Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Necessity Of Adaptive Sports: Addressing Financial Barriers To Participation In Children With Spinal Cord Injuries, Megan G. Wells, Lesley Khan-Farooqi

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Children with spinal cord injuries (SCI) face significant financial barriers that limit access to adaptive sports, despite the physical and psychosocial benefits of participation. This capstone project aimed to address this gap by developing a comprehensive financial resource guide for families. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model, a needs assessment was conducted through semi-structured interviews, clinical observations, and stakeholder input, revealing a lack of accessible and centralized funding information. In response, a guidebook was created that includes educational content, local and national funding opportunities, and practical tools for navigating financial aid and grant applications. The guide was piloted and refined …

Beyond Pico: Building Your Ppco Question For Pediatric Falls, Mayra Garcia

PPCO Resources & Education

No abstract provided.

Mastering The Ppco Framework: A Guide For Nursing Evidence, Mayra Garcia

PPCO Resources & Education

No abstract provided.

A Nurse's Guide To The Ppco Framework: Asking The Right Questions For Better Practice, Mayra Garcia

PPCO Resources & Education

No abstract provided.

Mastering The Ppco Framework: A Pediatric Hospital Falls Case Study, Mayra Garcia

PPCO Resources & Education

No abstract provided.

Mastering The Ppco Framework: A Guide For Evidence-Based Nursing, Mayra Garcia

PPCO Resources & Education

No abstract provided.

Cardiomyopathy In Children: What Pediatricians Need To Know, Michael Smith, Brian Birnbaum

Pediatrics in Practice: A CME Podcast

Cardiomyopathy in children can present with subtle signs but serious consequences if missed. In this episode, Brian Birnbaum, MD, Interim Co-Director of the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy, shares practical insights for pediatricians on recognizing early red flags, knowing when to refer, and understanding how diagnosis and management of pediatric cardiomyopathy are evolving.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

Pacific Rxtracts - April 2026, Pacific Rxtracts

Pacific RxTracts

Articles:

• LAMA‑LABA Inhalers in COPD
• Another Potential Indication for Dupilumab: Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
• Clinical Pharmacist‑Led Tobacco Treatment and Contingency Management in Patients With HIV
• FDA Approves First TYK2 Inhibitor for Adults With Active Psoriatic Arthritis
• Oral PCSK9 Inhibition with Enlicitide: A New Frontier in Lipid‑Lowering Therapy
• Lerodalcibep‑liga, Novel PCSK9 Inhibitor for the Management of Hypercholesterolemia
• Pharmaceutical Grade Cannabidiol for Myocardial Recovery in Acute Myocarditis
• Berberine Shows Limited Impact on Visceral and Liver Fat in MASLD Trial
• Comparative Outcomes of Orforglipron and Oral Semaglutide in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
• Battling Pediatric Episodic Migraines – FDA Expands Approval of Fremanezumab
• Navepegritide …

Inside The Therapy Room: What Really Happens In A Session With Your Kid, Maggie Mckay, Haley J. Killian

Parent-ish Podcast

Ever wonder what your kid actually does in therapy? In this episode, pediatric psychologist Haley Killian, PhD, gives us a simple, behind‑the‑scenes look at what happens in a session—play, feelings, progress and all. It’s real talk, zero judgment, and plenty of reassurance for any parent curious about whether therapy could help their kid.

Click here to stream the podcast episode.

Supporting School Readiness: A Visual-Motor Integration Program For Children Ages 2.5-10, Bailey Williams, Wendy Tremaine, Carla Hamilton

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This capstone project focused on supporting school readiness through the development and implementation of a visual-motor integration (VMI) program for children ages 2.5–10 with developmental delays. A needs assessment was conducted to identify gaps in caregiver knowledge and resources related to VMI development. In response, a 6-week educational program was created, incorporating targeted activities and caregiver education to promote VMI skill development. Findings indicated improved caregiver understanding of VMI concepts and increased confidence in implementing strategies at home. These results highlight the importance of early intervention and caregiver involvement in supporting children’s academic readiness and overall developmental outcomes.

