Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Legal Issues And Outcomes Of A Medical-Legal Partnership For Cancer Patients, Allison B. Dowling, Abigail Sweeney, Megan E. Gordon, Lisa Kessler, Deborah Perry, Vicki W. Girard, Shreya Kalra

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The medical-legal partnership (MLP) model is a multidisciplinary intervention with demonstrated success in addressing health-harming legal needs. We analyzed initial data from the Georgetown University Health Justice Alliance’s Cancer Legal Assistance and Well-being Project (Cancer LAW), an MLP between Georgetown University and MedStar Health serving cancer patients receiving care at an urban, safety-net hospital in Washington, D.C. The sample included 81 patients, who had an average of two legal issues, most commonly in the areas of Social Security, estate planning, housing, and health insurance. Data collected during legal representation captured both financial and non-financial benefits to patients. Patients who responded …

Procalcitonin As A Biomarker Of Acute Kidney Injury In Patients With Suspected Bacterial Sepsis In The Acute Care Setting, Austin Kantola, Jose Navas Blanco, Jacob Keeley

Posters

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common, life-threatening complication in patients with sepsis and septic shock.→ Approximately one-half of patients with sepsis experience an AKI.4 → One-third of all acute kidney injuries are related to sepsis.4 → Sepsis-associated AKI raises in-hospital mortality eightfold and the risk of chronic kidney disease development threefold.1,2,3. Early identification of AKI could save time and resources, lower costs, improve patient outcomes. Therefore, a biomarker for earlier AKI detection in patients with sepsis would serve an outstanding role in health care.In the setting of bacterial infection, an upregulation of innate immune system gene transcription and translation …

I Am (Me)Dicine: An Analysis On The Influence Of Humanities Courses Within The Construction Of Internal And External Identities Within Pre-Med Students At Uno, Alix Barnes

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The purpose of this project is to investigate how arts and humanities coursework may enhance the development of internal and external identities for premedical students beyond their traditional scientific coursework. A literature review shows positive findings on identity development and the influence of arts and humanities coursework on medical education. This investigation will take place through a mixed-method survey distributed to UNO premedical students and will explore themes of self-reflection, personal and professional growth, and understanding of external perspectives. An optional question prompts respondents to reflect further on their work within arts and humanities courses and their impact on these …

Medical Advancements In Type One Diabetes Management Methods: An Expanded Literature Review, Helen L. Priest

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by either a lack of insulin or an insulin sensitivity in the body resulting in an increased blood glucose level. Diabetes can be broken up into two types: type one and type two. Type one diabetes is an autoimmune condition caused by the destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This results in a complete lack of insulin, leading to hyperglycemia. On the contrary, type two diabetes is a condition specified by an acquired sensitivity to insulin over time also resulting in hyperglycemia. There is no cure, but those with …

The Documented Relationship Between Sexual Health Knowledge, Attitudes, And Impact On Sex Behaviors For Students In The United States, Rivers M. Nicholas

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Purpose: To determine whether there is a documented relationship between sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and sex behaviors in students in the US.

Methods: This study conducted an expanded literature review. Multiple databases were utilized including EBSCO host academic complete search, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Searches included the following phrases: “sexual health education”, “united states”, “sexual health knowledge”, “sex behavior”, “risk seeking behavior”, and “sex attitudes or perceptions or opinions.” Studies were included based on relevance to topic, geographical location, age group, and recency.

Result: 40 peer-reviewed articles were reviewed. The majority of students failed in knowledge based assessments on sexual …

Efficacy Of Aprepitant And Ondansetron In Managing Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting In Perioperative Obese Patients, Jada Stewart, Reagan Revon, Samantha Castellaw, Ashlee Roberts, Dwayne Accardo Dnp, Crna, Faana, Bobby Belflower Dnsc, Nnp-Bc, Faanp, Laura Reed Dnp, Fnp-Bc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common adverse event that occurs during the recovery period following anesthesia. PONV has been reported to affect nearly 80% of patients, leading to prolonged hospitalization, increases in cost of care, patient dissatisfaction, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, acute kidney injury, and pulmonary aspiration. Certain risk factors, including obese patients, female gender, and nonsmoker status, increase the risk of PONV. Traditionally, for all patients going under anesthesia, a prophylactic antiemetic regimen is administered; however, since obese and other high-risk patients are at increased risk of experiencing PONV despite traditional regimens, anesthesia providers should administer multiple …

