Medical Humanities Commons^™

Adhd Diagnosis And Treatment Within Ethnic Minority Groups, Dianthe Hoang

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is commonly diagnosed in childhood, and the National Survey of Children’s Health reported that ADHD had a prevalence of around 6.1 million children aged 2-17 years old (NSCH, 2016). This review discusses the cultural and socioeconomic barriers that contribute to the underdiagnosis and treatment in members of ethnic minority communities. Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian adults received less mental health care compared to White Americans. Previous findings indicated that cultural factors, such as misinterpretation of symptoms from families and teachers and cultural perceptions of mental health, contributed to disparities …

Food Insecurity In Adolescent Athletes, Andrew Donaldson, Shannon Margherio, Jay Roberson, Kevin Latz

Research Days

Background: The prevalence of food insecurity among children in the United States is estimated at 21%. Food insecurity during childhood leads to worse school performance, more emotional and behavioral health concerns, and increased suicide attempts. Further, food insecurity has been noted to have multiple deleterious effects on the collegiate student athlete, including lower GPA, disordered eating, and substance use.

Hypothesis: Food insecurity is prevalent in the adolescent athlete population and exists across demographics.

Methods: Voluntary surveys were distributed to parents at all sports medicine clinics at our institution. Demographic data was collected including athlete age, race, school and school district, …

Social Vulnerability And Health-Related Social Need Disparities Amongst Young Adults With Breast Cancer, Steven Manobianco, Md, Julia Palecki, Md, Alexis Bennett, Md, Fatoumata Diaby, Ms, Rebecca Cammy, Lcsw, Emmanuel Worede-Kal, Scott Keith, Phd, Maysa Abu-Khalaf, Md, Mba, Maria Hafez, Md

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background

- Breast cancer is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy affecting women in the United States, with a lifetime incidence of nearly 13%

- The incidence of female breast cancer is rising, especially for young women (age < 45)

- While only 5-10% of breast cancers in the general population are related to highly penetrant pathogenic germline mutations, pathogenic mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, PALB2, BARD1, and ATM occur at higher frequency in women diagnosed age < 50 years

• Mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, and TP53 account for nearly 50% of breast cancers diagnosed before age 30

- Women < 40 years old breast cancer have worse disease-related survival, especially from to early-stage disease

Project Proposal: The Impact Of The Septa Zero Fare Program On Healthcare Access Among Philadelphia's Refugee And Migrant Population, Emily Hashem, Bs, Paranshu Shah, Mitchell Kaminski, Md, Mba

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background

Since the 1960s, private, state sponsored, and charitable programs have attempted to increase transportation programs to improve healthcare access. Among these are the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) program, Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) benefiting Medicaid recipients, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Association’s (SEPTA) SEPTA Access (formerly known as CCT connect) for disabled and elderly people, and ModivCare, a social services corporation that offers non-emergency medical transportation for qualifying people with low incomes. The importance of these programs is emphasized by the body of evidence surrounding healthcare metrics and transportation access. A Robert Wood Johnson …

Medical Assistance In Dying In A Profit-Driven Health System: Ethical And Equity Challenges In The U.S. Vs. Canada, Joseph A. Zwillenberg, Eric M. Teichner, Jacob Schwell, Cameron Haghshenas, Joseph F. Majdan, Md, Facp, Fcpp

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Introduction

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), legalized in Canada in 2016, now accounts for 4.1% of all deaths nationwide and 6.6% in Quebec as of 2022(1). In Canada’s single-payer system, MAID is integrated as a publicly funded medical service. In contrast, the U.S.’s fragmented, market-driven system is defined by profit maximization, inequitable access, and insurer- driven decision-making. While MAID aims to promote autonomy and compassion, introducing it into the American context raises profound ethical concerns, particularly regarding nonmaleficence and systemic coercion. This poster evaluates the unique risks MAID poses within the U.S. healthcare system, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Interactions Between The Deaf Community And Healthcare, Sarah E. Mcfadden

Honors Theses

Background.

