Digital Commons Network^™

2026-2027 Maine Medical Center House Staff, Mainehealth Maine Medical Center

Graduate Medical Education

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Covid-19 Positive Status On Outcome For Individuals With Stroke Treated In Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation, Amy Ziems, Christopher J. Mclouth, Nicholas Elwert, Elissa Charbonneau, Joseph Stillo, Susan Mcdowell

Neurology Faculty Publications

Background: Stroke, whether or not accompanied by concurrent COVID-19 infection, has been associated with varying acute care outcomes, with patients who are COVID-19 positive typically faring worse. This study aims to explore the functional outcomes of patients with stroke —with and without simultaneous COVID-19 infection—who survived their acute care stay and progressed to acute inpatient rehabilitation (IRF). Objectives: To identify differences in sociodemographic factors, medical complexity, and rehabilitation outcomes from an IRF stay between patients with stroke with concurrent COVID-19 and those without. Design: A retrospective, observational cohort study using electronic medical records (EMR) data. Setting: EMR data from 138 …

Exploring The Link Between Hospice Setting And Caregiver-Reported Quality Scores, Aidan J. John

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Access to high quality hospice care largely varies across different care environments and regions within the United States. This can shape the experiences of family caregivers who support patients at the end of life. As hospice enrollment expands nationwide, understanding how care delivery changes between home-based services and more skilled inpatient and outpatient services has become integral for examining overall performance.  There are many noticeable differences in provider availability and resources between different programs that can influence the level of support families receive, including timeliness of symptom management and effectiveness of communication with hospice staff. This study evaluated whether hospice …

Covering The Care: Utilization Rate Trends Among Nh Older Adults Enrolled In Medicare Aged 65 And Over, Erica Plante ,Ms, Deborah Fournier ,Jd

All Materials

This data brief summarizes a retrospective analysis of New Hampshire Medicare Parts A and B claims, examining six-year (2018–2023) trends in utilization rates for selected medical services among adults aged 65 and older. It is the third and last of a three-part series of Covering the Care analytic reports exploring healthcare utilization trends in the state.

Breaking The Silence: The Intersection Of Neuropsychology, Storytelling, And Mental Health Stigma, Judiene S. Gordon

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis unites the disciplines of neuropsychology and creative writing to explore the complexities of mental health stigma, with a particular focus on substance use. Through a collection of original poems and short fiction, the project seeks to illuminate the lived experiences of individuals affected by these issues and challenge prevailing misconceptions and stereotypes. Drawing on accounts from individuals who have experience with mental illness and substance use, the creative work integrates psychological insight, personal narrative, and authentic voices to foster empathy and understanding. By merging scientific awareness with artistic expression, this thesis aims to humanize often-stigmatized experiences and contribute …

Physical Activity, Telomere Length, And Cardiometabolic Syndrome In Older Women: The Cardiovascular Health Study, Jeni Page, Melissa Richard, Elizabeth Lyons, Elizabeth Baumler, M Terese Verklan, Michelle C Odden, Elizabeth Lorenzo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) affects approximately 39% of US women and increases risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke. Telomere length, a biomarker of cellular aging, is associated with CMS and may be influenced by physical activity (PA), potentially mitigating telomere shortening. Black women have higher CMS prevalence compared to white women and may exhibit distinct telomere length dynamics influenced by interactions between CMS and PA.

Methods: Data were drawn from the Cardiovascular Health Study and included black and white women who provided data on PA, CMS risk factors, and telomere length (N = 417). Linear regression models examined the …

Strafford County 2025 Annual Report Of The Commissioners, Treasurer, Other County Officers, And The Strafford County Delegation For The Year Ending December 31, 2025, Strafford County Representatives

Strafford County, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report for 2025 containing vital statistics for Strafford County in the state of New Hampshire.

