This year’s CHS Research Day included two keynote speaker presentations. The first presentation was led by Melissa Duff, associate professor of hearing and speech sciences at Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her speech emphasized the importance of hippocampal dependent memory, how it supports communication and language, and its connection to cognitive communication disorders.

The second keynote presentation kicked off in the afternoon, featuring Kelly Allison, professor and director for the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. Allison elaborated on how current obesity interventions impact eating behaviors and metabolic outcomes.

Outside the keynote presentations, a select group of students presented their work on the Audion stage in fast-paced, one-minute pitches designed to spark interest among attendees. During the following two poster sessions, attendees were free to explore the full range of posters and learn about research across all seven CHS departments.

“Our faculty, students, and community and industry partners consistently tell us that this day gives them a valued opportunity to connect with CHS colleagues,” said Freda Patterson, associate dean of research and professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences. “In this way, our annual Research and Innovation Day serves as both a cornerstone to showcase existing research and as a catalyst for new ideas and collaboration.” 

Ishani Vyas, a third-year student double-majoring in neuroscience and psychology with minors in cognitive science and disability studies, shared her research examining the relationship between subjective language complaints in older adults and objective measures of narrative discourse.

“What makes this research unique is that it combines subjective self-report measures with detailed discourse analysis,” explained Vyas. “Narrative tasks capture communication in a way that is closer to real-world language use than many traditional language assessments. This project has been especially meaningful because it highlights how perception and performance can reflect different aspects of communication ability.

“Through my research experience and preparing for CHS Research and Innovation Day, I’ve learned how to analyze language data, interpret research findings, communicate complex ideas to a broader audience and present my findings clearly,” said Vyas. “These are all skills that will be valuable as I continue pursuing my research.”

Another student, Kathleen Downs, a senior majoring in kinesiology with a minor in strength and conditioning, showcased her research from the Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology. Downs examined whether healthy older adults and adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) have different walking mechanics in response to the same physical activity. Current literature indicates that individuals with knee OA tend to experience greater fatigue than healthy individuals performing the same exercise, but more research is needed to determine whether they exhibit similar changes in gait mechanics.

“We’ve focused on using a 12-camera motion capture system to record participants’ movements while they walk, allowing us to analyze how their gait mechanics may change,” said Downs. “This process takes a lot of time, patience and problem-solving, but is incredibly rewarding as you can help people improve their health and overall quality of life. Whether that means finding ways to reduce pain, make everyday activities easier, or improve longevity, the goal is always to find answers that can make a real difference.”

Presenting at CHS Research and Innovation Day over the past two years has been an invaluable experience in improving Downs' communication and public speaking skills.

“These experiences have pushed me outside of my comfort zone, which has helped my overall confidence grow as I faced and overcame new challenges. Through the research process, I’ve also learned how to stay organized, manage my time effectively, and think more critically," Downs said. 

Senior Kashish Patel and junior Kristen Hopkins, both nursing majors, reflected on their research. Their ongoing study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nursing students at UD toward gerontological care.

“This research is important because it focuses on a specific nursing specialty, gerontology, which current literature demonstrates that few nursing students pursue,” said Patel. “As the aging population continues to grow, gerontological knowledge and skills are essential for nurses to effectively accommodate this group and their complex needs.”

Hopkins added, “Our efforts are focused on identifying gaps in knowledge and perceptions to help determine the need for further education for nursing students to feel more prepared in this specialty.

"Ultimately, this will help improve clinical outcomes for this population and allow us to identify the need for educational interventions to better prepare future nursing students.”

After the second poster session concluded, lighting research talks were led by a diverse group of faculty across CHS and included:

• Ho Ming Chow, Ph.D. program co-director and associate professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Jee Won-Park, assistant professor of epidemiology.
• Daehyoung (DH) Lee, assistant professor of health behavior and nutrition sciences
• Ibra Francher, assistant professor of kinesiology and applied physiology
• Esther Biswas-Fiss, professor and chair of the Department of Medical & Molecular Sciences
• Jonathon Wood, assistant professor of the Department of Physical Therapy
• Lauren Covington, assistant professor in the School of Nursing

CHS Research & Innovation Day Award Winners

Doctorate and Professional Researcher:

• 1st place: Abigail Bower
• 2nd place: Liam McArdle
• 3rd place: Sarah Overby
• 4th place: Lia McNulty
• 5th place: Nick Rizzi
• 6th place: Kareem Khairy

Master’s: 

• 1st place: Evan Ciecko
• 2nd place: Alex Krumenacker
• 3rd place: Elena Lynn

Undergraduate: 

• 1st place: Ishani Vyas
• 2nd place: Sean Fletcher
• 3rd place: Elissa Kouemeni