Health Sciences Student Research Summit

About the Student Research Summit

The Student Research Summit enables members of the UMKC health sciences community to display posters in a forum that:

  • Highlights the health sciences research being conducted in the UMKC schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Health Studies, Pharmacy and Science and Engineering.
  • Fosters research collaborations across disciplines and schools that will produce economic, health, education and quality-of-life benefits for the greater Kansas City community.

2026 Student Research Summit

The 14th annual UMKC Health Sciences Student Research Summit will be held at Union Station in the Chamber Board Room from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, April 10.

How do I apply?

Application deadline: March 22

  • Fill out the REDCap application and submit a 250-500 word abstract that summarizes your research topic and presentation.
  • You may present up to two posters, as long as they are in different categories — clinical research, basic research or case reports. Faculty will review abstracts and provide feedback, if revisions are needed.
  • There is no application fee, but you will have to pay for your poster materials.
  • Posters should be printed 36” x 48”, but you may alter the size to fit your topic.
  • Please prepare a brief (no more than 15 minutes) presentation for the faculty judges.

Student Research Summit application

Questions?

Email Alison Troutwine.

2025 Student Research Summit Winners

Overall winners:

1st: Landon Cairer and Jacob Schneider, School of Nursing and Health Studies, “Recommendations for DNP Coursework Objectives: Curriculum Mapping to Align with the AACN Essentials”, Mentor: Tamara Hill, DNP, CRNA

2nd: Hunter Campbell and Caleb Haverstick, School of Medicine, “The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Renal Tubular Acidosis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis”, Mentor: Sarah Ifteqar, M.D.

3rd: Shrihari Nagarajan and Samuel Kim, School of Medicine “The Metabolic Implications of Lipid Nanoparticles on Critical Intracellular Neural Stem Cell Pathways”, Mentor: Paula Monaghan-Nichols, Ph.D.

Undergraduate winners:

1st: Shekhar Gugnani, School of Medicine, “Long-Term Cardiometabolic Impacts of Single-Dose Prenatal Exposure to Distinct Synthetic Glucocorticoids”, Paula Monaghan-Nichols, Ph.D.

2nd: Fardowsa Ahmed and Claire Covert, School of Nursing and Health Studies, “Early Insights: Preliminary Findings of a 12-Month Food Is Medicine Intervention for Food Insecure Adults”, Kelsey Gardiner, Ph.D. 

Graduate winners:

1st:  Emily Puthawala, School of Medicine, “The Impact of 340B Program Disruption on Patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases in an Urban Safety Net Hospital- A Retrospective Study”, Mentor: Sarah Ifteqar, M.D.

2nd: Sarah George and Vagmi Kantheti, School of Medicine, “Silencing Success: Operating Room Noise Impacts Medical Student Learning and Participation”, Mentor: Gary Sutkin, M.D.

Professional winners:

1st: Eric Chai and Dylan Glaser, School of Medicine, “Examining the effect of reduced glucocorticoid receptor activity on amphetamine-induced locomotor response and sensitization”, Mentor: Xiang-Ping Chu, M.D., Ph.D.

2nd: Uma Pillai, School of Medicine, “The Impact of TNF-α Inhibitors on Diastolic Dysfunction and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study”, Mentor: Sarah Ifteqar, M.D.