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Staff Education To Use Best Practices For Implementing And Utilizing The Digital Depression Screening Tool In An Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic, Robert James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Underdiagnosis Of Bipolar Disorder And Under Utilization Of The Mood Disorder Questionnaire, Sandeep Grewal

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Trauma-Informed De-Escalation Staff Education For Outpatient Psychiatric Nursing, Alice Sesay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Exploring Child Trafficking Survivors' Experiences: Support, Revictimization, And Justice Institutions, Max Lubin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Misinformation And Source Credibility On False Recall In College Students, Ashlee Smolenski

Honors Capstones

Eyewitness testimony if often treated as strong evidence in legal systems, yet psychological research consistently shows that memory is not a perfect recording of events. Instead, memory is reconstructive and vulnerable to distortion. The present study examined whether exposure to misleading post-event information and differences in perceived source credibility would influence false recall in college students. Using a 2 x 2 factorial design, participants watched a brief video of a car accident and later received either misleading or neutral questions presented by a high credibility (police officer) or low credibility (elderly man) source. It was predicted that misinformation would decrease …

Invisible Shipwrecks And Neurological Endangerment: The Trade-Off In Seeking Asylum - Reframing The Neurobiological Cost Of Forced Migration, Eisha Giran

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

Forced migration along the Spain–Morocco route represents one of the most visible humanitarian crises of the twenty-first century, yet its neurological dimensions remain insufficiently examined. This paper investigates how prolonged displacement and trauma reshape neural systems involved in stress regulation, memory, and emotional processing. It introduces the concept of neurological endangerment, defined as a condition of prolonged and inescapable threat exposure during forced migration in which stress-response systems remain chronically activated, opportunities for recovery are structurally constrained, and cumulative neurobiological risk persists beyond the period of immediate danger.

To address the gap between biological measurement and lived experience, this paper …

Assessing Medical Trainees Knowledge Of Secondary Traumatic Stress Before And After Clinical Experiences At The Cares Institute: A Literature Review, Anastasiya Matveyenko, Sarah Kleinle, Paul Furtaw, Rachel Silliman Cohen

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) has been positively correlated with burnout in healthcare professionals through numerous studies. It is defined as the natural consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by another individual. Medical students experience high level of STS due to exposure to trauma during multiple clinical rotations. Child Abuse Research Education and Service (CARES) Institute treats children who have experiences of abuse, neglect, and other forms of trauma. As part of the current curriculum, Rowan SOM students rotate at the CARES Institute for at least a day for up to a month and might …

Phenomenological Philosophy Of Psychedelics: Psychedelic Experience In The Modes Of Saturation And Flesh, Michael V. Kramer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work seeks to develop the nascent sub-field of the phenomenological philosophy of psychedelics. Beginning with a general overview of key aspects pertinent to psychedelic studies, the focus then turns to a general disciplinary discussion of current approaches within the philosophy of psychedelics, as well as psychedelic philosophy—a distinction which is technically deployed. Special consideration is given to the specific approach known as the “natural philosophy of psychedelics,” which is taken as the philosophical foil to the preferred approach of phenomenological philosophy. A survey of the extant literature regarding the implementation of phenomenology within psychedelic discourse is then provided …

The Lumberjack, May 06, 2026

Cal Poly Humboldt's Student Newspaper

The student newspaper of Humboldt State University.

Reframing Emergency Medicine (And Healthcare) Wellness Measures: The Case For Adding Measures Of Physiological Sustainability, Exercise, Restoration, And Meaning, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Physician wellness measurement in Emergency Medicine (EM) in particular and in healthcare in general has largely focused on identifying distress states such as emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Instruments such as the Maslach Burnout Inventory and related derivative surveys have been well-validated and  have played a central role in identifying the scope of burnout across healthcare systems.

Conceptual Framing

While current measures of distress are essential, they may not fully characterize the spectrum of clinician health. In many fields outside healthcare—including occupational health, resilience research, and positive psychology—assessment of well-being includes behaviors and experiences associated with sustained health, such as …

Worsening Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Ocd) With New Onset Dementia, Melvin D. Ways Jr

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric condition typically characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors with preserved insight. Dementia, a progressive neurocognitive disorder, is frequently associated with behavioral and psychiatric symptoms; however, its impact on pre-existing OCD is less well understood.