Becoming-With The Earth: Contemplative Practice As A Critical Onto-Epistemic Resource For Planetary Belonging, Care, And World-Making, Megan M. Fowler

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In an era of accelerating planetary crisis, social work is called to reimagine its theories, methods, and practices beyond anthropocentric frameworks that separate human wellbeing from the health of the Earth and its resplendent living systems. Working in the space of transformative eco-social work, a growing chorus of voices contends that eco-centric responses require broadening the scope of health, welfare, justice, and care to extend beyond the human, to include the more-than-human world upon which all life intimately depends—understandings resonant with Indigenous and other relational knowledge systems long marginalized by colonialist-capitalist-modernity. Drawing from eco-feminist, eco-queer, decolonial, and post-anthropocentric lineages of …

When Edema Means More: Membranous Nephropathy Complicated By Fatal Hemorrhage, Rye Shiver, Luke Stone, Taylor Addison, Shivana Malhotra

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2026 clinical vignette poster

Chemoradiation After Chemotherapy For Metastatic Cervical Cancer Can Provide Chemo-Free Time, Spoorthi Kamepalli, Ashley Chavana, Michelle Ludwig, Madeline Flanagan, Shelly Sharma, Tracilyn Hall, Anthony Costales, Jan Sunde, Claire Hoppenot

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Stage IVB cervical cancer is treated with a life-prolonging and palliative intent with systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the number of these patients who had an adequate response to chemotherapy to be eligible for consolidative radiosensitizing chemotherapy and radiation (chemoradiation) and subsequent outcomes.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective review of metastatic cervical cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and evaluated for treatment with consolidative pelvic chemoradiation at a single safety-net hospital system from 2016 to 2024. Demographic data and clinical information were collected from electronic medical records. Stata was used for …

Walking Through The Valley Of The Shadow: A Pancreatic Cancer Journey, Don Butterworth

Academic Books

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Hospice Care: A Needs Assessment And Advocacy Project, Keeton Thornsberry

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This advocacy and education capstone project used a needs assessment questionnaire and literature review to evaluate perceptions of occupational therapy in hospice care. Findings guided the development of educational resources aimed at increasing awareness, supporting appropriate referrals, and promoting occupational therapy as an integral member of the hospice interdisciplinary team.

Medical Students' Self-Competency Perceptions Providing Patient Grief And Bereavement Support, Ashley Grant

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The objective of this study was to identify whether (a) course curriculum on the topic, (b) personal grief and loss experience, (c) extracurricular training or educational experiences on the topic, (d) clinical experiences, and (e) general self-efficacy perceptions predict medical students’ perceived competency conducting grief and bereavement support for patients. Additionally, the study evaluated trends in perceived competency concerning the intended specialty for residency. Lastly, the present study aims to better understand medical students' overall average self-competency perceptions in conducting grief and bereavement care to their patients. Data was collected from social media groups and through direct contact with medical …

Implementing An Evidence-Based Wound Care Protocol For Inpatient End-Of-Life Residents That Aligns With Hospice Comfort Care Goals, Oge C. Okeke

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Implementing an evidence-based wound care protocol for inpatient end-of-life residents that aligns with hospice comfort care goals.

Purpose

This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to adopt a patient-centered, comfort-focused approach to wound care at the DNP project site and improve patient outcomes by increasing nursing staff's knowledge of evidence-based wound treatment strategies by 20%.

Background

Curative treatments involving aggressive methods do not align with hospice principles. Residents at the project site experience increased suffering at the end of life because of limited nursing knowledge of evidence-based, atraumatic wound care practices for end-of-life patients.

Results

Pre-intervention nursing knowledge survey scores ranged …

About Witch Hunt: Feminist And Political Agency In Contemporary Art, Rana Sumerler

MA Theses

The Witch Hunt exhibition conjures a powerful dialogue between history, identity, and empowerment, bringing together sixteen international artists to channel the spirit of the witch. This show traces a vast genealogy of women—from the 15th century witch hunts to Californian artistic legacies of the 1970s, to the exhibitions opening in 2021, and into present day. The participating artists emerge as symbols of resistance through their creations which transform domesticity, sexuality, and labor into sites of inquiry all while grappling with the intersectional concerns of womanhood.  In a moment marked by political upheaval, the exhibition is particularly resonant in its exploration …

