University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository
The University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository is an integral part of The Scholarly Project Series in the DMSc curriculum. Students will submit directly to this database. Access is restricted to the Lynchburg community, and publication in other journals is encouraged.
See the Aims and Scope for a complete coverage of the journal.
Current Issue: Volume 8, Issue 1 (2026)
Articles
Rheumatoid Arthritis as a Multisystem Disease: Exploring Extra-Articular Manifestations
Justin L. Badamo
Aortic Valve Replacement in the Donor Heart: A Case Report
Joshua J. Lowman
One-Time Steroid Dose as Adjunct Treatment in Acute Pharyngitis
Sammantha Francis
Peace of Mind Telehealth: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Improve Psychiatric Access in Underserved Populations
VLADIMIR V. EUGENE, PA-C
Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential
Dallas T. Mason
Prevention of Symptomatic Lymphoceles Using a Peritoneal Flap in Post-Prostatectomy Patients
Neley Morales
Bridging Disparities: Diabetes Self-Management Education for Hispanic Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Stephanie Guerrero
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Gastroenterology Endoscopy
Christopher H. Kim
Multidisciplinary Treatment of Nasal Dermoid Cysts: A Clinical Review
Kristina P. Marsack
Racial, Ethnic, and Nativity Disparities Women Face in Prenatal Care
TRISHANNA YANKANNAH
How Does Dance Improve Physical Health, Mental Well-Being, and Quality Of Life In Older Adults?
Irene Pilosova
Enhancing Acute Concussion Evaluation in Austere Military Facilities: The Integration of Traumatic Brain Injury Whole Blood Biomarkers
Jamie N. Wilson
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection: An Atypical Etiology of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Abigail R. LaMarca
A Review of Male Osteoporosis
Daniel Acevedo
The Use of Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis of Septic Arthritis
Reagan Norvell MSPAS, PA-C
The High Cost of Caring: The Impact of Burnout Among Emergency Medicine PAs and NPs
Halcian L. Graham-Levy PA-C
Burnout in Healthcare: Identifying Causes and Implementing Solutions
Yareli Aguirre-Barthell
Endometriosis: A Comprehensive Review of Management Options
Milena Dhana PA-C
Interval Appendectomy: Modern Review
Daniel Scott Watkins
Management of Difficult Patient Situations
Sangeetha Larsen MPAS, PA-C
Countering HPV Vaccine Misinformation on Social Media: Practical Strategies for Healthcare Providers
David Baldwin
Optimizing Type 2 Diabetes Management with Supplemental Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Anubhav G. Gupta
Weight-Loss Efficacy of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Relative to Lifestyle-Based Interventions
Amy Betterton
Risk-Taking and Social Outcomes in Homeschooled Youth
Abby Bonniwell PA-C
Soft Skills, Strong Scores: The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Academic Outcomes in Physician Assistant Education
Michelle A. Lea
Screen Time and Electronic Use in Child Development
Jacquelyn J. Brewer
Early Academic Predictors of Success in Physician Assistant Education: The Role of Foundational Coursework and PANCE Performance
Mitzi N. D'Aquila
The Forgotten Valve: A Clinical Update on Tricuspid Regurgitation
Caitlyn J. Williams
Community-Based, Culturally Tailored Strategies to Improve Hypertension Control in African American Communities
Anne M. Abraham
Implementing Teledermatology in the Urgent Care Setting
Mckenzie Clark
Improving Imaging Outcomes: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Screening Digital Mammography and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis
Christine Boyer MPAP, PA-C
Provider Turnover: Why It Happens and The Effects It Has on The Patient Population
Ashley N. Williams
Utilization of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Adults without Diabetes to Reduce Cardiovascular
Courtney Legendre
Methods of Managing Chronic Diseases in Impoverished or War-Torn Areas
Richard A. Whitehead
The Microbiome-Infertility Connection: A Systematic Review of Emerging Opportunities for Intervention
Lynn Dudley and Jennifer Miller
Implementing Competency-Based Medical Education in a Time-Constrained Physician Assistant/Associate Program
Cathy C. Ruff MS, PA-C
Evaluating the Impact of Provider-Patient Language Concordance on Hospitalization Outcomes Among Patients with Limited English Proficiency
Francesca Lattanzi
Mental Health and COPD: The Role of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Improving Psychological Outcomes
whitney sewell
The Hidden Risk of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Preventing Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion in Primary Care
Morgan B. McNutt
Sepsis Causes and Management
Penelope Moore
Antibiotic Stewardship For Upper Respiratory Infections In Acute Care Ambulatory Settings
Demet Saygili
Telehealth Versus In-Person Disability Evaluations in Veterans
Afua Frimpong Dwamena
Comprehensive Review of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis in Emergency Medicine Setting
Jonathan Sloop
Understanding the Role of Confidence in Remediation: A Thematic Review of Learner Perceptions in Physician Assistant and Medical Education
Bindiya H. Nandwana
Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy Versus Detoxification for Opioid Use Disorder: A Clinical Review
Sarah A. Marsh
Rich in Platelets but Poor in Certainty? Current Evidence on Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Osteoarthritis
Zachary B. Flack
Testing and Thrombotic Prophylaxis of Factor V Leiden Patients in the Primary Care Setting
Grant DeCastillia
Advances in Diagnosis and Disease-Modifying Therapy in Cardiac Amyloidosis: Impact on Mortality and Clinical Outcomes
Connor T. Bastidas
Early Identification and Remediation of Academically At-Risk Physician Assistant Students
Kimberly Rose
The Role of Simulation in Emergency Medicine Education: Enhancing Clinical Practice and Patient Care
Kelly E. Miller
Hidden Infarctions: Understanding and Managing Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries Through a Multimodal Lens
Catalina Esquivel
Glucagon-like Peptide-1 and Sodium-glucose Cotransporter-2 in the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients Without Diabetes
Dylan J. Haley PA-C
Artificial Intelligence in Brain Tumor Management: Evidence, Clinical Use, and Implications for PA Practice
Helen French
Optimizing Prior Authorization in Oncology: Advanced Practice Provider-Led Approaches to Improve Efficiency and Timely Access to Care
Paola Gonzalez, MPAS, PA-C
The Rapid Expansion and Clinical Importance of Amblyomma americanum in the United States
Patricia L. Micozzi
Simulation-Based Education in Critical Care
Catherine J. Wooton
A Clinical Review of Severe Malaria and Artemisinin Resistance in Sub-Saharan Africa
Elizabeth R. Jones PA-C
Paraspinal Muscle Mass in Low Back Pain and Lumbar Radiculopathy
Kaitlyn Lawhorn MPAM, PA-C
Durvalumab Consolidation After Concurrent Chemoradiation in Stage III Non-Small Lung Cancer
Joyti Gore
Artificial Intelligence and Early Breast Cancer Detection
Kahley N. Wampler
Chest Pain in Young Adults: Prevalence and Risk Factors
Margaret J. Kessler PA-C
Strategies to Improve Emergency Department Boarding
Chelsea Dwyer Byrne
The Impact of Plant-Based Diets on Clinical Outcomes in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Eucharia Okolo, MSPAS, DipACLM, PA-C
End-of-Life Care Initiated in the Emergency Department: Rethinking Escalation Pathways and Opportunities for Goal-Concordant Care
Jennifer L. Hunter
Lifestyle Change vs Medication. Evaluating Approaches to Hypertension Control in Adults: A Clinical Review
Jamie M. Virden
Artificial Intelligence in Emergency Departments: Enhancing Workflow and Patient Outcomes
Dillon Geier
Misrepresentation of Female and Gender-Diverse Patients in the ICD and SNOMED CT Systems: A Critical Review
Evan A. Glover
Powering Plant-Based Prevention: Nutritional and Clinical Benefits of Plant-Based Diets in Chronic Disease
Kaitlyn D. Johnson
Bridging the Gap: Improving Early Detection of Skin Cancer Among People of Color in Primary Care
Nithya John
Neurological History Taking and Examination
Samuel Anderson
Medication Exposure and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: A Review of Evidence Across Common Drug Classes
Bryn M. Southards
Lipid Management in Pregnancy
Nelofar Barlas
Evaluating the Effectiveness of PA-Led Postoperative Follow-up in Orthopedic Clinics
Shirley P. Alleyne
Neurotoxicity Grading Criteria in a Pediatric Patient Receiving Blinatumomab: A Case Report
Claire LeVoir
Reducing Diagnostic Delay in Rare Diseases
Shannon Cummings
Longitudinal Behavioral and Metabolic Phenotype in a Child with a Distal Chromosome 15q21.3-22.2 Deletion
Amber Conrad
Journavx in Postoperative Pain Control: Evidence, Mechanism, and Potential Applications in Total Joint Arthroplasty
Olivia Offermann
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Trauma: Current Guidelines and Potential Advancements
Christopher McCord
Calcium in Trauma Resuscitation
Patrick Thomas
Beyond the Bite: Clinical Decision-Making for Infection and Rabies Risk in Pregnancy
Jesse McAllister