Subject of study includes evaluation of neurodegenerative processes to exacerbate pre-existing OCD symptoms. Evidence suggests that dysfunction in shared fronto-striatal circuits—particularly involving the orbitofrontal cortex and basal ganglia—may underlie this relationship. Additionally, cognitive impairment may reduce the ability to inhibit intrusive thoughts, further reinforcing compulsive behaviors. Emerging research also indicates a bidirectional association, with OCD linked to an …

Physician Bedside Communication Posture (Sitting Versus Standing) In Relation To Patient Satisfaction: A Focused Literature Review And Areas For Potential Research, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Sitting during patient encounters is commonly recommended in communication training, with the assumption that it improves patient satisfaction. However, the empirical evidence supporting this recommendation in Emergency Department (ED) settings appears limited.

Objective:

To review the existing literature examining physician posture (sitting versus standing) and its association with patient satisfaction and perceived communication quality.

Methods:

Narrative review of ED and non-ED studies evaluating posture during clinical encounters, with attention to study design, sample size, setting, and outcome measures.

Results:

ED-specific evidence remains heterogeneous. Some studies demonstrate that sitting increases patients’ perception of time spent at bedside without increasing actual …

Case Study: 46-Year-Old Female With Auditory Hallucinations, Ahmed Aly, Tayeb Ahamed, Chien Y. Cepeda, Apn

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The case study discusses a patient seen at a voluntary psychiatric unit. Patient has been prescribed benzodiazepine and bupropion; she became dependent on the benzodiazepine due to social difficulties that have not been addressed by her prescriber. The study highlights the dependency of benzodiazepine while being offered bupropion (which lowers seizure threshold), which can be deadly if accompanied with benzodiazepine withdrawal

Comparative Efficacy Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Intranasal Oxytocin In Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa, Nikhila P. Archakam, Akhila P. Archakam, Wesley A. Kim, Harshal Parmar, Iram Fatima

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe and potentially life-threatening psychiatric disorder with the highest mortality rate among psychiatric illnesses affecting adolescents.¹ It is characterized by extreme restriction of caloric intake driven by an intense fear of weight gain or negative body image perception.¹ Mortality results from medical complications of starvation and an increased prevalence of suicide risk.¹ Although AN can occur at any point across the lifespan, it most commonly first presents during adolescence.¹ This developmental period is marked by significant hormonal, biological, and psychosocial changes. Early-onset AN is associated with stunted growth, pubertal delay, and long-term cognitive and emotional …

Impostor Phenomenon In Healthcare: Prevalence, Implications, And Educational Responses, James Espinosa, Robin Lahr, Sergey Medlenov, Swet Patel, Nicholas Tomasello, James Lee, Neel Parikh, Alan Lucerna, Henry Schuitema

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The impostor phenomenon describes persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud despite objective evidence of competence. The term 'impostor phenomenon' is preferred over the term "imposter syndrome" because it is not a psychiatric diagnosis and avoids pathologizing normal developmental uncertainty. The original authors used the term 'phenomenon' (Clance & Imes, 1978), and contemporary scholarship increasingly adopts this terminology.

First described by Clance and Imes (1978), the construct has since been studied across diverse professional domains, including medicine, nursing, and academic leadership. Subsequent research demonstrates that impostor experiences occur across genders, training levels, and healthcare roles (Bravata et …

From Lists To Landscapes And Locations: Spatial Memory And Schema Formation (Memory Palace Adaptation) As A Neurobiologically Informed Strategy For Teaching Environmental And Toxicology Emergencies Ite And Board Review In Emergency Medicine Residency, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Most emergency medicine board domains inherit spatial scaffolding from foundational anatomy education (e.g., neuroanatomy, gastrointestinal tract, cardiopulmonary structures). Environmental emergencies lack an inherent anatomic anchor and are frequently taught as disconnected lists, increasing cognitive load and impairing schema formation. Similarly, toxicology crosses age, and specialty without an inherent anatomic structural anchor.

Objective:

To describe a scene-based, learner-generated landscape model designed to reintroduce spatial structure into environmental emergency education and to situate the model within contemporary neurobiology and learning science.

Educational Innovation:

Residents construct a large-format landscape diagram (sun–water–mountain schema) during live instruction. Environmental conditions are spatially anchored in ecologically …

The Ones That Got Away:Shared Misses, Shared Mastery — A Proposal For Leveraging Spaced Retrieval, Variable Reinforcement, And Collective Learning In Emergency Medicine Residency, James Espinosa D, Robin Lahr, James Lee, Swet M. Patel, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Residents frequently engage in individual question-bank study for board preparation; however, missed questions are typically processed in isolation. Educational psychology demonstrates that spaced retrieval and variable reinforcement enhance durable learning. Psychological safety further supports collective sense-making in professional education . The addition of a periodic, structured, collective shared-review process model may leverage these principles within residency training.

Objective

To propose a resident-driven educational initiative that transforms individually missed board-style questions into a shared, psychologically safe learning stream that promotes durable knowledge retention and community-based mastery.  The movement of this stream could be a chief resident responsibility, or could be …

When Individual Implicit Bias Meets Ed System Turbulence: Expanding The Implicit Bias And Cultural Bias Conceptual Frame To Support Reflective Decision Making Through Both Individual Bias Reduction Strategies As Well As System-Level Design Approaches, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Cultural and implicit bias have been widely studied as contributors to disparities in healthcare delivery. Prior literature has largely conceptualized bias as an individual-level cognitive phenomenon occurring within clinician–patient interactions. However, emergency departments (EDs) function as complex adaptive systems (CAS), characterized by time pressure, uncertainty, cognitive load, and environmental noise. These conditions may contribute to the expression of implicit bias in clinical care.

Objective

To reframe cultural and implicit bias in the ED as both an individual cognitive property as well as a system-dependent and modulated  phenomenon and to propose that the operational state of the ED influences the …

Constructive Affirmation: Proposing An Empowering Term For What Good Teaching Attendings Already Do-- Integrating Affirmation And Constructive Criticism Through Learning Science, James Espinosa, Alan Lucerna

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background

Feedback is central to residency training, and quite naturally many educational cultures emphasize corrective feedback and error identification. Learning science suggests that reinforcement of correct cognitive patterns is equally essential for expertise development. This paper introduces the concept of constructive affirmation as an integrated feedback model combining affirmation and constructive criticism.

Objective

To propose a learning science framework for clinical feedback in residency training centered on the concept of constructive affirmation.

Methods

This conceptual analysis synthesizes literature from medical education, cognitive psychology, neurobiology of learning, and complexity science to examine how different feedback types influence pattern recognition, cognitive load, …

In School Age Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Does Academic Achievement And Social Development Improve In Inclusive Classroom Environments?, Ashley A. Macquaid

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social skills, communication, and sensory processing 1. ASD affects approximately 1 in 100 children internationally 2. With the growing prevalence, classroom inclusivity of individuals with autism has emerged as a priority in education. However, current literature presents a range of positive and negative factors without clear indication of effective classroom placement for students' specific needs. This research aims to determine if inclusive classroom environments improve academic achievement and social development for school-age children with ASD. A systematic search on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases yielded studies published between …

Mental Health Comorbidities And Ibd Outcomes On Anti-Tnf Therapy, Jashanveer S. Johal, Mahmoud Al-Bataineh, Archana Salek, Bianca Patel, Om Patel, Jason Hyman, Yecheskel Schneider, Abdallah Hussein

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Depression and anxiety are prevalent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may adversely affect biologic therapy outcomes. We evaluated the impact of comorbid mood disorders on clinical outcomes among IBD patients treated with anti-TNF agents.

Methods: Using a global de-identified electronic health record network, adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis initiating an anti-TNF agent between 2018–2023 were identified. Cohort 1 included patients with a documented mood disorder (depression and/or anxiety) at or prior to anti-TNF initiation; Cohort 2 included those without mood disorders. Propensity score matching (1:1) on demographics and comorbidities yielded 9,605 patients per cohort. Primary outcomes …

Beyond First-Break: Uncovering Medical Contributors In Adolescent Psychosis, Jacob De Castro, Adrian Cuesta Gonzalez, Justin Scarano, Celeste Antoinette Pinto, Alexandra Cruz-Mullane, Zulfiya Tashpulatova, Nardin El-Shammaa

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The patient an 18-year-old male presenting with first-episode psychosis ("first- break") with atypical features, including auditory hallucinations localized to his ear without hearing loss, severe malnutrition, neuroimaging abnormalities, and endocrine dysfunction. This case study highlights the importance of evaluating medical etiologies in presumed primary psychosis rather than assuming a primary psychiatric disorder.

Effect Of Pcos Treatment On Mental Health Outcomes, Audriti Mazumder, Aubrey Olson

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Abstract (250 words)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder associated with a range of physical symptoms, including hirsutism, acne, weight gain, insulin resistance, and infertility. While its metabolic and reproductive manifestations are well characterized, the impact of PCOS on mental health remains underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between PCOS and mental health outcomes, with a particular focus on changes in symptoms following treatment and the influence of demographic factors.

