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Alumni Journal - Volume 97, Number 2, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | School of Medicine News
10 | Alumni News
14 | Students: AI-HEAL
15 | Paying It Forward Scholarship
16 | This & That
18 | Department Report: Cardiothoracic Surgery
20 | AIMS Report: Gleaning Missions Blessings at Hôpital Adventiste d’Haïti
22 | AIMS News

Graduation 2026
24 | Graduation Feature: A celebration of the class of 2026

Features
42 | By the Graduates: Stories and reflections
48 | Richard H. Hart '70, DrPH: Reflections on Hart's Legacy Upon Retirement
53 | …

Targeting The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation To Improve Depression And Anxiety In Parkinson’S Disease, Brock Renicks

Poster Presentations

Around 40% of people with Parkinson’s Disease experience depression and anxiety (Zhao et al, 2025). Depression and Anxiety have been said to be localized to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brunoni et al, 2016). Transcranial Direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to modulate depression and anxiety by targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Sreeraj et al, 2023). It is beneficial due to its cost, portability, and simplicity of use. Thus we will be assessing the efficacy of tDCS in reducing depression and anxiety in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease.

Adhesion Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria To Thermoplastic Materials Used In Fabricating Medical Devices: Patient Consequences, Dev V. Mehta

Poster Presentations

Burn injury patients wear supportive orthoses made by heat-forming sheets of thermoplastic material (Figs. 1 & 2). Bacteria cause severe soft tissue infections in patients wearing contaminated orthoses. Thermoplastic medical devices can develop biofilms that include antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacteria, which significantly reduces the number of available treatment options. A biofilm is a community of microorganisms that share resources allowing them to exist in a nutrient-limited environment. Biofilm microbes secrete extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that attaches them firmly to a substrate surface while protecting them from harmful substances, including antibiotics. Bacteria living within biofilms on inanimate surfaces can survive for extended …

Alumni Journal - Volume 97, Number 1, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | This & That
12 | Alumni News
16 | School of Medicine News
18 | AIMS Report: Whispers From God
20 | AIMS News
22 | Department Report: Dermatology
24 | Students: Learning In Community

APC 2026
26 | Annual Postgraduate Convention (APC) 2026 in Review

Features
42 | Dr. Nava's Last Lecture: To Medical Students
45 | A Legacy of Humble Acts
46 | A Life of Service & Impact
48 | Spiritual Care
49 | Alumni Gatherings
50 | …

Development Of An Automated Platform For Cell Biology Experiments, Dipendra Nepal

Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum Posters

Cell biology experiments involve repetitive tasks such as pipetting, sample preparation, and imaging, which are typically performed manually. These manual processes can introduce variability, reduce efficiency, and increase the cost of biomedical research. To address these challenges, our lab is developing a modular robotic platform, iEye™, to automate key steps in cell biology workflows [1]. The system is designed as self-contained modules, allowing flexible development and integration of different functionalities. In this work, we focus on a sample preparation module that integrates a 6-degree-of-freedom robotic arm, a motorized stage, and a pneumatic pipetter. This module is being developed to automate …

Alumni Journal - Volume 96, Number 3, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | APC 2026 Preview
10 | Alumni News
14 | School of Medicine News
16 | This & That
20 | Students: Street Medicine
22 | AIMS Report: The Living Body of Christ

Features
24 | Transforming Loss: A Family's Journey to Redefine Compassionate Care
28 | Japan Lifetime Experience Trip
32 | Hope is Always Present: Despite Life's Circumstances
34 | Anchored by Faith: A Story of Family, Service, and Spiritual Growth
38 | Answering the Call: To Serve in Guam …

Alumni Journal - Volume 96, Number 2, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | School of Medicine News
10 | Alumni News
14 | Students
16 | This & That
18 | Department Report: Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
20 | AIMS Report: Courage Through Transitions

Graduation 2025
22 | Graduation Feature

Features
40 | By the Graduates: Stories and reflections: Emmanuelle (Emmy) Issa '25, Rozalyn Morauske '25, Daniel Korankye-Boadu '25, Ja'Neil Humphrey '25, Nico Belliard '25
46 | The Match
48 | Campus Updates
52 | Alumni Event: Hollywood Bowl
54 | Alumni Spotlight: …

Influence Of Hearing Loss On Self-Reported Hearing Ability And Listening Fatigue In Persons With Aphasia, Ashlyn Kilgore

Poster Presentations

Aphasia is an acquired disorder, often caused by stroke, that results in language deficits. It can greatly impact a person's ability to communicate with others. Cognitive deficits may accompany aphasia. Additionally, hearing loss is a disability likely to co-occur with aphasia, as they both most commonly impact the same age group. When a person has hearing loss, the quality of the auditory signal is degraded when it reaches the brain. The poor signal quality, compounded with linguistic and possible cognitive deficits that are associated with aphasia, makes it more difficult for persons with aphasia (PWA) to comprehend speech.

