological and some haemostatic parameters in 100 cases with …

Wooster Magazine: Summer 2024, Caitlin Paynich Stanowick

Wooster Magazine: 2021-2030

In the summer 2024 issue of Wooster magazine students and alumni share what inspired their capstone scholarship at Wooster and where it led them. The Class of 2024 drew from their own interests to design scholarly research and creative expression unique to them; students featured include Athena Tharenos, Levi Gainer, Briana Mosley, Corey Knauf, and Tyara Thompson. For some students, I.S. uncovers a wonder and eagerness to further their study in the area. This issue also shares the stories of alumni who built upon the foundation of their I.S. for ongoing research, professional work, and everyday inspiration including John Trainor …

Development Of A Durable And Low-Dose Universal Vaccine Against Swine Influenza A Virus, Erika Petro-Turnquist

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Swine Influenza A Virus (IAV-S) imposes a significant burden on the pork industry and poses a great threat to public health due to its zoonotic potential. Susceptibility to human, avian, and swine influenza make pigs the ultimate mixing vessels for reassorted influenza A virus strains. Current vaccination strategies induce short-lived and strain-specific responses against IAV-S. Further, the substantial genetic diversity of IAV-S necessitates consistent revaccination and updating of commercial vaccines. Computational platforms have recently emerged as a promising strategy to develop new-age vaccines against infectious diseases in livestock animals. Here, we describe a computationally derived set of vaccine immunogens, called …

Use Of Clearguard Hd Caps In Pediatric Hemodialysis Patients., Amy E. Nau, Troy Richardson, Diana Cardwell, Jennifer Ehrlich, Jyothsna Gattineni, Melisha Hanna, Mahima Keswani, Emily Neibauer, Kelly Nitz, Raymond Quigley, Michelle Rheault, Rebekah Sims, Mayna Woo, Bradley A. Warady

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a leading cause of hospitalizations and mortality among patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) therapy, especially those with a central venous catheter (CVC) for dialysis access. The use of chlorhexidine impregnated catheter caps (ClearGuard) has been associated with a decrease in the rate of HD catheter-related BSIs (CA-BSIs) in adults; similar data have not been published for children.

METHODS: We compared CA-BSI data from participating centers within the Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric Endstage Kidney Disease (SCOPE) collaborative based on the center's use of ClearGuard caps for patients with HD catheter access. Centers were characterized …

July 2024 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Improving Early Detection And Treatment Of Chlamydia By Implementing A Routine Chlamydia Screening And Testing In Females Between The Ages Of 18–24, Isabelle Vikumitsi

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Chlamydia Trachomatis is the most frequently reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States. One in 20 sexually active females between the ages of 15 and 24 have chlamydia. Most people with the infection are asymptomatic and do not seek treatment. Chlamydial infections in women, especially if untreated, increase the risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy, leading to higher medical costs.

Purpose: The project aimed to implement early screening for chlamydial infections in the young adult population to increase early detection of the disease.

Methods: A pre-post design was used for this project to compare chlamydia diagnosis rates …

Standardization Of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing: A Quality Improvement Project In Central Line Bloodstream Infection Prevention, Faustina Muruako

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) are severe healthcare-related infections that can lead to sepsis, organ failure, and even death. Several healthcare agencies provide guidelines to prevent CLABSIs, with Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing (CHGB) as one of the preventive measures for individuals with central venous lines (CVL).

Purpose: The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to standardize CHGB procedures for maintaining CVLs on a specific unit for CLABSI prevention through evidence-based practice.

Methods: A quality improvement project was implemented at a Central Alabama hospital to standardize CHGB procedures for CVL patients utilizing a CLABSI unit champion monitoring system to establish …

Implementing A Comprehensive Tobacco-Cessation Program For Patients With Tobacco Use Disorder, Jalen Eaton

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Individuals who use tobacco are at an increased risk for the development of heart disease, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Tobacco use is one of the most preventable causes of death in the world.

Purpose: The focus of the quality improvement project was to improve access to tobacco cessation resources in patients with tobacco use disorder at a primary care clinic.

