Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Congenital Heart Defects, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with congenital heart defects.

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (Adem), Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis or ADEM.

Artificial Intelligence–Enabled Revenue Cycle Management And Financial Performance In Healthcare Organizations, K’Reesa Webster

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this review was to examine how artificial intelligence–enabled revenue cycle management (AI-enabled RCM) systems have been associated with financial performance outcomes in healthcare organizations. A literature review following a systematic process consistent with PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted to identify quantitative studies published between 2015 and 2026. Eligible studies were required to report at least one financial outcome related to claim denial rate, days in accounts receivable, or operating margin. Twenty-seven studies met all inclusion criteria. Findings across these studies indicated that AI-enabled RCM systems have been associated with lower denial rates, shorter accounts receivable timelines, and …

Bridging Clinic To Home: The Development Of A Caregiver Education Program To Support Home Carryover Of Feeding Interventions, Rachel Adams

OTD Capstones

Abstract

Objective Caregivers of children with pediatric feeding disorders or difficulties face stressful emotions within the context of feeding. There is an identified gap in pediatric outpatient occupational therapy and the educational resources they provide to caregivers related to feeding. To address this, the capstone project aimed to develop and integrate an evidence-based caregiver education program into the capstone site’s feeding therapy model to make a more well-rounded and all-inclusive feeding therapy program. Methods Two caregiver surveys were sent out along with a staff survey to identify the needs of the site and the caregivers of the clients and to …

Sickle Cell Disease, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with sickle cell disease.

Osteosarcoma, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with osteosarcoma.

Multiple Sclerosis, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Educator guide about how to support students with multiple sclerosis.

The Impact Of Hot V. Cold Water Immersion On Post-Exercise Recovery, Cameron Moss, Aaron Krukemeyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Muscle recovery following exercise-induced soreness has been the focus of extensive research and debate, with Cold Water Immersion (CWI) and Hot Water Immersion (HWI) emerging as two of the most widely used modalities. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of CWI and HWI on muscle recovery by determining changes in maximal force production of knee extension, range of motion (ROM) of the hip joint in flexion, extension, and abduction, and subjective muscle soreness using a validated Likert scale. Seven male recreational athletes participated in hot and cold-water immersion, and passive recovery. Despite thorough data collection, the …

Empowering Women Through Surf Therapy: A Trauma-Informed Facilitation Toolkit, Ashlie Steppe

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

Women who have experienced trauma often face challenges with emotional regulation, sense of safety and daily functioning. Additionally, one in three women experience trauma throughout their lifetime and this can lead to difficulty with connection, body awareness, and engagement in meaningful activities. A local non-profit surf therapy organization was established to provide women with a supportive community and meaningful, nature-based activity to promote healing and connection. The purpose of this quality improvement capstone experience was to address and develop a sustainable trauma-informed wellness toolkit to support facilitators in delivering structured wellness activities within the program. The toolkit specifically addressed key …

Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy And Alcohol Use Disorder, Zoe R. Evans

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This current paper has studied whether the psilocybin-assisted treatment has been linked with meaningful shifts in three clinical outcomes among adults 18 years old and above diagnosed with alcohol use disorder (AUD): percentage of heavy drinking days, abstinence rates, and neural responsiveness to alcohol-related cues. A literature review following a systematic approach was performed using guidelines from PRISMA 2020 based on four databases, namely PubMed and PsycINFO, and Scopus and CINAHL, where peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2026 were included. A semi-structured professional interview with a clinical researcher in the Division of Addiction Sciences of Marshall University was also …

Pie Chart Overview And Tenure And Promotion, Melissa L. Rethlefsen

PIE CHART

This presentation gives an overview of PIE CHART and additional material relating to open science in tenure and promotion. Materials included in this project were supported by the National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number RC2NS138557. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

The Divide Of Women’S Health: Systematic Thinking Of Women, Tasfia T. Howlader

Honors Theses

Women’s health has constantly been changing- from public health infrastructure to health policies, and even medical advancements. Yet, the struggles are persistent within the gaps present in women’s health. The Socio-Ecological Model (SEM) explains interactions between different levels of relationships, which result in health outcomes that vary from individual factors to environmental factors. Applying the SEM to describe health disparities can help explain how the relationships an individual has influenced their health. This project serves to exemplify these different levels while discussing the tailoring of services to the needs and the importance of populations based on their experiences. Specifically, adhering …

Persistence Of Pet Scan Positivity After Chemoimmunotherapy For Dlbcl, James O. Armitage, Matthew A. Lunning, Julie M. Vose, Dan L. Longo

