Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Students Obtaining Tools To Achieve Regulation (Soar), Lacey D. Sanguinito

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

Students Obtaining Tools to Achieve Regulation (SOAR) is a doctoral capstone project that addressed the need for integrated social emotional learning (SEL) in elementary education. SEL is an evidence-based approach shown to improve academic outcomes, behavior, and long-term life success, yet implementation barriers remain in school settings. This project aimed to enhance student regulation, classroom engagement, and teacher confidence in SEL techniques through a multi-tiered approach. A scoping review of SEL literature identified the implementation methods and barriers to SEL curricula in elementary education, which informed the development of SOAR. SOAR consisted of (a) a 20-session, movement-based SEL curriculum targeting …

Meaning Within The Lines, Melody Kneller

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

“Meaning Within the Lines” was a doctoral capstone project developed to improve children’s handwriting through program development, education, and advocacy. Through an occupational therapy handwriting program at Misericordia University, local children struggling with handwriting received pro-bono occupational therapy services that improved their overall handwriting skills, using the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum and manipulatives. This project also advanced the knowledge of undergraduate occupational therapy students' through observation of OT sessions. Education workshop opportunities increased underclassman knowledge in handwriting development and provided resources that they can use for their future practice. Advocacy efforts to educate area school district personnel was completed to …

Preventing Diabetes In At-Risk Youth, Abrielle Milling

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

A unique diabetes prevention program was developed by an OT doctoral candidate to run in a non-traditional format in a school-based setting. The implementation of this program aimed to enhance students' understanding of diabetes through occupation-based interventions and health education. The program was conducted with 8th-grade students and focused on developmental skills suitable for this age level. The program utilized hands-on activities to enhance participation and promote carryover. Diabetes prevention has become an increasing area of health promotion as the condition continues to pose challenges within the adolescent population, becoming an emerging health problem. This incurable chronic disease has many …

The Sensational Students Sensory Program, Ashlie Kohr

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

The Sensational Students Sensory Program focused on the areas of program development, clinical skills, and education. It was developed and implemented for Dallas Area School District to empower students' knowledge about their emotions and how their body feels when they experience certain emotions. Resources and tools were developed for students to use as self-regulation strategies. The students had the opportunity to participate in group sessions with peers to create sensory tools to build a sensory toolbox they could use during the school day to help with self-regulation. The goal was to help these students better understand their emotions and how …

Allstar Abilities Sports Camp: A Community-Based Sports Program For Children With Disabilities, Kolby D. Engel

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

The focus of this Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) was creating the Allstar Abilities: Sports Camp to provide children with disabilities with the opportunity and environment to participate in team sports and sports activities. Within the local community surrounding Misericordia University there are few opportunities for children with disabilities to participate in these kinds of activities. This creates an occupational injustice for this population. Through research and needs assessments it was found that only sports such as baseball and basketball were locally available for this population to safely participate in. The Allstar Abilities: Sports Camp was then created to fill this …

Occupational Therapy In Caregiver Education And Dementia Care, Sophie Winter

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

The doctoral capstone project addresses education on optimal care for individuals with dementia to increase occupational performance and limit excess disability through training sessions with caregivers. The community program created took place at a community memory care adult day program. The bulk of the project focuses on education for caregivers of those with dementia through creating educational handouts, practicing through trainings, and creating personally tailored activities for cognition maintenance and participation. Caregiver manuals were made to address caregiver burnout, education, and competency. The other major part of this capstone was program development assessing the needs of the population and creating …

W.O.R.K. Towards Inclusivity In Employment, Chloe N. Tinklepaugh

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

W.O.R.K. Towards Inclusivity in Employment was a doctoral capstone project focused on promoting sustainable employment for neurodiverse individuals. Despite their capabilities, neurodivergent individuals often face barriers to employment due to employers’ misconceptions about their abilities (Bonaccio et al., 2020). This project addressed these challenges through three main components: researching employers’ perspectives, curriculum revision, and educating employers. For research, Luzerne and Lackawanna county employers were surveyed to assess their training, resources, and perspectives on neurodiversity in the workplace. Findings indicated that employers were open to receiving more education and training on how to support their employees, but they currently lack the …