Presentation: Accuracy Of Ecg Chest Electrode Placement In Prehospital And Hospital Settings, Edwin L. Clopton, Kristiina Hyrkas Phd, Licnsc, Mnsc, Rn

Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2025

Recipient of the Peter W. Bates Award for Excellence in Health Professions Education Research at the 2025 Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat.

Social Determinants Of Health Screening – Evaluating Its Influence On Glycated Hemoglobin Levels In The Pediatric Population: A Scoping Review, Lindsay Gibson, Victoria Hutchison, Tracy Mcclinton Dnp, Aprn, Agacnp-Bc, Ebp-C, Sally Humphrey Dnp, Aprn, Cpnp-Pc

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Purpose/Background

Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a significant impact on health outcomes. Pediatric patients with type one diabetes mellitus (T1DM) with adverse SDOH have inferior glycemic control, higher healthcare utilization, and increased risks of complications. SDOH screenings are not standard practice in pediatric T1DM care despite literature demonstrating that screening can improve outcomes. This scoping review aims to summarize existing evidence surrounding SDOH screenings and their impact on pediatric T1DM outcomes.

Methods

A scoping literature review was conducted from August 2022 to November 2024 via CINAHL, Cochrane, EBSCO, Elsevier, and PubMed. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed articles, English language, publication …

Treatment Rates In A Two-Step Clostridioides Difficile Diagnostic Testing Algorithm, Renee Ringler, Matthew Sims

Posters

Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive obligate anaerobe long associated with healthcare-acquired infections in the United States. 1 Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has thus become a key metric for assessing facility cleanliness and iatrogenic infection. C. difficile carriage is common, present in approximately 8% of hospitalized patients.2 Therefore, appropriate patient selection for testing and careful testing procedures is crucial to appropriately identify CDI while avoiding the detection of chronic colonization.

Considerable variability exists among institutions regarding standardized CDI laboratory diagnostic methods. Historically, the gold standard for CDI testing was the clinically inefficient toxigenic culture (TC). 3 This was followed by cytotoxic …

Understanding The Effect Of Advanced Patient Age On Outcomes And Complications Of Spinal Surgery, Alexander R. Woznicki, Daniel K. Fahim

Posters

• In 2020, 6.7 million individuals in the United States were older than 85. This is projected to increase to 12.6 million in 20601

• The risk of developing many spinal conditions increases with age2,3,4

• Decreases in disk height changes the loadbearing properties of the spine

• Decreased bone density makes the vertebrae susceptible to fracture

• Weakening of spinal ligaments predispose to disc degeneration

• Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum and susceptibility to disk herniation can lead to spinal stenosis

• Damage of the cervical spinal cord can manifest as weakness and clumsiness in the upper extremities and …

Impact Of Pprom Delivery Protocol On Adverse Neonatal Outcomes At Our Institution, Jacqueline Juarez, Sangeeta Kaur

Posters

Traditionally, mothers diagnosed with PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes) between 34w0d to 36w6d had immediate delivery. However, newly developed research has shown potential benefit to expectant management through delaying delivery until 37 weeks to reduce adverse neonatal outcomes. Our research showing a lower percentage of respiratory distress, mechanical ventilation, and/or length of NICU stay in expectant management can greatly impact neonatal care. Additionally, this can form a new standard in guidelines on how to manage mothers diagnosed with PPROM between 34w0d to 36w6d.

The Administration Of Antenatal Corticosteroids In The Late-Preterm Period, Sarah O’Mara, Sara Jaber, Kurt Wharton

Posters

The administration of corticosteroids in the late-preterm period (34 to 36+6 weeks' gestation) remains a topic of ongoing debate. The landmark Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids (ALPS) trial demonstrated a significant reduction in neonatal respiratory morbidity with the use of late-preterm corticosteroids, leading to updated recommendations by the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in August 2016 supporting their administration for patients at risk of late-preterm delivery. Given that late-preterm births accounted for 7.4% of live births in the United States in 2020, optimizing neonatal outcomes in this population is a critical public health concern.

