The 2021 CDU Medical Student Research Thesis
Colloquium Highlights Health
Disparities
On Friday February 26, the University Medical Student Research Thesis Colloquium was presented via Zoom. Since 1995, the senior class has annually presented their research findings at this event. The primary purpose of the research activity, according to program director Dr. Shahrzad Barzargan-Hejazi, is to enhance students’ research capacity and overall professionalism.
Integrating research experience within the students’ overall course work equips them with the analytical thinking so important to ensure that a competent physician has the proper tools to practice evidencebased medicine. In accordance with a benchto-bedside approach to translational research, students have many options when choosing a health disparities-related, mentored research project, including basic, clinical, bio-behavioral / psychosocial, environmental, quality improvement, public policy, and / or educational research.
The CDU / UCLA Medical Education Program is committed to preparing excellent physicians by providing exceptional clinical research and practical training for individuals interested in serving urban, medically disadvantaged populations. Students enrolled in the program are required to engage in longitudinal research activity and submit a thesis each year at the research colloquium.
A variety of professionals were acknowledged in the Program Booklet and Mentors’ guide as having played a significant role in shaping the content of each student presenters’ contribution. The twentyeight Mentors’ expertise was drawn from a wide range of related disciplines including legal and ethical research, medical sociology, and economics, to the multifaceted specializations that comprise the field of medical practice. These experts helped the students to prepare and present highly detailed and fact-based information within the compact timeframe of the daylong colloquium. As part of the program booklet, a page-long description of each presenter’ s research paper was also provided.
Three Moderators provided insightful running commentary throughout the event regarding the subject matter and presentation style that the audience of colleagues would be hearing from each presenter. Ten Faculty Judges served to evaluate the quality of each presentation and added their qualitative assessment as an important adjunct to the audience remarks offered during the periodic time allotted for questions and answers within the program.
As the day’ s subject matter was given to researching the various facets of health disparities, the 31 student presenters offered a wide variety of perspectives. The range was not only impressive, but also spoke to the variety of health care realms where disparities are a subject of analysis.
Below is a brief sample of the research papers.
In the presentation by Esteban Aguayo, Impact of Safety-Net Status in Cholecystostomy Tube Utilization in Acute Cholecystitis, his research team’ s objective was to determine the impact of hospital safety-net status on cholecystostomy utilization, mortality and readmissions following PCT placement in patients with Tokyo Grade III acute cholecystitis. His conclusion was that safetynet status is associated with greater use of PCT in patients admitted for Tokyo Grade III acute cholecystitis.
Patients receiving PCT at safety-net hospitals
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 19