For all …

Commencement Program 2025, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

2 | Message from the President

3 | 2025 Events of Commencement

5 | The Academic Procession

6 | Institutional Administration

7 | Board of Trustees

8 | Significance of Academic Regalia

9 | University History Highlights

11 | Criteria for Institutional Awards

13 | Loma Linda University Health and Loma Linda University Honorees

The Programs, The School Honorees, and The Speakers

29 | School of Medicine

50 | School of Pharmacy

63 | School of Dentistry

81 | School of Public Health

94 | San Manuel Gateway College

101 | School of Allied Health Professions - Allied Health …

Alumni Journal - Volume 96, Number 1, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
7 | This & That
10 | Alumni News
12 | School of Medicine News
14 | AIMS Report: Short-term Mission, Long-term Impact
16 | Student Appreciation
18 | Department Report: Preventative Medicine

APC 2025
20 | Annual Postgraduate Convention (APC) 2025 in Review

Features
34 | Building Connections
36 | Divine Connections
38 | Remembering Ath 'AT' Tuot
42 | Alumni Spotlight: Featuring Janet T. Strausbaugh '78-A
44 | Life After Medicine

In Memoriam
45 | Alumni Remembered: Featured Obituaries: David Tse …

Unified Adaptive Cross-Attention Multimodal Network, Mahesh Sunuwar

Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum Posters

Accurately diagnosing appendicitis remains a significant challenge in emergency medicine due to its varied clinical presentation and overlap with other abdominal conditions. Existing diagnostic models often rely on unimodal data, such as computed tomography (CT) images or clinical notes, limiting their ability to capture the full complexity of patient information. This study proposes a novel multimodal framework, a Unified Adaptive Cross-Attention Multimodal Framework (u-ACM), that integrates CT images and clinical notes using hybrid fusion strategies to improve diagnostic accuracy for appendicitis. The u-ACM leverages adaptive contextual filtering to dynamically remove irrelevant features, crossattention mechanisms to align features between modalities, and …

False Narratives, Real Consequences, Russell W. Cantrell, Matt Campbell

Shelby Hall Graduate Research Forum Posters

Social media is an increasingly significant tool in modern cyber warfare, capable of rapidly shaping public opinion. The swift dissemination of information complicates efforts to distinguish fact from fiction [1]. During public health crises, healthcare professionals use these platforms to share updates, yet their credible content must contend with false or deliberately misleading narratives [2]. This environment creates an opportunity for cyberattacks through social media influence campaigns [3]. While disinformation's role in political interference has been widely studied, its potential to destabilize healthcare remains largely unexplored. Prior research primarily focuses on how vaccine misinformation affects the general public [4]. This …

The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Prostate Cancer, Lilly Bernard

Student Research Poster Presentations 2025

The purpose of this project is to discuss all aspects of prostate cancer, with a focus on radiation therapy as a treatment option. An overview of the disease is provided, including statistics, risk factors, symptoms, the process of diagnosis, treatment options, and a case study. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, making it widespread and deadly. This means that it is important to understand as much as possible about the disease in order to achieve the best outcomes possible. The project lists experiences from patients who …

Stronger Together, Loma Linda University Health

Scope

Features:

2 | From the President - Stronger, Thanks to You
4 | Loma Linda University Cancer Center
6 | Loma Linda University Children's Health
8 | Loma Linda University School of Nursing
10 | Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
12 | University Village
14 | Additional Stronger Together Initiatives

Alumni Journal - Volume 95, Number 3, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | School of Medicine News
10 | Alumni News
12 | This & That
14 | APC Preview
16 | Students: Excellence in Professionalism
18 | AIMS Report: Adventist International Eye Service: Celebrating 20 Years of Service in Madagascar

Features
20 | Medicine in the West Wing: A Conversation with Jeffrey Kuhlman '87, MPH, Physician to the President
28 | Sound Medicine: Physicians Reflect on the Harmony Between Medicine and Music
36 | Finding Joy Through Connections: A Psychiatrist's Journey to a …

Alumni Journal - Volume 95, Number 2, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | School of Medicine News
10 | Alumni News
12 | Students
14 | This & That
16 | AIMS Report: Global Presence: Teaching and Healing in Sub-Saharan Africa

Graduation 2024
19 | Graduation Feature

Features
36 | By the Graduates: Stories and reflections
42 | Lifestyle Medicine Curriculum: Transforming the Globe
45 | Spiders and C. S. Lewis
48 | Alumni Spotlight: Christine Shen '17
49 | Life After Medicine