This study investigates the issues regarding interactions between the Deaf community and healthcare, focusing on communication barriers, negative experiences, and inaccessibility to health information. Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines requiring healthcare offices to provide interpreters, many health care professionals (HCPs) do not comply for various reasons. The alternatives to an interpreter create gaps in conditions, treatment plans, or post-appointment care.

Methods.

This study involved a review of existing literature and interviews with Deaf individuals and HCPs, including a physician, nurse practitioner, dentist, and registered nurse. The interviewed HCPs work in various settings.

Results. …

Beyond Opioids: The Role Of Polysubstance Exposure In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Treatment And Hospitalization, Caelyn Harrison

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the impact of prenatal polysubstance exposure, specifically focusing on the need for pharmacological treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and the duration of their hospital stay. A retrospective analysis of 462 infants, including 121 exposed to polysubstances during pregnancy, showed significant associations between polysubstance exposure and adverse neonatal outcomes. Infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure were more likely to require pharmacological treatment for NAS (52.8%) compared to non-exposed infants (38.7%), as determined by chi-square analysis (χ²(1, N = 462) = 7.36, p = .007). Additionally, infants exposed to polysubstances experienced longer hospital stays on average (M = 14.88 …

Frontier Healthscapes: Competing Narratives Of Disease, Environment, And Wellbeing In Early Minnesota, Aidan Reynolds

Geography Honors Projects

Across settler societies, health narratives were shaped by evolving tensions between lay and expert knowledge, frameworks of disease causation, and perceptions of the environment as both a source of health and a threat. In the decades following Euro-American settlement (1860-1900), Minnesota became a focal point for these debates, with its landscape fostering complex and competing narratives on health, wellbeing, and disease. This paper explores how public health discourse developed in Minnesota through the perspectives of institutions, the public, and economic interests. Combining environmental history with critical discourse analysis of archival materials, this study examines shifts within the Minnesota State Board …

Addiction In The Prison System: Recidivism And Alternatives, Daniel R. Bowers

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The United States criminal justice system has the highest number of incarcerated individuals in the world, with nearly 2 million people currently being behind bars, and around 7.5 million arrests per year according to the most recent available statistics. A key factor in this is addiction, specifically substance use disorders. Between 58% to 68% of adults arrested are addicted to one or more substances, with 68% of drug involved individuals being rearrested within three years of being released. This recidivism rate is incredibly high, and when combined with current prison and jail overcrowding, has created massive problems for the United …

Exploring Sexual Consent Capacity And Sexual Expression In Older Adults Living With Dementia, Renee J Flores, Carlos A Reyes-Ortiz

Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Patient Perspectives On The Role Of Healthcare Providers In Addressing Food Insecurity In A Nj Primary Care Setting, Anna Flts, Lisa Huang, Aarsa Moosavi, Jha Stuti, Philip B Collins

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background:

Food insecurity is a critical social determinant of health, yet is rarely discussed with patients in primary care settings. The objective of this project is to explore patient perspectives on the physician role in addressing food insecurity as well as to identify factors associated with food insecurity among patients in family medicine clinics.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was distributed to patients (n=250) across two academic family medicine clinics in South New Jersey between May 2023 and December 2024. Demographics, self-reported health status, and comfort with discussing food insecurity were collected. Additionally, food insecurity status was determined based on the …

Exploring Anticoagulant Prescription Disparities: A Focus On Hispanic Patient Care, Michael Acevedo, Vanessa Veltre

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Anticoagulants play a critical role in preventing thromboembolic events, yet disparities persist in their prescription among minority populations. This presentation explores inequities in anticoagulant prescribing patterns, with a specific focus on Hispanic patient care. Using retrospective electronic health record data, we analyzed the prescription rates of warfarin versus direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) among adults with clinical indications for anticoagulation. Our findings reveal that Hispanic patients are significantly less likely to receive DOACs compared to non-Hispanic White patients, even after adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and insurance status. Contributing factors include language barriers, lack of insurance, and potential implicit bias in provider …

