The COMmunicator 2019-20 Vol. 3 | Page 30

INTERVIEW WITH JULIETTE KASSAS, COM '21

What led you to present at the NHOA Winter Symposium?

I first learned about the event through a circulating email. I was in the process of preparing my case presentation for a Grand Rounds event at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, NH at the time. I wanted more practice doing poster presentations, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to present in a different region of the state and in the presence other healthcare professionals.

Tell me about your case report:

The case report is about a 68 year old man who originally

What are the next steps for your research?

Currently, we have submitted our research for publication and are optimistically awaiting to hear back!

How do you see your research informing your own clinical work as a future provider?

a.This project, as well as the opportunity to shadow at the Mercy Pain Center, helped further my understanding of chronic pain. I observed not only how debilitating chronic pain can be, but that there are multiple ways to manage and measure it (more than just "on a scale of 1 to 10"). Whether I practice in the Emergency Department or in another specialty, I plan to use what I've learned to better address my patient's pain.

b.Also, having done a lot of laboratory-based research in undergrad, I appreciated the opportunity to engage in clinical research and plan to do so again in the future.

Anything else you wanted to say about your experience or your research?

a.It has been fun to connect 3 years of UNE COM students together to work on this project. Each of us was generously supported by the Peter Morgane Student Research Fellowship, without which our work and the ability to share our research at various conferences, would not have been possible.

b.As a piece of general advice, it is not only important to engage in research that interests you (and not just for something to put on your CV), but you should also find a mentor you work well with and cares about the research as much as you; I think I am safe to speak on behalf of the 5 other UNE COM researchers in our group that we all have been very lucky and honored to work with Dr. Cao. <>

presented to Speare Memorial Hospital (25 beds, Plymouth, NH) with altered mental status for two weeks. He had no significant past medical history with the exception of an old gunshot wound to the head. This excluded him from MRI studies. His initial workup was unremarkable with the exception of elevated protein in his cerebral spinal fluid. He also had a benign physical exam with the exception of irregular movement patterns and confusion. He was transferred to Lakes Region General Hospital on Day 7, and he rapidly declined neurologically and psychiatrically over the course of his stay. He died on Day 29 and was found to have the biomarker for prion disease in his cerebral spinal fluid 8 days post-mortem.

"I would encourage other students to participate in this event next year. It is a great way to practice presenting in a relaxed environment." -Juliette Kassas, COM '21