A Case Of Recurrent Pleural Effusion Secondary To Thoracic Endometriosis Syndrome After Discontinuation Of Oral Contraceptives, Kevin Gopala-Rao, Luis Santiesteban, Carmen Tormo Carrillo, Christian Almanzar Zorilla, Mauricio Danckers

East Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

Introduction: Thoracic endometriosis syndrome (TES) is a rare condition in which functional endometrial tissue spreads to the thoracic cavity. Manifestations of TES include catamenial hemoptysis, pneumothorax, and pleural effusions along with symptoms of dyspnea, cough, and pleuritic chest pain.1 Approximately 6 to 10% of women of reproductive-age women develop TES with concurrent pelvic endometriosis in 80% of patients.2 Treatment of TES includes medical management with progesterone-based oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and surgical management involving cardiothoracic surgery. We present a case of recurrent pleural effusions in a patient who was non-compliant with medical management of TES. Methods: Data was collected during …

Characterizing And Targeting The Non-Catalytic Functions Of Phosphatase Of Regenerating Liver 3 (Prl-3) In Oncogenesis And Cancer Progression, Jeffery T. Jolly

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Phosphatase of Regenerating Liver 3 (PRL-3) is frequently upregulated in various cancers and is associated with poor patient prognosis. Although traditionally studied for its phosphatase activity, PRL-3 also interacts with the CNNM family of magnesium transporters through its catalytic site, and these two functions are mutually exclusive at any given time. Most previous studies relied on a commonly used PRL-3 mutation that disrupts both phosphatase activity and CNNM binding, making it challenging to determine which function drives its oncogenic effects. To address this gap in the field, I utilized a panel of PRL-3 mutants that selectively disrupt either phosphatase activity …

The Intersection Of Broadband And Health: Exploring Rural-Urban Disparities In Colorado, Hunter Anderson, Kristen Paradine

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Modern healthcare infrastructure and progression depend on robust and reliable broadband access. Many areas of the U.S., however, still face limited access which exacerbates access to care and healthcare inequities. These trends can be observed in rural counties across the country, where resource constraints and reduced access to infrastructure remain limited. The correlation however between different health outcomes and broadband access in Colorado has not been widely explored in literature.
This study examines the relationship between broadband availability and different healthcare outcomes for rural and urban counties of Colorado by utilizing data from the County Health Rankings and Roadmaps for …

Intrinsic And Extrinsic Factors That Affect High School Graduation In California, Anisha Mandava, Joseph Pedregon

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

High school graduation is an essential milestone that indicates success later in life. In particular, high school students in California may encounter many obstacles that hinder their opportunity to acquire a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. So, what are these obstacles that students encounter on their journey through high school education? Here we seek to identify whether intrinsic factors, like disconnected youth and educational scores, or extrinsic factors, like segregation, funding, and food insecurity, have a larger impact on the student to reach high school completion. In our study, we utilized data from County Health Rankings for statistical analysis. …

Addressing Deaths Of Despair: The Impact Of Loneliness On Excessive Alcohol Use And Alcohol-Involved Driving Deaths In Ohio, Juliana Zacher, Akshey Suresh, Dylan Timperman

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Alcohol-related driving deaths and excessive alcohol consumption continue to rise across the United States. These trends have had a large impact on historically disadvantaged populations, such as Appalachia, being disproportionately affected. Previous literature suggests factors such as loneliness, mental distress, segregation, and immigration status amongst others may contribute to this increase in drinking. Although delineating a clear role of the nature of the impact at a community level still remains unclear. Our objective was to explore these very factors as well as to identify social and economic predictors to explain alcohol-related driving deaths and excessive drinking in Ohio between 2016 …

Regional Variation And Correlation Of Big Five Personality Traits With Rates Of Insufficient Sleep And Diabetes In The United States, Isabella Chirakos, Brennan Schroeder

Scholarship in Medicine - All Papers

Background: Diabetes and insufficient sleep are prevalent health concerns, and determining potential contributing factors could help decrease the incidence of these issues. This study aims to explore potential associations between insufficient sleep and diabetes mellitus, examining whether these negative health outcomes can be linked geographically and by personality traits. Results could help create more effective programs to combat diabetes and insufficient sleep.
Materials and Methods: The study utilized longitudinal health data and roadmaps from 2016 and 2023 for each state, categorizing the data into four regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. We incorporated personality data from the Synthetic Aperture Personality …

Alzheimer’S Disease And The Immune System: The Emerging Role Of Temra Cells, Edric D. Winford, Adam D. Bachstetter

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Acute Influence Of Gum Chewing On Gait And Balance Measures In People With Parkinson's, Pamela Marie Durr

