{"id":1616,"date":"2025-09-12T12:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T12:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/student-research\/?page_id=1616"},"modified":"2026-05-08T13:56:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T13:56:08","slug":"2026-geisel-dhmc-summer-research-project-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/geiselmed.dartmouth.edu\/student-research\/2026-geisel-dhmc-summer-research-project-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Geisel\/DHMC Summer Research Project Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"

Below is the list of 2026 Summer Research Opportunities available at DH\/Geisel and affiliates.\u00a0 More projects will be added as they are available so check back frequently.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Please contact the PIs directly if interested. Please contact no more than two PIs at a time so that all students have an equitable opportunity to have a summer project.<\/p>\n

Students should communicate directly with the PI and should include a letter of interest and CV.\u00a0 The more detailed and specific the letter of intent, the greater the chance that the student will be selected for the project.\u00a0 Medical CV examples are included on the resources page of the website.<\/p>\n

Summer Projects 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Students: Please contact the investigators directly or through admin<\/span> if you are interested in their projects. The selection process will be at the discretion of the PI.<\/p>\n

Students are suggested to enclose a CV and specifically address why they would like to be involved in the project. Students should only reach out to no more than two projects to maintain equity amongst classmates.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Posted Apr\/24\/2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
\nDrs. David Cockrum, Karen Huyck, and Ian Porter<\/b><\/div>\n
Admin : <\/strong>Bailey Starr , Bailey.D.Starr@hitchcock.org<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2022 Cutaneous TB exposure<\/strong><\/div>\n
We recently published a case series showing that cutaneous TB is a less common, but typically misdiagnosed and improperly treated hazard, of needle stick injuries in the healthcare and laboratory work setting (\"More than skin deep: Primary inoculation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis as an occupational hazard\u201d in press at\u00a0Applied Biosafety<\/i>). There are no standards for post-exposure prophylaxis, treatment regimens, or diagnostic algorithms for TB needle stick exposures. This project has three parts that can be individual projects or a series of projects and has the opportunity for posters and peer-reviewed publications<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
1.<\/strong> Use the existing literature on cutaneous TB exposure to update the DH needle stick protocol to include procedures for TB contaminated sharps.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
2.<\/strong> Conduct a formal<\/span> systematic review of treatment regimens and outcomes from published case reports on TB inoculation to guide a standard recommendation for\u00a0less intensive treatment -- current recommended treatment is the latent TB treatment protocol, which is likely more intensive than needed for a paucibacillary cutaneous lesion as there are reports of complete resolution with less intensive treatments but treatments used vary widely in practice<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
3.<\/strong> Working with our ID and\/or derm colleagues to develop a standardized diagnostic algorithm for evaluating new needle stick injuries where TB exposure may be present as well as for persistent or atypical skin lesions following sharps injuries in high-risk TB settings<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\u2022 Redefining Return-to-Work Coordinator core competencies<\/strong>
\nThe literature suggests \u201csoft skills\u201d as the main return-to-work coordinator competencies but methodological issues with prior studies and new experience with the RETAIN return-to-work program indicate medical, analytical, and other \u201chard skills\u201d as well as a deep understanding of local and regional resources are needed to optimize patient work outcomes. This paper proposes an update to the prevailing ideas about work coordination skills, which has important implications as Medicaid work requirements are slated to take effect at the end of the year and states are gearing up for workforce initiatives as part of their CMS Rural Health Transformation projects. This opportunity involves working with an expert work-health coach and performing literature searches, doing analysis, writing, and formatting a paper for publication.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0Case Series: Eidetic Memory Reprocessing (EMR) for trauma recovery and return to work<\/strong>
\nThis project involves conducting and writing a retrospective review of cases of traumatic work injuries in which Eidetic Memory Reprocessing (EMR), a short-course limbic-based trauma recovery treatment, was provided to the patient and their pre- and post-treatment work status. There is an opportunity to be involved in developing a training course for mental health providers in this unique method for functional recovery after trauma.\u2022\u00a0Return-to-Work Coordination App Development\u00a0\u2013 Collaborate with the DALI Lab to build a patient-centered care coordination app supporting patient work ability.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
* Chinese Medicine Training to Treat Long-COVID<\/strong><\/div>\n
This project analyzes pre-post survey data from a course for Chinese Medicine practitioners on the use of a novel Classical Chinese Medicine protocol to successfully treat Long COVID. The surveys assess for changes in knowledge, confidence, and behaviors related to treating Long COVID patients as well as barriers and facilitators to using information from the training in clinical practice.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0Languages used in New England state employment resources<\/strong>
\nThis project involves taking an inventory of languages used by New England states for their employment resources and compare it to languages into which state health information is translated. Is employment information translated into the same and as many languages as health information? How do these languages compare to languages most commonly spoken in the state? Are these languages similar to the languages spoken by people receiving Social Security long-term work disability benefits? This inventory will help identify gaps in dissemination of employment information and inform the languages into which future New England work disability prevention program materials should be translated. This opportunity can involve writing a paper with the results of the analysis.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Posted Feb\/17\/2026<\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Section of\u00a0Occupational Medicine<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
PI- Drs. David Cockrum and Ian Porter<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Admin : <\/strong>Bailey Starr , Bailey.D.Starr@hitchcock.org<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
This opportunity is for a retrospective literature review workers\u2019 compensation cases with diagnosis of SIRVA (Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration) for injection site factors (i.e., vaccine administered \u201ctoo high,\u201d \u201ctoo deep,\u201d in the bursa, or \u00a0similar) and determine if there is an association. If a literature search reveals this association is not fully established, as we expect, then the plan is to write up a series of DH cases synthesizing the existing literature. The project may be of particular interest to students interested in infectious diseases, vaccine communication, or public health. Contact Ian.M.Porter@hitchcock.org.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Posted Feb\/16\/2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Research at Dr. Lichter Lab<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Katie E. Lichter, MD, MPH<\/b><\/p>\n