Methods: Weekly stakeholder meetings were held to ensure the validity of the project. The plan, do, study, act (PDSA) model of continuous quality improvement guided the project. A comprehensive tobacco-cessation program including informational materials and …

Interdisciplinary Perspectives On Multimorbidity In Africa: Developing An Expanded Conceptual Model, Justin Dixon, Ben Morton, Misheck Nkhata, Alan Silman, Ibrahim Simiyu, Stephen Spencer, Myrna Van Pinxteren, Edna Bosire, Christopher Bunn, Claire Calderwood

Brain and Mind Institute

Multimorbidity is an emerging challenge for health systems globally. It is commonly defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions in one person, but its meaning remains a lively area of academic debate, and the utility of the concept beyond high-income settings is uncertain. This article presents the findings from an interdisciplinary research initiative that drew together 60 academic and applied partners working in 10 African countries to answer the questions: how useful is the concept of multimorbidity within Africa? Can the concept be adapted to context to optimise its transformative potentials? During a three-day concept-building workshop, we …

Healing Students’ Collective Trauma And Growing With School Gardens, Will Ashwood

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This paper examines the potential of school garden projects as a therapeutic intervention for addressing collective trauma among students. It investigates how such gardens can help students recognize, work through, and heal from trauma or PTSD, and explores the benefits of using a therapeutic garden as a setting for learning, healing, and personal growth. The significance of this work lies in its demonstration of how building, implementing, and maintaining a school garden can benefit educational institutions, families, and the broader community. It highlights how school gardens can integrate with existing curricula and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to enhance …

Predicting Critical Risks And Long-Term Impact Of Covid-19 Patients With Substance Use Disorder (Sud) Using Machine Learning, Jiawei Wu

Dissertations (1934 -)

The crisis of substance use disorder (SUD), a problematic pattern of substance use that causes significant impairment or distress, is one of the most devastating threats to the public health system in the United States and it is ongoing. Opioid dependency or opioid overdose is a common drug use disorder and the number of deaths due to opioid overdose is increasing significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic because opioid use impacts mostly human respiratory, increases vulnerability to COVID-19, and further leads to higher morbidity and mortality. Other substance use disorders, including alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, and tobacco, will also exacerbate both physical …

Global, Regional, And National Age-Specific Progress Towards The 2020 Milestones Of The Who End Tb Strategy: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2021, Jorge R. Ledesma, Jianing Ma, Meixin Zhang, Ann V.L. Basting

Open Access archive

Background: Global evaluations of the progress towards the WHO End TB Strategy 2020 interim milestones on mortality (35% reduction) and incidence (20% reduction) have not been age specific. We aimed to assess global, regional, and national-level burdens of and trends in tuberculosis and its risk factors across five separate age groups, from 1990 to 2021, and to report on age-specific progress between 2015 and 2020. Methods: We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021 (GBD 2021) analytical framework to compute age-specific tuberculosis mortality and incidence estimates for 204 countries and territories (1990–2021 inclusive). We quantified …

Neutrosophic Clustering Analysis With Data From Cysticercus Tenuicollis Dna Samples, Blanca Mercedes Toro Molina, Rafael Alfonso Garzón Jarrin, Mauricio Rafael Aguilera Vizuete, Christian Geovanny Ávila Rocha, Luis Favian Cartuche Macas, Edilberto Chacón Marcheco

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Parasitic diseases caused by Cysticercus tenuicollis significantly impact the livestock industry. The quantification of such impacts presents challenges due to the handling of data obtained through modern molecular techniques. This investigation explores the application of neutrosophic cluster analysis to the study of Cysticercus tenuicollis DNA. Neutrosophic clustering and the use of linguistic terms help interpret analyses, employing a five-step neutrosophic clustering algorithm: selection of the clustering algorithm, definition of distance metrics, data preparation, algorithm execution, and examination of results. Samples from 20 sheep exhibiting liver cysts were collected in Cotopaxi Province, Ecuador. The analysis resulted in a neutrosophic cluster where …

Essays On The Societal Impacts Of Housing Programs And Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Rex W. Sitti

Economics ETDs

I present three essays that contribute to understanding the secondary costs and benefits associated with programs that address homelessness and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. The first essay investigates whether homeless shelters impact property values. Despite anecdotal claims of property devaluation, endogeneity challenges limit empirical research on homelessness programs. Using data from the Department of Housing (HUD) and Seattle’s King County Department of Assessment, I address these challenges using spatial difference-in-differences methodology, revealing nuanced effects favoring permanent supportive housing. The second essay leverages the Built for Zero program to examine the link between homelessness and crime. Analyzing HUD and crime …