Carbon Footprint Of Inhaled Anesthetics – Do The Risks Outweigh The Benefits?, Liam Kerrick, Joseph Moschella

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Global warming presents many challenges to the healthcare system. Not only does the increasing global temperature have detrimental health effects itself, but the healthcare sector is also a huge contributor to global warming. One big contributor to global warming is the use of inhaled anesthetics, which possess global warming potentials up to 2,000 times greater than carbon dioxide. Recent proposals, such as a prospective ban of desflurane in 2026 by the European Commission, demonstrate the need to reevaluate many of the common practices within anesthesiology. This review looks to investigate the environmental impact, cost, and clinical efficacy of various anesthetic …

Maternal Health And Nutrition: Combating Maternal Mortality Through Proper Nutrition, Archna Mahendru, Yeisanai Cardona Torres, Maya Blayne Partee, Katarina Rusinak

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Maternal mortality is an increasing concern in the United States. According to the WHO, from 2018-2022 the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) was 23.3 deaths per every 100,000 live births. New Jersey's MMR exceeded this average at 26 per 100,000 during the same period, with 91% of cases deemed preventable. While medical care plays a crucial role, research shows that non-medical determinants such as food insecurity, lack of nutritional education, limited access to transportation, and systemic barriers to health care contribute significantly to maternal health outcomes. Among these factors, proper nutrition plays a critical role before and during pregnancy, particularly in …

Beyond The Label: Understanding And Addressing Occupational Stigma In Psychiatry, Mahesh Vasudevan, Madeeha Sheriff

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Introduction:Stigma is a social classification that devalues individuals or groups, and occupational stigma targets entire professions. Psychiatry is particularly affected, often viewed by the public and medical community as lacking scientific rigor and prestige. This negative perception has far-reaching consequences.

Methods:A narrative literature review was conducted to explore the scope, sources, and impact of occupational stigma toward psychiatrists. Peer-reviewed articles and professional resources published between 2002 and 2023 were selected based on relevance to psychiatric stigma, education, and public perception. Databases searched included PubMed, Google Scholar, and professional association websites using keywords such as “psychiatry stigma” and “psychiatrist …

Pathways Beyond Performance: How Curriculum Style Impacts Emotional Intelligence And Interpersonal Communication In Medical Students, Dan Yacubovich, Jonathan Tadros, Jennifer Fischer, Dana Zambito

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Medical schools employ various curricula to foster medical knowledge and professional competencies. Emotional intelligence (EQ)—the capacity to manage emotions and interpersonal relationships—is essential in clinical care. While research links EQ to academic and communication skills in nursing and international medical students, limited data exist for U.S. medical students, particularly regarding curriculum type.

Objective: This study evaluates whether different curricula—Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and Synergistic-Guided Learning (SGL)—are associated with differences in EQ and interpersonal communication skills (ICS) at Rowan-Virtua SOM.

Methods: EQ was measured using the MySkills Profile (EIQ16). ICS scores were derived from standardized patient encounters in the pre-clinical years. …

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 …

Capturing Care: A Visual Narrative On Caregivers At J.P Lord School, Melisa I. Ontiveros

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This project explores the emotional experiences of caregivers at J.P. Lord School, a unique program within the Omaha Public School district that serves children and young adults with complex special needs. As one of the few schools of its kind in the country, J.P. Lord offers a rare glimpse into the world of caregiving in a highly specialized educational setting (Omaha Public Schools, n.d). Despite the critical role these educators play, there is limited research exploring the emotional experiences of special education teachers—especially those working in medically complex or high-needs environments. This lack of visibility makes it even more important …

Diagnostic Categories And Epistemic Injustice In Clinical Psychology, Thomas Eilers