Navigating Academic Promotion: Identifying The Winning Combination For Volunteer Faculty, Enam Haddad, Jacqueline Hill, Sarah Tsai, Ruba A. Abdelhadi, Sarah Braet, Eric T. Rush

Posters

Introduction/Background: Academic promotion is an arduous and time-consuming process. Implementation of support resources is essential for faculty success. Supporting faculty through the process, we developed multiple promotion resources, including a robust online resource catalogue, peer coaching sessions, and detailed weekly email reminders. Goals/Hypothesis: To examine which resources faculty find most helpful in preparing their academic promotion application. Methods/Approach: We surveyed promotion applicants from 6 cycles (2020-2025). Faculty rated the usefulness of promotion resources, how prepared they felt at different points in the promotion timeline, and provided feedback about the overall promotion preparation process. Results/Outcomes: 258/354 (73%) applicants responded to the …

Can Mentoring Improve Professional Skills For Mentors And Mentees?, Emilie Keeton, Msod, Myles Chandler, Eric T. Rush, Susan B. Hathaway, Jacqueline Hill

Posters

Introduction/Background: We implemented a structured 10-month mentoring program at our pediatric academic hospital designed to assist faculty in actualizing professional and personal goals through developing trusted, mutually rewarding relationships. Goals/Hypothesis: To evaluate if faculty participants in the 2 inaugural mentoring program cohorts improve scores on 6 behavioral competencies related to maintaining effective communication, aligning expectations, assessing understanding, addressing diversity, fostering independence, and promoting professional development. Methods/Approach We used pre- and post-program Mentoring Competency Assessments to assess changes in 26 skills across 6 competencies and gather feedback on program elements from participants. Results/Outcomes: 19/35 (54%) mentees and 15/29 (52%) mentors completed …

Bias Analysis And The Movement Toward A Bias-Free Curriculum, Haley J. Mcmahon, Denyelle Kenyon

Scholarship Pathways Program

Implicit biases within medical education can influence learners’ perceptions, clinical reasoning, and future patient interactions. This study analyzed implicit bias within the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine’s (USD SSOM) Pillar I pre‑clerkship curriculum using a two‑phase mixed‑methods approach. Phase I consisted of a subjective content analysis of randomly selected lectures across ten system blocks, examining both textual and visual materials for evidence of bias in eleven domains identified by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Phase II employed quantitative survey data from the MD Class of 2027, who rated perceived bias in lecture content, lecture images, exam …

Alumni Journal - Volume 97, Number 1, 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 | This & That
12 | Alumni News
16 | School of Medicine News
18 | AIMS Report: Whispers From God
20 | AIMS News
22 | Department Report: Dermatology
24 | Students: Learning In Community

APC 2026
26 | Annual Postgraduate Convention (APC) 2026 in Review

Features
42 | Dr. Nava's Last Lecture: To Medical Students
45 | A Legacy of Humble Acts
46 | A Life of Service & Impact
48 | Spiritual Care
49 | Alumni Gatherings
50 | …

Program Development For Maternal Mental Health During The Transition To Motherhood, Lindsey A. Lindsley, Cassandra Nelson

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

The transition to motherhood can be both rewarding and challenging, with many women experiencing increased vulnerability to postpartum depression (PPD). This capstone project focused on developing and implementing a six-week maternal mental health program designed to support postpartum women through education, occupational engagement, and peer connection. Grounded in the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO), the program used a hybrid format combining in-person and virtual sessions to improve accessibility. Program outcomes were evaluated using surveys, the Occupational Self Assessment (OSA), and participant feedback. Participants demonstrated increased knowledge of postpartum mental health, greater confidence in their maternal roles, and improved ability to …

Occupational Therapy For People With Internet Gaming Disorder: A Concept Paper, Samuel R. Bender, Steven Gerardi

