The UK College of Medicine recently hosted medical student research showcases across three of our campuses — Bowling Green, Lexington (virtual), and Northern Kentucky. These events celebrate our growing culture of inquiry, scholarship, and innovation and provide students with opportunities to present their work, engage with faculty scholars, and strengthen skills essential for future physician-leaders.
Events in Bowling Green and Northern Kentucky were held in person and followed a more traditional showcase format with students presenting posters. 2025 marked the third year our Bowling Green Campus has hosted a medical student research showcase, with 26 students presenting 32 posters. The UK College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky Campus hosted its first showcase, with a large showing of support from both students and faculty.
In Lexington, the Office of Medical Education took a new approach to the showcase, utilizing the virtual platform FourWaves. During the event, six oral presentation rooms ran simultaneously, each with five medical students sharing their work — ranging from clinical investigation to community health, basic science, and quality improvement. Following the oral presentations, a virtual poster hall featuring 11 posters presented by students provided attendees with the opportunity to explore additional projects at their own pace.
One theme stood out across campuses: student scholarship at UK is growing not only in volume, but in confidence and support. Through new tools, cross-campus collaboration, and sustained mentorship, the UK College of Medicine is building a model that encourages students to be creative, rigorous, and engaged with research.
The Office of Medical Education has also established a Canvas page for medical student research. Designed as a hub for students to connect with faculty about ongoing projects and learn about potential opportunities, it is just one example of ongoing efforts to support students’ learning and make research pathways easier to navigate.
LIST OF AWARDEES BY CAMPUS:
Lexington – “Best Presentation” winners for each oral presentation room
- Emerging Research: Elizabeth McCauley (M2), Kiki Samsel, Sara Police, PhD; “Enhancing Nutrition Education in Medical Training: Development of a Novel Elective Course.”
- Health Services: Dan Hayes (M2, RPLP), Elizabeth Blank, Ryan D. Muchow, MD; “What Resources are Available for Parents Online? A Readability, Quality, and Source Evaluation of Website and AI-Generated Content on Inherited Pediatric Orthopaedic Conditions.”
- Medical Education: Jacqueline Leon (M3, Bowling Green Campus), William C. Lippert, MD, Jennifer Olges, MD, L. Curtis Cary, MD, Kristy Deep, MD, Kristen E. Fletcher, MD; “Redefining Feedback in Residency: The Impact of Language on Learning.”
- Case Reports: Tucker Houchens (M4), Kate Yacona, DO, Jimmy Lee, MD, Elias El Haddad, MD; “From Ultrasound to Embolization: The Role of IR in Managing Enhanced Myometrial Vascularity.”
- Clinical Research: Caroline Sumner (M2), Graham Hill (M2), Grace Markowski, Shelby White, Janet L. Walker, MD; “Demographic Risk Factor Variation Among Types of Congenital Lower Limb Deficiency.”
- QIPS: Abby Dukes (M2), Emma Scott, MD; “Building Future Quality Leaders: Outcomes of the Churchill Summer QI Fellows Program.”
Bowling Green Campus – Poster Presentation Awards
- First Place: Harrison T. Stone (M3), Edward Lee Major (M3), James R. Goetz (M4), Ronald S. Clarkson, Gregory S. Hawk, PhD, Stephen T. Duncan, MD, Jeffrey B. Selby, MD; “A Comparison of Early Postoperative Outcomes: Robotic Assisted versus Conventional Total Knee Arthroplasty.”
- Second Place: Patrick L. Williams (M2), James Watkins, MD, Meredith Angel, MD; “Ureteral Entrapment in an Inguinal Hernia: A Urological Case Report.”
- Third Place: Jacob Springer (M3), Amanda Osborn (M3) (co-first authors), Carlos Gaibor, Mohammed Fawaz, Dylan Sanford, Chase Rawls, Paige Long, Aisha Nour, Phoebe Bunting, Mohammad Abdul-Waheed; “Comparing the Relationship Between Furosemide and Albumin Levels in Congestive Heart Failure Patients with Ejection Fraction More Than 40%, and Its Impact on the Length of Hospital Stay. A Single-Center, Retrospective Observational Study”
High Impact Designations:
- Amanda Osborn (M3), Paige Long (M3), Cydney Sampson (M3), Daniel Davis, MD; “Unusual Cause of Hemorrhagic Shock: Free Perforation of Gallbladder from Acute Necrotizing Cholecystitis.”
- Nicholas Cummins (M1), Edward Lee Major (M3), Chaitu Malempati, DO; “Use of a Bio-Inductive Collagen Implant in Distal Triceps Tendon Repair: A Case Report.”
Northern Kentucky Campus – Poster Presentation Awards
- First Place: Katelyn Donley-Weldon (M2), Hong Huang, Yasir Alsiraj, PhD, Peter Giannone, MD, John Bauer, MD; “Premature Birth as an Under-Recognized Contributor to Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
- Second Place: Maddie Bland South (M3), Alfredo Siller, MD, Corey Georgesen, MD, Brett Coldiron, MD; “Pleomorphic Dermal Sarcoma: A Comprehensive Review and Clinical Guide to Diagnosis, Management, and Outcomes.”
- Third Place: Claire Dzan (M2), Melina Windon, MD; “Do Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma patients adhere to recommended surveillance schedules?”
