Improving Antihypertensive Medication Adherence Through Patient-Centered Assessment In Rural Primary Care, Tiesha Keoni Mathis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

An Emotional Intelligence Staff Education Program For Patient-Aligned Care Team (Pact) Members, Linda Rogers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

A Multi-Agent Large Language Model Framework To Automatically Assess Performance Of A Clinical Ai Triage Tool, Adam Flanders, Yifan Peng, Luciano Prevedello, Robyn Ball, Errol Colak, Prahlad Menon, George Shih, Hui-Ming Lin, Paras Lakhani

Department of Radiology Faculty Papers

Radiology reports can be used as a surrogate for performance of clinical AI tools. Radiology reports were analyzed by an ensemble of eight open-source LLM models and a internal version of GPT-4o using a single multi-shot prompt that assessed for presence of ICH. Performance of the open-source models, consensus of models and GPT-4o were compared to human report review. Three ideal consensus LLM ensembles were tested for rating the performance of the triage tool. The capability of each LLM varied. The highest AUC performance was achieved with llama3.3:70b and GPT-4o. Using MCC the ideal combination of LLMs were: Full-9 Ensemble, …

Smaller Right Ventricle Results In Poorer Exercise Performance In Young Patients With Repaired Tetralogy Of Fallot, Christiane Mhanna, Katerina Kourpas, Takeshi Tsuda

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Severe right ventricular (RV) dilatation and exercise intolerance are considered indications for pulmonary valve replacement in surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) were performed in rTOF patients with pulmonary insufficiency (PI). Oxygen pulse (OP), calculated as oxygen consumption (V̇O

CONCLUSIONS: A smaller RV was associated with worse exercise performance, indicating exercise intolerance is independent of RV dilatation in young rTOF with PI and represents a unique pathological entity responsible for reduced exercise performance.

Successful Laparoscopic-Assisted Management Of A Rare Purely Cystic Type Iv Sacrococcygeal Teratoma In Neonate: A Case Report, Alghalya Khalid Almaawali, Ahmed Alwahaibi, Yousuf Al-Shaqsi, Farman Laghari, Bashar Dawud, Marwa Al-Riyami

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Type IV sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs) are the rarest subtype of SCTs. We report a 2-week-old female who presented to a tertiary care centre in Muscat, Oman, in 2024 with abdominal distension and feeding intolerance. Imaging revealed a purely cystic presacral lesion, managed with successful laparoscopic-assisted cyst excision and coccygectomy. Histopathology confirmed a mature cystic SCT and the patient was diagnosed with a purely cystic Altman type IV SCT. The postoperative course was uneventful apart from minor wound dehiscence, which resolved with conservative management. Follow-up showed complete wound healing and no recurrence. Purely cystic Type IV SCTs are extremely rare and …

Lessons Learned In Providing Infant And Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rashele Wade

Journal of Global Awareness

Access to quality childcare is a protective factor from lifelong issues such as school failure, school drop-out, and incarceration. Conversely, preschool suspension and expulsion are significant risk factors. Evidence-based interventions, such as Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, aim to reduce and eliminate the incidence of preschool suspensions and expulsions. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to quality childcare for many children across the country and globally. This study utilized a qualitative action research approach and generic qualitative inquiry to examine the research question, “How can we improve Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation through lessons learned during the …

Caring For The Carers: Exploring The Mental Wellbeing Of Informal Palliative Caregivers Of Cancer Patients In Kenya, James Kariuki, Rose Njiraini

Journal of Global Awareness

Cancer cases have been on the increase globally, and this has led to economic burden on the affected households. One way of reducing the cost of care is through home-based care by informal palliative caregivers who include family members, friends, and other people assigned by the family members to take care of the patient. The objectives of this study were to assess the status of the mental wellbeing of palliative caregivers of cancer patients; to examine the relationship between the ability of the patient to cope with cancer diagnosis and the mental wellbeing of the caregiver; and to investigate the …

Navigating Burnout: The Role Of Workplace Support For Social Work Clinicians, Melanie Fulton

Journal of Global Awareness

The shortage of mental health workers is a growing concern in the United States, and social workers a substantial portion of employees who work with individuals with mental health concerns. This shortage stresses the importance of studying factors that impact burnout for mental health clinicians, particularly social work clinicians. While burnout among social workers in some settings have been documented in the literature, less research has focused on independently licensed clinical social workers in private practice. This study had participants complete a survey to examine the relationship between workplace support, burnout, and professional fulfillment among this population (N = 57). …

