Med school students show off research, earn honors during annual Naval symposium

Students and faculty from the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine brought home several awards from a research symposium held April 16 on Camp Lejeune.

The Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune (NMCCL) Annual Research Symposium highlights the importance of military-civilian partnerships in the realms of medical and dental research, a news release says.

In its 16th year, the symposium offered a showcase highlighting academic research from military members and civilians studying medicine and dentistry throughout Eastern and Coastal North Carolina.

The event included more than 45 posters and podium presentations from medical schools, including CUSOM, and organizations such as the Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, 2nd Medical Battalion; Womack Army Medical Center; Cape Fear Valley University and more, the release says.

Campbell students earned several prestigious honors.

CUSOM's Claudia Leehart earned Best Case Report Poster for "Recurrent Respiratory Infections Complicated Repair of Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect in Down Syndrome."

Brian Zhang, also of CUSOM, earned Best Literature Review Poster for "Amantadine as adjunctive therapy for freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.

Campbell med student Alexa Sokhon earned Best Investigational or Education Research Poster for "Brown Skin Matters: Addressing Representation Gaps in Dermatological Education."

The honor for Best Clinical Research Podium Presentation went to CUSOM's Rhea Gopali for "Comparing Inpatient Outcomes following PCI and CABG Procedures in Patients Aged 65 and older: National Hospital Care Survey 2020-2021."

Dr. Timothy Novosel, a general surgeon and surgical critical care specialist with Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, was the keynote speaker. NMCCL Director Capt. Anja Dabelić encouraged attendees to continue their research endeavors.

"Lean into the opportunity to research. It's not just a career path but [research] truly gives valuable information to others for growth and learning," Dabelić said in a statement. "As military members, our number one commitment is to national security. Medical and dental advancements mean we continue to put the care of our nation's warfighters at the forefront of our mission each and every day."

The 16th Annual Research Symposium was held in partnership with The Geneva Foundation and the Henry J. Foundation.

"This is our capstone of the year to really highlight our family medicine residency and psychiatry residency research efforts and the partnership we have developed throughout the community," said Lt. Cmdr. Clare Griffis, department head of Clinical Investigations Department. "It's essential to continue that partnership and highlight that academic research is fundamental for modern-day practicing of military and civilian medicine."

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