The 42nd Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Research Day was held Thursday, April 4, at the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus in downtown Kalamazoo.
The theme of Research Day 2024 – in line with WMed’s vision – was “Advancing Health Through Translational Science” and the event showcased projects that involved breakthroughs in basic and translational sciences, clinical, public health, medical education, social and behavioral sciences, and quality improvement.
The annual event offers 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 160 research abstracts that were presented in various formats, and about 300 people attended.
In the addition of the keynote address by Saranya P. Wyles, MD, PhD, on “Transforming Tomorrow: Disruptive Innovation in Regenerative Medicine for Skin Health.”, 12 spotlight podium talks were presented by faculty, residents and scientists from WMed and WMU, to showcase their innovative work and expertise in areas related to translational research in medicine.
- MORE: Research Day 2024 photos
In supporting the future of research, 12 WMed students and fellows received awards for poster and oral presentations in categories that included 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.
“This year's research day was truly remarkable,” said Adil Akkouch, PhD, assistant professor in the medical school’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Program in Medical Engineering, who served as co-chair of the organizing committee for Research Day. “The unwavering support from WMed's senior leadership, aligned with the school's global vision and mission, has undoubtedly elevated the quality of our research efforts over the years. This upward trajectory not only enhances our students' competitiveness on a national scale but also fuels their passion for discovery. Congratulations to the winners of the awards competition, and heartfelt appreciation to all participants for their commitment to research. Together, we're pushing the boundaries of knowledge and making strides towards a brighter future in medicine.”
Next year, Research Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 3, at the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus and in 2026, the event will be held on Thursday, April 2.
“Research Day 2024 was an energetic celebration of translational science, where we witnessed the power of collaboration and innovation in action,” said Nancy Bjorklund, EdD, MPA, assistant dean for Global and Continuing Education and co-chair of the organizing committee for Research Day. “From groundbreaking ideas to substantial breakthroughs, our research community showcased its commitment to bridging theory with practice. As co-chair, I couldn't be prouder of our collective achievements and the transformative impact we're making on healthcare. Huge gratitude to all who contributed to this success – together, we're pushing the boundaries of discovery.”
Here is a complete list of the winners at the 42nd Annual Research Day. Congratulations to each of them:
Best Clinical, Health Services Research and Education Poster Presentation - Medical Students
- First Place: Mason Gonzales, Kent Grosh, Samuel Coster, Theresa McGoff, Austin Brubaker, Laurence McCahill | “Morbidity of Sentinel lymph Node Biopsy in Melanoma Patients Better Defined”
- Second Place: Autumn Fritz, Morgan Helmich, Jade Woodcock, Sara Allison, Amy Gyorkos | “Impact of Peer-Led Cadaveric Demonstrations on Gross Anatomy Education”
Best Basic Science And Translational Research Poster Presentation - Medical Students
- First Place: Megan Moore, Sheridan Hayes, Yong Li | “Understanding How Deferoxamine Regulates Autophagic Pathways in Muscle Cells”
- Second Place: Samuel Greenberg, Ali Vural | “Targeting Activator of G-protein Signaling 3 (AGS3) Biomolecular Condensates: In silico identification of modulators”
Best Graduate Poster Presentation - Graduate Students, Residents/Fellows, and Postdocs
- First Place: Daaren Bukhari, Giselly Silva, Cynthia Lai, Diana Westgate | “Atorvastatin Induced Urticarial Vasculitis”
- Second Place: Michael Chaney, Matthew Welter, Sam Coster, Julia Miladore, Saad Shebrain | “Asymptomatic Total Inferior Vena Cava Occlusion in Patient with Rectal Adenocarcinoma”
Best Clinical, Health Services Research and Education Oral Presentation - Medical Students
- First Place: Mohamed Said, Jessica Adamczyk, Roberta Grieger-Nimmo, Patrick Hansma, Prentiss Jones | “Elevated IL-6, Ferritin, and D-Dimer: Biomarkers of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in post-mortem vitreous humor analysis”
- Second Place: Talal Al-Assil, Claire Kalina, Madison Laird, Nataly Dawood, Raven Riordan, Neya Suresh Kumar, Ryan Olivier, Saad Shebrain, Cheryl Dickson, Gitonga Munene | “Does Gender Play a Role in HCV and Cancer Screening Among the Unhoused?”
Best Basic Science And Translational Research Oral Presentation – Medical Students
- First Place: Jesse Kooistra, Agata Parsons, Lavet Valerie Bungha Tita, Jerry Bouma, Greg Vanden Heuvel, Erik Larson | “Molecular Model for Two Hit Somatic Mutations in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease”
- Second Place: Kyra Grove, Mitchell Kenter, Adil Akkouch | “The Effects of Hyperglycemia on Osteoblasts Proliferation and Differentiation”
Best Graduate Oral Presentation - Graduate Students, Residents/Fellows, and Postdocs
- First Place: Daniel VanZweden, Michael Leinwand | “Single Incision Laparoscopic Gastrostomy Button Insertion: A straightforward and efficient technique”
- Second Place: Maria Roche-Dean, Vaishali Patil | “Examining Stress, Coping and Discrimination in Nursing: A feasibility study”