The PNWU Research Symposium is a showcase of research, innovation, and improvement in health and health sciences. Join us for an afternoon of exploration as faculty, students, and other research professionals from various health science fields present their latest findings via keynote presentations, scientific posters, and lightning talks. This event is free and registration is required.
Thank you for another successful symposium!
Attendees enjoyed an informative keynote address by Dr. Tracy Jirikowic, viewed hallways and rooms filled with student research projects, and observed captivating lightning talks by faculty members. Overall it was a great event and we’re excited to see what next year brings.
2025 Winners
We accepted 47 student projects representing four different categories: empirical research, case reports, literature reviews, and quality improvement. Below are the winners for each category.
Empirical Research
- First Place: Mapping the Topography of the Articular Cartilage of the Radial Head, Austin Evanovich, OMS-IV; Emma Saint-Preux, OMS-II; Natalie Yoshioka, PhD
- Second Place: The Utility of Sports Physicals in Screening for Pediatric Hypertension, Emily C Simmons, OMS3, Peyton Lipp, OMS2, Matt Cortner, OMS2, Ashton Chen, DO, Petr Cigner, MBBS
- Third Place: Deep Learning Improves the Identification of Secondary Osteons in a Maiasaura Dataset, Spencer Brown, OMS2; Christian Heck, PhD
Case Reports
- First Place: Delayed Diagnosis of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in a 36-year-old Postpartum Female Without Known Risk Factors, Ana M Chang, PhD, OMS3; Joslyn Johnson, OMS3; Anna Song, OMS2; Johan Velo, MS, OMS2; Beneshia Robinson, OMS3, RN, MA; Esther Hyun, JD; Albert Brady, MD, FACP, FACOI
- Second Place: Gastric Lactobezoar in a 2-Month-Old A Case Study, Caitlynn Smith-McGregor, OMSIII; Evan Romrell, MD
- Third Place: Cardiomegaly with an Absent Septal Leaflet of the Tricuspid Valve A Cadaveric Case Report, Darrow Felsted, OMSII; Kyle Bergfalk, OMSII; Alex King, OMSII; Christian Heck, PhD
Literature Reviews
- First Place: The Relationship Between Infant Mortality and Carnitine Palmitoyl-Transferase Type 1A (CPT1A P479L) Arctic Variant Genetic Mutation A Literature Review, Megan Kenner, OMS II; D.S. Kurin, PhD; Christian Heck, PhD
- Second Place: Risk Factors Influencing Axillofemoral Bypass Outcomes, Niv Bhide, OMS II; Caila Tongco, OMS II; Hayden Gorham, OMS II; Christian Heck, PhD
- Third Place: Exploring the Impact of Technology-Based Interventions on Adolescent Sexual Education and Decision-Making, Ashlee Cain, OMSII; Maddie Gallagher, OMSII; Janelle Mapes, PhD
Quality Improvement
- First Place: The Path to Residency Insights from Medical School Statistics and Career Outcomes in PNWU Alumni, Matt Cortner, OMS-II; Hannah Cornwell, OMS-II; Schafer Paladichuk, OMS-IV; Emily Oestreich, PhD; Ronald Walser, DPT
Keynote Speaker
Tracy Jirikowic, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Tracy Jirikowic has over 30 years experience in occupational therapy with expertise in pediatric neurodevelopment and interventions for children and youth with developmental disabilities. Dr. Jirikowic has special research and clinical interests in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and holds a clinical appointment with the University of Washington Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic and Prevention Network. Her research activities include development of an early identification and intervention model for children with FASD, understanding sensory processing in children with FASD, and examining community-based interventions that promote social participation, health, and well-being for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also holds a current appointment as Co-Director for the PhD in Rehabilitation Science Program in the UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Keynote Topic:
Supporting Children with Prenatal Substance Exposure and their Families: Perspectives and Pathways for Promoting Strengths and Resilience
In this keynote address, Dr. Jirikowic will highlight prominent developmental needs of children impacted by prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and responsive interventions that support children and their caregivers. Current and emerging evidence-based approaches will be described that include elements of FASD-informed care and child and family-centered strategies that promote early intervention, positive behavior support and community participation.
