Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Bilingualism In The Rio Grande Valley: Documentary Interview With Dr. Nelson Mata, Aidan Mata

Bilingualism in Higher Ed Summit

Dr. Nelson Mata is a physician who has conducted his practice of internal medicine for 32 years in the Rio Grande Valley. Originally living in Dominican Republic where he studied medicine, he went to fulfill his residency program in New York. This multicultural background has enabled him to speak both English and Spanish. As such, he began his practice here in the Rio Grande Valley where doctors who could speak Spanish were needed. He saw it as an opportunity to lend aid to the local Hispanic community with his bilingual communication skills. Through connecting with each patient by understanding, forming …

Beyond Language: Bilingualism, Biculturalism, And Professional Identity Among Bsn Students In South Texas, Nancy Nadeau, Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Margaret Rubi, Luz Maria Silva

Bilingualism in Higher Ed Summit

No abstract provided.

Using The Houdini Method For Nurse-Driven Foley Catheter Removal, Chloe G. Dodd, Hannah Colvis

Scholars Week

Abstract

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a preventable complication associated with indwelling urinary catheters. Although Murray-Calloway County Hospital (MCCH) has an existing nurse-driven Foley catheter removal policy, opportunities remain to improve nurses’ adherence to the policy and promote timely catheter removal. This evidence-based practice project focuses on improving adherence to existing Policy IC-027 through education and implementation of the HOUDINI criteria, which help nurses identify patients who no longer require an indwelling urinary catheter. The project aims to increase nurses’ awareness of the current policy, encourage consistent daily catheter necessity assessments, and support timely catheter removal when appropriate. The …

How Does Nurse-To-Patient Ratio Impact Patient Satisfaction?, Kathryn G. Courtney, Alexa Nicholson

Scholars Week

This evidence-based practice project examined the relationship between nurse-to-patient ratios and patient satisfaction. A review of current literature, guided by Jean Watson's Theory of Human Caring and the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement framework, found that lower nurse-to-patient ratios are associated with improved communication, higher patient satisfaction, better patient outcomes, and increased patient safety. Based on these findings, recommendations and a Safe Nurse-to-Patient Staffing Policy were proposed to support acuity-based staffing, enhance quality of care, and improve both patient and nursing outcomes.

Implementation Of A Standardized, Multimodal Safe Sleep Education Policy For Newborns, Emma C. Cook, Anisa E. Toliver

Scholars Week

This evidence-based practice project proposes updating a regional hospital’s infant sleep policy to include standardized, multimodal safe sleep education. The goal is to improve adherence to safe sleep practices and reduce the risk of sleep-related infant death using interventions such as multiple forms of standardized parent education, consistent staff modeling of safe sleep practices, environmental modifications, and routine bassinet audits. This project uses Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory to strengthen parental understanding and promote safe sleep environments during hospitalization and at home.

Developing An Emergency Department-Specific C. Difficile Infection-Prevention Policy, Katelyn M. Wuest, Chris Bray

Scholars Week

Our evidence-based practice project focuses on the need for an Emergency Department (ED)- specific Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection-prevention policy that adapts the existing facility-wide guidelines to the unique workflow and environment of the ED. Using infection-prevention literature and environmental disinfection recommendations as a foundation, the project proposes the need for clearer guidance regarding applying precautions, managing shared equipment, and maintaining environmental cleanliness. Implementation and evaluation using a Plan-Do-Study-Act approach can help assess staff adherence and identify opportunities to improve consistency in infection-prevention practices.

Improving Fall Risk Assessment In Inpatient Rehabilitation, Sarah B. Flick, Aaliyah Garcia, Trista Hamblin

Scholars Week

This evidence-based practice project examines how fall-risk assessment can be improved for patients in inpatient rehabilitation by incorporating rehabilitation-specific functional factors into the existing assessment process. A review of four research studies identified toileting, transfers, ambulation, cognition, previous falls, and functional limitations as important considerations for fall-risk identification. The project proposes a structured functional review to supplement current assessment tools, with a phased implementation plan using staff education, a pilot program, and ongoing evaluation to support patient safety and individualized fall-prevention interventions.

Physician-Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia: A Discussion, Adam Omelianchuk Phd, Ma, Clinical Ethicist,

History of Medicine Seminar

No abstract provided.