In Memoriam
50 | Alumni Remembered: Featured obituary - Anton N. …

Commencement Program 2024, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

1 | Message from the President

3 | 2024 Events of Commencement

5 | The Academic Procession

6 | Institutional Administration

7 | Board of Trustees

8 | Significance of Academic Regalia

9 | University History Highlights

11 | Criteria for Institutional Awards

13 | Loma Linda University Health and Loma Linda University Honorees

| The Program, The School Honorees, and The Speakers

• School of Medicine, 23
• School of Pharmacy, 42
• School of Dentistry, 55
• School of Public Health, 73
• San Manuel Gateway College, 87
• School of Allied Health Professions—Allied Health Studies, Cardiopulmonary Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Science, Communication Sciences …

Alumni Journal - Volume 95, Number 1, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
7 | This & That
8 | Students
10 | Alumni News
12 | School of Medicine News
14 | AIMS Report: Communities Join for First Ever Heart Surgeries
18 | Department Report: Urology

APC 2024
20 | APC 2024 in Review

Features
34 | 100 Years of Creating Community
35 | A Community to Foster the Spirit of Loyalty
36 | Gridiron to Sidelines: College Athlete to Team Physician
38 | There's Power in the Blood
40 | Community Affiliation: RUH & …

The Quantification Of Essential Oils And Bixin In Annatoo Seeds, Alycia C. Johnson, Susan Oxley

Posters - 2024

Bixa orellana (also known as annatto or achiote) originates from South America but it can be found nearly everywhere in the world. The seeds of this species make for an excellent natural coloring. It is applied to makeup, food, and textiles; some of the biggest commercial industries.1 Of the 50+ phytochemicals identified, there are a large number of essential oils and other compounds that have been shown to have beneficial properties. Four of these compounds will be used to determine which traditional processing method results in the biggest loss of phytochemicals. Annatto is often either fried, left whole, or powdered …

Meta-Narrative Synthesis: The Effectiveness Of Diagnosing And Treating Melanoma With Micrographically Oriented Histograph Surgery Mohs Technique, Gabriella Casas Ms, Nida Mubeen Ms, Nicole Rivera Ms, Tan Thien Tang Mr., Mark A. Bailey Mr, Mary Coolbaugh-Murphy, Denise M. Juroske Short Mrs

Research Methods Poster Session 2024

This meta-narrative synthesis highlights the effectiveness of diagnosing and treating melanoma with Micrographically Oriented Histography Surgery (MOHS) technique. Initiating the questions: What techniques does MOHS surgery involve when diagnosing and treating non-metastasized Melanoma? How will it provide positive outcomes for the patient? The significance of using MOHS excision technique and diagnosis of localized facial melanoma compared to traditional cancer excision techniques is designed to remove affected tissue while preserving anatomical facial structure in an aesthetic fashion. Providing an overview of the technique’s diagnostic professional capabilities as well as its strengths, limitations, improvement for upcoming studies, and potential prognosis. Melanoma, a …

Alumni Journal - Volume 94, Number 3, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials

2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News

8 | Alumni News
10 | This & That
12 | APC 2024 Preview
14 | School of Medicine News
16 | Students
18 | AIMS Report: BARAKA: Hope and Healing for Sudanese Refugees
20 | Department Report: Pathology & Human Anatomy

Features

14 | Women in Medicine: Stories of Experience, Contributions, and Accomplishments
26 | Women in Medicine: A Conversation
32 | Early Hightory of Women in Medicine at LLU
34 | One Doctor's Story of Teaching and Healing in Angola
38 …

Alumni Journal - Volume 94, Number 2, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | School of Medicine News
10 | Alumni News
12 | This & That
13 | Students
14 | AIMS Report: Impacting Lives
16 | Department Report: Surgery

Graduation 2023
21 | Graduation Feature

Features
38 | By the Graduates: Reflections and stories form graduates
44 | Honoring Two Epochal Leaders
46 | I Died Four Times
50 | Alumni Association: A Power for Good
54 | Alumni Spotlight: Get to know
56 | Life After Medicine

In Memoriam
57 | Alumni …

Commencement Program 2023, Loma Linda University

Commencement Programs

CONTENTS

1 | Message from the President

3 | 2023 Events of Commencement

5 | The Academic Procession

6 | Institutional Administration

7 | Board of Trustees

8 | Significance of Academic Regalia

9 | University History Highlights

11 | Criteria for Institutional Awards

13 | Loma Linda University Health and Loma Linda University Honorees

25 | The Program, The School Honorees, and The Speakers

• School of Medicine, 26
• School of Pharmacy, 52
• School of Dentistry, 69
• School of Public Health, 93
• San Manuel Gateway College, 108
• School of Allied Health Professions—Allied Health Studies, Cardiopulmonary Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Science, Communication …