Radiation Oncology & Health Policy<\/p>\n

Dartmouth Cancer Center | Geisel School of Medicine<\/p>\n

1. Access to Cancer Care: Travel Burden & Treatment Intensity Across the Dartmouth Cancer Center Catchment Area<\/b>
\nMentor: Dr. Katie Lichter<\/i><\/div>\n
This project will quantify time and travel burden among patients undergoing active cancer treatment at Dartmouth Cancer Center, with a focus on rural and geographically dispersed populations. The student will analyze de-identified scheduling data to assess number of treatment visits, travel distances\/times, and geographic patterns of high burden.<\/div>\n
Deliverables include a travel burden brief, geographic visualizations, and an abstract-ready dataset for presentation.<\/div>\n
\n
2. Climate Resilience & Cancer Care Continuity: Weather-Related Disruptions and Missed Visits<\/b>
\nMentor: Dr. Katie Lichter<\/i><\/div>\n
This project will evaluate the impact of weather-related events (e.g., winter storms, flooding) on oncology visit disruptions and treatment delays in northern New England. The student will conduct retrospective scheduling analysis, map disruption patterns, and synthesize literature on treatment interruptions and outcomes.<\/div>\n
Deliverables include a resilience report, data visualizations, and a draft abstract or manuscript outline.<\/div>\n
\n
3. Sustainability & Health Collaborative Internship (Student-Selected Focus Area)<\/b>
\nMentor:\u00a0\u00a0The Dartmouth Sustainability Office<\/u>\u00a0in collaboration with Dr. Katie Lichter<\/i><\/div>\n
Students may select from a portfolio of Sustainability & Health projects developed with the Dartmouth Climate Collaborative (e.g., climate and health pollution hotspot analysis, decarbonization health impacts, medical school waste reduction, stormwater and flooding health impacts, climate-related mental health resilience).<\/div>\n
Projects are structured for 8\u201310 weeks and produce decision-ready outputs for institutional leadership, incorporating an equity and environmental justice lens.<\/div>\n
\n
4. Radiation Oncology Energy Audit: Manuscript Development & Sustainability Analysis<\/b>
\nMentor: Dr. Katie Lichter<\/i><\/div>\n
Building on a completed multi-modality radiation oncology energy audit (presented at ASTRO), this project will focus on manuscript development and publication. The student will assist with data synthesis, figure refinement, literature contextualization, and drafting sections of a peer-reviewed manuscript quantifying energy consumption across imaging and treatment modalities.<\/div>\n
This project offers exposure to life cycle assessment methodology, health systems sustainability, and academic writing with the goal of submission to a peer-reviewed journal.<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Posted Feb\/10\/2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FACULTY AND DEPARTMENT NAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine , Department of Medicine<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Projects PI : <\/b>Dr. Karen Huyck\u00a0 , Karen.L.Huyck@dartmouth.edu<\/p>\n