Testing Personalization In Llm-Based Mental Health Support: A Proposed Experimental Design For College Students, Tchalim P. Agninoube, Greg Williams

Annual DBA Scholars Conference

Rising student mental health demand has outpaced campus counseling capacity. This paper proposes a 2x2 between-subjects experimental design to test whether a personalized LLM-based chatbot, grounded in just-in-time adaptive intervention principles and cognitive load theory, provides better short-term anxiety reduction than a standard chatbot across stress and neutral contexts. The personalized chatbot uses wearable stress data, sleep quality, self-reported overwhelm, and support preferences to select between low-load and elaborative support paths. The design contributes a practical framework for evaluating personalization in AI-driven mental health tools and informs scalable, responsible institutional deployment.

Bridging Awareness And Action: A Multilevel Model Of Organizational Learning, Safety Climate, And Sickle Cell Trait Safety Compliance, Kimberly Snowden

Annual DBA Scholars Conference

Despite the existence of NCAA and National Athletic Trainers’ Association guidelines, preventable sickle cell trait (SCT)-related adverse events continue to occur in athletic settings. This study examines how organizational learning capacity, safety climate, leadership commitment, and individual risk perception influence compliance with SCT safety protocols and related safety outcomes. Drawing on Organizational Learning Theory, Safety Climate Theory, and the Health Belief Model, the study proposes a multilevel framework tested through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design. Findings are expected to identify organizational predictors of compliance and provide practical recommendations to strengthen SCT safety implementation and reduce preventable athlete harm.

Trust But Verify: Testing A Framework For Ai Interrogation In Nursing Education, Michael Chamberlain

AI in the Classroom: A Virtual Summit

Generative AI produces fluent, confident output that is sometimes fabricated. Nursing students increasingly submit work built on sources that do not exist, or that exist and do not support the claims drawn from them. This session reports two semesters of classroom observation testing whether prompt design can address that problem.   The hypothesis was that structuring student prompts to require the AI to validate its own sources would improve detection of hallucinated citations. It did not. Across two sections, students who used the structured format caught fabricated citations at the same rate as students given an open prompt. Structure did change …

Preserving Past Harms To Advocate For Better Futures: The Intercultural Cancer Council Archives, Armin Weinberg Phd

History of Medicine Seminar

No abstract provided.

An Introduction To The Philosophy Of Medicine, Debate, And Civil Discourse, Victor Saenz Phd

History of Medicine Seminar

No abstract provided.

Efficient Database Translation, Sonya Fogg, Tracy Ashby

Library Class: Lunch & Learn

Understand the concept and utility of database translation. Identify key differences in indexing and syntax across major biomedical databases. Apply practical strategies for translating search strategies between databases.

An Introduction To The History Of Medicine In Medical Education, Mary E. Horton Mph, Ma, Phd

History of Medicine Seminar

No abstract provided.

Proposed Protocol To Evaluate The Interaction Of Genetic Modifiers And Metabolic Comorbidities On Cognitive Decline In Huntington’S Disease, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Elena Dike, Juan Carlos Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene. While CAG repeat length is the primary determinant of disease onset, substantial variability exists in the rate of disease progression and cognitive decline. This variability is influenced by both cis and trans genetic modifiers, including DNA repair genes such as MLH1, MSH3, PMS2, and FAN1. Emerging evidence also suggests that systemic metabolic comorbidities—including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension—may exacerbate neuronal vulnerability and accelerate neurodegeneration.

Methods: We propose a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study utilizing existing HD datasets containing genetic, metabolic, and …

Lipid Profiles In Alzheimer’S Disease: A Case Series With Longitudinal Comparison To Controls, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Stephen Michael Garcia, Irum Rahman, Juan Lopez Alvarenga

Research Symposium

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing problem among the elderly and has several risk factors. The Rio Grande Valley has specific demographic and socioeconomic factors that may influence the likelihood of developing this neurodegenerative disease. Elevated cholesterol is a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s; however, this correlation has not been fully explored in the population within the Rio Grande Valley. This area of study is important due to the rapidly aging population within the RGV, as well as the high prevalence of comorbidities such as elevated lipid profiles.

Methods: This study analyzed a case series of 6 …

Bell’S Palsy In Pregnancy Following Covid-19 Infection: A Case Report, Maria Camila Gonzalez Tovar, Abelardo Rodriguez, Oluwatobi Olonisakin, Mounika Kotte, Aramide Tijani

Research Symposium

Background: Bell’s palsy is a peripheral facial nerve paralysis. The development of this is suspected to be a result of viral-induced inflammation, ischemia, immune-mediated mechanisms or idiopathic. Even though it can occur in the general population, pregnancy is a recognized risk factor. The incidence of Bell’s palsy during pregnancy and the postpartum period ranges from 60.5 to 171.6 cases per 100,000 person-years, with about 69% of pregnancy-associated cases occurring in the third trimester or within the first two months postpartum. Emerging evidence has shown an association between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of Bell’s palsy, with studies demonstrating a …

