A.T. Still Research Institute hosts annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Symposium
Posted: November 25, 2025
A.T. Still Research Institute (ATSRI) hosted the annual Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Symposium (IBRS) Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, on A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) Kirksville, Missouri, campus.
The event featured oral and poster presentations of research studies by ATSU graduate students, faculty, and staff; Still OPTI resident physicians; Truman State University undergraduate students; and other biomedical researchers and students.
Jeffrey C. Winer, MD, MA, MSHS, MHIIM, FAAP, provided the keynote lecture. Dr. Winer serves as chief medical informatics officer at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and adjunct associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. With degrees from Harvard, Yale, George Washington University, and Tennessee, he integrates clinical expertise, data science, and health informatics to advance healthcare.
Dr. Winer has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and 60 invited reviews, and is particularly recognized for his dedication to academic mentorship – supporting over 50 medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty in launching and sustaining scholarly projects in clinical research and quality improvement.
IBRS winners were as follows…
Jack Magruder Research Award
Poster Presenter: Dagmawit Kebede, senior, interdisciplinary studies major, Truman State University
Author: Bill Miller, PhD, associate professor, ATSU; Haleluya Merga, junior, biochemistry and molecular biology major, Truman State University; Makda Gebreegziabher, senior, biology major, Truman State University; Arsema Woldeamanuel, junior, nursing major, Truman State University
Sponsor: Dr. Miller
Project: Allosteric inhibition of MMP-9 in silico as a potential cancer therapeutic
Neil J. Sargentini Memorial Award
Poster Presenter: Sydney Christopherson, OMS III, and Ashley Quintana, OMS III
Author: Christopherson and Quintana
Sponsor: Pinak Shah, MD, FACP, associate program director, Internal Medicine Residency program, Mountain View Hospital, Las Vegas
Project: HRT and Autoimmunity: What We Know and Where Research Must Go.
Max Gutensohn Award
Poster Presenter: Alan Boruch, DO, physician and research scientist, Northeast Regional Medical Center
Author: Dr. Boruch and Brian Degenhardt, PhD, professor
Sponsor: Dr. Degenhardt
Project: Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy in an Infant with Inclusion Cell Disease
Best Oral Presentation
Oral presenter: Madison Richards, OMS I
Author: Madison Richards, OMS I
Sponsor: Karl Jepsen, MD, PhD, associate dean for research, University of Michigan
Project: Reevaluating the cortical fraction
Graduate Case Report
Poster presenter: Sydney Christopherson, OMS III
Author: Christopherson
Sponsor: Pinak Shah, MD, FACP, associate program director, Internal Medicine Residency program, Mountain View Hospital, Las Vegas
Project: An Undiagnosed Case of Persistent Leukocytosis and Multisystem Involvement
MAOPS President Clinical Graduate Student Research Award
Poster presenter: Ava Thielman, OMS III
Author: Thielman, Lydia Lundquist, OMS IV; Brooke Johnson, OMS IV; Ahmed Baghdady, DO, resident, Henry Ford Warren-Madison Heights; and David Siegel, DO, surgeon, Henry Ford Warren-Madison Heights
Project: A Rare Case Presentation of Merkel Cell Carcinoma
MAOPS Rising Star Student Competition Winner
Poster Presenter: Sydney Christopherson, OMS III
Author: Christopherson
Sponsor: Pinak Shah, MD, FACP, associate program director, Internal Medicine Residency program, Mountain View Hospital, Las Vegas
Project: An Undiagnosed Case of Persistent Leukocytosis and Multisystem Involvement
MAOPS 1st Place Overall Student Competition Winner
Poster presenter: Nicholas Noyce, DO, Still OPTI
Author: Dr. Noyce; Brock Davis, DO, Still OPTI; and David Cleaver, DO, Still OPTI
Project: When Cancer Changes Costume: The importance of full body skin checks