Rates Of 30-Day Emergency Department Visits And Readmissions In Adults After Tracheostomy, Mckenna Gervais, Kayley Anderson, H. Nichols, Jana L. Wardian, Wesley Zeger, Benjamin Mcintire, Elizabeth Lyden, Jayme Dowdall

Journal Articles: Hospital Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To quantify 30-day emergency department (ED) visits and hospital readmissions post-tracheostomy-distinguishing between tracheostomy and non-tracheostomy-related causes-and to identify revisit risk factors.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing all-cause tracheostomy within the system between April 1, 2018, and April 1, 2025. Electronic Medical Record review captured demographic variables, outcomes, and mortality. Fisher's exact test and Fine and Gray's subdistribution hazard modeling assessed associations with in-hospital death and risk of revisit.

RESULTS: Among 618 patients, 119/618 (19.3%) died prior to discharge. Of the 499 patients discharged alive, 23 (4.6%) died within 30 days, for a cumulative 30-day mortality of …

Evaluating The Impact Of Telemedicine-Based Medication Education On Glycemic Control In Adult Male Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Megan N. Calter

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Veterans experience disproportionately high rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (20.5% vs 11.6% nationally), driven by military-related factors such as PTSD, deployment-related obesity, and service-connected disabilities. At a large urban primary care clinic, 28% (40/141) of veterans with type 2 diabetes mellitus had persistently elevated HbA1c levels of ≥8%, indicating a high risk for diabetes-related complications. This quality improvement project aimed to reduce the proportion of veterans with HbA1c of ≥8% by implementing tailored telemedicine-based medication education, leveraging underutilized virtual care infrastructure to address access barriers and improve diabetes self-management. Participants received two 30-minute telemedicine medication and disease management education …

Impact Of Sepsis Order Set Optimization On Sep-1 Compliance And Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Data Analysis, Janelle Harding

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Sepsis remains a leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and healthcare expenditure in the United States, with national SEP-1 compliance rates persistently near 60%. This quality improvement project evaluated whether optimizing sepsis order sets within a large, urban, Magnet-designated hospital improved adherence to the CMS SEP-1 quality measure and associated patient outcomes. Guided by the Donabedian Model, a multidisciplinary sepsis workgroup redesigned emergency department and inpatient sepsis order sets to streamline evidence-based care, enhance workflow alignment, and reduce variation in treatment. A retrospective analysis of 158 adult SEP-1 cases, with 67 cases in the preintervention group and 91 cases in the …

Reply To: Late Nonrelapse Mortality: A Hidden Risk In Triplet Therapy For Idh-Mutated Aml?, Jennifer Marvin-Peek, Courtney D Dinardo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

High-Grade Undifferentiated Uterine Sarcoma Presenting As Suspected Ovarian Torsion, Christian Just, Lillian Royston, Leon Lewis

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2026 clinical vignette poster

Hijacked By Hormones: Acth-Secreting Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (Pnet) Causing Cushing’S Syndrome, Hope Lackey, Ahmed Qaedi, Ross Hardin, Ali Hachem, Farrah Ibrahim

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2026 clinical vignette poster

Axillary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma: Unmasking A Puzzling Mass, Ahmed Qaedi, Chelsea Palmer

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2026 clinical vignette poster

Biphasic Synovial Sarcoma: A Spark In A Tinderbox, Ahmed Qaedi, Hope Lackey, Claudia Warden, Amin Demerdash, Srilakshimi Bathini

UAB Huntsville Research Day - All Presentations

2026 clinical vignette poster

Secondary Traumatic Stress In Front Line Professionals: An Exploration Of Risk Factors, Laura Lanigan, Sharon Lambert Dr, Raegan Murphy, Graham-Gill Emerson

Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies

Objective: This study sought to explore the prevalence of secondary traumatic stress in a range of front-line services and the potential impact of age, gender, experience, occupation and adverse childhood experiences. Literature has identified the vulnerability of front-line workers to secondary traumatic stress. However, the literature exploring risk factors for secondary trauma is limited and inconsistent. It was hypothesised that secondary traumatic stress would be prevalent in front-line services. It was hypothesised that demographic factors would not be identified as potential risk factors, while adverse childhood experiences would increase the risk for secondary traumatic stress. Method: Analysis of data collected …