Do Social Determinants Of Health Affect Tooth Retention For American Indian/Alaska Native (Ai/An) Adults?, Vae Day

Summer Research Showcase

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults face severe dental disparities due to social determinants of health (SDOH). This study examines how socioeconomic, functional, and cognitive factors influence access to dental care. Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics. Chi-square testing and logistic regression evaluated relationships between variables. Using a strengths-based approach to this research, the outcome variable was recoded to measure “teeth retained” instead of “teeth removed due to tooth decay or gum disease”. Analyses revealed that tooth retention and healthcare access significantly increase with favorable SDOH, including reliable transportation, household income, ability to complete errands independently, having insurance, and retained …

Impact Of Acute Flight Training Stress On Cardiovascular Health: A Pilot Study, Toni Butler

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Impact of acute flight training stress on cardiovascular health: A pilot study  Toni C. Butler, Carolina R. P. Ferreira, Bryan W. Hinton, Noah J. Robbins, Sophia R. Vaden, Andrew H. Schneider, Scott K. Ferguson, Ph.D.   Cardiovascular conditions are among the most common medical issues in certificated pilots and a major source of certification scrutiny. Student pilots experience unique acute stressors during flight training that may influence both physiological and psychological health. Acute stress is known to affect cardiovascular function, including vascular endothelial health; however, the impact of flight training–related stress on cardiovascular function remains poorly characterized. This pilot study tested …

The Effects Of Hypoxia On Balance Systems, Samuel Drescher Drescher, Heather Bond, Allysa Hayden, Victoria Cornaro, Brandon Ibarra, Noah Clark, Frank Cunningham Iv, Carolina Ferreira, Sierra Martinez, Katie Stubits

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hypoxia, a condition characterized by insufficient oxygen availability to body tissues, is known to impair physiological and cognitive function, particularly at high altitudes above 15,000 ft. However, the effects of mild hypoxia (10,000–15,000 ft) remain less well understood. This study, conducted by the department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, investigates the impact of mild hypoxia at 12,000 ft on human balance systems. Specifically, it examines the three primary components of balance: visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems. Participants complete nine balance tasks under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Tasks are structured to progressively limit sensory input: …

The Effects Of Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation On The Inspiratory Muscle Metaboreflex In Young Healthy Adults, Sabrina Ehrenfort, Riley Dienna, Ben Kerns, Hannah Lyons, Rachel Phillips

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Increased work of breathing (Wb) triggers the inspiratory muscle metaboreflex, which elevates systemic blood pressure in response to diaphragmatic fatigue. To counteract this, dietary nitrate could act as a source of nitric oxide, which is known to improve muscle power and efficiency (Jones et al., 2018). This study examines the hypothesis that acute nitrate supplementation would attenuate this response. Utilizing the KH2 device from PowerBreathe, 20 healthy participants (mean age: 21.1 ± 2.5 years; range: 18–30 years) underwent a resistive breathing task (RBT) for a total of three minutes at 60% of their maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). All 20 participants …

Impact Of Stress & Fatigue On Cardiovascular Function In Young Pilots: A Thematic Review, Swarna Manoj

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Impact of Stress & Fatigue on Cardiovascular Function in Young Pilots: A Thematic Review   Authors: Swarna Manoj, Scott Ferguson   Keywords: pilot, stress, fatigue, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiovascular disease (CVD) Aviation is expanding globally and young pilots are the major workforce, yet FAA protocols require mandatory ECG only from age 35, with annual cardiac screening after age 40. Over the past five years, a pattern of sudden cardiac arrests in pilots particularly aged 30-40 has urged safety concerns. Despite the existing literature examining fatigue, burnout, stress, sleep hygiene and circadian disruption, only few studies systematically examine how these factors impact …

Analyzing Fungal Growth Dynamics Under Different Environmental Conditions Using A Lotka–Volterra Competition System, Maria Ordonez, Fabrio Araujo

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Fungi play a critical role in ecosystems as decomposers that recycle nutrients and maintain environmental balance. Their populations are influenced by multiple environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, nutrient availability, and interactions with other organisms. In this project, the Lotka–Volterra model is used to analyze how competing fungal species interact and how these interactions influence population dynamics over time. By modeling two fungal populations competing for the same limited resources, the equations illustrate how environmental conditions and competition coefficients determine whether one species dominates; both species coexist, or one species becomes extinct. The model provides insight into how changes in …