A survey-based study was conducted using a Qualtrics questionnaire distributed via QR code and social media platforms. Questions were modeled after validated screening tools, including …

Impact Of A Caregiver Wellness Workshop On Well-Being And Mental Health, Keertana Jonnalagadda, Morgan Yacoe

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Family caregivers provide care for loved ones by addressing their activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and psychological needs. These demands impact a caregiver’s time and overall well-being. To address burnout and improve education regarding caregiver wellness, a workshop was created to build an effective support system for caregivers and teach them practical self-care strategies. Activities using visual art were designed to reduce caregiver anxiety and stress. Results from validated scales such as Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), WHO-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and a unique caregiver wellness survey (CWS) in a small sample showed …

Cultural Influences In Psychiatry, Kavita Bhavsar, Mayuri Patel

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The patient is a 26-year-old female presenting with unspecified hallucinations, delusional thinking, concerns for catatonia and potential sex-trafficking. This case study highlights the importance of approaching each patient through their unique cultural lens while examining and minimizing our own biases while navigating each patient holistically and individually.

De-Epithelialization Versus Pedicle De-Skinning In Reduction Mammoplasty: Comparative Outcomes From The Literature, Samantha Fry, Karina Vizzoni

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background- Reduction mammoplasty treats symptomatic macromastia. A key step involves pedicle preparation before breast mound reconstruction. Two main techniques include: De-epithelialization: Removes epidermis, preserves dermis, De-skinning: Excises both epidermal and dermal layers. Evidence comparing surgical outcomes between these techniques is limited.

Hypothesis- De-epithelialization will result in fewer vascular complications but longer operative times than de-skinning; thus, superiority depends on case selection.

Methods- A literature review identified studies on skin removal techniques in breast reduction mammoplasty.

Results- De-skinning was faster than de-epithelialization, though energy-assisted modalities were fastest. Nipple–areola complex (NAC) ischemia and necrosis rates were low across all methods. Superficial de-epithelialization …

Hormonal Contraceptives And Menstrual Symptom Severity Among Women With Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Global And Daily Assessment, Maria Cox, Danielle Arigo, Gabrielle M. Salvatore

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Hormonal contraceptive (HC) use is primarily for pregnancy prevention and may reduce menstrual symptoms in some individuals, though evidence is inconsistent. The aim of the study was to examine differences in symptom presence and severity among 64 menstruating women with ≥1 CVD risk factor (e.g., hypertension), including HC users (20.63%) and non-users (79.37%; sample M_age= 31.88 ± 9.89, M_bmi= 31.79 ± 7.6). Participants completed the global Premenstrual Screening Tool at baseline and then reported the presence and severity of 16 menstrual symptoms (1=Not Present to 4 = Severe) in end-of-day surveys over 45 days. In a …

Do International Alumni Give Differently? A Study On The Alumni Philanthropic Perspective Of Trust And Key Relational Factors Affecting Attitude Towards Giving, John Held

Dissertations

Philanthropy plays a key role in the funding of institutions of higher education. Previous research has focused on domestic populations, exploring the antecedents and elements of philanthropy in higher education. The literature has yet to examine differences in these elements between domestic and international, or distance extremes, amongst alumni populations. This study investigates the perceptions and motivating factors influencing alumni who experience significant geographic separation from their Higher Education Institution (HEI) and their philanthropic support for their alma mater. The conceptual model includes factors at the organization-to-organization, person-to-organization, and person-to-person levels and their moderating effects on the relationship between trust …

Understanding Communication In Green Infrastructure Project Teams In Rochester Ny Region: Coordination, Negotiation, And Constraints, Hayden Berner

Theses

This study explores how communication is perceived and used within multidisciplinary green infrastructure (GI) project teams. As GI continues to grow in the United States, projects increasingly rely on collaboration between professionals from different fields, making communication a critical factor in project success. Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals working on GI projects in the Greater Rochester, New York region. The data were analyzed using an inductive, grounded theory approach to identify key themes related to communication practices, challenges, and outcomes. Results show that communication is not just a tool for sharing information, but a …

Genetic Analysis Of Triplicated Genes Affecting Sex-Specific Skeletal Deficits In Down Syndrome Model Mice, Kourtney Sloan, Kristina M. Piner, Pathum Randunu Nawarathna Kandedura Arachchige, Charles R. Goodlett, Yann Herault, Gayla R. Olbricht, Joseph M. Wallace, Randall J. Roper

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the triplication of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21), resulting in skeletal insufficiency (low bone mineral density) and altered bone development. DS mouse models recapitulate these deficits, including sexual dimorphism in long bone alterations. Historically, Ts65Dn mice provided much of the insight behind DS-related skeletal deficits with ∼100 trisomic orthologous genes, but there are concerns about the genetic fidelity in this model due to the included triplication of genes not homologous to Hsa21. A new DS model, Ts66Yah, subtracted the non-Hsa21 homologous trisomic genes from Ts65Dn but has not been evaluated for long bone deficits. Comparing …