Promoting Optimal Pediatric Development, Rachel N. Mills

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

This quality improvement capstone project embodied a multifaceted approach to supporting the infant and early childhood populations at a local pediatric outpatient clinic. The capstone project endeavors were guided by the theoretical underpinnings of the literature and results of in-depth needs assessments. The themes that emerged from the systematic review of the literature, which involved the efficacy of parent education programs in increasing parental knowledge and competence in supporting their child's physical and emotional development, were seamlessly integrated into the program. Evidence-based practice, principles of early intervention, and preventative care were used at the clinic to support infant and early …

Athletes Thriving Health, Resilience, And Inspiration For Victory And Empowerment (Thrive): A University Athletics Mental Health Program, Grace E. Yeatman

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

Athletes Thriving Health, Resilience, and Inspiration for Victory and Empowerment (THRIVE) is an occupational therapy (OT) doctoral capstone project that was created to address increased rates of mental health concerns as well as significant levels of mental health stigma among university athletes (Johnson, 2022). The goals of this capstone project were to educate and train athletes in mental health and wellness to support healthy engagement in occupations, promote self-advocacy with seeking mental health services, and increase athletic department staff comfortability and capability with addressing athlete mental health. OT programs and interventions with this population are mainly in the context of …

Adjusting Your L.E.N.S: Learn And Educate With Neurodiverse Students, Jenna Potter

Entry Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Projects Class of 2025

This doctoral capstone project, Adjusting Your L.E.N.S: Learn & Educate with Neurodiverse Students, focused on how occupational therapy (OT) can play a unique role in contributing to an inclusive postsecondary higher education (IPSE) program at a local university. This capstone project focused on supporting faculty, staff, and peer academic coaches, developing a transition camp for high school students, and enhancing the university’s current IPSE program to ensure that students with intellectual disability and autism can access higher education and learn within an inclusive and supportive setting. A faculty, staff, and academic coach training program was implemented to equip participants with …

2025-2026 Fall Catalog, University Of Mississippi Medical Center

Bulletins/Catalogs

2025-2026 Fall Catalog

2025-2026 Spring Catalog, University Of Mississippi Medical Center

Bulletins/Catalogs

2025-2026 Spring Catalog

2024-2025 Spring Bulletin, University Of Mississippi Medical Center

Bulletins/Catalogs

2024-2025 Spring Bulletin

Neuroinflammatory Signaling And Immune Cell Infiltration Differ In Brains Of Rats Exposed To Space Radiation And Social Isolation, Austin M. Adkins, Zachary N. M. Luyo, Alea F. Boden, Riley S. Heerbrandt, Richard A. Britten, Laurie L. Wellman, Larry D. Sanford

Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases (CINID) Faculty Publications

Astronauts on the proposed Mars missions will be exposed to extended periods of social isolation (SI) and space radiation (SR). SI and SR-induced immune dysregulation can result in persistent neuroinflammation and neuronal damage which could negatively impact an astronaut’s health and ability to maintain adequate levels of performance. The synergistic effects of combined SI and SR on immune system functionality and the brain remain unknown. Determining how single and combined inflight stressors modulate the immune system is crucial for fully understanding pathways impacting astronaut health and performance. We used ground-based analogs of SI and SR in rodent models to investigate …

The Intersection Of Indigenous Medicine And Biomedicine In Santiago, Chile, Sam Boehm

Hispanic Studies Honors Papers

No abstract provided.

High-Definition Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (Hd-Tacs) Has Regional Neuromodulation Effects In The Forearm And Hand Muscles, Hao Meng, Michael Houston, Nickolas Dias, Cheng Guo, Gerard E Francisco, Abhishek Datta, Yingchun Zhang, Sheng Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Pathogenesis And Pathophysiology Of Celiac Disease, Kendall N. Reece

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Celiac Disease is an allergic response to foods that contain the protein gluten. Celiac Disease is classified as an autoimmune disorder, which specifically deteriorates the villi of the jejunal segment of the small intestine. Specific topics analyzed within this thesis include some physical attributes of Celiac Disease such as weight loss, diarrhea, dermatitis herpetiformis, etc. The basis of classification is discussed and the negative effects Celiac Disease has on the body, such as malabsorption, vitamin deficiencies, and damage to the villi. Diagnostics such as biopsy and blood tests, treatments both experimental and adhering to a gluten-free diet are discussed. Origination …

