Physician Assistant Students Present Their Research at Student Research Day
| Students in the College of Health Professions Department of Physician Assistant Studies recently showcased the research they’ve done at UAMS.
With help from Reza Hakkak, Ph.D., the college’s associate dean of research along with other faculty members and staff, Oleg Karaduta, M.D., director of research and an assistant professor in the department, organized the day after UAMS Student Research Day, originally slated for February, was rescheduled due to winter weather. The PA students had a schedule conflict on the new date of April 17, so a separate event was planned for April 9.
Brylie Ritchie, left, explains her research and poster to one of the visitors at the Physician Assistants Student Research Day.
Thirty-nine students presented 13 research projects and the findings from their work to other students, research fellows and faculty members from inside and outside the college.
“It’s been awesome to get this experience,” Brylie Ritchie said. “So, for me, I’ve have had an experience similar to this, but in psychology, nothing like this with bench work. It’s been a great opportunity, I think, to share with other students and the younger PA students and even other colleges that as health professionals, we still can be involved in research.”
Ritchie and her research partner, Monica Ramos, both PA students, worked on a research project with two senior researchers in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Their presentation showcased research that she hoped will one day lead to a greater understanding as to why miscarriages happen in pregnancy.
“We can still be involved in research, and I think we should be more collaborative with the people who are working to further our understanding of medicine. I think being able to demonstrate that collaboration has been a great opportunity as well,” she said.
Celeste Garcia, second from left, Chloe Devens and DeShawn Cooney talk about their research with Oleg Karaduta, far right, and another student.
Three other PA students — DeShawn Cooney, Celeste Garcia and Chloe Devens – presented their research that looked at the effectiveness of fish skin grafts in treating wounds.
Devens said it was interesting to see the grafts done during their clinical rotations, and then go back and learn more about the procedure. Cooney said they learned the grafts do aid in wound healing, but they are expensive and not applicable to every injury.
Exposure to a new type of treatment also was a reminder to not just automatically default to a regular standard of care and to ask if a new, innovative treatment option is available that can deliver a better outcome for the patient, Garcia said.
“I think it’s just something that we can take into clinical practice once we graduate and have that option,” she said.
Haleigh Cox, right, and Caryn Phillips, stand in front of their research poster at UAMS Student Research Day on April 17.
College of Health Professions students also participated in the larger UAMS Student Research Day on April 17 on the Little Rock and Northwest Arkansas campuses.
“The Student Research Day events showcased the depth and breadth of scholarly work happening across both campuses and the other colleges as well,” Hakkak, also chair of the college’s Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, said. “They have much to be proud of as do the faculty and staff who guide and support them. The office of the vice chancellor for Research & Innovation also helped greatly with the PA poster presentations.”
Haleigh Cox and Caryn Phillips, both Clinical Nutrition students, presented a research poster showing their research on the topic of dietary protein intake among pregnant women in Arkansas.
“I love how UAMS is so focused on the interdisciplinary education and working with other programs,” Cox said. “I think it fosters excitement among students to work with one another, and who will go on to be amazing in the health care field.”
Colleen Zaller, a graduate student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, also had a research poster at Student Research Day. She found in her research that there is a shortage of speech-language pathologists who can deliver speech therapy to patients in the primary language of non-English speaking patients. Also, even when a multilingual therapist is available, oftentimes non-English speaking patients aren’t matched with them.
Research Day was a great opportunity to engage with other students and faculty members about her research and theirs, she said.
One of those students was Mason Cohn, a student in the Audiology Program. She looked at how well primary care providers refer pediatric patients to an audiologist for a hearing loss evaluation and assessment. She said she enjoyed seeing the posters and getting new ideas for research and learning.
“I’m very into interdisciplinary research and collaboration — teamwork and all that good stuff. I haven’t seen any that are in my area of research, but it is interesting to see what all the other disciplines are working on,” Cohn said.
(Mason Cohn; Colleen Zaller)
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- Mason Cohn
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- Colleen Zaller
Read more about UAMS Student Research Day