Exploring The Role Of Magnesium Deficiency In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Victor A. Bob-Yellowe, Shaunte Hadnot, Sonya Bhatia, Anesu K. Murambadoro

MEDI 9331 Scholarly Activities Clinical Years

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a group of chronic gastrointestinal disorders, including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. As of 2020, it was estimated that IBD significantly impacts the lives of approximately 2.39 million Americans. Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral involved in many bodily functions, including immune response and gut health. Recent studies suggest that Magnesium levels may be linked to IBD. Therefore, this review aims to explain how Magnesium might play a role in the development or progression of IBD. Additionally, this article discusses the overall role that Magnesium’s plays in gut health and whether Magnesium supplementation could be …

Five Corridors: A Community Health Needs Assessment Of Horry County, Stephen Borders, Hayley Bilko, Molly Craig, Olivia Guthrie, Ashley Mcconnell, Emily Mcgowan, Anna Quick, Abigail Rike, Makayla Wilson

Public Health

This report presents a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) of Horry County, South Carolina. Its central analytical contribution is a five-corridor framework derived from k-means cluster analysis of the county's 76 residential census tracts, drawing on social and economic indicators from the American Community Survey and health estimates from the CDC PLACES program. The analysis organizes the county into five distinct community types — Affluent Coastal Retirement, Moderate Coastal Retirement, Inland Rural/Suburban Transitional, Concentrated Disadvantage, and Hispanic Hospitality Worker — each with a characteristic profile of social and health conditions.

Within this framework, the assessment examines a range of social …

Brain Age Prediction In Generalized Anxiety Disorder Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Corey Richier, André Zugman, Anita Harrewijn, Elise M Cardinale, Parmis Khosravi, Moji Aghajani, Willem B Bruin, Kevin Hilbert, Narcis Cardoner, Daniel Porta-Casteràs, Marta Cano, Savannah Gosnell, Ramiro Salas, Andrea P Jackowski, Pedro M Pan, Giovanni A Salum, Karina S Blair, James R Blair, Mohammed R Milad, Katie L Burkhouse, K Luan Phan, Heidi K Schroeder, Jeffrey R Strawn, Katja Beesdo-Baum, Neda Jahanshad, Sophia I Thomopoulos, Jared A Nielsen, Jordan W Smoller, Jair C Soares, Benson Mwangi, Mon-Ju Wu, Giovana B Zunta-Soares, Michal Assaf, Gretchen J Diefenbach, Paolo Brambilla, Eleonora Maggioni, David Hofmann, Thomas Straube, Carmen Andreescu, Rebecca B Price, Gisele G Manfro, Federica Agosta, Elisa Canu, Camilla Cividini, Massimo Filippi, Milutin Kostić, Ana Munjiza Jovanovic, Brenda Benson, Gabrielle F Freitag, Ellen Leibenluft, Grace V Ringlein, Kathryn Werwath, Hannah Zwiebel, Hans J Grabe, Sandra Van Der Auwera, Katharina Wittfeld, Henry Völzke, Robin Bülow, Nicholas L Balderston, Monique Ernst, Lilianne R Mujica-Parodi, Helena Van Nieuwenhuizen, Hugo D Critchley, Elena Makovac, Matteo Mancini, Frances Meeten, Cristina Ottaviani, Gregory A Fonzo, Martin P Paulus, Murray B Stein, Raquel E Gur, Ruben C Gur, Antonia N Kaczkurkin, Bart Larsen, Theodore D Satterthwaite, Jennifer Harper, Michael T Perino, Chad M Sylvester, Qiongru Yu, Patrick Mcclure, Francisco Pereira, Ulrike Lueken, Dick J Veltman, Paul M Thompson, Nynke A Groenewold, Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam, Dan J Stein, Nic J A Van Der Wee, Anderson M Winkler, Daniel S Pine, Chelsea K Sawyers

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Higher predicted brain age difference has been associated with several psychiatric disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with markers of accelerated aging. In this study, we determined brain predicted age difference (PAD) in individuals with GAD and healthy controls (HC) as well as group differences in PAD variability using voxel-wise structural MRI. The training dataset included 3511 controls, and the testing dataset included 1595 individuals with GAD and 4552 HC from the ENIGMA-Anxiety GAD Working Group. A convolutional neural network model using four input modalities per subject and a model ensemble approach was used to predict brain age. The …

Improving Nursing Compliance With Pressure Injury Prevention In Postoperative Patients In The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, Chingyi Lam

