The 25th Annual Medical Student Research Forum will be held on Monday, November 23, 2026, in the Health Sciences Learning Center from noon to 5:00 p.m. This annual event showcases the research accomplishments of the majority of SMPH students, who conduct research under the mentorship of UW faculty during the summer between their first and second years of medical school. Each year, more than 130 students present their work through podium and poster presentations.
Presenter Information for Medical Students
Tentative schedule for 2026 event:
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- Noon-1 pm. Poster Session. HSLC Atrium.
- 1:15-2:10 pm. Opening, Welcome, and Guest Lecture. 1306 HSLC
- Opening Remarks
- Guest Lecture: Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, Dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health
- 2:15-4 pm. Student Podium Presentation Sessions. (All sessions run concurrently in HSLC 1306, 1325, 1335, and 1345)
- 4 – 5 pm. Poster Session and Reception. HSLC Atrium.
Research Forum 2026
| Presentation Desc | Link | Room, Time | Student Name | Name | Department | Mentor Name | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Podium A 1 | HSLC 1306; 2:20-2:30 | Ian Casper | Ian Casper | Neurological Surgery | Dempsey, Robert, MD | Neuroprotective effects of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 and Growth Differentiation Factor-7 on neuronal cells exposed to in vitro ischemia/re-oxygenation injury | |
| Podium A 2 | HSLC 1306; 2:30-2:40 | Ranjak Joshi | Ranjak Joshi | Neurological Surgery | Lake, Wendell, MD | Spatial Mapping of Intraoperative Test Stimulation to the Dentato-Rubro-Thalamic Tract in Essential Tremor Deep Brain Stimulation | |
| Podium A 3 | HSLC 1306; 2:40-2:50 | Heaven Kim | Heaven Kim | Neurological Surgery | Schmidt, Bradley, MD | Association Between Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Surgical Outcomes After Anterior and Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion | |
| Podium A 4 | HSLC 1306; 2:50-3:00 | Ahmad Masoud | Ahmad Masoud | Neurological Surgery | Schmidt, Bradley, MD | Approach-Related Neurologic Complications Following Fluoroscopy-Guided and Navigation Assisted Prone Transpsoas Lateral Lumabr Interbody Fusion: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Institutional Experience | |
| Podium A 5 | HSLC 1306; 3:00-3:10 | Halli Olsen | Halli Olsen | Neurological Surgery | Hanna, Amgad, MD | Targeted mRNA-Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery of Interleukin-2 for Acute Spinal Cord Injury | |
| Podium A 6 | HSLC 1306; 3:10-3:20 | Aubrie Torhorst | Aubrie Torhorst | Neurology | Adelman, Eric, MD | Stroke code symptoms and final diagnoses differ by patient location | |
| Podium A 7 | HSLC 1306; 3:20-3:30 | Calvin Grass | Calvin Grass | Otolaryngology | Lin, Sandra, MD | Aeroallergen Season Timing, Intensity, and Clinically Relevant Exposure in Madison, Wisconsin | |
| Podium A 8 | HSLC 1306; 3:30-3:40 | Emily Stidham | Emily Stidham | Otolaryngology | Davis, Ruth, MD | Clinical Utility of the Classification of Acute Laryngeal Injuries (CALI) Severity Assessment for Post-Intubation Swallow and Voice Outcomes | |
| Podium A 9 | HSLC 1306; 3:40-3:50 | Emma Cepukenas | Emma Cepukenas | Radiology | Zhou, Wenhui, M.D., Ph.D. | Prediction of Surgical Margins in Lobular Breast Cancer Using Multimodal Electronic Health Records Data | |
| Podium A10 | HSLC 1306; 3:50-4:00 | Tenzin Wangdak Yuthok | Tenzin Wangdak Yuthok | Radiology | Lee, Matthew, MD | Opportunities in Opportunistic Screening: Stratifying Cardiometabolic Risk using CT-based Abdominal Aortic Calcification | |
| Podium B 1 | HSLC 1325; 2:20-2:30 | Amanda Piring | Amanda Piring | Human Oncology | Baniel, Claire, MD | Integration of Radiation Therapy with Tarlatamab in Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis | |
| Podium B 2 | HSLC 1325; 2:30-2:40 | Suchin Yang | Suchin Yang | Human Oncology | Baschnagel, Andrew, MD | Predictors of Pulmonary Toxicity in Patients with Locally Advanced Lung Cancer Treated With Chemoradiation | |