Journal Articles: Oncology and Hematology

Approximately 80% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma achieve a complete response after chemoimmunotherapy as defined by positron emission tomography (PET) scan. However, not all patients who fail to achieve a metabolic complete response are destined to relapse. In a number of these patients, the PET scan is falsely positive (ie, 20%-40% in several large series), particularly when the PET scan has a Deauville score of 4. Reflexively intervening with salvage systemic therapy or radiotherapy in these patients is potentially harmful. It seems that very sensitive measurements of circulating tumor DNA might be able to differentiate between patients who …

Efficacy And Safety Of Epcoritamab In Relapsed Or Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma: 3-Year Update From The Epcore Nhl-1 Trial, Yasmin H. Karimi, Chan Y. Cheah, Michael Roost Clausen, David Cunningham, Umar Farooq, Tatyana Feldman, Herve Ghesquieres, Wojciech Jurczak, Kim M. Linton, Tycel Phillips, Julie M. Vose, Won Seog Kim, Pegah Jafarinasabian, Barbara D'Angelo Månsson, David Soong, Andrew J. Steele, Zhu Li, Christian W. Eskelund, Martin Hutchings, Catherine Thieblemont

Journal Articles: Oncology and Hematology

Epcoritamab, a CD3xCD20 bispecific antibody, resulted in deep, durable responses with a manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) in EPCORE^® NHL-1 (NCT03625037). We report results from a 3-year follow-up. Adults with relapsed/refractory LBCL received epcoritamab until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Median age was 64.0 years, 39% of patients received prior CAR T-cell treatment, and 75% were refractory to ≥ 2 consecutive lines of treatment. As of May 3, 2024 (median follow-up 37.1 months [range, 0.3-45.5]), ORR was 59% and complete response (CR) rate …

Effectiveness Of Post-Discharge Interventions Following Psychiatric Hospitalization On Readmissions And Suicide Prevention Among Adolescents, Maria Paz Eladia Posadas

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Suicide is a pervasive and far-reaching issue. Psychiatric hospitalization is often used as an intervention for individuals, including adolescents, experiencing suicidal ideation and/or behavior. However, post-discharge care may lack structure or clearly defined follow-up services, which can result in rehospitalizations and increased suicidality. Objective: The goal of the proposed research study is to investigate how implementation of peer support groups for adolescents following psychiatric hospitalization can assist in reducing readmissions and mitigating suicide risk. This can also help shape strategies for managing care after discharge. Method: The proposed research study utilizes a quantitative quasi-experimental design to determine the efficacy …

Patient Safety: Paramedic To Nurse Patient Handover Quality And Its Influence On Clinical Deterioration In The Emergency Department, Madison P. Penick

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Quality patient handoff from Emergency Medical Services to the Emergency Department is a crucial transition of care that directly impacts patient safety, medical intervention, and patient outcomes. If concise, effective communication is not achieved, critical details can be left out resulting in medical errors, delayed intervention times, and lack of identification of clinical deterioration.

Aim: This study aims to understand how paramedic to nurse handoff quality impacts a nurse’s early identification of clinical deterioration.

Proposal:

Methodology: A quasi-experimental study of mixed-method research.

Recruitment strategy: A fire department in Marin County, CA and ED nurses from the base trauma center …

Routine Guided Meditation In Nicu Nurses: A Coping Strategy For Nicu Nurses Dealing With Newborn Deaths, Gianna Wong

Nursing | Senior Theses

Purpose: This research study aims to investigate the emotional impact of newborn deaths on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurses in addition to evaluating their perceptions of routine guided meditation as an effective coping mechanism to manage professional grief and enhance psychological well-being. Methods: Utilizing an exploratory descriptive research design grounded in Pender’s Health Promotion Model (HPM), this study examines the lived experiences and health-promoting behaviors of neonatal nurses following newborn deaths. Data: Anticipatory collection of data will be from a sample of NICU nurses based in California through a twelve-question survey featuring open-ended questions. Qualitative content analysis will be …

Developing An Educational Session And Epic-Based Tools To Help Nurses Provide Culturally Sensitive Care To Their Muslim Patients, Laila Albutmeh

Nursing | Senior Theses

Background: Islam is currently the fastest growing religion in the world and the chances of nurses having a Muslim patient is exceptionally high yet many nurses lack the knowledge and resources on how to accurately provide culturally sensitive care to Muslim patients. Hospitals lack educational sessions/training as well as Epic tools to help nurses provide culturally sensitive care to Muslim patients which leads to a knowledge deficit in cultural sensitivity of Islamic beliefs, values, and practices. Purpose: This thesis paper proposes a research design for a nurse education/training program on Islamic beliefs, values, and practices along with an implementation of …

Predictors Of Successful Conservative Lung Surgery In Endobronchial Tumors, Ahmed Mohamed Abdelfattah Ahmed Omar, Amr Abdellateef Hassan, Sameh Ibrahim Elsayed