Admin : <\/strong>Bailey Starr , Bailey.D.Starr@hitchcock.org<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

P<\/b>rojects related to work as a key social driver of health:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u2022 Project ECHO for Rural Health Transformation Workforce Education Topics<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
This is an emerging project with the New England Rural Health Association to design a Project ECHO series with topics related to the rural healthcare workforce such as why retention and not just recruitment is important, strategies and opportunities for retention, healthcare burnout, early sustainability planning, how RHT projects may affect the New England healthcare workforce, etc with the goal of optimizing the long-term success of state Rural Health Transformation projects.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2022 Redefining Return-to-Work Coordinator core competencies<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
The literature suggests \u201csoft skills\u201d as the main return-to-work coordinator competencies but methodological issues with prior studies and new experience with the RETAIN return-to-work program indicate medical, analytical, and other \u201chard skills\u201d as well as a deep understanding of local and regional resources are needed to optimize patient work outcomes. This paper proposes an update to the prevailing ideas about work coordination skills, which has important implications as Medicaid work requirements are slated to take effect at the end of the year and states are gearing up for workforce initiatives as part of their CMS Rural Health Transformation projects. This opportunity involves working with an expert work-health coach and performing literature searches, doing analysis, writing, and formatting a paper for publication.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2022 RETAIN return-to-work program consortium<\/i><\/b>\u00a0-\u00a0a series of five comparison papers<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Five papers have been accepted for publication to describe similarities, differences, and recommendations from each of the five RETAIN states\u2019 return-to-work programs. As the federal government is investing $50B rural health and healthcare workforce, these papers will provide important information and blueprints to states for strengthening the rural workforce. This opportunity involves meeting experts in work and health and performing literature searches, writing, and formatting one or more papers for publication.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2022\u00a0New!<\/i><\/b>\u00a0Work-Health Coaching Practice Guidelines\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
As our statewide VT RETAIN return-to-work project is ending, we are performing a strength-based program evaluation to develop new work-health coaching best practices. This paper will tell the evaluation story of VT RETAIN in our own voice and based on our own experience as well as provide the framework for Work-Health Coach trainings and for integrating RETAIN models into state Rural Health Transformation programs. This opportunity involves working with an expert in program evaluation and analyzing program data, developing practice guidelines, describing the limitations of independent program evaluation, conducting literature searches, writing, and formatting a paper for publication.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2022\u00a0New! Return-to-Work Guides for Patients and Clinicians<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
This project involves revising and organizing tip and resource sheets developed by Work-Health Coaches in VT RETAIN into two guides - a workbook for patients and a handbook for clinicians to self-navigate the stay-at-work\/return-to-work process to improve patient work outcomes.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2022\u00a0Languages used in New England state employment resources\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
This project involves taking an inventory of languages used by New England states for their employment resources and compare it to languages into which state health information is translated. Is employment information translated into the same and as many languages as health information? How do these languages compare to languages most commonly spoken in the state? Are these languages similar to the languages spoken by people receiving Social Security long-term work disability benefits? This inventory will help identify gaps in dissemination of employment information and inform the languages into which future New England work disability prevention program materials should be translated. This opportunity can involve writing a paper with the results of the analysis.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2022\u00a0Survey of work status in social determinant of health forms and EMR dashboards<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Work is one of the most influential social determinants of health but work status is often not included SDOH surveys or electronic medical record SDOH dashboards. This project seeks to inventory of commonly used SDOH surveys, whether work status is included, and how patient SDOH survey results are captured in the EMR. This project starts with a review of the current literature on SDOH surveys, developing survey tools, speaking with local health systems to get information on their current SDOH surveys and EMR dashboards, and analyzing the results for publication.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u2022\u00a0Case Series: Eidetic Memory Reprocessing (EMR) for trauma recovery and return to work<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
This project involves conducting and writing a retrospective review of cases of traumatic work injuries in which Eidetic Memory Reprocessing (EMR), a short-course limbic-based trauma recovery treatment, was provided to the patient and their pre- and post-treatment work status. There is an opportunity to be involved in developing a training course for mental health providers in this unique method for functional recovery after trauma.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u2022 Return-to-Work Coordination App Development<\/i><\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Collaborate with the DALI Lab to build a patient-centered care coordination app supporting patient work ability.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
_______________________________________________________________________________________________<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Faculty contact name and email address<\/strong> : James B. Yu MD MHS,\u00a0james.b.yu@hitchcock.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Administrative support contact name and email address<\/strong> : Carrie Hertel, carrie.d.hertel@hitchcock.org<\/p>\n