Aadej Comm 12 1 2026

AADEJ - The Communicator

The Communicator is the official publication of the American Association of Dental Editors & Journalists (AADEJ), promoting awareness of the association’s activities and offering valuable insights for dental editors and journalists to enhance their publications. It is published quarterly, distributed digitally via email to members, and posted on the Association’s website at aadej.org, with archives on ADA Commons. Regular contributions from the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Director, President, and Associate Editor cover various topics.

This issue provides practical strategies for journal growth, such as building sustainable author pipelines and using digital analytics to increase content reach. Features include articles addressing ethical, …

Play Family, Andrea Grinwis

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Play Family is a collection of lyrical essays, letters, photographs, and poems that examine grief, using form as a means to consider and recognize what is lasting amidst the lost. Play Family explores the emotions exposed by the indelible loss when a loved one passes and also the seemingly smaller losses as children take the first hesitant steps away from parents and then the more confident steps toward a life that places parents on the periphery. Using photographs of vintage Fisher Price Little People toys and engaging memories of play to forge a path to the past, Play Family uncovers …

"They Just Gave Me The Syllabus": A Mixed Methods Study Of Music Therapy Educators' Preferred Pedagogies, Christina Danielle O'Brien

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

In 2022, the workforce analysis of music therapists, the American Music Therapy Association reported that approximately 80% of all board-certified music therapists are white/Caucasian-European (Iwamasa, 2025). However, the AMTA does not determine the origins of race or ethnicity among postsecondary music therapy faculty in the U.S., nor does it assess their potential impact on the expansion of multicultural curricula for preservice professionals. The purpose of this convergent mixed-methods dissertation is to examine the perception of lived experiences as a pedagogical tool to enhance effective teaching practices. Twenty-six postsecondary faculty from the U.S. were recruited. Quantitative data were collected via Qualtrics …

Assessment Of Level Ii Fieldwork Performance (Alf): Development And Refinement Of A Level Ii Assessment Tool For Use In Occupational Therapy Curricula, Suzanne Marasco, Karen Weis, Zachary A. Myers

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The Assessment of Level II Fieldwork Performance (ALF) is a new tool developed for use in occupational therapy programs to evaluate students’ performance during Level II fieldwork. The present study reports on the development of the ALF and revisions of the tool based on two rounds of expert review utilizing a modified Delphi methodology. An expert panel of sixteen occupational therapists who had previously utilized the tool while serving as fieldwork educators was recruited to review the ALF and complete online surveys related to the tool’s content, pragmatics, and clinical value. Based on expert consensus, the ALF was modified and …

Degrees Of Separation: Grandchildren's Experiences Of Grandparental Brain Tumor Or Stroke, Emily Sapsford, Alyson Norman, Sue Jackson, Josh Deacon, Emily Ravenhill, Pete Keohane

School of Psychology

The impact of acquired brain injury on family members is far reaching. Research has identified experiences of trauma, ambiguous loss and burden of care. Limited research has addressed the ripple effect of brain injury across the wider family. The study aimed to gain a detailed insight into the lived experiences of grandchildren of those who have experienced stroke or brain tumor. Ten participants (eight female and two males aged between 18 and 29) took part in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of grandparental stroke or brain tumor. Data were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Four themes were identified. The …

Aging Across Cultures: How Cultural Attitudes Shape Senior Care In Japan And The United States, Ella Jane Gunn

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine how cultural perceptions of aging influence the structure and delivery of care for older adults in Japan and the United States. By comparing cultural attitudes, this study identifies implications for senior care in each country. While cross-cultural studies comparing senior care systems already exist, many lack the cultural context that shapes expectations about aging and care. This work focuses on this distinction. Ten individuals ranging in age from 21 to 83 participated in interviews about their perceptions of aging: five with an American background and five with a Japanese background. The interviews …