Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Case Study: Lead Contamination In Soil And Plants Of A Metro Atlanta Home, Jaci Carithers, Samantha Gowen, Farmaan Judge, Brian Matayoshi

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: Lead contamination in housing developments of the Metro Atlanta Area has prompted the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Westside Lead Superfund Site for soil and plant remediation efforts. As a result, affected residents have to review their own health and wellness in a different perspective due to the possibility of having lead contamination. No quantity of lead is considered safe in the human body, especially since it is known to compete with the functionality of calcium in many vital biological processes. Manufacturing and disposal procedures in lead-based industries have contributed to lead contamination of soil and …

Opioid Overdose: Rural Georgia Vs. Urban Georgia - Who's Winning The Battle?, Zizah-Wosseni Blair, Justice Dove, Didem Aydin, Stacie Fairley

Research Day

INTRODUCTION: The opioid crisis is a major public health issue affecting communities across the United States, including Georgia. The widespread misuse of prescription and illicit opioids has led to a significant increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths. The impact on Georgia communities has been devastating, affecting individuals from all walks of life and causing significant harm to families and communities. The Georgia Department of Public Health reported that the number of drug overdose deaths in the state rose by 61.9% from 2019 to 2021. Rural and Urban communities in Georgia face unique challenges in addressing this epidemic. Rural communities often …

The Impact Of Minority Physician Representation On Minority Patient Health, Nicholas Bohannon, Emeka Ikeakanam, Evan Curry, D'Angelo Stokes, Jordan Howard, Terrence Mchugh, Jason Walker

Research Day

Background:

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical profession underwent a physician burnout crisis. Post pandemic, physician burnout transformed into an epidemic that has contributed to the inability of physician supply to meet patient demand in the USA. Recent studies by the American Medical Association predict by 2034, a widespread physician shortage across both primary care and non-primary care specialties (AAMC, 2021). As a result, medical institutions have implemented programs to address this shortage. While this shortage is concerning and needs to be addressed, it isn’t the only shortage at hand. Minorities are deeply underrepresented in the medical field with respect …