Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Symposium held
Posted: November 8, 2012
Eighty-four faculty, students, and staff gathered in the Connell Information and Technologies Center on Sept. 29 for the 4th Annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Symposium, hosted by the ATSU Research Institute and co-sponsored by ATSU and Truman State University (TSU).
In her introduction to the symposium, Margaret Wilson, DO, dean of ATSU-KCOM, said that “the symposium serves as a wonderful opportunity to bring together students and faculty not only from both ATSU campuses and TSU, but from other undergraduate colleges in the Midwest, to share their research activities and presentations. It is a great collaborative effort and chance to learn!”
Heidi Prather, DO, associate professor of orthopedic surgery and neurology and chief of section in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Washington University in St. Louis, was the symposium’s keynote speaker. Dr. Prather is the director of Washington University’s Orthopedic Spine Center. She also co-founded and directs the Sports Medicine Fellowship in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Washington University. Neil Sargentini, PhD, chair of microbiology and immunology at ATSU-KCOM, believed that the symposium’s keynote address by Dr. Prather, A clinician’s perspective regarding research of lumbopelvic and hip disorders, was exceptional for the quality of “its science and for the insights provided on the reality of clinicians performing research.”
Following the keynote speech, eight brief oral presentations were delivered by three ATSU-KCOM students, two TSU students, one ATSU-KCOM faculty member, one ATSU-SOMA faculty member, and one ATSU staff member. TSU student Lisa Clark, who delivered a presentation, related that she “had a wonderful experience at the symposium this year, since it was my first time presenting at a scientific meeting. The IBRS is an excellent opportunity for both students and experienced researchers to present their work in a friendly yet professional environment.”
During the afternoon session, 29 posters displayed current research in developmental disorders, musculoskeletal, cancer biology, infectious disease, neuroscience, cardiovascular disease, nutrition, and biomedical technology. Presenters included ATSU-KCOM faculty and students, ATSU-SOMA faculty, and TSU faculty and students. For the first time, posters were also presented by faculty and students from regional colleges such as University of Missouri-Columbia, Monmouth College and the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The posters not only demonstrated the growing collaborative efforts between ATSU and Truman, but also reflected the growing collaboration between these two Universities and other institutions such as University of Missouri-Columbia, St. Louis University, and the University of Cincinnati.
The day concluded with two Outstanding Research Poster Awards presented to Lisa Clark (TSU) and Talon Anderson (ATSU-KCOM). “The IBRS was an incredible opportunity to gain experience for not only presenting research that I have done but seeing the vast influence of research on the practice of medicine today,” said Anderson. “As a student, it was an invaluable experience to meet with professors, DO’s, and other students participating in amazing medical research.”
Brian Degenhardt, DO, director, ATSU Research Institute, noted that “the symposium has established itself as a great venue for current and future clinicians and basic scientists within various fields of medicine to present their research and to broaden and deepen their understanding of the complex human organism.”