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This study investigated how clinical psychologists reasoned about and used diagnostic categories in practice. Diagnostic categories are limited and sometimes reductive systems of understanding people. They can also bring with them epistemic injustice, a type of wrong done to someone specifically in their capacity as a knower. In this case the concern is that a mental health diagnosis is a serious attack on a person’s credibility, wherein their experience is seen as less legitimate insofar as it is caused by an illness. Four semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinical psychologists. Psychologists generally described using diagnosis as one of many tools …

On Death And Disease: How Physicians’ Perspectives Compare Across Specialties Through Written Work, Stephanie Anne C. Alkonga

Honors Capstones

Narrative medicine is a tool that the medical field is increasingly utilizing to cultivate patient-centered and culturally competent doctors and to reflect on lived experiences through texts that focus on psychosocial best practices. This study aims to examine the language used in physician-written works that address how physicians in different medical specialties treat the aging and the terminally ill, and how they view the deceased. Qualitative data guided by thematic questions will primarily be used in the analysis and comparison of these texts’ tone, rhetoric, diction, and similar literary devices to uncover if certain patterns arise across such specialties. Findings …

Digital Activism In Kenya: Moving From The Digital Center To The Digital Periphery Of Long Covid Experience, Emily Mendenhall, Lucy Kamau, Nora Kenworthy, Edna Bosire

Brain and Mind Institute

Digital activism around Long covid has reverberated around the globe, as patients, researchers, and clinicians worked together to understand the chronic condition. However, Long Covid networks, much like other social networks, have hierarchies and barriers that can impede equitable access. In this article, we examine how the global digital center and periphery shape how people with Long covid connect to networks to learn about their illness symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and experiences. We introduce case narratives of two Kenyan women—one elite Nairobian who was connected to the digital center and another middle class woman who connected with her through a peripheral …

Dr. Doctor: A Look At Life In Medicine, Alexandra Hausmann

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The life of a medical professional is not easy. The road to get there and the lifestyle when practicing is mentally draining and results in many physicians experiencing burnout. This project and paper explore the stigma surrounding mental health in medicine, examining how fear of professional repercussions prevents many physicians from getting help. Through research and interviews with medical professionals of various specialties, this project looks at the different mental health struggles that each specialty faces. Additionally due to increased social media, medicine continues to evolve at a fast rate. Looking forward, medical professionals will have to deal with increased …

Strategies For Reducing Racial Disparities In Maternal Health Outcomes: An Examination Of The Role Of Doulas, Samavi Rafique

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Comparatively high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality remain a significant concern in the United States, particularly for Black women, who face a risk of maternal mortality that is four times higher than that of white women. Realizing the historical context of this burden requires tracing American obstetric and gynecological medicine to its 19th-century roots, where the medical experimentation of enslaved Black women occurred largely unopposed by the voices of those in power. The legacy of this is embodied in the modern maternal health crisis, marked by stark racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. As non-clinically trained professionals whose supportive …

A Comparative Analysis Of Women’S Health In Latin America And The United States: Geographical Context And Preventative Actions, Holly J. Robinson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Cervical cancer, breast cancer, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy complications, and gender-based violence are dangers faced by women everywhere. However, the severity of these risks can increase significantly due to a country’s geography, government control, and level of development. This thesis expands upon information gained directly from on-site experiences with medical professionals and locals (including doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and patients) in Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, and further research to look at Latin America as a whole, in relation to the United States. Both the US and Latin America exhibit problems with their healthcare systems. The United States is more …

Nurse-Physicians: From Nursing School To Practicing Physician, Tobias Fraedrich

Honors Scholar Theses

Nurse-physicians are healthcare professionals who have obtained both a nursing degree and a medical degree, transitioning from Registered Nurse (RN) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) to a licensed physician, including Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), or Naturopathic Doctor (ND). Research on this phenomenon conducted to date is limited to a single study. Some nonresearch sources indicate a small presence of this topic online. Yin’s (2018) descriptive, multiple-case study approach was employed to investigate the phenomenon using oral history interviews and a survey of the online platform YouTube as data sources. For the intention of pursuing this …