The Physiological Effects Of Anabolic Steroids On The Human Body, Aedan Kerr

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of testosterone used both medically and illicitly for their muscle-building and performance-enhancing properties. While clinically prescribed for conditions like hypogonadism, osteoporosis, and muscle-wasting diseases, AAS are frequently abused by athletes and recreational lifters seeking rapid physical gains. AAS increase muscle protein synthesis via androgen receptor-mediated gene transcription, but they also predispose users to tendon ruptures and various organ functions. AAS abuse is strongly associated with a host of side effects including gynecomastia, male-pattern hair loss, infertility, hepatotoxicity, erythrocytosis, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypogonadism. Cardiovascular complications such as left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, and myocardial infarctions …

Moving Beyond Traditional Multiculturalism: Dis/Ability Awareness In Counselor Education, Alicia B. Becton, Eunae Han, Leeza Ong, Amber Johnson, Roy K. Chen, Gabriela Rangel, Stephanie Lusk

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

This chapter explores the experiences of individuals with disabilities, emphasizing how they navigate educational and societal norms while balancing various identities. It emphasizes the impact of societal issues, such as racism and sexism, on individuals with disabilities. The authors delve into current multiculturalism trends, advocating for culturally responsive approaches in counselor education and rehabilitation services. The goal is to advance discussions on the future directions of multiculturalism by exploring the following key areas (a) the sociopolitical aspects of disability, (b) the inclusion of disability in counselor education, (c) accessibility and the universal design for learning (UDL), (d) culturally competent counselor …

Recognizing The Risk: Enhancing Nurse Preparedness For Postpartum Hemorrhage Through Simulation-Based Education, Ishpreet Kaur

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a serious, often unexpected complication after childbirth involving excessive bleeding. It is a leading cause of maternal death and can happen quickly, even in healthy pregnancies. Risk factors may increase the chances of PPH, but it can also occur without warning. Nurses play a key role in recognizing early signs and taking quick action. However, delays still happen due to inconsistent training, unclear protocols, and lack of preparedness. Strengthening nurse education and improving emergency response systems are essential to improve care and achieve better outcomes for mothers. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact …

Educating Caregivers And Parents On Infant Safe Sleep Guidelines In A Rural Community, Melody Hill

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) remains a leading cause of infant mortality, highlighting the need for effective, safe sleep education for caregivers and parents. Key safe sleep guidelines have been shown to reduce SIDS risk by placing infants on their backs to sleep, using firm mattresses, and avoiding soft bedding. However, misconceptions about safe sleep practices persist, making education for caregivers and parents essential. The desired outcome of this project was to significantly enhance the knowledge and behaviors related to infant sleep practices, ensuring that caregivers and parents understand and follow safe sleep guidelines. This project aimed to evaluate the …

Providing Community Education On Opioid Addiction And Emergency Intervention, Chasity Vargas

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Introduction: The opioid crisis remains a significant public health concern, with opioid-related overdoses continuing to rise. Naloxone (Narcan) is a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, yet many community members lack awareness and training on its use. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to implement and evaluate a community-based Narcan education program to improve knowledge, accessibility, and confidence in administering Narcan.

Method: Using a quality improvement framework, the project targeted community members servicing the homeless population. Pre- and post-education surveys assessed changes in participants' knowledge and attitudes toward opioid overdose response.

Results: Findings demonstrated a significant increase …

The Path To Zero Clabsis: The Benefits Of Central Line Care Teams, Supplemental Checklist, Increased Education And Utilizing Clabsi Bundles, Lauren A. Bondurant

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) result in a plethora of deaths each year and cost the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). CLABSIs have been a type of bloodstream infection that has affected a plethora of individuals for years and one that does not discriminate patient type. Many articles were reviewed, but they all inferred that CLABSIs bundles,supplemental checklists, and central line care teams all showed the most significant data and resulted in the most decreased CLABSI rates. Upon assessment of the project unit, it was noted that the issue that most impacted …

Recognizing Opioid Withdrawal: An Educational Intervention To Increase Nurses' Knowledge And Improve Quality Of Patient Care, Keyannah L. Glover