Antenatal corticosteroid administration between 24 and 33+6 weeks' …

The Relevance Of Age, Bmi, And Right Versus Left Ear Surgery To The Incidence Of Taste Disturbance After Stapes Surgery, Jonathan Ong, Dennis Bojrab Ii

Posters

• Many factors such as age and body mass index (BMI) have been shown to influence post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing stapedectomy/stapedotomy.

• This study examines these factors to see if they have any impact on the incidence of taste disturbance, a commonly reported complication of stapes surgery.1

• Our study predicts that BMI and age are correlated with the incidence of taste disturbance post-operatively following stapes surgery.

Effects Of Changing The Frequency Of Epidural Steroid Injections For Elderly Patients With Lumbar Radiculopathy/Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, Nitin Venkatesh, Rebecca Clemans, Roy Soto

Posters

Lower back pain is highly prevalent and a significant cause of disability.

50-84% of adults experiencing back pain at some point.

Previously, patients with chronic lumbar radiculopathy received a maximum of 6 injections a year (q8w).

On Dec 2021, Medicare Coverage of ESIs was updated to limit ESIs to a max of 4 a year (q12w).

Improving Treatment For Infant Perianal Abscesses, Artem Dadamyan, Nathan Novotny, Ngan Nguyen

Posters

Perianal abscesses: • Tender masses located at the anal verge, typically in the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions1

• Develop due to infection in abnormally deep crypts of Morgagni 1

• If left untreated, can extend into the ischioanal space or intersphincteric space since these areas are continuous with the perianal space.2

• Some may develop into fistula in ano, which can be difficult to treat3 Treatment:

• The standard has always been incision and drainage (I&D), but non-invasive management of Sitz baths is increasingly being used.

Prostatic Urethral Length On Mri As A Predictor Of Late Genitourinary Toxicity After Prostate Cancer Radiation, Kyu Kim, Joseph Lee, Allison Hazy, Sayf Al-Katib, Hong Ye, Nathan Kolderman, Abhay Dhaliwal, Daniel Krauss, Thomas Quinn, Kimberly Marvin, Kiran R. Nandalur

Posters

Radiation therapy (RT) is a widely used treatment for prostate cancer.1 While effective, some patients develop late genitourinary (GU) toxicity, which can impact quality of life.2,4 Identifying pre-treatment factors that predict toxicity risk may help improve clinical decision-making. Recent studies suggest that prostatic urethral length (PUL) seen on MRI is associated with an increased risk of late GU toxicity.3 Understanding this relationship could enhance risk stratification before treatment.

Toxicity And Clinical Outcomes Following Brachytherapy Using 3-D Dosimetric Planning In Patients With Cervical Cancer: An Institutional Experience, Nikita M. Patel, Jacob F. Oyeniyi, Maha Saada Jawad

Posters

• Cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer worldwide.1

• The standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) includes primary chemoradiation, brachytherapy, and external-beam radiotherapy.2

• Brachytherapy (BT) involves the targeted delivery of radiation to the cervix (Fig 1). However, radiation can be toxic to surrounding structures, most commonly affecting the gynecological, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal systems.3

• Historically, brachytherapy was planned using a 2-D approach, which had limitations in accuracy and increased toxicity to the adjacent bowel and bladder. 3-D planning using CT or MRI has been shown to have improved dose precision and reduced toxicity.4

• …

Low Cpap Adherence Amongst The African American And Arabic Population In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Nikki Nguyen, Bhavinkumar Dalal

Posters

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder that occurs from a recurring decreased or completely blocked airflow during sleep leading to symptoms including excessive daytime sleepiness and impaired cognitive function1.

• Primary treatment for moderate to obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reducing daytime sleepiness, improves neurocognitive function, and improves quality of life2.

• Current literature shows that compliance varies from 40-85% with poor adherence reducing the treatment’s effectiveness in preventing chronic health problems3.