Disrupting Cisheteronormativity In Stem Through Humanism, Meg C. Jones, Desiree Forsythe, Rachel Friedensen, Annemarie Vaccaro, Ryan A. Miller, Ezekiel Kimball, Rachael Forester

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Cisheteronormativity is prevalent throughout college STEM discourses and classrooms. In this paper, we present findings from a U.S. based study focused on the experiences of collegiate STEM students with minoritized identities of sexuality and gender (MIoSG) as the backdrop for discussing how current harmful ideologies in STEM perpetuate cisheteronormativity through discursive practice. We propose that humanistic classrooms and pedagogy can work to dismantle cisheteronormative D/discourses in STEM and create MIoSG inclusive STEM classrooms and programs. Our findings highlight the ways participants experienced cisheteronormative D/discourses in their collegiate STEM contexts. We discuss how these experiences might be mitigated through humanistic educational …

Alumni Journal - Volume 94, Number 1, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
7 | This and That
10 | Alumni News
12 | Student News
14 | School of Medicine News
16 | AIMS Report
18 | Department Report: Radiation Medicine

APC 2023
20 | APC 2023 in Review

Features
34 | Alumni Association Celebrates 100 Years of Service
40 | Steps to Effective Spiritual Care
44 | Why I Pray With Patients
46 | Alumni Spotlight
47 | Life After Medicine

In Memoriam
48 | Alumni Remembered Featured Obituaries: James M. Phang '63, William …

The Scientific Study Of Positive Psychology, Religion/Spirituality, And Physical Health, Kevin S. Masters, Julia K. Boehm, Jennifer M. Boylan, Kaitlyn M. Vagnini, Christina L. Rush

Psychology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Humans have long been interested in relations among religion/spirituality (R/S), positive psychological constructs, and physical health. Furthermore, many religions attempt to influence behavior through health-related prescriptions about food choices, sexual activity, substance use, and resting. Similarly, positive psychological constructs have been discussed in light of their presumed benefits on both mental and physical health (Ryff & Singer, 1998). However, R/S and positive psychological constructs have only recently become objects of scientific investigation of their associations with physical health.

Investigating The Use Of Conversational Agents As Accountable Buddies To Support Health And Lifestyle Change, Ekaterina Uetova, Dympna O'Sullivan, Lucy Hederman, Robert J. Ross

Academic Posters Collection

The poster focuses on the role of conversational agents in promoting health and well-being. Results of the literature review indicate that negative emotions can hinder individuals from taking necessary actions related to their health. The study concludes that understanding and addressing emotional barriers is essential to facilitating early access to health services and improving well-being. The poster outlines plans to investigate motivation strategies, develop a prototype conversational agent based on user study insights and chat log data, and incorporate emotion regulation to effectively manage users' emotional experiences.

Care Of The Heart, Loma Linda University Health

Scope

Table of Contents

Features
14 | Campus of cardiac care
18 | The hearts of women
22 | Cardiopulmonary rehab
24 | Robotic surgery at LLUH
26 | Interventional procedures
28 | St. Paisley Day
30 | Heart health through nutrition

Departments
4 | From the President: Health care
8 | News: Clinical and campus news
38 | Alumni: Serving our world
44 | Annual Report: The year's people and stats

Alumni Journal - Volume 93, Number 3, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4 | From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | Alumni News + This and That
10 | APC 2023 Preview
12 | School of Medicine News
14 | Students
16 | Department Reports: Family Medicine

Bioethics
18 | What Does the Lord Require of Us?

Features
26 | Alumni Mission Stories
28 | Malawi
30 | Kenya
34 | Nigeria
36 | Ukraine
41 | Alumni Trips 2022
46 | Life After Medicine
48 | Historical Snapshot

In Memoriam
51 | Alumni Remembered

Alumni Journal - Volume 93, Number 2, Loma Linda University School Of Medicine

Alumni Journal, School of Medicine

Editorials
2 | From the Editor
4| From the President
6 | From the Dean

News
8 | School of Medicine News
10 | Alumni News
11 | This and That
12 | Students
14 | AIMS Report
16 | Department Report: Gynecology and Obstetrics

Graduation 2022
19 | Graduation Feature

Features
34 | By the Graduates
38 | Graduate Medical Education at LLUH
42 | Curriculum Transformation
46 | Historical Snapshot
47 | Alumni Spotlight

In Memoriam
49 | Alumni Remembered: Featured obituaries - George T. Harding IV '53-B; John W. Mace '64