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

Pressure injuries acquired in the hospital continue to be a major concern in patient safety among critically ill populations. The purpose of the quality improvement project was to improve nursing compliance with pressure injury prevention strategies among postoperative patients in a cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU). Patients who undergo cardiovascular surgery are at a high risk of developing pressure injuries due to immobility, sedation, vasopressors, and prolonged positioning on their backs. The quality improvement project was carried out in a 37-bed CVICU using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Model for Improvement and Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) cycles. Data on nursing repositioning …

Influence Of Polyvinyl Alcohol Content On Starch-Based Bioplastic Reinforced With Chitosan And Microcrystalline Cellulose, Bagus Kharisma Putra, Andoko Andoko, Mochamad Viky Afandy, Muhammad Faizullah Pasha, Riduwan Prasetya

Chimica et Natura Acta

Starch-based bioplastics are promising sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics; however, their limited mechanical strength and stability restrict broader packaging applications. This study investigates the influence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) content on the structural and functional properties of starch-based bioplastic films reinforced with chitosan and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Films prepared by solution casting with varying PVA compositions were characterized in terms of density, mechanical properties, thermal stability, biodegradation behavior, antibacterial activity, and structural features. Increasing PVA content produced denser film structures with improved tensile strength and thermal stability, while elongation at break reached its maximum at the intermediate formulation, indicating a …

Brain Age Prediction In Generalized Anxiety Disorder Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Corey Richier, André Zugman, Anita Harrewijn, Elise M. Cardinale, Parmis Khosravi, Moji Aghajani, Willem B. Bruin, Kevin Hilbert, Narcis Cardoner, Anderson M. Winkler

Human Genetics Publications

Higher predicted brain age difference has been associated with several psychiatric disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with markers of accelerated aging. In this study, we determined brain predicted age difference (PAD) in individuals with GAD and healthy controls (HC) as well as group differences in PAD variability using voxel-wise structural MRI. The training dataset included 3511 controls, and the testing dataset included 1595 individuals with GAD and 4552 HC from the ENIGMA-Anxiety GAD Working Group. A convolutional neural network model using four input modalities per subject and a model ensemble approach was used to predict brain age. The …

Effects Of Normothermic Hepatic Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury On The Hepatic Disposition Of Arachidonic Acid And Its Cytochrome P450-Generated Metabolites In Rats, Vindhya Edpuganti, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

Cytochrome P450 (P450) metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA) are potential therapeutic targets in ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury, yet their disposition and actions in hepatic IR are unknown. Cellular AA and its P450 metabolites are primarily bound to lipid membranes, resulting in negligible free concentrations. This study investigates how hepatic IR injury impacts the disposition of free AA and its major P450 metabolites in rats.

Methods

Rats underwent 60 min of partial (70%) ischemia or sham surgery, followed by 5 min, 3 h, or 24 h of reperfusion. The effects of IR injury on free concentrations of AA and its major …

Evaluation Of Spontaneous Awakening And Breathing Trials Prior To Mechanical Ventilator Extubation To Enhance Intensive Care Unit Liberation, Shelby Taranto

Doctoral Projects

Spontaneous Awakening and Breathing Trials (SAT/SBT) might be central to early extubation by decreasing total ventilator time and reducing the intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). Unfortunately, these trials often have not been conducted consistently in the ICU. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the frequency of SAT/SBT performed prior to mechanical ventilator extubation on total ventilator time in hours and LOS. Quality improvement aims were: (1) to ascertain if an extubation readiness tool could be easily followed and documented, and (2) to evaluate if an extubation readiness tool would add value in clinical practice. A …

Examining The Ligands, Location, And Function Of Toll-Like Receptor 10, Kiefer Keanu Tam

Master's Theses

Toll-like receptors are a class of innate immune pattern recognition receptors that detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns and regulate downstream inflammatory responses. Toll-like receptor 10 remains the only human TLR whose ligand specificity, cellular localization, and immunological function are not fully defined. Emerging evidence suggests that TLR10 may play an anti-inflammatory role and can heterodimerize with TLR2 to modulate immune signaling. Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that stimulation with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis promotes TLR2-TLR10 heterodimerization and trafficking to the cell surface. In this study, we expanded our ligand panel to include additional gram-positive bacteria, particularly anti-inflammatory probiotic species, to further …

Enhanced Recovery Of High-Quality Dna From Limited Ffpe Tissue For Advancing Cancer Genomics, Shweta Singh, Sierra Vidaurri, Astrid Perez, Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Dhasmana, Monica Betancourt-Garcia, Murali Yallapu, Subhash Chauhan, Sheema Khan