| Podium B 3 | HSLC 1325; 2:40-2:50 | Priya Ahuja | Priya Ahuja | Medicine | Kumar, Nilay, MD | Racial Differences in Clinical Outcomes and Care Patterns in Hospitalizations for Pulmonary Embolism | |
| Podium B 4 | HSLC 1325; 2:50-3:00 | Mofeoluwa Akinbogun | Mofeoluwa Akinbogun | Medicine | Samarasinghe, Amali, PhD, MS | Eosinophils Suppress Pneumococcal Burden and Preserve Airway Epithelial Integrity during Influenza Coinfection | |
| Podium B 5 | HSLC 1325; 3:00-3:10 | Maria Charles | Maria Charles | Medicine | Lutz, Megan, MD | Improving Anal Cancer Screening Adherence Through Integration with Surveillance Colonoscopy in High-Risk Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease | |
| Podium B 6 | HSLC 1325; 3:10-3:20 | Nabil Hussaini | Nabil Hussaini | Medicine | Striker, Robert, MD, PhD | Immune Health and Poor Outcomes: the Relationship Between Lymphopenia and CD4:CD8 Ratios | |
| Podium B 7 | HSLC 1325; 3:20-3:30 | David Kingston | David Kingston | Medicine | Alvarado, Francisco, PharmD, PhD | Decreased RyR2 expression produces blunted ß-adrenergic response in adult mouse hearts | |
| Podium B 8 | HSLC 1325; 3:30-3:40 | Francisco O'Neill Rodriguez | Francisco O'Neill Rodriguez | Medicine | Gepner, Adam, MD | Stiff Vessels, Slow Recovery? Exploring Post-Exercise Cardiovascular Dynamics in Older Adults | |
| Podium B 9 | HSLC 1325; 3:40-3:50 | Mia Strazny | Mia Strazny | Medicine | Parajuli, Sandesh, MBBS | Impact of Native Kidney Disease Etiology on Graft and Patient Outcomes After Kidney Transplantation | |
| Podium B10 | HSLC 1325; 3:50-4:00 | Camille Ylagan | Camille Ylagan | Medicine | Parajuli, Sandesh, MBBS | Changes by Era in Risk Factors and Outcomes Among Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients with Delayed Graft Function | |
| Podium C 1 | HSLC 1335; 2:20-2:30 | Ashwini Murthy, Raveena Mishra | Ashwini Murthy, Raveena Mishra | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Bhagavath, Bala, MD | Evaluating the Clinical Utility of Growth Hormone in In Vitro Fertilization at UW Health Fertility Care | |
| Podium C 2 | HSLC 1335; 2:30-2:40 | Kiley Bennett | Kiley Bennett | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Bhagavath, Bala, MD | Effect of Estrace Priming on Ovarian Response and Embryology Outcomes in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization | |
| Podium C 3 | HSLC 1335; 2:40-2:50 | Sophia Schoenfeld | Sophia Schoenfeld | Obstetrics and Gynecology | Hoppe, Kara, DO | Clinical Context of Prenatal Ultrasound Frequency in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder | |
| Podium C 4 | HSLC 1335; 2:50-3:00 | Kristy Bagley | Kristy Bagley | Surgery | Garland, Catharine, MD | Characterizing Postoperative Patient Communication Patterns and Healthcare Utilization Following Gender-Affirming Facial Feminization Surgery: A Quality Improvement Analysis | |
| Podium C 5 | HSLC 1335; 3:00-3:10 | Da-In Eom | Da-In Eom | Surgery | Rendell, Victoria, MD | The Chronicles of HERnia: Dissecting the Journey to the OR for Female Patients Undergoing Elective Inguinal Hernia Repairs | |
| Podium C 6 | HSLC 1335; 3:10-3:20 | Jadin Heilmann | Jadin Heilmann | Surgery | Beck, Anna, MD | Lobular Neoplasia Incidence Rates Across Breast Imaging Modalities in a Hybrid Multidisciplinary Academic and Community-Based Practice | |
| Podium C 7 | HSLC 1335; 3:20-3:30 | Jiajie Yan | Jiajie Yan | Surgery | Thiessen, Carrie, MD, PhD | Kidney Transplant Candidate Consent to Consider Hepatitis C-Positive Deceased Donor Organs: Patient Characteristics and Patterns of Consent Transition | |
| Podium C 8 | HSLC 1335; 3:30-3:40 | Nathan Mortensen | Nathan Mortensen | Surgery | Poore, Samuel, MD, PhD | National DIEP Price Transparency Rates From America’s Largest Payers | |
