Eighty medical students from the Wayne State University School of Medicine participated in the annual Medical Student Research Symposium, organized and hosted virtually by the Office of Medical Student Research Programs on Jan. 28.

The students presented 74 research projects combined, many working collaboratively in categories that included basic science and clinical research, as well as specialized categories such as women’s health research, medical education research, global health, and public health and community engagement.

“As in previous years, the research presented by the students was very impressive and demonstrated their increased involvement in research projects,” said Joseph Dunbar, Ph.D., director of Medical Student Research and Innovation, and professor of Physiology. “Student participation in scholarly activities has been and will continue to be very important in their training. Participation in these activities enhances their ability to explore new questions and provide new insight to improve health care moving forward. Participating in scholarly activities greatly enhances the students’ academic and scholarly development.”

The symposium gives students an opportunity to discuss and deliberate research and accompanying results with fellow students and faculty, and strengthens the message that clinicians can also have fulfilling research careers. All WSU medical students were eligible to submit abstracts on a research project to which they made a significant contribution in their undergraduate or graduate years.

Awards for first, second and third place were given in Basic Science Research, Clinical Research, Medical Education Research, Women’s Health, and Public Health and Community Engagement.

Winners included:

Basic Science Research

1st Place: Anthony Chifor
Intrabody-mediated Postsynaptic Recruitment of CaMKIIα Improves Memory 

2nd Place (Tie): Cole Goodman
Functional Attenuation Coefficient Imaging of Rod Inner Segment: The Shape of Things to Come

2nd Place (Tie): Harry Ramos
The Role of Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Maintaining the Epithelial Phenotype of Ovarian Cancer Cells During Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

3rd Place (Tie): El Hussain Shamsa
The Short-term Effects of Fine Airborne Particulate Matter and Climate on COVID-19 Disease Dynamics

3rd Place (Tie): Serena Simpson
Norepinephrine Regulation of Spatial Memory Using the Barnes Maze in Male and Female Rats

Clinical Research

1st Place (Tie): Mara Darian
Blood Pressure Response in Children with Heart Disease

1st Place (Tie): Dominic Alessio-Billowus
Predictive Factors for Length of Hospital Stay in Pediatric Dog Bite Patients

2nd Place (Tie): Sopie Wittenberg and Nicole Xu
Reduction in Healthcare Resource Utilization Associated with a Rapid Rule-Out Protocol for Suspected Acute Coronary Syndrome

2nd Place (Tie): Hannah Milad
A Prospective Study Investigating the Relationship Between Diagnostic Lumbar Medial Branch Blocks and the Use of Sedation

3rd Place (Tie): Ivan Rakic
Evaluation of the Utility of Lymph-Vascular Invasion as an Independent Prognostic Predictor of Overall Survival for Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma That Undergo Nephrectomy

3rd Place (Tie): May Chammaa
The Impact of Trauma Subtypes on PTSD Severity in Syrian Child and Adolescent Refugees

3rd Place (Tie): Susan Wager
Recovery Time Following Operative Versus Nonoperative Humeral Shaft Fracture Treatment

Women’s Health Research

1st Place: Erin Leestma
Language Preference Impact on the Outcomes of Those Lost to Follow-up After a Diagnosis of Pregnancy of Unknown Location

2nd Place (Tie):  Emily Lau
The Role of Vigorous and High Intensity Interval Training Physical Activity Counseling in Prenatal Care

2nd Place (Tie): Gurbani Bedi
Discharged Against Medical Advice in the Postpartum Period: Why Should We Care?

Medical Education Research

1st Place: Joseph Files
Ultrasound Education Curriculum Increases First-Year Student Visualization Ability Three-Fold

Public Health and Community Engagement

1st Place (Tie):  Karla Escobar, Julia Yee, Miles Bowman, Myles Hardeman, Emile Tadros, Omar Mahmood and Kiernan Bloye 
Social Determinants, Health Care Access and Utilization in Detroit, Michigan LatinX Community

1st Place (Tie): Bushra Fathima
The Effect of Socioeconomic Status on Patient Outcomes Following Rotator Cuff Repair at Two Hospital Campuses

2nd Place (Tie): Varag Abed and Alex Duvall
Social Determinants of Health Influence Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

2nd Place (Tie): Sahar Elmenini
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emerging Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

3rd Place (Tie): Sikander Chohan
Utilizing Primary Care to Engage Patients on Opioids in a Psychological Intervention for Chronic Pain

3rd Place (Tie): Margaret Wasvary
Perspectives on Telemedicine From a National Study of Youth in the United States