• Although more CPAP use is generally associated with subjective and adherence is typically defined as at least 4 hours of …

Do Critically Ill Patients With Guardianships Receive More Aggressive Treatment?, Misha Haq, Jacob Keeley, Enrique Calvo-Ayala

Posters

• Patients suffering from certain conditions can become unable, unwilling, or unavailable to make decisions regarding their end-of-life care1.
• • In these cases, a court appointed guardian is responsible for carrying out medical decisions on behalf of the patient2.
• Patients with guardians tend to receive more aggressive care, regardless of the benefit, because it is perceived as safer 3.
• Guidelines and laws for medical decision-making for patients with guardians are inconsistent, leaving this population vulnerable4.

Medication Assisted Treatment - The End In Mind, Nandita C. Kapur, Annas Aljassem

Posters

• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is defined as a problematic pattern of substance use causing significant impairment or distress, and it is a leading cause injury deaths1 in the U.S.
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), using methadone (full agonist) and buprenorphine (partial agonist/antagonist), is the gold standard for OUD2 , stabilizing patients by alleviating withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
• • Stigma and skepticism about MAT's effectiveness hinder its adoption in acute care settings3.
• More research is needed to overcome misconceptions and enhance the efficacy of MAT in hospitals since it is the first point of contact for patients.
• This project aims to educate patients …

Venlafaxine Exposure In Pregnancy And Its Association With Pre-Eclampsia Development, Jhanvi Patel

Posters

Venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), is widely used to manage depression and anxiety, including in pregnant women. However, its known hypertensive side effects raise concerns about a potential link to pre-eclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria. Pregnant women with psychiatric disorders already have an increased risk of hypertensive disorders, and while untreated depression can lead to adverse outcomes such as preterm birth and fetal cortisol elevation, the safety of venlafaxine remains uncertain. Current research lacks wellcontrolled studies assessing its association with hypertensive complications in pregnancy. This systematic review aims to evaluate whether venlafaxine use …

Substance Use And Shame In Minority And Immigrant Communities, Zane Alroshood, Hassan Barade, Jeffrey Guina

Posters

Substance use disorder (SUD) has increased worldwide, especially in the United States, with millions struggling with drug and alcohol problems. Substance use (SU) can lead to significant adverse health outcomes along with stigmatization in healthcare settings. Shame plays a complex role in the development and mitigation of developing substance use problems, influenced by cultural contexts such as dignity, face, and honor. A systemic review attempted to identify the relationship between SU and shame, stating shame was reliably associated with SU, but revealing mixed results in which it served both adaptive and maladaptive functions in its development.

The Effect Of Antemortem Tooth Loss On Craniofacial Shape In Apes And Humans, Ashley R. Laster

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) (i.e., defined as tooth loss occurring before death) is common among humans and many primates, and several studies have examined AMTL across various primate groups. Some research indicates that AMTL can influence masticatory function and diet; however, the effects of AMTL on craniofacial shape and biomechanics have not been extensively analyzed. We assessed craniofacial and mandibular shape in relation to AMTL, anticipating that individuals with at least one tooth lost antemortem would display significant differences in cranial and/or mandibular shape compared to those without AMTL. AMTL rates were evaluated in three primate species: wild-caught samples of …

Safety And Utility Of Robotics In Pediatric Surgery: Implementation, Luke J. Man, Kristin Lemarbe, Nathan Novotny, Anthony Stallion, Begum Akay, Pavan Brahmamdam

Posters

• Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery is considered standard of care for adult and pediatric patients .

• Robotic surgery (RS) for adult patients has been widely adopted due to superior ergonomics, visualization, depth perception, and access to deeper anatomical structures2,3.

• Historically, RS is associated with longer operative times, higher cost, and lacks haptic feedback1,2.

• RS has had inconsistent adoption in the pediatric surgery community2.