Evaluating the Role of OnabotulinumtoxinA in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Tochukwu Okemezie
Consumer Wearable Neurotechnology for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence, Classification and Clinical Implications
Christine Shawn Wade
Evidence-Informed Leadership Benchmarks for Ethical and Sustainable Short Term Medical Missions
Amber Beserra
The Use of Psilocybin for Managing Refractory Behavioral Health Conditions: A New and Promising Approach
Rachel N. Clark
Inhaled Treatment Options for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Cristina V. Landa
Nutrition as the Cornerstone: Re-evaluating the Role of Diet in the Treatment of Insulin Resistance in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Meagan Ferguson
Using Menopausal Hormone Therapy for Mood Symptoms in Perimenopause and Menopause: A Framework for Psychiatric Clinicians
Stephanie R. Dallocchio
Intraoperative Cholangiography During Cholecystectomy: Contemporary Evidence, Evolving Techniques, and a Risk-Based Approach
Katie A. Duffy
Refining Uncertainty: Multimodal Neuroprognostication in Adult Post-Cardiac Arrest Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury
Stephanie Anselmi MS, PA-C
Advocacy for Early, Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation in Acute Moderate-to-Severe TBI Patients
Lorenzo A. Santos
Beyond Skin: Adjunctive GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy for Psoriasis and Metabolic Dysfunction
Patricia J. Quartin
The Evolution of Intracranial Hemorrhage Management
Oleg Yermakov
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections In Rotator Cuff Disease
Lauren A. Seedlock
Unloader Knee Braces in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Jennifer Gribble
Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy in the Management of Anxiety and Depression Among Cancer Patients
Caleb Lemus
Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin Type A for Post-Craniotomy Headache
Kimberly Lightfoot
Reframing Sleep’s Importance in Lifestyle Medicine: A Theoretical Sleep-Centered Model
Christine E. Peck
Genomic and AI-based Decision-Support Tools in Localized Prostate Cancer: Clinical Interpretation of Decipher and ArteraAI
Heather Johnson
A Case of Babesiosis with Hematuria: Recognizing Atypical Presentations in Endemic Areas
SARA M. KOLINSKI
The Safety and Efficacy of Transexamic Acid in Polytrauma Patients
John J. Reidelbach II
Value of Integrating Physician Associates into Academic Hospital Plastic Surgery Departments
Shannon Urena
Comparative Clinical Efficacy and Long-Term Durability of Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD) in Patients with Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy
Jessica Rulen-Riddle
CAR-T Therapy as Second-Line Strategy in Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Justin Domenico
Evaluation and Management of Anorectal Conditions
Erica Van Beuge PA-C
The Power Greater Than Zero: Leveraging Incidental Vascular Calcification to Prevent Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events
Michael Riddle
From Fixer to Facilitator: A Clinical Review of Shared Medical Appointments as a Strategy for Workforce Sustainability
Barbara A. Slusher
Elevate Your Atrial Fibrillation Practice: Key Takeaways on Diagnosis and Management
Edisson Naranjo-Mejia
Osimertinib monotherapy and Osimertinib plus chemotherapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
RoseMarie Casanova
Military Beneficiary Appointment Compliance
Anthony M. Reddick
TeamBirth, Communication, and Physician Associates: Reducing U.S. Maternal Mortality and Advancing Racial Equity
Kay C. Jaramillo-Gibbs
Differentiating Ventricular Tachycardia from Wide-Complex Supraventricular Arrhythmias
Jevon Gegg-Mitchell
Updates on Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia in the U.S.
Jatan D. Raythatha
A Prescription for Exercise
GABRIELLE C. PERRYMAN
The Past, Present, and Future of Fetal Tissue Versus Stem Cell Approach
Taz A. Thomas JD, LL.M, PA
Comparing Mortality Outcomes Between Whole Blood Versus Component Therapy
Jessica MacLaurin Kemp
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries in Female Athletes: Review of Female-Specific Causes, and Methods of Prevention
Alison N. Chabot
Clearing the Air: Evaluating the Health Consequences of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
Logan Armstrong
Addressing Financial Toxicity and Psychological Distress in Cancer Patients with Dependent Children
Emily Morse
Spontaneous Thrombosis of an Unruptured Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformationin a Patient on Progesterone-Based Hormone Therapy: A Case Report
Brandan T. Lykens