The Research Symposium is one of KCU's premier collaborative academic events, which brings together the different colleges to showcase the University’s innovative research and scientific discoveries. The symposium also hosts distinguished physicians and scientists from within and outside the KCU community. 

2025 Award Winners

Yale U. Castlio, DO, Prize for Research
Joseph Peters 

Podium Presentation
Joseph Peters, Grant Runnels, Alexa Lauinger, Tanner Murphy, Turner Slicho, DO
“A Review of Osteopathic and Related Manipulations for Treating Gut Dysfunction in Neurological Populations: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”

Podium Presentation
Clayton Bilke, Erica Wunderlich, Garret Seiler DO
“Inconsistent Diagnostic Findings Leading to a Delay in Tuberculosis Treatment: A Case Study”

Podium Presentation
Makeen Thanawalla, Dang Nguyen, Andrea Gaona Romero, Douglas Bittel MSc, PhD, Julie Koester, Joseph Shaffer PhD, Nataliya Kibiryeva MD
“Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Differential Alternative Splicing of CD4+ Effector T-cells in Narcolepsy Type 1 Patients”

Podium Presentation
Tahlia Korin, Kimberley Beier, Kami Pearson, Hector Cotto, Asma Zaidi, PhD
“Breaking Bad: When Calcium Signaling Goes Awry and Leads to a Depressing Episode”

Poster Presentation
Angelina Miley, Kaitlin Barnes, Brianne Werner, Zachary Werner, Gautam Desai, DO
“The Effectiveness of Ultrasonography in the Evaluation of Clinically Dehydrated Children in Kenya”

Poster Presentation
Jordan Konstanty, Jessica L. Morehouse, Christian Willers, Emma Gauert, Nicole Fremarek, Sara Sloan
”Variation in Extensor Indicis Proprius and Clinical Application for Antebrachial Procedures”

Poster Presentation
Naa Deede Attoh, Myris Kramsch, Catherine Kauffman, Mariann Hayes
“Transcriptome Analysis of iPSC Model Derived from Patients with Schizophrenia”

Poster Presentation
Ian Bosman, Michael Filla, BS, Nataliya Kibiryeva, MD, James E. O'Brien Jr., MD, Douglas C. Bittel, PhD
“Evaluating the Impact of Snord94 Knockdown on Spliceosome Function, Changes in RBM5 mRNA Processing and Potential Implications for Heart Development

Poster Presentation
Franchesca Millan-Daniel
“Examining Empathy Among Veterans and  Non-Veterans, With and Without PTSD”

Poster Presentation
Zikeya Byrd
“How do Social Supports Impact Overdose Risk: Utilizing Next-of-Kin Interviews to Examine Fatal Opioid Overdoses”

Poster Presentation
Karlee Ranville 
“The Effects of Gratitude Journaling on Older Adults’ Life Satisfaction, Percieved Social Support and Connectedness”

Poster Presentation
Kole Wagener
“Adherence and Engagement to Behavioral Health Treatments in People with Multiple Sclerosis”

GME Research Symposium Awards

First Place
Hannah Kopelman, DO; Aashni Bhukhan, DO; Jessika Sanz, DO, et al. KCU/ADCS-Orlando Y1 Residents
“Enhancing HS Care: A QI Project Focused on Early Screening and Diagnosis”

Second Place
Matthew Daggett, DO, MBA., SANO Specialty Care; Bryan Beutel, MD, Kansas City University; Garrett Gilbert, DO, SANO Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellow
“Percutaneous Biceps Tenodesis Using Needle Arthroscopy and Regional Anesthesia: The Infinity Technique”

Third Place
Mariam Akhtar, MD, Freeman Health System (FHS); Don Kulasekera, DO, MA, KCU/FHS Family Medicine Y3 Resident
“Assessing Health Resources in a Rural LBGTQ+ Community”