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Opioid abuse, prescription and illicit use, remain a problem in the United States. Recognizing signs and symptoms is important because lack of recognition can lead to misdiagnosis and mismanagement. The target population for this study was nurses in the emergency department. This quality improvement project was developed to provide education to the nurses in the emergency department to recognize opioid withdrawal signs and symptoms. This project evaluated the baseline knowledge of nurses working in the emergency department. The project was implemented over a 3-week time frame. The pre-test was sent out to participants via email to test their baseline knowledge. …

Providing Safe Care For Mental Health Patients Through Ongoing Education Of Non-Psychiatric Nurses And Staff, Amy Kilpatrick

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Nurses care for many individuals with medical conditions, but also those who suffer from mental illness and are in an acute mental health crisis. Nonpsychiatric nurses often lack adequate knowledge and training while caring for individuals with mental health disorders and those in acute crisis, which can be a barrier to providing safe, effective care for this vulnerable population. When individuals are in crisis and present to the emergency departments, their first contact is with emergency room nurses who may lack the necessary skills to conduct a thorough assessment when evaluating for mental health disorders, including the presence of suicidal …

Heart Of An Athlete: Educating On The Importance Of Cardiovascular Screening Of High School Athletes, Tiffany Michelle Haley

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

There is a lack of education regarding cardiovascular screening and the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in high school athletes. The target population needing improved education is primarily school faculty, staff, trainers, and coaches. Effective cardiovascular screening and education will aid in the prevention of a catastrophic injury, including SCA and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Educating high school faculty and staff will bring forth awareness of signs and symptoms of SCA and aid in proper care and treatment for high school athletes who are at higher risk. The goal of this project was to educate faculty and staff on …

Teaching With Confidence: Strengthening Nurse Education On Heart Failure Using The Teach-Back Method, Melany Boyd

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Heart failure remains one of the leading causes of hospital readmissions, often due to poor patient understanding of self-care instructions provided at discharge. Nurses play a critical role in patient education, yet many lack confidence and competence in delivering effective education. Additionally, inconsistencies and discharge materials, such as outdated or excessive documentation, can overwhelm patients and hinder their ability to retain vital information. Standardized education enhances the learning experience and ensures consistent messaging across the healthcare system. This project aimed to improve nurses’ confidence and competence in educating heart failure patients at discharge by 10% through the implementation of the …

Recognizing Adult Male Mental Health Needs: An Intervention Looking At Education In Rural Communities, Eugene W. Winans Jr

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

This DNP Project examined the role of student nurses and their confidence levels when assisting adult male patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The majority of suicide acts are attributed to men. Thus, this subject requires specific insight and instructions when it comes to proper ways to assist these patients. Incorporating evidence from a pre-test and post-test survey, this project demonstrates that student nurses lack confidence in how to deal with men who are experiencing a mental health crisis. The analysis gained from this project demonstrates the important role nurses play in recognizing, speaking to, and assisting in the treatment …

Preserving Memories, Building Relationships, Jamie H. Cochran

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Loneliness among adults aged 65 and older is a significant health concern linked to negative physical and mental outcomes, especially in rural communities. This DNP project implemented a 4-week scrapbooking intervention within a faith-based rural community in North Carolina to reduce feelings of loneliness. Guided by Watson’s Theory of Human Caring, participants engaged in collaborative arts activities designed to foster social connection and emotional expression. The potential results of this project are multifaceted, including improved social engagement, emotional well-being, and strengthened community bonds. The findings support integrating creative, relationship-centered strategies into community nursing practice to enhance well-being among older adults.

Enhancing Health Literacy Using Video Education And The Teach-Back Method For Hypertension And Diabetes Mellitus Type 2, Shelly-Ann M. Malcolm-Padilla

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Diabetes type 2 and hypertension are chronic illnesses that have both physical and psychological impacts on an individual. Primary care providers play an important role in the management of chronic illness, specifically type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Changing behavior with a commitment to compliance with the treatment plan and living a healthy lifestyle can decrease disease complications for both diabetes and hypertension. With the use of educational videos and the teach-back method to confirm understanding of disease management, the goal of this quality improvement project was to contribute to positive health and lifestyle change for patients, their caregivers, clinical staff, …