Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathy Commons^™

Do Research Day Program 2026, Lincoln Memorial University, Debusk College Of Osteopathic Medicine

DO Research Day

DO Research Day was hosted by the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University. This program features abstracts from the LMU-DCOM community.

Gene Therapy Access, Financing, And Equity For Medicaid Populations: A Scoping Review To Inform Tenncare Coverage Policy, Trey Henderson, Brandy Fuesting

DO Research Day

High-cost gene therapies lists at $0.85M–$3.5M per treatment, and Medicaid coverage requirements obligate state programs like TennCare to confront reimbursement they were not designed to absorb. Objective: To map what existing literature reports on gene therapy access models, financing, equity, and coverage barriers to inform TennCare policy. Methods: JBI/PRISMA-ScR scoping review; 245 sources charted across four themes (access barrier, financing model, equity focus, payer relevance, study design). Results: Pricing/affordability is the dominant barrier for patients (67%). Outcomes-based contracts are the leading proposed financing mechanism and cluster in Medicaid-relevant work. Conclusions: Evidence points to outcomes-based, multi-state Medicaid financing, anchored by the …

Factors Contributing To Low Birth Outcomes In Rural Versus Urban Tennessee, Adiva Haq, Hena Shah, Judy King Phd

DO Research Day

Background: Tennessee has been associated with having poorer birth outcomes compared to other states in America. Current data suggest that rural communities face greater barriers in accessing maternity care than urban areas, which can lead to adverse outcomes for these populations. Identifying factors that may contribute to low birth outcomes between rural and urban counties of Tennessee is essential to improve infant health outcomes. Objective: To examine the factors associated with adverse birth outcomes, comparing rural versus urban Tennessee counties. Method: The population size of all 95 Tennessee counties was obtained from the Data Commons. Birth outcomes and socioeconomic data …

Dietary Magnesium, Potassium And Sodium Intake Patterns In Night-Shift Nurses And Implications For Cardiovascular Risk, Thao Nguyen, Lindsey Miller Phd, Teresa Rangel Phd

DO Research Day

Background: Night-shift nurses are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to circadian disruption, poor sleep quality, and unhealthy dietary patterns. Inadequate intake of potassium and magnesium, combined with excessive sodium consumption, may contribute to elevated cardiovascular risk in this population.

Objective: To compare dietary intake of magnesium, potassium, and sodium between day-shift and night-shift nurses during workdays and days off and evaluate nutrient intake relative to current dietary recommendations and cardiovascular risk.

Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using dietary records from 21 nurses working rotating schedules (3 workdays and 3 days off). Daily magnesium, potassium, and …

Initiating The Development Of An In Vitro Model To Elucidate The Therapeutic Potential Of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, Mahmoud Ajjaoui, Christopher Root, Alex Wiser, Michael Operti, Christian Greer, Debasis Mondal

DO Research Day

• OMT is a technique used by DOs to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal dysfunctions. • An OMT technique commonly utilized in patients with musculoskeletal pain is Myofascial Release (MFR), which involves the stretching, holding and releasing of myofascial tissue to provide localized pain relief. • Despite patient attestation of the therapeutic benefits of MFR, in vitro studies to understand the molecular mechanism(s) is currently lacking. • In vitro algorithm that mimics high intensity exercise (HIE): Previously published studies using myofascial stem cells (MSCs) have documented that multiple cycles of rapid stretch and release can alter the proliferation and …

Beyond Burnout: A Systematic Review Of The Mental Health Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Physicians In The U.S., Tiffany Iheanacho, Fred Wenger, Etianna E. Cadet, Yahya Korteh, Muhammed Gaye

DO Research Day

Background: Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, its long-term psychological impact on physicians remains important to assess. Physicians experienced PTSD, burnout, anxiety, insomnia, distress, and depression, yet few studies reported outcomes disaggregated by race, limiting understanding of disparities among marginalized physicians.

Objectives: To quantify the prevalence of mental health outcomes among U.S. physicians during COVID-19 and identify interventions and systemic strategies to mitigate physician mental health burdens during future public health emergencies.

Method: Following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Lincoln Memorial University Library were searched for studies published from 2020–2025. Of 48 studies identified, 21 met inclusion criteria. …

Association Between Nutrition Access And Birth Outcomes In Rural Vs Urban Tennessee: A County-Level Analysis, Adiva Haq, Nathalie Mendoza-Salas, Mary Carrasco, Natalie E. Freeman Phd

DO Research Day

Food insecurity and limited access to nutritious foods are linked to gestational diabetes, low birth weight, and maternal stress.1,3 Rural residents often have fewer full-service grocery stores and rely on convenience stores with little fresh food.4 Rural communities may also face broader gaps in health resources and care,2 which may widen maternal and infant health disparities. This matters in Tennessee, where rural counties make up a substantial proportion of the state’s area and population. Few studies have examined food insecurity and birth outcomes across Tennessee, especially by rurality. We evaluated these associations across all 95 counties, emphasizing rural–urban differences, to …

Impacts Of Semaglutide On Monocyte–Endothelial Crosstalk In Atherosclerosis Pathophysiology, Yukta Bichala, Seeba Gupta, Kathryn Pofok, Abrar Hussain, Andrea Linares, Mir S. Adil Phd

DO Research Day

Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which monocyte-endothelial interactions contribute to early plaque development through inflammatory activation of endothelial adhesion molecules, including ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Although the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide reduces cardiovascular events clinically, its direct effects on inflammatory monocyte-endothelial interactions remain unclear. Objective: To establish an in vitro model of monocyte-endothelial interactions under inflammatory conditions and investigate whether semaglutide reduces TNF-α-induced monocyte adhesion and migration across activated endothelial cells. Methods: EA.hy926 endothelial cells and THP-1 monocytes were cultured under optimized conditions. TNF-αwas used to induce endothelial inflammation, with PBS as a negative control and atorvastatin as …

Slicing Through Innovation: Assessing The Durability And Effectiveness Of 3d Printed Scalpel Handles, Christopher Root, Chad Clark, Stephen Mcnichol, Natalie Freeman

DO Research Day

Advancements in 3D printing technology have revolutionized the manufacturing of medical instruments, offering new possibilities for creating customized and cost-effective tools. This study investigates the mechanical properties and breaking points of 3D printed scalpel handles using three different thermoplastic materials: Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG), Polylactic Acid (PLA), and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). The handles were designed to replicate standard surgical scalpel dimensions and were printed using identical parameters across all samples to ensure consistency. Mechanical testing, including tensile and flexural strength tests, was conducted on all specimens to determine their breaking points under stress typically encountered during surgical procedures. Results …

Carceral Geographies Of Disinvestment: Mapping Police Surveillance And Food Insecurity In Tennessee, Lina Habba, Ridha Nazir, Natalie E. Freeman Phd

DO Research Day

Research Aims: •Examine the association between county-level jail incarceration (a proxy for police surveillance) and food insecurity, limited access to healthy foods, and overall food environment quality across Tennessee counties.   •Determine whether this association persists after adjustment for median household income, high school completion, and racial composition.

Do Research Day Program 2025, Lincoln Memorial University, Debusk College Of Osteopathic Medicine

DO Research Day

DO Research Day was hosted by the DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University. This program features abstracts from the LMU-DCOM community.