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is associated with occupational imbalance and disrupted routines, contributing to challenges in occupational participation and performance. Due to there being a gap in occupational therapy-based research and guidance for people with IGD, this capstone project focused on the development of a concept paper informed by The Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) that frames problematic video gaming as an occupational issue. The concept paper organizes assessment strategies, identifies problems, outlines intervention ideas, and discusses potential next steps for assisting people with IGD within occupational therapy. This capstone project is intended to help current occupational therapists more effectively …

Integrating Maternal Pelvic Floor And Mental Health In Occupational Therapy, Diana S. Theodore, Lesley Sally Khan-Farooqi, Amanda Ciecior, Teresa Martinez, Brooke Caldwell

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This poster highlights an integrated occupational therapy approach to maternal pelvic floor and mental health. Postpartum recovery is often addressed in fragmented ways, separating physical symptoms from emotional and functional impact. This work emphasizes the connection between pelvic floor function, nervous system regulation, and daily activities. Drawing from clinical experiences across acute, outpatient, and community settings, this project presents practical, client-centered strategies to support recovery. Key areas include breathing, bowel and bladder health, and functional movement. By focusing on occupational performance, such as toileting, mobility, sleep, and caregiving. This approach demonstrates the role of occupational therapy in supporting whole-person postpartum …

Health Disparities For Pneumonia And Sinusitis Antibiotic Treatment In The Emergency Department, Joshua Saucedo, Leslie Hueschen, Amanda Nedved, Rana El Feghaly Md

Posters

Optimal antibiotic selection and duration are pillars of antimicrobial stewardship efforts. In our emergency department (ED), >80% of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) are treated with first-line (FL) guideline-concordant antibiotics. Differences in care based on socioeconomic factors (race, ethnicity, language, and insurance status) have not been characterized. We sought to compare differences in antibiotic choice and duration for different socioeconomic factors, and analyze changes after quality improvement (QI) efforts. Multidisciplinary QI team used multiple Plan- Do-Study-Act cycles and was successful in improving antibiotic duration for CAP and ABRS from a baseline of 13% to 61% (January …

Building A Better Onboarding Process: The Addition Of A 30-Minute 1:1 For New Faculty, Heather Mcneill, Enam Haddad, Sarah Tsai, Ruba A. Abdelhadi, Jacqueline Hill

Posters

Our faculty development office examined the addition of a 30-minute personalized 1:1 session to the broader faculty onboarding strategy at our pediatric teaching hospital. We surveyed 106 new faculty who participated in a session from 2023-2025 to assess its usefulness. Of the 69 (65.7%) respondents, a large majority (92%) “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that the session was a valuable use of their time. Several faculty commented that the most useful information was learning about career development resources (e.g., mentorship program, writing center), understanding how to prepare for academic promotion, and having time to ask questions. Most new faculty thought the …

Validity And Reliability Of The Wut Hydration System When Assessed In The Afternoon, Peyton A. Hines, Rosie Perez, Rebecca Allen, Shawn Wierick, Xiujing Zhao, Corey Butts, Brendon Mcdermott

2026 Honors Symposium

The WUT (weight, urine color, and thirst) Venn diagram is recommended for individuals to self-assess their hydration status. However, current research is limited to comparisons between morning first-void markers and 24-hour markers. PURPOSE: To examine the validity and reliability of afternoon WUT scores in comparison to 24-hour hydration status. METHODS: Fifty participants (25 ± 8y, 72.2 ± 14.9kg) voluntarily participated in this study. Participants collected afternoon spot urine between 2:00 and 4:00 pm and 24-hour urine samples on three out of seven consecutive days. Body mass (BM), urine color (Ucol), urine osmolality (Uosm), urine specific gravity (USG), and thirst perception …

Pathways To Independence: A Transitional Education Program For Adults With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, Joseph Ribaudo, Zeida Gutierrez

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

Pathways to Independence is a transitional education program implemented into the young adult program of a school for individuals with neuro developmental disabilities (NDD). The objective of program implementation was to progress the skills of the adult with NDD students to promote increased independence upon the transition out of IDEA services. The program was delivered to 20 adult with NDD students ranging from 18-21 years old.