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background: Endobronchial tumors, though rare, often present centrally and may cause airway obstruction. Historically managed by pneumonectomy, conservative lung surgery has emerged as a viable alternative with reduced morbidity. Methods: This retrospective study included 69 adult patients with endobronchial tumors treated surgically at Mansoura University between 2005 and 2024. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 underwent pneumonectomy; Group 2 non-pneumonectomy. Clinical, radiological and bronchoscopic data were analyzed to identify predictors of successful conservative surgery. Results: Tumor location, proximity to the carina, preserved distal lung tissue, and higher preoperative FEV1% were significantly associated with conservative surgical success. Therapeutic bronchoscopy …

Impact Of A Resident-Created Family Medicine Clerkship Guide On Medical Student Preparedness, Shana-Kay Lambert-Johnson, Tasaduq Mir, Fredricka Barr

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

BACKGROUND: Third-year medical students enter the family medicine clerkship with strong foundations in the basic medical sciences. However, they can feel underprepared to meet the demands of outpatient care, including navigating clinic workflows, documenting efficiently, and leading patient-centered visits. This transition-to-clerkship learning curve may contribute to stress during a critical phase of clinical development. Structured educational support during this transition has the potential to enhance learner confidence, promote meaningful learning, and foster positive engagement with family medicine. Through resident-led quality improvement, this project aimed to improve medical student preparedness and confidence for the family medicine clerkship using a resident-created intervention. …

Calcinosis Cutis In A Young Patient With End-Stage Renal Disease: A Severe And Morbid Complication, Gopi Mulaka, Babu Shaik, Jaya Surya Manimekalai, Durga Dandu, Rupali Prabhukhot

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

BACKGROUND/ INTRODUCTION: Calcinosis cutis is a rare but serious complication of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), often related to disordered calcium–phosphate metabolism. It can lead to significant morbidity, recurrent infections, and challenging management decisions.

CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 23-year-old male with ESRD on hemodialysis, hypertension, anemia of chronic disease, and a left upper extremity arteriovenous fistula who developed progressive pain, swelling, and purulent drainage involving the left third and fourth digits. Imaging revealed extensive soft tissue calcifications consistent with calcinosis cutis. His hospital course was complicated by recurrent infections, osteomyelitis, and gangrene despite antibiotic therapy and wound care, ultimately requiring …

Septic Arthritis Suspected But Pseudogout Confirmed: The Importance Of Early Joint Aspiration And Crystal Analysis, Munazzah Kaleem, Jose Lozano

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

BACKGROUND/ INTRODUCTION: Septic arthritis present as an acute monoarticular arthritis and is highly suspected in patients with risk factors including DM, ESRD, and bacteremia. As a result, empiric antibiotics are usually started prior to definitive diagnosis. But crystal induced arthropathies closely mimic septic arthritis in their presentation. This case highlights the importance of early arthrocentesis to avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment.

CASE PRESENTATION: 50-year-old female on antibiotics for MSSA bacteremia presented due to acute onset left hip pain, swelling and decreased range of motion. No trigger was present. PMH included HTN, T2DM and ESRD on HD. She denied fever, chills or …

Tales From The Cryptogenic: A Case Of Recurrent Major Cryptogenic Stroke, Harpreet Matharu, Kennedy Aikins, Kumail Rizvi, Danielle Ford

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background

It is estimated that 30 to 40% of all strokes have no identifiable cause; these are classified as cryptogenic strokes. Often, the unknown nature is secondary to delayed or incomplete investigation of cerebrovascular pathology. At times, strokes are considered truly cryptogenic as extensive stroke workup leads to no identifiable cause or etiology. Acute ischemic strokes in young adults without identifiable risk factors present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Prompt recognition and treatment are critical to optimize outcomes.

Case Presentation

A 32-year-old African American male with a past medical history of a cerebrovascular accident in 2023 at an outside hospital …

Intraosseous (Io) Analgesia Medication Administration In Orthopaedic Surgery: A Brief Review, Jenna Chrabolowski, Troy B. Puga, Abanoub Attallahm, Mckenna W. Box, John T. Riehl

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Introduction

Intraosseous (IO) analgesia is a novel strategy for pain control in orthopaedic surgery. This brief review aims to provide an overview of IO analgesia in orthopaedic surgery.

Methods

A search was conducted across seven databases. Titles and abstracts were screened followed by full-text review for inclusion criteria. Demographics and results were extracted from included articles.