2025 Day-of Program
2025 Abstract Program – Full
Resources
Symposium Categories
The PNWU Research Symposium features projects in four categories: Empirical Research, Quality Improvement, Case Reports, and Literature Reviews. Below are descriptions of each to help you determine where your project fits.
Empirical Research involves the collection and analysis of data to answer research questions or test hypotheses. Empirical research is grounded in real-world observations and aims to contribute new knowledge to a particular field through systematic and objective methods that allow for reproducibility.
Quality Improvement involves identifying areas for improvement, implementing changes, and continuously monitoring and assessing the impact of those changes to achieve better results. Quality improvement happens most often in clinical settings and is usually driven by a problem statement, rather than a research question or hypothesis. While quality improvement aims to be systematic, it is much more flexible than empirical research and allows investigators to make changes to the protocol as the project unfolds. As such, quality improvement projects are more difficult to replicate.
A Case Report is a detailed and specific description of an individual case, often in the fields of medicine, psychology, or social sciences. It typically presents information about a patient, client, or subject, including their medical history, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Case reports are valuable for documenting unusual or unique cases and can provide insights into diagnosis and treatment approaches. The PNWU Library has digital copies of Writing Case Reports: A Practical Guide from Conception Through Publication available.
A Literature Review is a critical and systematic analysis of existing research and scholarly literature on a specific topic. It involves identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing relevant studies, articles, and other sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on the chosen subject. The PNWU Library has digital copies of Judith Garrard’s Health Sciences Literature Reviews Made Easy which is a great resource for learning about literature reviews.
Abstract Submission Requirements
The abstract submission form requires the following information:
- Title of your project
- Contact information
- Names of all authors and their credentials
- Primary faculty mentor name
- Contact information for the submitting author and primary faculty mentor
- Type of project
- Select from the following four categories:
- Empirical research
- Quality improvement
- Literature or other type of review
- Case study or case series
- Select from the following four categories:
- Abstract
- 350 word maximum
- Abstracts for empirical research, quality improvement, and literature reviews must include the following sections:
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Abstracts for case reports must include the following sections:
- Introduction
- Case Description
- Discussion
- Proof of IRB Approval for projects involving human subjects or their data
- Empirical Research and Quality Improvement projects not involving human subjects or identifiable data MUST seek a formal Determination of Not Human Subjects Research (NHSR)
- IRB Approval or Determinations of NHSR must be obtained BEFORE you interact with humans or access their data
- IRB Workshop Video
Abstract Judging Rubrics
Look through the judges’ rubrics to learn more about scoring elements.
Resources for Developing Abstracts
- PNWU Library’s ‘How to Write an Abstract’ module in Moodle
- Lizzie Lamb’s 2025 PowerPoint on the ‘Introduction to the Research Symposium’
- Dr. Diana Rhodes’ 15-minute presentation, ‘How to Write an Abstract‘
- Introduction to the Symposium
Read through programs, abstracts, and award winners from previous PNWU Research Symposia here.
Resources for Developing Posters
- Poster template for Empirical Research and Quality Improvement Projects
- Poster template for Case Reports
- Poster template for Literature Reviews
- Developing a Poster Presentation Seminar by Dr. Briggs Early and Dr. Habecker – Recording (requires PNWU login)
- Developing a Poster Presentation Seminar by Dr. Briggs Early and Dr. Habecker – PDF Handout
- Poster judging rubric
Information for Presenters
- Please send your poster to your faculty mentor to review by Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
- Posters are due to OSA by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 via the REDCap link provided in an email from OSA. This link is unique to your project. Please email osa@pnwu.edu if you need us to re-send you your link. We will not accept posters after this time, nor will we accept changes to posters after they are submitted.
- Posters must be submitted as a PowerPoint slide in .jpg format.
- External presenters are welcome to use the below templates.
- External presenters may use their organization’s logo.
- You can alter templates or use different ones, but they must fit the size requirement of 36″ X 48″
- Templates