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Trainee Research Day 2026

Thursday, February 19, 2026

The 5th Annual Trainee Research Day (TRD) will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2026.  TRD is an event held each spring featuring oral and poster presentations and an award ceremony/reception. In addition to highlighting trainee accomplishments, TRD allows colleagues to learn about the cutting-edge research occurring at Rush. 

Abstract Submission

All trainees must submit their abstracts by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3 via this form. Before submission, it is recommended that the abstract guidelines be reviewed. Poster acceptances will be notified by mid-January.

On

Presenter Information

Oral Presentation Awards 

Oral presentation awards will be awarded by the colleges. Final slides are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 16. More information to follow.

Poster Presentation Awards

  • All poster presentation awardees are encouraged to follow the poster guidelines, as space is limited.
  • Posters will need to be displayed between 3 - 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, Atrium Lobby.
  • All presenters must stand by their poster during the Poster Presentation Session on Thursday, February 19 as follows:
    • Odd poster numbers: 2 - 3 p.m.
    • Even poster numbers: 3 - 4 p.m. 
On

Agenda

Time & LocationSessions
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Atrium Lobby
Poster Viewing
9 a.m. - Noon
Room 539, AAC
Oral Presentation Awards
10-minute presentations & 5-minute Q&A
Moderators: 
Julie Hoff, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, Provost, Rush University 
Debbie Martin, PhD, Vice Provost of Student Affairs, Rush University
9 - 9:10 a.m.Welcome
Julie Hoff, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, Provost, Rush University
9:15 - 9:25 a.m.Darbaz Adnan, MBChB, MS (RMC: DTS)
Cancer and Translational Medicine: A NOVEL PATIENT-DERIVED ORGANOID-ON-CHIP MODEL FOR PERSONALIZED PANCREATIC CANCER THERAPY
9:30 – 9:40 a.m.Sierra Broad, DO, MPH (Clinical Resident)
Clinical Practice II: Cohort Studies: EXTENT OF RESECTION MATTERS: PARTIAL VS. TOTAL THYMECTOMY AND OVERALL SURVIVAL IN EARLY-STAGE THYMOMA
9:45 – 9:55 a.m.Kelsey Page, BS (CHS: MS)
Clinical Practice III: Medical Education, Patient Experience & Supportive Care: THE EFFECTS OF GLOSSECTOMY ON TONGUE STRENGTH AND SWALLOWING OVER TIME
10 – 10:10 a.m.Ohm Shukla, MS (RMC: M2)
Clinical Practice III: Medical Education, Patient Experience & Supportive Care: IMPROVING PEDIATRIC RESUSCITATION AND HANDOFFS USING INTERPROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR PARAMEDICS AND EM RESIDENTS
10:15 – 10:25 a.m.Aaliyah Ellison-McPeters, BS (CON: MS)
Health Equity and Community Engagement: INCLUSIVE HAIRCARE EDUCATION: ADDRESSING HAIR AND SCALP HEALTH INEQUITIES IN PATIENT CARE
10:30 – 10:40 a.m.Eleanor Kraichely, BA (CHS: MS)
Health Equity and Community Engagement: INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND RELATED FACTORS ON LANGUAGE RECOVERY IN ADULTS WITH STROKE-INDUCED APHASIA
10:45 – 10:55 a.m.Kristen Halko, BSN (CON: DNP)
Health Equity and Community Engagement: A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF AN APRN-LED PREVENTION CENTER: INVESTIGATING APPOINTMENT ADHERENCE IN LIFESTYLE MEDICINE AND RISK FOR METABOLIC SYNDROME

11 – 11:10 a.m.

 

Kaveh Torabian, MS (RMC: M3)
Health Equity and Community Engagement: EVOLVING TRENDS IN COMMON HAND PROCEDURE UTILIZATION: HOW THE USE OF AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS HAVE IMPACTED DISPARITIES IN CARE
11:15 – 11:25 a.m.Yulu Wang, MD (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow)
Infectious Diseases and Inflammation: ACTIVATION OF KERATINOCYTE AUTOPHAGY IN BULLOUS PEMPHIGOID
11:30 – 11:40 a.m.Kristy Urquhart, BS (RMC: DTS)
Neurodegenerative Diseases and Inflammation: REMODELING OF THE MENINGEAL EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX IN AGING
11:45 a.m. – NoonJun Oike, MD, PhD (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow)
Musculoskeletal Research and Orthopedics: CMTX-101 IMPROVES BACTERIAL CLEARANCE IN A MOUSE MODEL OF PERIPROSTHETIC JOINT INFECTION
Noon - 2 p.m.
Atrium Lobby
Poster Viewing
2 - 4 p.m.
Atrium Lobby
Poster Presentations
2 -3 p.m. Odd poster numbers
3 -4 p.m. Event poster number
4:30 to 5 p.m.
POB, Room 500
Last Lecture
Christine Kennedy, PhD, RN, FAAN
The John L. & Helen Kellog Dean
College of Nursing
Vice President Rush University
Associate Chief Nursing Officer
Rush University Medical Center
5 - 6:30 p.m.
POB, Room 500
Award Ceremony and Reception
Award Presentations
Oral Presentation Awards
Poster Awards: Cancer Research Award, The Health Equity Research Award, The Irwin Press Patient Experience Research Award, RU Trainee Translational Science Award
Contact Us

Norma Sandoval
Executive Assistant
Office of the Vice Provost for Research
norma_sandoval@rush.edu