Results

Ten studies met inclusion criteria and involved patients undergoing knee surgery and spinal surgery. IO lidocaine was shown to be effective for postoperative and intraprocedural pain control during vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. IO morphine and IO NSAIDs were shown to be effective in reducing …

Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis (Pvns) After A Distal Femur Non-Union: A Case Report, Troy Puga, Jenna Chrabolowski, Mckenna W. Box, Kisan Parikh

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a rare benign neoplastic process that involves extensive proliferation of the synovium of a joint. Development of PVNS has been potentially linked to traumatic etiologies, however, evidence for this remains limited. This case report aims to present a case of PVNS that developed after a traumatic etiology.

Case Presentation A 62 year old female presented with recurrent left knee effusion and non-union of the left distal femur roughly four years after an MVC and index open reduction and internal fixation with a lateral locking plate and screw construct. Left knee aspiration at initial visit …

True Love: Heart Says To The Kidneys ‘Don’T Fail Me’, Greeshma Molugu, Srinivasan Rajaganapathy, Machaiah Madhrira

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Introduction: Valvular calcification is an increasingly important cardiac valvular pathology in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, most frequently involving the aortic and mitral valves. The incidence/prevalence of mitral annular calcification in ESRD patients is about 30%, with mitral stenosis occurring in less than 5%. Various predisposing factors for valvular calcification in ESRD patients include age (median age >/= 60 years), hypertension, diabetes, use of calcitriol and calcium-containing phosphate binders, secondary hyperparathyroidism and duration of dialysis (median duration of >/= 5 years). We present a rare case of a young male with ESRD on peritoneal dialysis (PD) for less than two …

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A Two-Year Journey, Jason Woods, Padmaditya Sureddi, Nga Van, Danielle Ford

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

BACKGROUND: Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has decreased the incidence of opportunistic infections among persons with HIV. Invasive aspergillosis specifically is uncommon among individuals with clusters of differentiation 4 (CD4) count >100 cells/mm3. Furthermore, treatment of aspergillosis in the HIV-infected population has not been examined systematically. We report a patient with CD4 count >200 cells/mm3, compliant with HAART therapy who developed invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) over the course of two years that was successfully treated through a combination of bronchial artery embolization and liposomal amphotericin.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old man from southern Africa with four-year history of HIV-1 on HAART …

White Plaques With High Stakes: A Case Of Esophageal Leukoplakia, Boney Lapsiwala, Ritika Sharma, Karthik Kasireddy, Devika Pavuluri, Rupali Prabhukhot, Amjad Awan

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Introduction: Esophageal leukoplakia, also termed esophageal epidermoid metaplasia (EEM), is a rare esophageal epithelial disorder characterized by keratinized squamous plaques on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). With a prevalence of < 0.5%, it is often incidentally identified during evaluation for nonspecific upper gastrointestinal symptoms. EEM is considered a premalignant condition due to its association with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), yet management and surveillance strategies remain undefined.

Case Presentation: A 65-year-old woman with hypothyroidism, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and remote aplastic anemia treated with bone marrow transplantation 35 years prior presented with chronic cough and progressive dysphagia to solids and liquids. She denied tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug use. No weight loss, abdominal pain, or blood in stool was noted. CT of the neck with contrast revealed curvilinear mucosal hyperenhancement involving the mid to distal thoracic esophagus without lymphadenopathy. Physical examination and …

A Case Of Median Raphe Cysts In 8-Year-Old Male, Christina Guo, Marshall Hall, Garrett Furth, Henry Lim, Olivia Gruver, Dustin Wilkes, Stephen E. Weis

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: The median raphe cyst is a rare, benign, congenital condition characterized by small, fluid-filled cysts that develop along the ventral midline of male external genitalia. These cysts are usually asymptomatic during infancy and childhood but tend to grow in size as the patient grows. These can become cosmetically concerning or symptomatic due to swelling, irritation, and discomfort. They may also present social and psychological stress to patients and families. We present a case of median raphe cysts in an 8-year-old male.

Case Presentation: An 8-year-old male without a prior medical history who presented to dermatology for penile lesions. He …

Inpatient Dermatology: Dermatology Consults At Medical City Fort Worth, Olivia Gruver, Marshall Hall, Henry Lim, Christina Guo, Garrett Furth, Stephen E. Weis, Dustin Wilkes, Michael Carletti

North Texas GME Research Forum 2026

Background: Inpatient dermatology is an important yet evolving field. There has been a linear decrease in the number of dermatologists providing inpatient care and in the number of medical centers with an inpatient dermatology service. Medical centers with inpatient dermatology services are unevenly distributed geographically, with most in larger metropolitan areas. There is still a great need for dermatologic expertise in the inpatient setting. We aim to examine the utility of the dermatologic consult service, including the most common chief complaints and conditions that prompted consultation over four months at Medical City Fort Worth.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart …