PHHP Research Day 2014

On April 9 the College of Public Health and Health Professions hosted the largest research day in its 27-year history with 136 poster presentations from student presenters.

PHHP Research Day also featured oral presentations from the top eight ranked graduate student abstracts. The college granted a total of 15 awards for outstanding research. Awardees will receive funds from the college to cover travel expenses associated with presenting their research at a national conference.

Susan Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., vice president of the James S. McDonnell Foundation and an adjunct associate professor of neurobiology and anatomy and occupational therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, provided the keynote address. The McDonnell Foundation is one of a limited number of international grant-makers supporting university research in the biological and behavioral sciences. Fitzpatrick serves on the boards of the Association of Women in Science, the Ontario Brain Institute and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. She is a past member of the board of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and currently serves on their nominations committee.

In her presentation, “Career Optimism: Carving Your Own Destiny in Health Research,” Fitzpatrick reviewed some emerging research trends and discussed strategies for rewarding careers.

2014 PHHP Research Day awardees

Highest ranking abstract ($1,000 travel award)
Sharareh Sharififar, department of physical therapy

Top abstracts (in alphabetical order)
Taj Azarian, department of epidemiology ($750 travel award)

Abhinandan Batra, department of physical therapy ($750 travel award)

Kendra Krietsch, department of clinical and health psychology ($500 travel award)

Melissa Laitner, department of clinical and health psychology ($500 travel award)

Molly McLaren, department of clinical and health psychology ($500 travel award)

Chukwuemeka Okafor, department of epidemiology ($500 travel award)

Rachel Postupack, department of clinical and health psychology ($500 travel award)

Poster awards ($300 travel award)
Aviva Ariel, department of clinical and health psychology

Adam Beharry, department of physical therapy

Aarthi Madhavan, department of speech, language, and hearing sciences

Brandon Roberts, department of physical therapy

Sarah Stromberg, department of clinical and health psychology

Karessa White, department of speech, language, and hearing sciences

Sarah White, department of environmental and global health