Ai-Based Pilot Fatigue Monitoring For Enhanced Aviation Safety, Joshua Henderson, Alexander Landau, Braxton Moor, Jacky Yang, Caleb Difabio

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Pilot fatigue remains a persistent systemic operational hazard in commercial aviation because it can degrade attention, reaction time, decision-making, and crew coordination during safety-critical phases of flight. Although regulatory duty-time limits and Fatigue Risk Management Systems provide baseline protections, these controls rely heavily on voluntary reporting and post-event analysis, which may fail to detect fatigue in real time. The purpose of this project was to design and evaluate an artificial intelligence-enabled fatigue monitoring concept intended to reduce undetected pilot fatigue risk within the airline Safety Management System framework. The study applied a structured research approach including a literature review to …

Assessing The Impact Of Various Factors On Hypoxic Response, Reese Kim, Allysa Hayden

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Hypoxia is a condition in which the body’s tissues are deprived of oxygen and has deleterious effects on cognition, perception, and performance. Hypoxia has a myriad of symptoms such as euphoria, difficulty concentrating, headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, tunnel vision, and more. Outward signs of hypoxia include cyanosis (blueing of the fingertips and lips), tremors, loss of coordination, pallor, and complexion change, and can be used to notice the onset of hypoxia in others. Many factors are known to contribute to the manifestation of hypoxia, namely altitude, exposure duration, and certain physiological conditions such as heart problems and low blood flow …

From Crisis To Reform: How The 1918 Influenza And Covid-19 Pandemics Redefined The Relationship Between Nurses And The American Healthcare System., Anh N V Le

Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium

The 1918 Influenza and COVID- 19 pandemic have become two major public health crises that reshaped the role of nurses in the America healthcare system. Although a hundred years apart, both pandemics revealed how deeply the country depends on nurses during emergencies without proper and efficient strategies. This paper argues that these pandemics acted as turning points that redefined the social contract between nurses and the U.S. healthcare system. By examining historical context, nurses’ responsibilities, public perception, and long-term effects, this research show how pandemics expanded nurses’ authority while also exposing long-term weakness of the systems. In 1918, nurses were …

A Rare Sight: Isolated Third Nerve Palsy As The Sole Presentation Of A Non-Functional Pituitary Adenoma, Jorge A. Aboytes, Jose J. Loayza, Ivan Mogollon, Ismael Cantu

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Hypopituitarism results from insufficient pituitary hormone production, often due to adenomas—accounting for ~15% of intracranial tumors. Non-functional adenomas, typically affecting older adults, may present with visual field deficits, headaches, or cranial nerve palsies when extending into the cavernous sinus. Isolated oculomotor (third nerve) palsy is a rare initial manifestation.

Case: A 46-year-old man with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes presented with acute right-sided headache, diplopia, ptosis, and right leg weakness. He had right ptosis, a fixed dilated pupil, facial droop, and right leg weakness. Given concern for stroke, he received thrombolytic therapy with partial leg improvement, but persistent diplopia and …

Beyond The Clot: A Rare Case Of Extensive Dvt And Pulmonary Embolism Revealing May-Thurner Syndrome, Jorge A. Aboytes, Jose J. Loayza, Ivan Mogollon, Daniel Pena, Michelle Lopez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in young adults is uncommon and typically associated with identifiable risk factors. In cases where DVT occurs without apparent provocation, congenital anatomical anomalies should be considered. May-Thurner Syndrome (MTS), a vascular compression disorder involving the left iliac vein, is a frequently overlooked cause of iliofemoral DVT in young individuals, particularly women.

Case Presentation: A 28-year-old woman with no significant medical history presented with acute left leg swelling, pain, and discoloration, along with new-onset dyspnea and chest discomfort. She had recently transitioned to a contraceptive patch and reported reduced mobility due to fatigue. Imaging confirmed left …

Myoelectric Transradial Prosthesis Motor Control With Temporal Convolutional Neural Network Signal Processing, Carolyn Ascha Richardson, Katherine Clark, Francis Genco, Hope Lea, Tobiah Rosser

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Transradial (below-the-elbow) amputees account for more than half of all upper limb amputations. Myoelectric prosthetic arms, which use electromyography (EMG) sensors on the surface of the forearm to convert electrical signals from residual limb muscles and mimic hand movement, are popular options for these amputees. However, these prostheses are limited in residual muscle detection and movement accuracy. The objective of this project is to affordably manufacture an externally-powered transradial prosthesis prototype through EMG time-versus-voltage readings collected with six Delsys Trigno Avanti and eight Thalmic MYO EMG sensor channels placed along the extensor digitorum, extensor carpi radialis, extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor …