“Understanding the Motivations and Experiences of STEM Students in a Study Abroad Program”

poster abstractFrom March 14th to 21st of 2015, student members of the IUPUI chapter of Timmy Global Health traveled to Las Canas, Dominican Republic as part of a medical brigade team. Alongside doctors, nurses, dentists, and other medical personnel, participating students played an active, hands-on role in helping to provide primary care services to over 600 patients from the five impoverished communities surrounding Las Canas (Timmy Global Health, 2015). Undergraduate students, many of whom are STEM students, decide to participate in these medical brigade trips for a variety of reasons. The exact motivations and experiences of STEM students participating in health science-related study abroad trips, however, are not adequately explored in current study abroad literature. This research seeks to determine how each participant’s experiences in Las Canas have impacted their perceptions of health science-related careers. The specific aims of this project are concerned with understanding the following: 1) the motivations that influence the decision-making process of STEM students choosing to study abroad; 2) the individual experiences during a health science-based study abroad trip that are instrumental in refining and solidifying STEM interest; and 3) the student-level and community outcomes (e.g. an increase of STEM interest and a positive effect on local health care recipients, respectively) produced by a medical brigade experience. A mixed methods research design —including observations, interviews, participant reflections, and pre-/post-program surveys — was utilized to address this project’s specific aims

Development of Undergraduate STEM Students through Global Service-Learning in a Medical Context

poster abstractGlobal service-learning and study abroad programs have the potential to affect students’ personal, social, and professional development. The exact ways in which this development is influenced by international medical service-learning has not been thoroughly explored in the literature. This study analyzes the motivations, experiences, and outcomes of undergraduate STEM students participating in a weeklong international medical service-learning and study abroad trip to Las Canas, Dominican Republic. Participants had various backgrounds, STEM majors, and career goals. Utilizing a mixed-methods research approach consisting of observations, interviews, participant reflections, and pre- and post-trip surveys, several of the meaningful motivations, experiences, and outcomes for the participants were identified. Additionally, two case studies were produced by qualitatively collecting data from multiple sources and reporting the description and themes of the cases. The specific aims of this study were understanding: 1) the individual experiences during a health science-based study abroad trip that are instrumental in refining and solidifying STEM interest; and 2) the personal, social, and professional student-level outcomes produced by an international medical service-learning experience. Through the case studies, the combined impact of past and trip experiences was explored as it relates to experiential learning and identity development. For case study participants Brianna and Hannah, the trip combined multiple experiences that were relevant to their career goals, such as working with underserved populations and involvement with global health

Understanding the INDA Student Summer Camp Experience

poster abstractSERI conducted an evaluation of IUPUI’s Nanotechnology Discovery Academy (INDA) for students (n=47) during the summer of 2013. SERI evaluators utilized an explanatory sequential mixed methods evaluation plan comprised of surveys (pre- and post-), observations, and four student focus groups. Using a mixed methods approach facilitates a dialogue between quantitative representations of change and the everyday experiences and perceptions of participating students, thereby constructing insights into the complexity of the learning process and its effects. Student learning outcomes and comfort with collaborative learning were measured through pre- and post-question change. A student Nanoscore was determined using survey questions assessing nanotechnology comfort, confidence, and understanding. Both the change in student Nanoscore and their comfort with collaborative learning had statistically significant increases. Qualitative data was used to elaborate on the significance of these changes, suggesting that INDA provided an educational environment that emphasized and improved nanotechnology awareness and collaborative abilities. However, findings from this evaluation also reveal that many participants struggled with the interdisciplinarity of nanotechnology. More specifically, students who had yet to take high school physics reported struggling with INDA content due to their lack of physics knowledge

How to Stop People from Going Blind from Glaucoma Using Early Cataract Surgery/Refractive Lensectomy and Microinvasive Glaucoma Surgery

Glaucoma continues to be a leading cause of blindness worldwide for the same reasons as in the past several decades, including the lack of early detection, improper treatment, and non-adherence to therapy. Medical therapy continues to be the first-line therapy even as surgical techniques are improving in their safety and efficacy. To turn the tide in preventing blindness from glaucoma, attention must be focused on targeted patient education, screening, effective treatment, and addressing health disparities. To achieve this, early safer cataract surgery and microinvasive glaucoma surgery must be considered as a first-line therapy in addition to medical therapy to best lower both intraocular pressure and the medication burden

The utility and risks of therapeutic nanotechnology in the retina

The clinical application of nanotechnology in medicine is promising for therapeutic, diagnostic, and surgical improvements in the near future. Nanotechnologies in nano-ophthalmology are in the early stages of application in clinical contexts, including ocular drug and gene delivery systems addressing eye disorders, particularly retinopathies. Retinal diseases are challenging to treat as current interventions, such as intravitreal injections, are limited by their invasive nature. This review examines nanotechnological approaches to retinal diseases in a clinical context. Nanotechnology has the potential to transform pharmacological and surgical interventions by overcoming limitations posed by the protective anatomical and physiological barriers that limit access to the retina. Preclinical research in the application of nanoparticles in diagnostics indicates that nanoparticles can enhance existing diagnostic and screening tools to detect diseases earlier and more easily and improve disease progression monitoring precision

Patient Perception of Physician Attire in a Military Ophthalmology Clinic

The purpose of this study is to investigate patient preferences of physician attire in an outpatient military ophthalmology clinic to determine how these preferences affect patients' perceptions of physician competence and their overall clinical experience. Materials and methods This study is a prospective survey administered to patients at the ophthalmology clinic at Brooke Army Medical Center. USA. Patients who were willing to participate in a volunteer survey were included in this study. Demographic information and survey questions were utilized in this study along with words and pictures for patients to select a preference in physician attire in the clinic setting (scrubs, military uniform, or civilian professional attire) and surgical setting (surgical cap or a surgical bouffant). The survey asks patients if physician attire impacts patient confidence in physician abilities (yes or no) and if surgeon attire impacts the likelihood of the patient taking the surgeon's advice (yes or no). Results The demographic distribution includes 57-77 years old participants (53%), females (61%), retirees (49%), and dependent spouses (40%). The racial distribution includes 46% - Caucasian, 20% - African American, 22% - Hispanic, 6 - % Asian, and 6% - other. Most patient appointment types were established follow-up (77%) with only 12% new and 11% walk-in. The survey results (N=308) indicate that most patients (64%) did not have a preference in physician clinical attire, while 22% preferred scrubs, 11% preferred military uniform, and 3% preferred civilian attire. Most patients (66%) did not have a preference for surgical headwear, while 27% preferred the surgical cap, and 7% preferred the surgical bouffant. Only 9% of the patients surveyed indicated that physician attire impacted their confidence in their physician's ability, and 12% reported that attire impacted the likelihood of taking advice. Conclusions Most patients in an outpatient military ophthalmology clinic do not have a preference for physician attire or surgical headwear when surveyed. The majority of patients did not feel physician attire impacted their perception of physician's ability or their likelihood of taking advice. When indicating a preference, patients tended to prefer scrubs to outpatient civilian attire or military attire and trended towards preferring surgical cap over surgical bouffant for headwear