蜜柚视频

In a speech to attendees of 蜜柚视频鈥檚 Health Scholars Research Symposium, W. David Arnold, M.D., emphasized the important role of physician scientists in bridging the worlds of research and patient care, noting that translational medicine must go both ways: from lab to clinic, and from the bedside of patients back to the lab.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not unidirectional鈥t鈥檚 really a circular kind of trajectory,鈥� said Arnold. 鈥淲e put patients at the center of care. We also need to do that with research. Our patients are our motivation.鈥�

To emphasize his point, Arnold, the executive director of the NextGen Precision Health Initiative and professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, shared the story of one of his patients, Maura.

She came to the neuromuscular clinic experiencing progressive loss of muscle strength and function and was diagnosed with ALS. Arnold said he and the rest of the team couldn鈥檛 give her the answers she wanted, but they could try to reduce the burden of ALS on her life. Later, at her funeral, he learned from her family that her involvement in research gave meaning to her suffering.

鈥淭his is the reason that I wanted to talk about her case,鈥� Arnold explained, saying Maura inspired him. 鈥淚 do think as a physician we need to bring the next best thing to our patients. And so, I feel like it鈥檚 my responsibility to bring clinical trials and do things in the lab that actually matter.鈥�

Arnold, who leads translational research in neuromuscular physiology related to health, aging and disease, shared his journey from growing up in rural Appalachian Kentucky to becoming a physician.

鈥淚 wanted a job I could depend on, and I wanted to make sure that job was worthwhile. That I could contribute to people鈥檚 health and wellbeing. So, I thought that being a physician was a good path,鈥� said Arnold.

He described being on the 鈥渃onveyer belt of medicine,鈥� until he saw the power of research while working in a faculty position.

鈥淵ou鈥檒l often see the clinical world and research are often two different universes鈥ut physician scientists are super critical for connecting the world between discovery and clinical implementation,鈥� he said.

Arnold advised medical students who attended the talk to 鈥渇ind a space where you are really, really motivated to find an answer to your question. Ideally, it鈥檚 a space where not a lot of other people are working and where you can contribute.鈥�

Examining age-related weakness peaked his interest. Now, Arnold focuses on understanding age-related decline in muscle and nerve function through clinical and preclinical studies. Rather than simply extending lifespan, his research aims to improve health span鈥攖he number of years individuals maintain function, independence and quality of life.

Arnold closed his talk saying, 鈥淩esearch matters, not just for creating therapies, but it鈥檚 hope, it鈥檚 team. I always tell my patients that clinical research is a team. We need them just as much as they need us.鈥�

Student researchers, faculty mentors and health professionals attended the Health Scholars Research Symposium for a day of learning, recognition and collaboration. The annual event was co-hosted by the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Health Sciences and Professions, and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. Following Arnold鈥檚 keynote speech, a poster symposium was held highlighting the work of student researchers, with several receiving awards for their innovation and research excellence.

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Basic/Biomedical Research

• Faisal Reza, OMS I (Perfect Score)
  鈥淔inite Element Modeling Analysis of Traumatic Brain Injury Induced by Frontal and Crown Impact鈥�
  Mentor: Dr. Michael Hanna

Clinical Research (Tie)

• Sahej Bindra, OMS II
  鈥淨ualitative Investigation of Pre-Participation History and Physical Examination with Scholastic Athletes鈥�
  Mentor: Dr. Aaron Lear
• Caden Togrul, OMS II
  鈥淚mproving Efficiency of Clinic Visits in Radiation Oncology鈥�
  Mentor: Dr. Maxwell Tran

Social Behavioral/Medical Education/Policy Research

• Zoya Bessler, Undergraduate Student
  鈥淎ssessing Comfort Levels Regarding AI Usage in Clinical Healthcare鈥�
  Mentors: Dr. Kelly Nottingham, Dr. Cory Cronin, and Sara Berens