Department of Radiation Oncology and Applied Sciences<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Project title and description<\/strong><\/p>\n

National evolution of prostate cancer and presentation for radiotherapy 2004-2022:<\/b><\/p>\n

Prostate cancer spans a wide spectrum of severity from indolent to aggressive disease. Shifts in diagnostics and treatment approaches over the past two decades may have altered how and when patients present for different therapies.\u00a0Using the NCDB, we will track trends in disease risk and treatment patterns over nearly two decades, particularly focusing on how the mix of patients receiving surgery or radiotherapy has changed. We hypothesize that high-risk patients were increasingly funneled toward radiotherapy in the mid-period, with a potential swing back toward surgery more recently as surgical approaches have become more aggressive. This analysis will reveal the evolving landscape of prostate cancer management and how risk and treatment intersect over time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FACULTY AND DEPARTMENT NAME: <\/strong><\/p>\n

PI- Prof. Sergey Bratus <\/strong><\/p>\n

Co-PI - Malcolm Schongalla, MD , <\/strong>Malcolm.S.Schongalla@dartmouth.edu<\/u><\/p>\n

Dartmouth Institute for Security, Technology and Society and the Computer Science Department Admin contact - <\/strong>Julia.D.Ganson@dartmouth.edu<\/u><\/p>\n

Stakeholder Climate Assessment:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Conduct surveys and semi-structured interviews of rural patients and providers to understand values surrounding health care data \"Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.\"\u00a0 The \"CIA Triad\" is a canonical construct of cybersecurity under which standard doctrine may often favor \"confidentiality\" to the detriment of \"availability.\" There is a gap in the literature as to whether this approach aligns with clinician and patient priorities. Therefore, empiric evidence of stakeholder values is needed to validate or realign traditional disaster recovery best practices. Expected outcome: develop an\u00a0 empiric, rural, stakeholder value model for prioritizing hospital cybersecurity requirements and recovery plans.<\/p>\n

Disaster Modeling:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Model the impact of hypothetical hospital Cyber Duress & Disaster (CDD) scenarios in Vermont and New Hampshire on multiple, rural, system-level outcomes. Data on hospital capacity and utilization, geospatial analytic tools, and multilevel mixed-effects modeling will be applied. Multiple data sources will be used including from the CDC Research Data Center, CMS, AHRQ HCUP, and the UMN THREAT database. Outcomes of interest include EMS and interfacility transport times, ED and inpatient capacity utilization, ED diversion rates, adjacent facility utilization, rate of denied transfer, and \"blast radius\" estimation. Expected outcome: creation of a risk stratification database of rural communities based on predicted outcomes. Hypothesis: rurality and remoteness is associated with increased resource strain under CDD conditions. Hypothesis: CDD-adjacent facilities will experience increased resource strain and harmed health outcomes associated with impairment of the primary facility. (Contingent upon access to relevant datasets)<\/p>\n

IT training effectiveness (literature review):<\/strong>
\nScoping review on breadth and effectiveness of clinical user IT training programs for preventing malware breaches and data loss events.\u00a0 Specific to non-IT-professional users of clinical information systems (patients, doctors, nurses, administrators).\u00a0 Expected outcome: Scoping review paper.<\/p>\n

