Showcase

My internship explores shared decision-making in women's health alongside health disparities amongst different populations, facilitating the cycle of health systems research and applying it to a system such as IU Health. Working as an intern in the D ... the Department of Pediatrics with IU School of Medicine, I have completed several projects including data analysis and interpretation as well as transcribing interviews which both focus around pregnancy. The data analysis focused on pre-test and post-test results, responses to animations about pre-term decision making in relation to knowledge scores, and demographics in relation to knowledge scores. My project that will be showcased works with the GOALS (getting optimal alignment for life support) Clinical Trial. My work includes writing data and transferring data from RedCap as well as cleaning and managing data through Excel. This is a vital role as it aids the research assistants in maintaining randomization. More specifically, I ensure that all data inputted on RedCap matches the patient's response in the audio recording. While doing so, I learn more about the patients' varying pregnancy experiences, including the different choices each patient is more inclined to make regarding possible early delivery of their child. Read more

Fractures that do not heal without medical intervention and have impaired union can lead to disabilities and mobility issues in patients. This can add to an economic burden of several million dollars annually. Patient's quality of life is also affect ... ffected due to reduced mobility and pain. Another major concern is the use of opioids in treating the pain associated with fractures. Due to their addictive nature, opioids have caused problems in patients needing long term pain relief. Kacena lab investigates potential therapies to address the impaired fracture healing due to advanced age, underlying conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and obesity, and alleviate the associated pain with non-opioid alternatives. Kacena lab uses pre-clinical mouse models to study these objectives. My role in the lab was to participate in mouse fracture surgeries, x-ray imaging of the fractured femurs, and help with the treatments to induce mutations in study mice. My time in Kacena lab has helped me understand how a research lab works. I have begun to appreciate the process of translational research where the bench-side research eventually leads to bed-side medicine to benefit the patients. Read more

This project involves editing, recording, uploading, and emailing residents about the scripts they will be using for the podcast. There is also taking the initiative of how many episodes will be uploaded monthly and the posts uploaded on all their so ... cial media platforms. It involves a pediatric podcast for parents of children who have ordinary questions about their child's health. This information and advice gives parents and others who are wanting to learn and understand what is happening from their child's perspective and how they can help them. Read more

Through interning at the team-based Comprehensive Pain Assessment Clinic (CoPAC), I was able to come up with a project based on creating resources for the clinic, specifically for those in need of housing due to reasons perhaps centering around subst ... ance use. I created a portfolio of information sheets including resources for different Sober Living and Recovery Transition Homes. Additionally, I compiled a comprehensive table of these resources to create a more general and convenient option as well. The general table and the in-depth information sheets specifically act as a helpful resource for individuals after incarceration, being homeless, losing their living quarters, and more. This list and the documents will be utilized by patients and individuals in the team specialty clinics, as well as throughout the IU Health - Central Indianapolis primary care clinics as a resource for practitioners to provide to their patients. Read more

Plasmodium infections led to an estimated 228 million cases of malaria and 405,000 deaths in 2018 (World Health Organization, 2019). Gut microbiota can influence the severity of malaria. Certain species, e.g., B. fragilis, B. caccae, B. uniformis, an ... d B. ovatus, have been associated with susceptibility to severe malaria. These bacteria are found more in the guts of the patients with severe malarial anemia than in asymptomatic infection. The influence does not concern individual presence but on the interaction of a population of microorganisms. This suggests that gut microbiota composition plays a significant role to be involved in malaria outcome determination. Targeting the gut microbiome could be a new means of guarding against life-threatening malaria, especially with the rise in resistance to traditional treatments and vaccine efficacy. While some bacterial species are typically considered beneficial for immunity and digestion, their contribution to aggravating malaria reflects the fascinating intricacy of host-microbe interactions. Understanding how these bacteria worsen the disease could provide a window into new approaches for preventing malaria severity by altering gut microbial composition. Changing the gut microbiome could help prevent severe malaria. This is important as resistance to drugs and vaccines grows. We used a mouse model of SMA to investigate the role of bacterial invasion after intestinal barrier breach after malaria infection. To evaluate the presence of bacteria, we used bacterial primers in the spleen of infected and uninfected mice and subjected to qPCR. Our results confirm that bacteria invasion is important and can contribute to disease severity in mice. Read more

