The 41st Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Research Day was held on May 3 and 4 at the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus in downtown Kalamazoo.
Research Day 2023 showcased WMed efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity in science and healthcare on topics that included basic and translational science, clinical research, public health, social and behavioral sciences, quality improvement, and education-related research.
The two-day event is an opportunity to highlight the breadth of research and scholarly activity in Kalamazoo’s scientific community through oral presentations, poster presentations and workshops.
In all, this year’s event boasted 124 accepted abstracts, 25 oral presentations from students, five presentations from WMed and Western Michigan University faculty members and 99 poster presentations. About 650 people attended throughout the two-day span, said Adil Akkouch, PhD, an assistant professor in WMed’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Program in Medical Engineering, who served as chair of the organizing committee for Research Day.
Melissa B. Davis, PhD, presented the keynote address, titled “Resolving race versus ancestry in Breast Cancer Disparities.” Dr. Davis is the newly appointed director of the Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine and Distinguished Investigator with the Georgia Research Alliance.
MORE: Research Day 2023 photos
In supporting the future of research, 12 WMed students and fellows received awards for poster and oral presentations in categories including clinical health services research and basic science and translational presentations. Cash prizes are presented with the awards to enable students to present their findings at national conferences.
“We could not have done this without the support of WMed’s leadership and the community and collaboration with WMU faculty members and their students,” Dr. Akkouch said. “We look forward to more collaboration in the future.”
Here is a complete list of the winners at the 41st Annual Research Day. Congratulations to each of them:
Best Clinical, Health Services Research and Education Oral Presentation
Categories: Medical students. Awards: 1st place - $300; 2nd place - $200.
1- Natalie White, BS; Autumn Fritz, BA; Vaishali Patil, PhD; Claire Kalina, BA; Brenda O'Rourke, RN; Terra Bautista, Aaron Lane-Davies, MD; Jennifer Frink, DO; Catherine Kothari, PhD
Failures, Modes, and Effects Analysis Exposes Failures in Prenatal Home Visitation Referral for Pregnant Persons.
2- Juliana Overbey, BS; Jordan Boivin, MD; Thomas Ryan, MD
Pain Reduction After Periacetabular Osteotomy in Obese Patients.
Best Basic Science and Translational Research Oral Presentation
Categories: Medical students. Awards: 1st place - $300; 2nd place - $200.
1- Sydney M. Les, BS; Sarah E. Webster, PhD; Daken M. Heck, BS; Prentiss Jones, PhD; Michael J. Clemente, MS; Nichol E. Holodick, PhD
B Cell-Derived Natural IgM Maintains Retinal Homeostasis throughout Lifespan.
2- Richa Gupta, BS; Christine Piper, MD; George Russell Huffman, MD, MPH; Michael W. Hast, PhD
Similar Biomechanics Between the Double–Cortical Button and Docking Techniques for Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction: A Cadaveric Evaluation.
Best Graduate Oral Presentation
Categories: Graduate students, residents/fellows, and postdocs. Awards: 1st place - $300; 2nd place - $200.
1- Luke Kinsey, MS; Zachary McClenny; Wendy Beane, PhD
Weak Magnetic Fields as a Tool to Control Tissue Growth Via Reactive Oxygen Species.
2- Samantha Hack, MSc; Alanna Van Huizen, PhD; Luke Kinsey, MSc; Wendy Beane, PhD
ROS Separately Modulates Wound Healing and Regeneration Through a Threshold Mechanism.
Best Clinical, Health Services Research and Education Poster Presentation
Categories: Medical students. Awards: 1st place - $300; 2nd place - $200.
1- Zachary Pearson, BS; Kevin Stehlik, BS; William Elnemer, BS; Uzoma Ahiarakwe, MS; Amil Agarwal, BA; Lucas Nikkel, MD; Savyasachi Thakkar, MD
No Difference in Bleeding Complications in Patients on Concomitant Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Oral Anticoagulant Therapy after Total Hip Arthroplasty.
2- Raisa Gao, DO, Saad Shebrain, MD, Pnina Rokhlin, BS
Thirty-Day Postoperative Outcomes Following Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Functional Adrenal Tumors
Best Basic Science and Translational Research Poster Presentation
Categories: Medical students. Awards: 1st place - $300; 2nd place - $200.
1- Chi Lee, BS; Mitchell Kenter, MS; Keith Kenter, MD; Adil Akkouch, PhD
Tendon Repair Using Biodegradable and Bioactive 3D Poly (Glycerol Sebacate) Scaffolds.
2- Shelby Chaney, MS; Mitchell Kenter, MS; Zeena Qiryaqoz, MD; Adil Akkouch, PhD Chondroprotective Effect of Strontium Through the Inhibition of ADAMTS-4 And ADAMTS-5 In Human Chondrocytes.
Best Graduate Poster Presentation
Categories: Graduate students, residents/fellows, and postdocs. Awards: 1st place - $300; 2nd place - $200.
1- Mitchell Kenter, MS; Keith Kenter, MD; Adil Akkouch, PhD Synthesis of a GO/DMSO-doped PEDOT Electroactive Nanocomposite for Electrical Stimulation Therapy.
2- Thomas Roberts, DO; Madhavi-Latha Nagalla, MD
Acute Emergence of Suicidal Thoughts Following Lemborexantinitiation: An Adverse Reaction Case Report.