Medical device reverse engineering:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Select a portable electronic medical device with an embedded operating system, and apply technical reverse engineering techniques, along with knowledge of clinical workflows and medicine, to explore potential patient safety hazards as well as hardware, firmware, and networking vulnerabilities.\u00a0 Expected outcome: discovery of safety, security & privacy strengths & weaknesses of an FDA-approved medical device.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FACULTY AND DEPARTMENT NAME:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tim Burdick MD MBA MSc<\/strong><\/p>\n

Timothy.E.Burdick@hitchcock.org<\/strong><\/p>\n

Department name:\u00a0 Community & Family Medicine\/Biomedical Data Science<\/strong><\/p>\n

Research Overview and Student Participation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Burdick is a family physician and entrepreneur. His\u00a0research lies\u00a0at the intersection of family\u00a0medicine, population health, and rural\/global healthcare delivery - with an emphasis on novel technology applications. Currently, he is helping\u00a0develop several,\u00a0innovative products: (1) a medical device to detect fractures, to be used in rural and frontier clinics; and\u00a0(2) a phone app that uses AI to predict body composition (muscle mass, fat %) from user-generated data and photographs; (3) a ChatBot that interacts with patients to help them communicate effectively with their family physician\/PCP.<\/p>\n

There are several opportunities for students, depending on interests. The Lab is especially eager to work with students with interests in machine learning, phone app development, engineering, rural or global health, patient-physician communication, metacognition of medical decision making, fitness and health apps,\u00a0orthopedics, entrepreneurship and business.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PI : Maureen B. Boardman, MSN, FNP-C, FAANP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clinical Research Director NNE CO-OP PCBRN<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clinical Assistant Professor of Community and Family Medicine\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Email : Maureen.B.Boardman@dartmouth.edu<\/strong><\/p>\n

Project 1 : <\/strong>My clinic has a food farmacy and we are currently surveying our 100+ patients who are receiving food deliveries from the food farmacy.\u00a0 We would like to have a student helping survey the patients and then also help writing up the findings with the opportunity to be a first author on the research paper.<\/p>\n

Project 2 : <\/strong>My clinic also has a shared care model for prenatal\/obstetrics care.\u00a0 We have had about 15 patients deliver at DH using this shared care model.\u00a0 We are currently working on a survey for our patients who received their pre-natal care through this shared care model.\u00a0 There would again be an opportunity to be the first author on the research paper that results from the survey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Medical Education : Undergraduate Medical Education (UME)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Population Health\u00a0 : Harmonizing and Enhancing Geisel\u2019s Population Health <\/strong><\/p>\n

Faculty contact name and email address: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt Mackwood, MD MPH<\/p>\n

Module Leader, Synthesis & Scholarship, Population Health<\/p>\n

Associate Professor, Department of Community & Family Medicine<\/p>\n

matthew.b.mackwood@hitchcock.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Administrative support contact name and email address: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Emily Godfrey<\/p>\n

Medical Education Coordinator<\/p>\n

Emily.W.Godfrey@dartmouth.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Project title and description:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Population Health (formerly Patients & Populations)\u2019s phase 1 curricula has undergone a multi-faceted update in the last two years, including the inauguration and integration of scholarly projects and an increased emphasis on healthcare payment and delivery. The M2 portion of this longitudinal course aims to synthesize, extend and apply lessons learned in the M1 curricula in the context of applied population health cases on the following topics: race & bias in healthcare; maternal health disparities; global health research & ethics; disinformation and vaccine hesitancy; the opioid epidemic; and adverse childhood experiences. As the preceding courses evolve it is necessary to streamline and update case content and expectations for student assignments and in-class exercises accordingly. Working with Dr. Mackwood as a primary mentor but also in collaboration with the population health team, including M1 module leaders and overall course director Dr. Julie Taylor, a summer research student can help the team with identifying opportunities to enhance alignment of course material across modules to meet course learning objectives and improving documentation of course content and procedures, for example in the systems module where we anticipate a change in module leader after next year. Population Health will undergo an extensive course review next year and the summer student could further help to prepare summaries of course content to maximize the opportunities for feedback and development that will bring.<\/p>\n

