Winners named for Health Professions Research Day

More than 35 University of Florida College of Health Professions students presented research in the areas of behavioral science and rehabilitation at the college’s Research Day held last month. The six students awarded top honors received $1,200 to use for travel to a professional or scientific conference.

Research projects by three doctoral students in the college’s clinical and health psychology department were recognized in the behavioral science category. Adam Lewin found that children with type 1 diabetes whose families provide more support, less negativity, and assume responsibility for diabetes care did a better job of managing their disease. Paul Seignourel discovered that error rate, rather than reaction time, was a better measure of working memory in patients with a traumatic brain injury. Eva Serber’s research demonstrated that atrial shock therapy does not impact sleep quality; however, caring for depressive symptoms in patients with implantable atrial defibrillators may improve their sleep quality.

Students in the college’s rehabilitation science doctorate program received research awards in the rehabilitation category.

Toni Chiara found that exercises to strengthen muscles used in exhaling in patients with multiple sclerosis were most effective in patients who had less neuromuscular ability. Tiffany Frimel’s research showed that noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging techniques can be used to effectively monitor muscle damage and regeneration following cast immobilization. Michelle Woodbury discovered that treadmill speed is a critical training variable when conducting locomotor training, which is used to enhance the recovery of walking in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.