Evaluating Surge Capacity In The Emergency Department: A Comprehensive Literature Review On Preparedness And Response Frameworks, Tanner J. Riscoe

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Medical surge capacity in emergency departments is influenced by four critical factors: staff, stuff, space, and systems. Understanding these factors and the interplay between them is critical. Emergency departments are increasingly encountering issues with overcrowding, patient boarding, and medical surge events causing interruptions in care and depleting critical resources. Coordination of medical surge is challenging during normal operations but is intensified during times of crisis. This comprehensive literature review seeks to better understand the current state of the literature surrounding surge preparedness and response in emergency departments across the United States, identify gaps in the current literature, and ultimately recommend …

Entre La Reforma Y La Realidad: Salud Y Derechos Humanos En Costa Rica, Cuba Y Uruguay, Alyssa M. Nielsen

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Latinoamérica tiene varios sistemas para el cuidado de la salud y el acceso es uno de la lista de los derechos humanos. Esta región es la más desigual del mundo y se han logrado grandes avances, pero no se han distribuido equitativamente. Los sistemas de Cuba, Costa Rica y Uruguay son bien desarrollados, pero funcionan diferente. Costa Rica y Uruguay tienen opciones públicas y privadas y tienen maneras como la Mutualista en Uruguay y la Caja en Costa Rica para cubrir las visitas y servicios necesarios. Cuba es el sistema más controversial y tiene gran influencia de Castro, de donde …

Two 55-Word Stories: Reasonable Suspicion And There’S An Art To This, Angel Ogbeide

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Narrative medicine, specifically the 55-word story, provides clinicians an opportunity to reflect on experiences they encounter and garner significant meaning from them. These 2 stories discuss difficult situations I have experienced in my practice of medicine.

“Reasonable Suspicion” is an internal reflection on the weight of the complex decisions providers are often faced with (mandatory reporting, etc) and are not emphasized enough in health care. Doing the right thing in a clinical situation is taught. How doing the right thing can make a provider feel is not.

“There’s an Art to This” discusses grief. How do you grieve a patient? …

Assessment Of Biotransformation Rates, Biomagnification, And Bioconcentration Factors Of Difficult-To-Test Substances Using In Vitro Rainbow Trout Liver Subcellular Fractions, Mark A Cantu, Beatrice Chee, Talia R Cole, Yung-Shan Lee, Frank A P C Gobas

Faculty and Staff Publications

In vitro hepatic biotransformation assays have been proposed as methods for expediting and improving bioaccumulation assessment for substances that are difficult to test in conventional in vivo bioaccumulation assays and to reduce animal testing. However, to date, there has been no convincing evidence to demonstrate the ability and limitations of in vitro assays to estimate in vivo biotransformation rates and corresponding bioconcentration and biomagnification factors of difficult-to-test substances in fish. The present study presents the first measurements of in vitro biotransformation rates of superhydrophobic and highly volatile linear and cyclic siloxanes in rainbow trout liver S9 subcellular fractions and the …

Lack Of Patient-Centered Care Relative To Evidence-Based Practice In Clinical Diagnosis And Treatment Of Endometriosis In The U.S.: A Review, Piper E. Scoskie

Honors Theses

This scoping review examines the impact of combining Patient-Centered Care (PCC) and Evidence-Based Care (EBC) on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in the United States. In particular, the review aims to (1) examine the body of research from the United States to learn more about the connection between PCC and EBC and their collective impact on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes in the treatment of endometriosis; (2) identify the gaps in existing research and practice, specifically regarding PCC procedures, varying patient populations, and longitudinal investigations; and (3) provide recommendation for future research and …