School of Medicine Publications

Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples are crucial assets in cancer research. However, despite the availability of commercial DNA purification kits, researchers face persistent challenges. The limited tissue availability, formalin-induced crosslinking, and DNA fragmentation in FFPE blocks often results in low DNA yield and compromised quality, hindering downstream applications. In this study, we optimized and standardized DNA purification methods to achieve high-yield, high-integrity DNA, making it ideal for DNA library preparation and high-throughput sequencing. Therefore, we optimized DNA extraction protocols using two Qiagen kits, the QIAamp DNA FFPE Tissue Kit and the QIAamp DNA FFPE Advanced Kit. The optimized methods …

Updated Trends In The Global Prevalence And Burden Of Mental Disorders, 1990–2023: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2023, Damian F. Santomauro, Paul Anthony Miller, Jamileh Shadid, Sarah Wulf Hanson, Anh Vo, Darius Jake Roy, Hailey Hagins, Ana M. Mantilla Herrera, James G. Scott, Holly E. Erskine, John J. Mcgrath, Hasan Aalruz, Hedayat Abbastabar, Nadin M.I. Abdel Razeq, Ahmed Abdelrahman Abdelgalil, Ali Abdolizadeh, Deldar Morad Abdulah, Abisola Esther Abdulmalik, Meklit Girma Abebe, Mesfin Abebe, Habtamu Abebe Getahun, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga, Olifan Zewdie Abil, Richard Gyan Aboagye, Shady Abohashem, Abdullahi Tunde Aborode, Moaz Elsayed Abouelmagd, Mohammad T. Abuawwad

All Works

Background The 2023 iteration of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) estimated prevalence, incidence, and health burden for 375 diseases and injuries, including 12 mental disorders. We assess past, current, and emerging trends in the prevalence and burden of mental disorders across sexes and age groups, for 21 regions, 204 countries and territories, and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, from 1990 to 2023. Methods Mental disorders included in GBD 2023 were anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, conduct disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, idiopathic developmental intellectual …

Associations Between Neighborhood Disadvantage, Cannabis Use, And Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Patients With Cancer, Brittney Greene, Shilpa Ghosh, Craig Colder, Salimah Meghani, Brooke Worster, Rebecca Ashare

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis use is proliferating among oncological populations. However, research is limited on whether cannabis routes and sources are associated with neighborhood disadvantage and whether it moderates the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). This analysis evaluates the relationship between neighborhood disadvantage and cannabis source and route, and their association with PROs.

METHODS: Analyses included 106 patients with cancer from varying levels of neighborhood disadvantage. Logistic regressions tested the association of neighborhood disadvantage with cannabis source (i.e., regulated vs. unregulated) and route (i.e., inhaled vs. consumed/other formulations). Multilevel regressions tested the association of neighborhood disadvantage with PROs (e.g., …

Postpartum Depression: A National Crisis Calling For Federal Support, Sarah A. Stallsworth

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, yet it remains significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated. Despite decades of research illuminating its prevalence and detrimental consequences, federal intervention has been limited.  States retain responsibility to address the issue and possess inconsistent and limited legislation.  The purpose of this paper is to propose adding PPD screening as a National Performance Measure (NPM) within the Title V Maternal and Child (MCH) block grant. MCH is a longstanding and resourceful program that provides states funds to address maternal mental health needs. This proposal suggests leveraging a PPD NPM …

Implementing Cbt-I Coach App Education During Initial Psychiatric Evaluations At The Va Pec: A Provider-Facing Quality Improvement Initiative, Sarah J. Kang

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objective: This evidence-based practice project aims to increase provider implementation of gold standard insomnia treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), by integrating CBT-I Coach app education into initial psychiatric evaluations within a VA psychiatric emergency clinic (PEC).

Background: Insomnia is highly prevalent among veterans and commonly co-occurs with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. National guidelines from the VA, DoD, and American Academy of Sleep Medicine endorse CBT-I as first-line treatment. Despite this, pharmacotherapy is the dominating intervention in psychiatric emergency settings. The CBT-I Coach app offers evidence-based CBT-I as a free, VA-developed digital tool, but it remains underutilized in acute …

Closing The Detection Gap: Early Recognition Of Hospital Onset Sepsis With News2, Anthony Bernardo

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Sepsis is the leading cause of in-hospital death and the most expensive inpatient condition in the United States, yet federal quality policy still relies on outdated Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1), creating fragmented, inequitable recognition of hospital-onset sepsis across U.S. acute-care hospitals. This health policy analysis evaluates the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) as an evidence-aligned replacement for SIRS-based SEP-1 trigger criteria within a hybrid governmental-organizational policy strategy for adult acute care inpatients. Guided by Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework and an …

Improving Nurse Competency In Vascular Occlusion Prevention And Management, Arielle Victoria Madayag

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Vascular occlusion is a rare, but serious complication of dermal filler injections that can lead to severe adverse outcomes, including tissue necrosis and vision loss. As the demand for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures increases, proper nurse education and preparedness in managing vascular complications remain essential to ensuring patient safety.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational session combined with simulation-based training on nurses’ knowledge, confidence, and clinical competency in recognizing and managing vascular occlusion associated with dermal filler injections.