LEADS is an observational study focused on the development of Early Onset Alzheimer's for those aged 40-64. The purpose is to understand the causes of sporadic early onset Alzheimer's Disease individuals, and how they are different for those developi ... e developing this disease after the age of 65 or later. This study is used to address the needs of those who are still fully employed and have children still living at home. Patients that choose to participate in the study are screened with cognitive testing once per year. They are brought in and screened through a series of cognitive activities and graded based on performance. The performance is logged in a patient chart that is carried from year to year to moderate cognitive impairment. We follow people for as long as they are willing to stay in the study. The level of cognitive impairment they reach before they end the study can vary. Another screening that is taken and monitored is the development of white matter changes/hyperintensities in the brain. This is seen through performing an MRI screening of the patient's brain. A higher amount of white matter changes/hyperintensities in the brain is associated with worse cognition of brain function. This study continues to track the development of EOAD to advance therapeutic development and ultimately improve quality of life and longevity for these individuals. Read more

My team at my internship site focuses on a longitudinal frontotemporal lobar degenerative disease study (FTD). Essentially, this study gathers research on memory changes and the long-term effects that it has on individuals. Almost 10% of US adults ov ... er the age of 65 are diagnosed with dementia. With this, 2-10% of those with dementia are diagnosed with FTD. This study only enrolls those with sporadic diagnosis, those with a genetic mutation, or those who are first-degree relatives of those with a genetic mutation. The focused nature of this study aims for a better understanding of the dementia and contributes valuable insight to the progression and potential intervention. I've contributed to the research by carrying the responsibility of data organization as well as administrative support. My role so far has been to organize and prepare data from patient information examinations and forms to aid in the efficiency of this study. The goal of this project is to peer under the term of dementia, inform the audience on what exactly FTD is, and discuss the ALLFTD study. I hope this summary and infographic provide you with a clearer understanding of FTD and highlight the significance of the ongoing research in the study. Read more

I have helped create, condense, and edit a training module that is part of the Justice and Public Safety Professional Learning Community (IIACC). The module provides a foundational understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Autism) and highlights the ... importance of awareness to prevent misperceptions and promote inclusion. The module covers key facts about autism, addressing its lifelong nature, behavioral communication, sensory processing, gender disparities in diagnosis, and co-occurring medical conditions. It also explores employment, education, and social integration challenges, including bullying and interactions with law enforcement. Special focus is given to how autistic individuals are often misunderstood in the criminal justice system, either as suspects or victims. Additionally, the module examines systemic issues, including racial and socioeconomic disparities in diagnosis and access to services. It highlights the strengths and contributions of Autistic folks while advocating for better support and policy changes. In this module, I have included updated resources, such as videos, research, and real-world data to enhance learning. Participants are prompted to brainstorm solutions for statewide impact. This module is an educational tool for professionals and community members to foster understanding, improve interactions, and advocate for better inclusion and support for autistic individuals across all aspects of society. Read more

Our research project explores end-of-life decision-making in hospitals, focusing on improving communication and accessibility. End-of-life decisions involve choices made by patients, families, and healthcare providers regarding medical treatment and ... care in a person's final stages. These include: - Managing life-sustaining treatments such as ventilators, assistive devices, or resuscitation. -Choosing palliative or hospice care. - Establishing legal directives like living wills and DNR orders. - Designating a healthcare representative to make decisions on one's behalf. Our goal is to identify barriers that make these decisions difficult and develop strategies to ensure that a patient's values, dignity, and comfort remain the priority. In this research, my contributions included studying Advance Care Planning (ACP) directives and palliative care, developing surveys, and conducting patient interviews at the Parkinson's Clinic at the IU Neuroscience Center. Read more

My internship is at The Healthy Sleep for Kids Research Laboratory, and I have been focused on the measurement and treatment of adolescent insomnia. Sleep is crucial for health and daily functioning, and insomnia (i.e., trouble falling asleep or stay ... ing asleep) is very prevalent during adolescence. I acquired proficiency in actigraphs, wrist-watch like devices, to measure sleep patterns for an ongoing Randomized Control Trial called the DREAM IT study, which stands for Designing Realistic Management of Insomnia in Teens. In this study, adolescents with insomnia are randomly assigned to either a treatment condition or a waitlist control condition. Teen sleep is measured via actigraphs before and after treatment and two months after treatment. Teens in the treatment condition receive a teen-friendly version of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia. In addition, I have contributed to another study where I have learned to conduct qualitative analysis of teen responses to how they would like their insomnia to be treated. I have reviewed and organized the collected answers in order to identify common themes in teens responses. Across these two studies, I have learned about how insomnia can be measured and treated, which is particularly important for improving the well-being of adolescents. Read more