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The overarching aim of this dissertation was to investigate the acute effects of gum chewing on functional measures of gait and balance and their associations to pupillometry in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP). A total of 27 PwP and 27 age-matched controls underwent three trials (baseline and then a randomized no gum and gum trial) to assess gait and balance and their relationship with pupillometry and, on a second day, ten of the PwP and ten controls returned within 7-14 days for repeat testing to investigate the test-retest reliability of pupillometry alongside gait and balance measures. Results: Significant improvements in …

Sars-Cov-2 Genomic Surveillance Using Self-Collected Saliva Specimens During Occupational Testing Programs, Andy T. Schnaubelt, David Brett-Major, Janet Williamson, Bailey Barcal, Julie Carstens, Ashley Peer, Michael R. Wiley, M. Jana Broadhurst

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

Continually emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants pose challenges to clinical and public health interventions, necessitating sustainable approaches to real-time variant monitoring. This case study describes an innovative SARS-CoV-2 screening and surveillance program that demonstrates the utility of sequencing-based variant monitoring using self-collected saliva specimens. We conducted saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 screening in occupational settings in Omaha, Nebraska from December 2021 through November 2022. 8,372 saliva specimens collected from 1,480 participants were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by extraction-free PCR, with 334 positive samples referred for whole-genome sequencing analysis. Program utilization, quality metrics, and sequencing outputs were compared across sites. Specimen quality was high across program …

Knowledge, Perception And Acceptability Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Among Moroccan Medical Students, Safa Ibork, Asmaa Naim, Mohamed Khalis, Soumaya Rafii, Abire Allaoui

Health Sciences

Background:

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Morocco. In October 2022, the Ministry of Health introduced the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the national immunization program. This study aimed to assess knowledge, satisfaction, and acceptability regarding HPV infection and vaccination among Moroccan medical students.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021 and July 2022 among fifth-year and higher medical students from all nine Moroccan medical universities. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed descriptively and analytically.

Results: A total of 636 students participated …

Dean's Update, January 2025, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of A Geriatric Trauma Unit On Patient Outcomes, Shannon E. Johnson

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Traumatic injuries in the geriatric (> 65) patient population can have devastating effects. Only a small percentage of these patients return to independent ambulation and living. As the population continues to age and life expectancy continues to increase, the incidence of traumatic injuries in geriatric patients will continue to increase. Geriatric friendly hospital wards in several disciplines have been shown to reduce length of stay and improve patient outcomes. However, there has been no research surrounding geriatric trauma wards specifically.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the impact of admitting geriatric trauma patients …

Implementing Visual Supports Through Vocational Training Modules For Students Preparing To Exit School-Based Services, Kaitlynn Karthan

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Unemployment and underemployment remain persistent barriers for autistic and developmentally disabled individuals, with up to 75% of autistic adults in the United States experiencing difficulty obtaining or maintaining meaningful work. To address this disparity within school-based transition services, this capstone project evaluated the effectiveness of video modeling as an instructional method for vocational skill acquisition among seven young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD). Grounded in the Occupational Justice framework, this study utilized a quantitative pretest–posttest–follow-up quasi-experimental design to measure accuracy and task completion time on two vocational tasks: rolling silverware and filling condiment cups. …

Disability Awareness And Inclusion, Claudia C. Gonzalez, Raquel C. Vasquez, Bruce J. Reed

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021) reported an increase in the prevalence of persons with disabilities affecting one in four people in the United States. Disability awareness and inclusion describe how a combination of understanding, acknowledgment, compassion, and acceptance can allow persons with disability the same opportunities as those without disabilities. This can be seen with the increase in persons with a disability graduating from postsecondary institutions, about 14% from 2012 to 2022 of persons over 25. This chapter covers foundational material regarding disability awareness and inclusion, including the prevalence of disability in general and in educational settings, …

Integrating Technology To Support Learning And Accessibility In Counselor Education And Supervision, Yung-Chen Jen Chiu, Heekyung Lee, Junfei Lu, Kayi Ntinda, Roy K. Chen, Yuleinys A. Castillo

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

The rapid evolution of technology has profoundly impacted the delivery of counseling services and the field of counselor education. This transformation has introduced both opportunities and challenges for students from underrepresented backgrounds, including students with disabilities. This chapter delves into the integration of technology in counselor education and supervision, highlighting considerations of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. It explores strategies to enhance accessibility, including improved access to program information, optimized class preparation, and enhanced quality of clinical supervision. Key implications for counselor educators and supervisors include bolstering their own technological proficiency, familiarity with legal and ethical considerations, enhancing disability awareness, …

Predictors Of Dietary Meat Reduction In Gen Z College Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey Using The Com-B Model, Deanne Moosman

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Overconsumption of meat negatively impacts human and environmental health, and these challenges are expected to worsen due to global population growth and increasing meat consumption. Many consumers appear unwilling to reduce their meat intake, and this resistance to dietary change is more common among adult men than women. However, data about meat-eating attitudes and behaviors are lacking for younger generational cohorts. Generation Z (i.e., those born between 1995 and 2010; Gen Z) is a growing consumer group whose dietary decisions will have environmental and human health consequences. Little is known about Gen Z's meat consumption habits and behaviors and whether …