Methods: A pretest-posttest educational intervention design was used. Four registered nurses (N=4) employed at a medical spa participated …

Enhancing Primary Care Provider’S Knowledge And Use Of Long-Acting And Oral Naltrexone In The Management Of Opioid And Alcohol Use Disorder, Ariana Juarez-Moncada

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Objective: This evidence-based project aimed to enhance primary care provider knowledge and prescription rates of naltrexone and long-acting injectable (LAI) naltrexone in a community healthcare setting.

Background: Naltrexone and LAI naltrexone pharmacotherapy is shown to reduce use of alcohol and opioids and improve client retention in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) (Bahji et al., 2020; Morley et al., 2024; Murphy et al., 2022).

Methods: A 30-minute in-service was provided to 14 family practice providers at the clinic. The prescription rate of naltrexone and LAI naltrexone was evaluated for the baseline period of February …

Empowering Recovery: Implementing Ace Screenings To Enhance Care For Patients With Substance Use Disorders, Joshua Wolf

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Objective: This evidence-based practice project evaluated the impact of implementing adverse childhood experience (ACE) screenings for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) in an outpatient community behavioral health clinic.

Background: ACEs are strongly associated with an increased risk of developing SUDs, chronic medical comorbidities, and negative treatment outcomes. Despite consistent evidence supporting the need for identification of ACEs and implementing trauma-informed care, standardized ACE screening is not routinely incorporated into outpatient SUD treatment, potentially limiting the identification of the need for education and referrals.

Methods: The ACE Questionnaire for Adults was implemented during routine psychiatric visits for patients diagnosed with …

Intimate Partner Violence Screening And Awareness Pilot Project, Eleasha P. Partner

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: In the United States, one in four women experiences intimate partner violence (IPV), highlighting the critical need for improved screening and intervention within the healthcare system. Routine visits in healthcare settings present a significant opportunity for healthcare providers to identify and address IPV.

Local Problem: A primary care family practice clinic in San Leandro, California , currently lacks a standardized evidence-based screening toolkit for IPV.  The absence of such a toolkit creates a gap in practice, leaving patients at risk of undiagnosed IPV and its related consequences.  To address this gap, there is a pressing need for the development …

Ebm And Critical Appraisal In Lis Curricula: Are Health Sciences Librarians Learning What They Need?, Marie T. Ascher, Deborah A. Crooke, Allison E. Piazza

NYMC Faculty Posters

No abstract provided.

Identifying Modulators Of Stable Klrg1+Il7ra+ Memory Cd8+ T-Cells, Christina Ocampo Valdez

Honors Projects

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease targeting the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The discovery of insulin revolutionized the treatment of T1D, but current research into T1D has progressed from disease management to possible prevention or delayed onset of diagnosis. One drug currently in use is teplizumab, an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody that has been shown to delay the onset of T1D in some, but not all, at-risk individuals. High levels of a subset of peripheral blood CD8+ T cells we call SKIMs (stable KLRG1+ IL7Ra+ memory cells), which include MAIT (mucosal-associated invariant T) cells, have been associated …

Soft Power, Arab Media And Sports Mega Events: Coverage Of Fifa 2022 And Lessons For Future Arab Hosting, Lynne Kennedy, Maaira Shahbaz, Ala Al Rajabi

All Works

Sport mega-events (SMEs) increasingly transcend athletic competition, functioning as strategic instruments for national identity formation, statecraft, and soft power projection. This dynamic is particularly pronounced in the Gulf, where Qatar’s successful hosting reignited regional rivalries and attracted unprecedented global scrutiny. While existing scholars have extensively examined Western media portrayals of SMEs, a notable gap remains for academic engagement with Gulf media. Dismissed as state-controlled and analytically lacking, we contend that such media offer a rich site for exploring how small states use media as soft power, to construct and contest legitimacy, identity, and global influence. This analysis suggests how state-aligned …