Health Professions Students Shine at Aletheia
On May 7, more than 100 School of Health Professions students gathered for the Aletheia Research Symposium. Held every spring, Aletheia (Greek for “truth”) provides these young scholars the opportunity to showcase their research findings and defend the capstone projects they have carried out under faculty supervision.
The students presented 30 posters representing research that spanned graduate and undergraduate-level studies in the School’s five fields: physical therapy, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, interdisciplinary health sciences, and nursing.
Kicking off the afternoon were opening remarks from Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Beth Elenko, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Balentine, D.O., Vice Provost for Research Jared Littman, Ph.D., Dean Gordon Schmidt, Ph.D., and President and Chief Executive Officer of Gurwin Healthcare System Stuart Almer, FACHE.
“Research motivates you and can change the course of your career. Research moves you forward,” said Balentine. “Events like this reward you for all of the great work you have done.”
In a ceremony new to Aletheia, Almer presented five students—one from each School of Health Professions academic discipline—with a $1,000 financial award for academic excellence, sponsored by Gurwin Healthcare System.
Those awarded students are Zeiad Kawy, interdisciplinary health sciences; Melissa Chattergoon, nursing; Caitlin Soravilla, occupational therapy; Burt Bacason, physical therapy; and Jillian Palma, physician assistant studies.
Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Jaclyn Cotgreave Ph.D. (B.S.’05), keynote speaker, presented the results of her dissertation “Teaching Emotional Intelligence in Physician Assistant Educators.” Her study explores the knowledge of emotional intelligence skills and their importance in physician assistant educational leadership and the success of program graduates.
Student researchers then manned their posters as attendees mingled. Following the hour-long poster session, Professor of Physical Therapy and Aletheia Co-founder John Handrakis, Ed.D., D.P.T., led the platform presentation session—moderated by Instructor of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Alexander Rothstein, M.S.,—where eight groups of physical therapy and interdisciplinary health sciences students formally presented their research on stage.
“Aletheia is such an important annual event,” said occupational therapy student Laura Johansen, who presented “Preparing Entry Level Occupational Therapists for Family-Centered Practice” with her peers Angelina Loguidice, Darian Licata, and Katlyn Gluck. “This provides an opportunity to bring everyone from the School of Health Professions together to learn about each other’s projects and gain more insight and knowledge about the other disciplines within the school.”
Co-chairs of the Research and Scholarship Committee Elenko and Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Shinu Kuriakose, DHSc, led faculty and the research committee who judged the 30 poster projects.
This year’s judges:
- Professor of Physical Therapy and Alethiea Co-founder John Handrakis
- Instructor of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Alexander Rothstein
- Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Rosemary Gallagher, Ph.D., D.P.T.
- Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Michael Tautonico, D.P.T.
- Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies Kristine Prazak-Davoli, Ph.D.,
- Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Amerigo Rossi, Ed.D.
- School of Health Professions Director of Administration and Operations Paul Anderson
- School of Health Professions Administrative Specialist Jeanne Renz
The following student teams were selected as first-place winners in their respective poster session categories:
Health and Medicine
“Heart Rate Response to Maximal Exercise in a Participant with C8 Spinal Cord Injury”
Student Researcher: Tashéima Johnson
Advisor: Alexander Rothstein; Amerigo Rossi, Ed.D.; John Handrakis, PT, D.P.T., Ed.D.
Department: Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Lifestyle
“Effects of Pediatric Cancer on the Relationship Between Patients and Their Siblings”
Student Researchers: Mazal Baron, Brocha Sima Feinberg, Miriam Kirschner, Natalie Nisanov, Peri Lieberman, Sussy Mayer, Joyce Shlomo
Advisor: Pamela Karp Ed.D., OTR/L
Department: Occupational Therapy
Technology/Education
“Physician Assistant Student’s Overall Program GPA and Effect on PANCE Scores”
Student Researchers: Thomas Goldrick, Nicholas Pallis, Barbara Pepe, Nicole Posillico
Advisor: Sara Winter PA-C, M.S.
Department: Physician Assistant Studies
Rehabilitation
“Balance Confidence and Falls Predict Figure of 8 Walk Test Performance in People with Parkinson’s Disease”
Student Researchers: Jessica Feinstein, Yehuda Roth, Juliat Saju, Steven Shih, Simon Tsang
Advisor: Lori Hochman PT, Ph.D.
Department: Physical Therapy
More Features
![Headline: 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Awards from Insight Into Diversity](https://www.nyit.edu/wp-content/uploads/architecutre-program-dei-hero.jpg)
Architecture Program Awarded for DEI Efforts
New York Tech’s Bachelor of Architecture degree program received Insight Into Diversity magazine’s 2024 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award.
![Jaishankar Ganesh, Ph.D.](https://www.nyit.edu/wp-content/uploads/new-som-dean-featured.jpg)
School of Management Welcomes New Dean
On July 1, Jaishankar Ganesh, Ph.D., joined New York Tech as dean of the School of Management.
![Rob Brown Jr. (B.S. ’02)](https://www.nyit.edu/wp-content/uploads/rob-brown-jr-featured.jpg)
You Gotta Have Heart
After seeing the massive loss of life on 9/11, Rob Brown Jr. (B.S. ’02), who retired as a lieutenant with the New York City Fire Department in 2021, wanted to focus on the health of first responders.
![New York Tech student Alex Menachery sitting on a bench](https://www.nyit.edu/wp-content/uploads/news-student-profile-alex-menachery-feature.jpg)
Finding His Place
Alex Menachery once hated the idea of studying medicine. Now, he is pursuing a B.S./D.O. in life sciences/osteopathic medicine and serving as president of the Long Island Student Government Association.
![](https://www.nyit.edu/wp-content/uploads/News_20240627_GrowingLongIslandTechWorkforce_Hero-900x600.jpg)
Growing Long Island’s Tech Workforce
Alongside major partner Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York Tech is educating leaders for this booming technology corridor.
![Group shot of NYITCOM students in blue New York Tech shirts.](https://www.nyit.edu/wp-content/uploads/cork-2024-featured.jpg)
CORK 2024
D.O.s and scientists from around the world traveled joined NYITCOM for the inaugural Conference on Osteopathic Research and Knowledge (CORK).