Complete High Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury Causes Bowel Dysfunction In Mice, Olivia Wireman, Ellie L. Sams, Lynnet E. Richey, Gabrielle V. Hammers, Andrew N. Stewart, William M. Bailey, Samir P. Patel, John C. Gensel

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Bowel dysfunction, is a prevalent and life-impacting comorbidity of spinal cord injury (SCI) with no long-term treatment available. SCI-induced colon changes including motility and fibrosis are understudied as are strategies to address SCI bowel dysfunction. This need remains partly due to the lack of a mouse model that recapitulates the human condition. We hypothesized that a high thoracic spinal transection in mice would trigger bowel dysfunction with coincident colon pathology similar to humans and rats after SCI. We observed bowel dysfunction as increased fecal pellet numbers within the colon, smaller pellet size, and decreased motility. Fecal pellets numbers in the …

“I Learned To Bottle Up My Feelings From A Young Age”: A Narrative Analysis Of Latina Young People’S Family Mental Health Socialization, Jenn M. Lilly

Social Service Faculty Publications

Latina young people report high levels of mental health problems and low levels of helpseeking

compared with their white peers, but little research has examined factors influencing

their mental health views. Inductive analysis of 25 participants’ narratives revealed that Latina

young people described three stages in the development of their mental health-related beliefs,

attitudes, and behaviors: undergoing a process of family mental health socialization, suffering

in silence, and attaining a new perspective. Within each of these phases, participants shared

stories that attest to their agency and resilience. This research uncovers a novel theoretical

construct, “family mental health socialization,” which elucidates …

Digital Zines As Mental And Sexual Health Communication Tools For Latina Teens: Format And Content Acceptability And Initial Findings, Jenn M. Lilly, D'Andrah Almanzar, Susan R. Pace, Dante D. Bryant

Social Service Faculty Publications

Recognizing the potential of digital zines (defined as selfpublished,

online publications combining artwork and

text) as culturally tailored health communication tools,

this article examines the acceptability and impacts of two

digital zines about mental and sexual health created by

Latina young people for Latina teens as a health communication

strategy. We conducted an anonymous online

survey completed by Latina teens who read the zines (32

for sexual health and 33 for mental health). Data analysis

aimed to explore, summarize, and interpret the collected

data using an artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced

approach. Survey participants found the zine format and

content acceptable and …

Design And Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Pilot Program To Support New Graduate Nurses' Transition To Professional Practice: Application Of Soft Skills Education In An Associate Degree Program, Torri Crosby-Martin

All Capstone Projects

Problem Statement:
Post-pandemic nurse graduates experienced difficulty transition to professional practice due to limited focus on soft skills acquisition in pre-licensure nursing curricula.

Background:
Faculty characterized graduates as underprepared for professional practice, stating concerns affecting retention, patient outcomes, and work satisfaction.

Aim:
The quality improvement project goal was to address the transition to practice readiness by providing soft skills education to associate degree students.

Theoretical Framework:
This project applied Benner's Novice-to-Expert MOdel and Duchscher's Stages of Transition.

Methods:
Utilizing a mixed methods approach, March-April 2024, a sample size of 28 participants completed both pre- and post-Casey-Fink Readiness for Practice Surveys …

Evaluating Ai-Generated Essays For Bias In Public Health Topics, Spring Cooper

Open Educational Resources

This is a sample assignment: Students will use AI tools to generate essays on public health topics, critically evaluate these essays for potential biases, and understand the ethical implications of using AI-generated content in public health.

Systems Evaluation Supporting Feeding Program Development, Marquetta Moore

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Prior to the development of a feeding therapy program, a system evaluation was completed in an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic. Changes were implemented to support the program, while planning and the initial phases of the feeding therapy program began.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to enhance daily clinic operations and initiate the development of a feeding therapy program, with a focus on establishing evidence-based, family-and child-centered care.

This capstone project addressed the following objectives:

1. Assess clinic systems to identify strengths and weaknesses as well as threats and opportunities while evaluating existing processes that may impact program …

Addressing Fine Motor Skills In Kindergarten Through Embedding Occupational Fine Motor Skills In Classrooms, Mary L. Hesterwerth

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Fine motor and visual–motor delays are becoming more common among young children, driven by the shift from traditional physical play to screen time and worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues are particularly concerning for kindergarten students, whose academic demands for handwriting and classroom participation are increasing despite their limited prior school experience.

