Additional Opportunities

NEOMED/UH Hearing Group Partnership

Viral Tejani, Au.D., Ph.D.

Impact of Socio-Economic Status on Speech Understanding in Noise

Speech understanding difficulty in the presence of background noise is a common complaint when a patient is evaluated by an audiologist. Speech testing in quiet has been part of traditional protocol from the beginning of audiology. While this test may be reflective of difficulties experienced by some patients, many patients with a significant hearing loss will score at the ceiling of this test. Only more recently has speech in noise testing been emerging as part of typical audiometric evaluation protocol to address patient concerns for hearing in the presence of background noise. Previous research by Fitzgerald et al, 2019 and Smith, et al, 2024 revealed a more linear relationship between QuickSIN speech in noise evaluation and degree of high frequency hearing loss. These same patients showing deficits on QuickSIN speech in noise performance often exhibit excellent word recognition scores in quiet, even when they have significant high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss. A replication study at UH involving 500 patients (and counting) has confirmed this relationship. However, it only takes into account the age of the patient and severity of hearing loss. Socio-economic status (SES) is long known to affect patient outcomes in general and has not been considered in this replication study.

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NEOMED/UH Hearing Group Partnership

Jennifer Villwock, M.D., FAAOA

The association of multisensory dysfunction and fall risk in hospitalized older adults

Falls occurring in a health care setting are a significant adverse outcome. Serious injury or death is following an inpatient fall is classified as a “never event” – should never happen – by the National Quality Forum and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In addition to the very real human cost in terms of worse patient outcomes, many insurers do no reimburse hospitals for costs associated with falls. Despite the best efforts of the health care system, inpatient falls remain a significant problem, with overall rates of 3.3. to 12.5 falls per 1000 patient-days. Screening questionnaires and inventories are commonly deployed to identify those at risk for falls. However, they are imperfect with highly variable positive and negative predictive values. Additionally, the costs of over-labeling patients as fall risks are not insignificant. For example, commonly strategies are often financially prohibitive such as assigning the patient a staff member who monitors them constantly or alert staff after-the-fact and erode patient autonomy such as bed alarms.

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NEOMED Maternal Child Health Research

Bernhard Fassl, M.D., FAAP, FAFMR

Health system and community stakeholder perceptions of barriers in maternal-child health in NE Ohio

In this qualitative study, students will connect with medical, academic and community stakeholders to obtain an in-depth understanding of barriers and facilitators to maternal-child health care in northeast Ohio and solicit perceptions and suggestion on possible improvement strategies.

Using Key Informant interview techniques, students will complete this study describing barriers in 6 domains of the journey to health: knowledge/awareness, intent and decision making, preparation, cost and effort to access care, care encounter experience at the point of service, after service experience and connection to community based resources.

To prepare for this project, students will be mentored by NEOMED based and global NEOMED faculty with expertise in human centered design and qualitative research. Students will also complete a short training program in qualitative research and human centered design following the UNICEF global learning curriculum. Students will meet with their mentors at least bi-weekly and must be prepared to contact stakeholders.

NEOMED Maternal Child Health Research

Bernhard Fassl, M.D., FAAP, FAFMR

Evaluating the effectiveness of a community based anemia program in women of reproductive age in rural Nepal

In this study, students will join a team of Nepal based researchers investigating the effectiveness of a novel anemia intervention in an impoverished area of Nepal where more than 75% of women in reproductive age suffer from chronic anemia. In this cluster-controlled study we compare households who use different cooking and food preparation methods to study the impact on blood iron storage levels and hemoglobin levels. Ideally students complete a visit to Nepal to better understand the study context and population needs. This study has been approved by the Nepal Ethics review board and is fully funded.

To prepare for this project, students will be mentored by NEOMED based and global NEOMED faculty with expertise in population based global research. Students will complete training in the study design and learn about the country as complete learning about WHO anemia standards. Students will meet with their mentors at least bi-weekly and must be prepared to contact stakeholders. Students who are prepared to travel to Nepal will be given preference in the selection process.

Mercy Health at St. Elizabeth’s Youngstown Hospital Summer Research Internship Program

A student research internship program at Mercy Health is available to NEOMED students for summer 2026. The purpose of the position is to provide research and clinical shadowing opportunities for students who desire to pursue a health-related career. This is a paid position, 20 hrs/week for 7 weeks. There is flexibility in these hours.
Job Functions include:
• Be able to work collaboratively with physician faculty mentors, residents/fellows, and other summer interns on a clinical research project.
• Upon completion of the internship, the expectations include a research proposal or an abstract, a poster, or a presentation at a local or regional professional society.
• Participate in clinical shadowing experiences with residents and faculty in our Graduate Medical Education programs while adhering to HIPAA and patient privacy guidelines.
• Must complete and abide by necessary requirements and paperwork on HIPAA, patient privacy, research training via CITI, vaccinations and other BSMH employment requirements.

Here is a link describing the program.
And a link to apply.