Impact Of Michigan Public Act 246 On Opioid Prescribing For Pediatric Surgical Patients, Madison Saunders, Pavan Brahmamdam

Posters

1. Opioid misuse is an epidemic in the U.S. affecting 3.1% of pediatric patients.2,3.

2. Most common way adolescence obtain access to opioids is by their own prescription or a family member. 3,4 3.

3. In December 2017, Michigan enacted Public Act 246 (P246) in an attempt to address rising opioid misuse.

4. P246 states that as of June 1, 2018, a prescriber of a controlled substance must discuss the risks of opioid usage minor and the minor’s parent or guardian and sign a consent form.

Comparing Spatiotemporal Gait Measures And Hip Disability And Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores-12 Through Gait Analysis Of Individuals With Hip Osteoarthritis, Collin N. Thompson

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that leads to degenerative damage surrounding the femoroacetabular joint, which can manifest as degraded cartilage and increased inflammation at the joint site. There are several methods physician’s use to measure a patient's condition, and our study looks at one called the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-12, or HOOS-12. This is a patient-reported outcome measure where patients can self-report their pain and level of dysfunction in relation to their hip osteoarthritis. This study investigates the association between the participants’ HOOS-12 scores and objective gait characteristics measured via a portable pressure sensing walkway. At …

A Nano-Scale Approach To Controlled Apoptosis In Brain Cancer Through Magneto-Mechanical Actuation, Sakura Rieck

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this study, we investigate the effects of cell therapy and magneto-mechanical actuation (MMA) to treat glioblastoma (U87). MMA approach employs super low-frequency alternating magnetic fields (AMF) to actuate intracellular PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (PEG-SPIONs). Magnetic forces are translated into mechanical agitation on PEG-SPIONs, which can disrupt key cellular components. We explored two ways in which the MMA approach can be used to combat cancer growth. First, we investigated MMA directly in U87 cells. Preliminary observations indicate that PEG-SPIONs are intracellularly taken up by the U87 cells via micropinocytosis. Cell-counting kit-8 toxicity assays revealed a cytotoxic effect of MMA …

Occupational Therapy Fellowship Curriculum Design: A Framework And Curriculum Mapping, Sydney Mitchell

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Objective. There is little published research on occupational therapy (OT) fellowships and varying levels of understanding around fellowships. The purposes of this IRB-exempt capstone were to identify stakeholder perception of OT fellowships, create a neurologic OT fellowship to bridge the gap in access to this training in the Southeast, and apply a conceptual framework during development. Methods. Anonymous surveys and semi-structured interviews were used to identify stakeholder needs for the curriculum. Methods focused on curriculum outline, development of one educational lesson, and incorporating formative and summative assessments. Five volunteers rated the module on usability and overall experience. The curriculum was …

A Retrospective Pilot Study Assessing The Concordance Between Referral Diagnoses, Referring Physician Specialty, And Emg/Ncv Results, Bodrul Islam, Daniel L. Menkes

Posters

• Electromyoneurography (EMG/NCV) combines nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography.1 Patients are referred with a diagnostic hypothesis to be tested.
• Nerve conduction studies assess large myelinated fibers, and needle EMG evaluates type I muscle fibers. Conditions affecting small fibers (e.g., neuropathic pain) or type II fibers (e.g., steroid myopathy) typically yield normal results, limiting the utility of EMG/NCV for their evaluation.1,2,3
• Moreover, many patients are referred for EMG/NCV testing for nonspecific symptoms such as pain or numbness, often without objective neurological deficits.
• This study was conducted to determine the concordance of the EMG referral with the provider’s specialty and the final …

Safety Profile Of Spinal Cord Stimulator Paddle Lead Revision And Replacement, Saini Kethireddy, Michael Staudt

Posters

• Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a neuromodulatory treatment for patients experiencing chronic pain resistant to conservative therapies. It is often used for postlaminectomy syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and neuropathic pain.
• SCS leads can be categorized into percutaneous leads and paddle leads, the latter requiring a laminectomy for implantation.
• The advantages of paddle leads include lower migration rates and more efficient energy delivery.
• Revision surgery may be required in instances of lead failure, migration or misplacement. Paddle lead replacement can be challenging due to extensive scar tissue formation, often requiring additional dissection.
• Reoperation for paddle leads has raised concerns about …