Total = 200 hours.\u00a0 Deliverables would include recommendations for course content (canvas page, assignment format, classroom discussion prompt) changes, with potential for a conference abstract or manuscript to describe current innovations in the population health course.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FACULTY AND DEPARTMENT NAME<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vincent Pellegrini<\/strong><\/p>\n

Department of Orthopaedics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vincent.D.Pellegrini.Jr@dartmouth.edu<\/a><\/p>\n

Samantha Snitker, Admin Support<\/strong><\/p>\n

Department of Orthopaedics<\/strong><\/p>\n

Samantha.L.Snitker@hitchcock.org<\/a><\/p>\n

1)\u00a0The Pulmonary Embolism Prevention after Hip and Knee Replacement (PEPPER) Trial: A comparative effectiveness study, funded by PCORI.<\/strong>\u00a0This 19,000 patient multi-center randomized clinical trial closed enrollment in December, 2024, completed follow-up in September, 2025, and is currently in the data analysis and writing phase. The summer of 2026 will be a time when the primary outcomes will be submitted and we will begin work on a host of secondary manuscripts. These outcomes will include pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, all cause mortality, and bleeding complications related to anticoagulation difference between type of surgery, type of anesthesia, variation in patient-reported outcomes after joint replacement surgery addressing functional capabilities, their relationship to venous thromboembolic complications, and many other factors such as underlying co-morbidities and socioeconomic determinants of health.\u00a0The interested student may suggest and design their own questions for study in this patient cohort or participate in analyses of preplanned research questions.<\/em><\/p>\n

2)\u00a0Restoration of Thumb Strength in Basal Joint Arthritis: A Comparative Effectiveness Trial.\u00a0<\/strong>This observational pilot study for a prospective clinical trial (PCORI) comparing outcomes following different surgical reconstruction procedures for thumb basal joint osteoarthritis seeks to understand the course of patient-reported postoperative improvement in function as compared with objectively determined improvement in strength as a tool to inform choice of surgical procedure for this condition. This study has been ongoing for nearly 5 years and has recruited more than 100 patients to date with a substantial cohort now entering their two year follow-up assessment that will allow meaningful analysis of outcomes. Comparison of strength improvement following a pre-operative lidocaine injection with post-operative strength improvement seeks to inform surgical procedure choice for individual patients.\u00a0The interested student will be involved in analysis of 1 - 2 year postoperative outcomes and assessment of response to preoperative lidocaine injection as a predictor of postoperative outcomes as well as patient subsets involving particular disease characteristics.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Department name:<\/strong>
\nDepartment of Molecular & Systems Biology<\/p>\n

Faculty contact name and email address:<\/strong>
\nSuzannah Gerber, PhD<\/p>\n

Research Scientist
\nsuzannah.gerber@dartmouth.edu<\/u><\/p>\n

Administrative support contact name and email address:<\/strong>
\nCheryl Bush<\/p>\n

Cheryl.A.Bush@dartmouth.edu<\/u><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Project Title<\/strong><\/p>\n

Food Choices and Nutrition: Priorities, Diet Quality, and Health Outcomes<\/p>\n

Project Description<\/strong><\/p>\n

This summer research project will engage a student in applied nutrition and population health research using existing datasets, including nationally representative public datasets (e.g., NHANES) and nutrition behavior surveys. The student will contribute to data cleaning, harmonization, and analysis, including applying survey weights, calculating diet quality and translational health indices (e.g., HEI, SAVoRed), and generating population-level insights related to diet, nutrition, and health outcomes. This project is well suited for students with interests or skills in biostatistics, epidemiology, data analysis, or nutrition research, and offers hands-on experience translating complex datasets into meaningful health insights. Authorship is available, commensurate with contribution.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Department of Surgery<\/strong><\/p>\n

2026 Richard W. Dow Student Research Scholarship in Surgery<\/strong><\/p>\n

Students can submit their applications to me at DOSResearch@hitchcock.org.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

DOSResearch@hitchcock.org<\/u> is for the formal applications. Students should reach out to the investigators directly prior to submitting an application to discuss.<\/p>\n