Congratulations to the ACOI 2025 Student and Resident/Fellow Poster Contest Finalists

The American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI) is proud to recognize the outstanding 2025 poster contest finalists. The finalists were awarded at ACOI 2025, held October 8-11 in Marco Island, Florida. 131 posters were presented by 120 students, residents, and fellows. The ACOI poster contest is one of the largest in the osteopathic profession.

Annually, ACOI honors research by students, residents, and fellows with the Awards for Clinical Research, Bench Research, Case Presentation, and Quality Improvement Posters. The entries are prepared and submitted by students interested in Internal Medicine, and residents or fellows practicing Internal Medicine and its subspecialties. All subject matter is highly encouraged to be relevant to osteopathic principles and practice.  

Led by committee chair, Keith A. Reich, DO, MACOI, the ACOI Research Committee, along with other members of the ACOI who are engaged in research, reviewed and judged each poster. The top two finalists in the different categories, which included clinical research, quality improvement, bench research, and case presentations, presented their work at a plenary session during the Annual Convention. At the end of that session, the winners were recognized, and those who placed first, second, and third each received cash awards.

Listed below are the finalists and winners in all contest categories.  
 

Resident/Fellow Case Presentation Winners

First Place: Justin Hicklin, DO, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (Internal Medicine)
More Than Meets the Skin: Disseminated Histoplasmosis Hidden Behind HSV

Second Place: Samrah Noreen, MD, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center (Internal Medicine)
Severe Proximal Muscle Weakness Revealing Statin-Associated Autoimmune Necrotizing Myopathy (IMNM)

Resident/Fellow Clinical Research Winners

First Place: Brett Cohen, DO, St. Luke's University Hospital (Internal Medicine)
Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on Mortality and In-Hospital Outcomes in Acute Pancreatitis

Second Place: Stefan Weston, DO, University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville (Internal Medicine)
Plasma Cystatin C Versus Plasma Creatinine in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury Secondary to Rhabdomyolysis: A Prospective Study

Third Place: Mohammad Alajjuri, MD, Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall (Internal Medicine)
Clinical Associations and Adverse Events Linked to Mechanical Thrombectomy Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stoke

Resident/Fellow Quality Improvement Winners

First Place: Michael Ciesa, DO, OhioHealth/Doctors Hospital (Internal Medicine)
Safer Practices Start Here: Standardizing the Intrahospital Intensive Care Unit Transfer Process

Second Place:  Jesse Woodall, IV, DO, University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville (Internal Medicine)
Evaluation of Time to Therapeutic PTT and Overall Outcomes of Patients Presenting with Pulmonary Emboli and Treated with Heparin Infusion with or without Heparin Bolus

Student Case Presentation Winners

First Place: Kesha Amin, OMS-IV, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hypermobility Spectrum Digestive Disorder (HSDD): An Underdiagnosed Cause of Chronic GI Symptoms

Second Place: Maria Vera, OMS-IV, Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College Of Osteopathic Medicine
A Rare Case Presentation of Erdheim-Chester Disease

Student Quality Improvement Winners

First Place: Raghavee Neupane, OMS-II, Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Breaking the Fracture Cycle: How Fracture Liaison Services Improve Outcomes in Older Adults

Second Place: Nirali Trivedi, OMS-III, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Targeting Cardiovascular Vulnerabilities in Women with HIV on ART: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Student Clinical Research Winners

First Place: Mia Hudanich, OMS-II, Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine - Clearwater
The Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Second Place: Vyshnavi Pendala, OMS-II, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Bridging Gaps in the Management of Metabolic Associated Steatosis Liver Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Student Bench Research Winners

First Place: Mehar Nasir, OMS-III, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Express Diverse Biomarkers Across Tumor Type and are Potential Targets for Cancer-Specific and Personalized Immunotherapies

Second Place: Maryam Salik, OMS-III, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Serpin B5 as a Molecular Biomarker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

All posters can be viewed on the ACOI 2025 agenda by clicking on the "Posters" tab on the left hand menu.