2021-2022 Research Director
Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Past National SOMA Research Directors
2020 – 2021: Jason Vadhan
2019 – 2020: Carlos G. Galindo
2018 – 2019: Taylor Timoteo
2016 – 2018: Charles Lopresto
Have you completed a research project that you are proud of? Want to get some recognition for your hard work? Apply for our National SOMA Research Spotlight Award and see your project get national recognition! One research project winner will be selected per month.
The award is only open to SOMA members and applicants need to only apply once!
The applications will be added to an applicant pool, & ALL applications submitted will be reviewed each month.
Winners will receive a $25 allowance towards a research journal subscription or medical professional/specialty membership of their choosing, a certificate of recognition will have their project promoted on the National SOMA website and social media platforms, and are encouraged to add this honor to their “Awards” section in their CV.
The 1st of Each Month – Begin submitting your applications via the Google form. Click Here for Application.
The 28th of Each Month at 11:59 p.m. CST – Last day for application collection.
Winners will be announced at the end of the month and will have their project promoted on our website and social media platforms. Winners may also add this to their “Awards” section of their CV.
Applications must include:
- Headshot or photo of you presenting research
- Title and abstract of the research project
- Personal statement (250 words or less) detailing:
- Why you chose this research topic
- What research means to you
- Any future research plans
Projects will be selected based on the following:
- Quality of research design
- Unique perspective/originality
- Impact on medical knowledge
- Impact on community
- Critical Analysis
Please contact Jantzen J. Faulkner, Research Director, via email at RD@studentdo.org for any questions
2021
January
Scott Landman and Yekaterina Okouneva
NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Brain and Skull Interactions in Polish Crested as a Model for Hydrocephalus.
February
Austin Johnson
Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Rates of Discontinuation and Nonpublication of Head and Neck Cancer Randomized Clinical Trials.
March
Ryley Mancine and Donald Gusfa
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Initial Validation of a Screening Tool for Disordered Eating in Adolescent Athletes.
April
Melissa Anderson-Chavarria
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Forgotten Families of the Sea and the Sun: An ethnography of autism in Puerto Rico.
May
Eric Greenwood
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Characterization of an engineered live bacterial therapeutic for the treatment of phenylketonuria in a human gut-on-a-chip.
June
Bryan J. Roberts, Andrew E. Makar, and Ryan Canaan
A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Effect of occipitoatlantal decompression on cerebral blood flow dynamics as evaluated by Doppler ultrasonography.
July
Sari Grad
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Cornulin & DJ-1 as Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
August
Rachna Chaudhari
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Utility of classroom subject performance outcomes in preparation for the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX).
September
Zachary Morehouse
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Validation of a Direct-to-PCR COVID-19 detection protocol utilizing mechanical homogenization: a model for reducing resources needed for accurate testing.
October
Lawsen Parker
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Use of Rho kinase Inhibitors in Ophthalmology: A Review of the Literature.
November
Michael Zhitnitsky
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine – California
Project: Practice Patterns and Responsiveness to Simulated Common Ocular Complaints Among US Ophthalmology Centers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
December
Ethan Shamsian
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Ablation of Tissue-Nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase In Macrophages Does Not Affect Atherosclerotic Plaque Calcification Or Cardiovascular Physiology
2021
Basic Science
1st – Eleni Papadopoulos
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Examining levels of catecholamine neurotransmitter regulatory proteins within the prefrontal cortex of rodents following traumatic brain injury
2nd – Kailey Kowalski
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Oxidative Damage to the Neuronal Calcium Pump in Ischemic Stroke
3rd – Cristina Padovani
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: The Role of Autophagy in Compound C-induced Killing of HeLa Cells
Clinical Research and Case Reports
1st – Erica Kozorosky
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: Insulin and C-peptide Release in Response to Noninvasive Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation
2nd – Abu-Bakr Malik
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine – Arkansas State University
Project: Broken Heart Syndrome: A Case of Reverse Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Coronary Anomaly Induced by a Spinal Arteriovenous Malformation
3rd – Sarah Liu
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Project: All Aboard the A.M.S. Neurolisterosis: A Rare Source of Pyogenic Ventriculitis