Purpose: This Capstone project aimed to evaluate the effects of an occupational therapist-led training workshop for kindergarten teachers, focusing on how it helps integrate fine motor activities into daily bellwork routines. The main research question was whether this Tier 1, classroom-based strategy could enhance students’ fine …

Correction: Roles Of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators And Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Periodontal Inflammation And Impact On Oral Microbiota, Chun-Teh Lee, Gena D Tribble

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This corrects the article "Roles of specialized pro-resolving mediators and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in periodontal inflammation and impact on oral microbiota" in volume 4, 1217088.

Facilitators And Barriers To Reducing Maternal Mortality Rates In Non-Hispanic Black Women: An Integrative Review, Melissa Marie Andersson, Elizabeth L. Goes

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction - Black maternal mortality remains a crucial public health crisis in the United States despite a plethora of research on the incidence. This presents in the persistent disparities in health outcomes between Black and White mothers and newborns. While numerous studies have explored isolated factors contributing to this issue, few have synthesized the full scope of barriers and facilitators influencing Black maternal health outcomes in the United States specifically.

Research Aim - This integrative review aims to identify and organize the key facilitators and barriers to reducing Black maternal mortality in the United States using the socio-ecological model as …

Breaking Down Silos: Creating And Implementing A Longitudinal Interprofessional Education Curriculum For Graduate Health Science Professional Students, Robert Wellmon, Jill D. Black, Wendy Wachter-Schutz, Kathleen M. Youse, Adrienne N. Pinckney, Lori L. Felker

Health Professions Education

Background. Accreditation standards for graduate health professional programs require the inclusion of interprofessional learning and collaboration (IPL/C) activities in entry-level curricula. This implementation necessitates collaboration among educators from multiple disciplines and openness to innovation and to educate students in a manner that breaks down uni-professional curriculum silos that are known barriers to the creation of meaningful IPL experiences.

Objective. The purpose of this paper is to describe one institution’s process for creating a longitudinal interprofessional education (IPE) curriculum that aligns with accreditation mandates and meets the call to foster IPC competency skills.

Methods. Widener University established an interprofessional thread of …

The Remote Supervision Road To Registrar Training In Australia - Paving The Path With Pixels And Phones (A Narrative Review)., Nicholas Coburn, Kylie Fitzgerald, Brett Vaughan

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Specialist medical training in rural or remote Australia is limited due to current requirements of specialist medical colleges to supervise and train registrars onsite. Remote supervision, where the registrar is supervised via telephone and videoconferencing technology remotely, offers a solution that allows doctors to train in rural or remote areas. This review describes the opportunities, challenges, and recommendations to pave the path for a best practice model of remote supervision for private practice focused registrar training in Australia which may offer insights for other countries with rural and remote medical workforces.

Methods: Ovid Medline and Ovid Embase were …

Procedural Skills Gaps And Ultrasound Training In Saudi Medical Interns: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Rajkumar Rajendram, Abdullah Abdulrahman Alshamrani, Waleed Khalid Jarwan, Afnan Ali Alghamdi, Arif Hussain

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Medical internships lay the foundation for physicians' careers. While the scope of medical practice has broadened, the emphasis on procedural skills remains crucial. However, concerns persist regarding the adequacy of current internship training programs, particularly in the context of the increasing importance of ultrasound-guided procedures (UGPs). This study aims to assess the perceived relevance of procedural skills training and identify skill gaps among medical interns at our institution.

Aim: To assess medical interns' perceptions of the relevance of procedural skills training, with a specific focus on ultrasound guidance and to identify skill gaps within the internship program at our …

Enhancing Learning Methods In Medical Education: Effective Strategies For Student Success, Syed Tawassul Hassan, Syeda Kashaf Batool, Muhammad Liaquat Raza

Health Professions Education

This perspective highlights three often overlooked but highly effective methods for boosting student performance in medical education. Active recall, which involves retrieving information from memory during learning, helps strengthen understanding and retention of complex medical concepts. Spaced repetition, spreading out study sessions over time, enhances long-term memory formation and reduces forgetting. Both techniques have been shown to outperform traditional passive review and cramming. We have also emphasized the importance of lifestyle factors, particularly sleep and diet, in academic success. Studies using wearable devices have linked better sleep quality to higher grades, with poor sleep habits significantly hurting performance. To implement …

The Students’ Conceptions Of Assessment (Scoa) Instrument: A Validation Study In Medical Education Context, Diantha Soemantri, Nadia Greviana, Najila Ramadhina

Health Professions Education

Purpose: To validate the Students’ Conceptions of Assessment (SCoA) instrument for the medical education context as a tool to examine Indonesian medical students’ conceptions of assessment in general before its implementation.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to validate the translated SCoA instrument. The original 45-item instrument was translated to Indonesian with some modifications. The study was conducted on a total of 308 preclinical and clinical participants in two public medical schools: Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Udayana.

Results: The samples were found to be suitable for exploratory factor analysis, as indicated by a high Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin value (0.949) and a significant …