Held May 14, 2019, Research Day at PCOM Georgia featured 37 posters depicting innovative projects from students, residents, fellows and faculty members. Programs represented included biomedical sciences, pharmacy, osteopathic medicine, physical therapy and physician assistant studies. Research topics ranged from diabetes, obesity, and medication use to chemotherapy resistance, vaccination rates, and the effects of tai chi.
The event’s keynote speaker, Periasamy Selvaraj, PhD, a professor in the Department of Pathology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, described his seminal work in the area of cancer immunotherapy. His laboratory focuses on developing patient-specific, anti-tumor vaccines to treat metastatic cancer.
The following participants received awards for their research presentations:
Excellence in Research – Biomedical Sciences
First Place – Daniel Horuzsko, MS/Biomed ‘19
“Allicin reverses diabetes-induced dysfunction of human coronary artery endothelial
cells”
Second Place – Christine Okaro MS/Biomed, ‘19
“Increased autophagy and liver regeneration protects LCN2 KO mice from APAP-induced
acute liver failure”
Honorable Mention – Alina Farah, MS/Biomed ‘19
“Studies examining the potential of ruthenium-substituted, NGR-tagged rubredoxin to
act as a cancer therapeutic drug”
Excellence in Research – Pharmaceutical Sciences
First Place – My Hahn Duong, (PharmD ’20)
“Impact of pharmacist-driven management of direct oral anticoagulants: A preliminary
observational study”
Second Place – Adrian Gavre (PharmD ’21)
“Grapefruit favanoid naringenin: A promising therapeutic agent for obesity”
Honorable Mention – Lucy Yang (PharmD ’20)
“Student pharmacists self-perceived confidence in communication skills with healthcare
practitioners before and after a seminar course”
Excellence in Research – Physician Assistant Studies/Physical Therapy
First Place - Rodney Carter (PT ’21)
“Variation of the lateral ligaments of the knee: A case study”
Honorable Mention – Jocilyn Yarnell (PT ’21)
“Unreported anatomic variation of the iliocapsularis muscle: A case report”
Excellence in Research – DO Program
First Place – Samir Sarda (DO ’21)
“The Atlanta Interprofessional Student Hotspotting Program: Service-oriented education
and community-centered accountable care for high utilization patients"
Second Place – HJ Park (DO ’21)
“Melatonin for sleep? Examining the effect of melatonin on inflammation, neurodevelopment
and oxidative stress”
Honorable Mention – Timothy Cofer (DO ’22)
“What is the response of Cerebellar Purkinje cells and the Cerebral Cortex to tACS
stimulation in-vivo?”
Excellence in Research – Residents/Fellows
First Place – Iran Najafabadi, PharmD ‘18
“Medication use evaluation of intravenous acetaminophen in surgical patients”
Second Place – Travis Fields
“Chronic inflammation associated with obesity exacerbates bone loss in mice”
Honorable Mention – Haris Hatic, DO
“Thyrotoxicosis in molar pregnancy”
Fisher Award for Excellence
Haris Hatic, DO
Research Day committee members and judges included: Abigail Hielscher, PhD, Chair; Adwoa Aduonum, PhD; Kim Baker, PhD; Vishakha Bhave, PhD; Skye Bickett, DHSc, MLIS; Valerie Cadet, PhD; Shafik Habal, MD; Francis Jenney, PhD; Harold Komiskey, PhD; Vicky Mody, PhD; Dennis Peffley, JD, PhD; Srujana Rayalam, PhD; Lori Redmond, PhD; Sara Reece, PharmD; Essie Samuel, PharmD; Rangaiah Shashidharamurthy, PhD; Sonia Thomas, PharmD; Richard White, PhD; Shu Zhu, MD, PhD.
Sponsors of the event were: the PCOM Library and Educational Information Systems, the Division of Research, the Office of Admissions, Thermo-Fisher and Fulton Bank.
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
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