| Podium C 9 | HSLC 1335; 3:40-3:50 | Maya Sabharwal | Maya Sabharwal | Urology | Richards, Kyle, MD, FACS | Evaluating the Impact of a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention on Perioperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Cystectomy | |
| Podium C10 | HSLC 1335; 3:50-4:00 | Luke Vander Kooy | Luke Vander Kooy | Dermatology | South, Andrew, PhD | Comparative Anticancer Activity of Rigosertib Analogs in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa–Associated Squamous Cell Carcinoma | |
| Podium D 1 | HSLC 1345; 2:20-2:30 | Natalia M. Del Rio | Natalia M. Del Rio | Orthopedics and Rehabilitation | Spiker, Andrea, MD | Impact of Generalized Joint Hypermobility on Speed of Recovery After Periacetabular Osteotomy and Hip Arthroscopy | |
| Podium D 2 | HSLC 1345; 2:30-2:40 | Jack Frey | Jack Frey | Orthopedics and Rehabilitation | Sheean, Andrew, MD | Significant Deficits in Isokinetic Strength Testing Persist 5 Months After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair | |
| Podium D 3 | HSLC 1345; 2:40-2:50 | Jack Hanauer | Jack Hanauer | Orthopedics and Rehabilitation | Knurr, Keith, DPT | Longitudinal Recovery of Lower-Extremity Lean and Fat Mass After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Division I Athletes | |
| Podium D 4 | HSLC 1345; 2:50-3:00 | William Murphy | William Murphy | Orthopedics and Rehabilitation | Dunahoe, Jacquelyn, MD | Outcomes of Surgical Intervention for Patients in a Geriatric Hip Fracture Program | |
| Podium D 5 | HSLC 1345; 3:00-3:10 | Emily Martin | Emily Martin | Orthopedics and Rehabilitation | Shih, Celestine, MD | Socioeconomic Disparities in Neuromuscular Scoliosis Severity and Access to Care in Children with Cerebral Palsy | |
| Podium D 6 | HSLC 1345; 3:10-3:20 | Grace Rauch | Grace Rauch | Orthopedics and Rehabilitation | Shih, Celestine, MD | Neighborhood-Level Socioeconomic Disadvantage, Hip Displacement Severity, and Orthopaedic Care in Children with Cerebral Palsy | |
| Podium D 7 | HSLC 1345; 3:20-3:30 | Mazen Razzaq | Mazen Razzaq | Pediatrics | Cowan, Eileen, MD | Medical student Activities, Trajectories, and Career outcomes through Interest Groups (MATCH-InG): A Pilot Study | |
| Podium D 8 | HSLC 1345; 3:30-3:40 | Sarah Scalzo | Sarah Scalzo | Pediatrics | Hanson, Amy, MD | Variability In Telemetry-based AnaLysis with CRRT Ultrafiltration Changes (VITAL CRRT-UF) | |
| Podium D 9 | HSLC 1345; 3:40-3:50 | Tania Noor Yunez | Tania Noor Yunez | Pediatrics | Gannon-Loew, Kerry, MD, MS | The Role of Nurse Care Coordinator Contact Between Visits on Adolescent and Young Adult Retention Rates in an Outpatient Substance Use Clinic | |
| Podium D10 | HSLC 1345; 3:50-4:00 | Megan Piton | Megan Piton | Emergency Medicine | Andrews, Colleen, MD, MPH | A Community-Based Participatory Approach to Develop A Cervical Cancer Educational Tool in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala | |
| Student Name | Department | Mentor Name | Title |
Information for Students:
- Poster Presenters: Poster sessions will be held in the Atrium. Detailed poster instructions may be found here.
A special note about printing at Media Solutions in the HSLC: Personal credit cards are not accepted. Media Solutions requires payment using a departmental funding number or UW Health PO number. Contact your mentor or the unit where you conducted the research to ask if they are able to fund your poster printing and provide this information. Do not submit a poster for printing at Media Solutions without this information. - Podium Presenters: Podium presentations will be held in the large classrooms surrounding the Atrium (HSLC 1306, 1325, 1335, and 1345), with four concurrent oral sessions. This year, 40 podium presentation slots have been awarded, with 10 presenters in each room. Each presenter will have a 10-minute time slot using a Rapid Science format: a 5–6 minute presentation using five slides, followed by a few minutes of Q&A. Podium presenters are expected to remain for their full session.
- Attendance: All M1 and M2 students are expected to attend the Medical Student Research Forum.