Scoliosis, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

Burnout Sentinel: An Early Warning System For Student Burnout Using Workload And Recovery Indicators, Minh Duy Do

Expo Student Presentations

2026 Spring Expo Video Essay Presentation

• Biological & Life Sciences
• Health Sciences & Health Professions
• Physical & Applied Sciences
• Service-Learning
• Social & Behavioral Sciences

Improving Interprofessional Communication: Efficient Huddles In Outpatient Care, Emily Holston, Kate Green, Alison Hernandez, Sarah Swatzell, Bela Patel, Cori O'Neal

Expo Student Presentations

2026 Spring Expo Poster Presentation

• Health Sciences & Health Professions

Dry Needling For Migraine: A Critically Appraised Topic, Deanna Lowry, Christopher Hurt

Expo Student Presentations

2026 Spring Expo Poster Presentation

• Health Sciences & Health Professions

Variability In Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Surgery In Children With Cerebral Palsy, Lena Lutz, Brandon Rocque, Caroline Davies, Jeffrey Raskin, Jeffrey Leonard, Virendra Desai, Robert Bollo, Oleszek, C Corbett Wilkinson, Sophia Blasco, Patrick Mcphee, Neena Marupudi, Joyce Trost, Paul Gross

Expo Student Presentations

2026 Spring Expo Poster Presentation

• Health Sciences & Health Professions

Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, Children's Mercy Kansas City

Clinical Pathways

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Leadership Style In Team And Individual Performance In Collegiate Athletics, Luke Mulkey

Posters - 2026

• Measuring the effectiveness of leadership is important because strong leaders can bring significant contributions to both organizations and individuals

• Previous studies have said that intrinsic motivation of the individual plays a larger role than the leadership style of a coach

• Studies also show that leadership style has an influence on team success and cohesion

• This study aimed to determine the extent to which transformational leadership played a role in team success, measured in win percentage

• This study went further into the individual perception of their coach’s impact on the athlete’s performance compared to the extent …

Effects Of Tubulin-Binding Medications On Microplastic Uptake And Cyotoskeletal Functionality Across Diverse Cell Types, Alejandra D. Favela Santos

Posters - 2026

• Microtubules are composed of of a- and b- tubulin heterodimers, vital for cell structure, shape, and intracellular transport • Microtubules are also useful as they separate chromosomes during cell division • Microplastics (< 5 mm) are considered a health threat and have been found throughout the whole body (1) o In several studies, microplastics have been correlated to higher rates cardiorespiratory issues, endocrine disruption, and cancer (1) • Tubulin-binding medications are widely used as chemotherapeutic agents as they are known for disrupting cell division and targeting tubulin (2,3) o In this study, these medications were used to determine whether microtubules play a role in microplastic uptake § Colchicine typically binds to tubulins and arrests polymerization and growth § Nocodazole disrupts polymerization and prevents spindle formation § Vinblastine inhibits microtubule assembly and disruptions miotic spindle formation.

• The purpose of this study was to determine if different concentrations of tubulin-binding medications affect microplastic uptake o C2C12, RAW 264.7, and MOVAS cell lines were used to evaluate whether these changes are cell type specific 

If microtubule dynamics are disrupted, microplastic uptake can be affect in a concentration-dependent and cell type- specific manner.

Development Of A Dendritic Cell Model To Unravel The Secrets Of Cards Toxin, Lizbeth Gomez

Posters - 2026

Dendritic cells (DCs) are derived from hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow. They are the most efficient antigen presenting cell, presenting antigens to T cells to initiate clonal expansion and differentiation of the T cells into memory and effector cells. Thus, activating the effector functions of T cells in cell-mediated and humoral immune responses (2). Community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin is produced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae that causes acute and chronic lung infections (4). Dendritic cells play a key role in the immune response to respiratory mycoplasmas (3). However, the mechanism underlying in DC and CARDS toxin interactions are …