Office of Research and Grant Support
News and Upcoming Events

The 12th Annual SHP-SON Student Faculty Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day
April 25, 2018

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Organized by Elizabeth Capezuti, PhD, RN, FAAN, Malini Lall, and HPEC Director Martin Dornbaum, MS, the 11th annual SHP-SON-SHS Brookdale Campus Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day was held on April 25, 2018. .

The 11th Annual SHP-SON Student Faculty Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day
April 26, 2017

View Additional Evidence-Based Day 2017 photos

Organized by Elizabeth Capezuti, PhD, RN, FAAN, Malini Lall, and HPEC Director Martin Dornbaum, MS, the 11th annual SHP-SON-SHS Brookdale Campus Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day was held on April 26, 2017. .

The 10th Annual SHP-SON Student Faculty Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day
April 20, 2016

View Additional Evidence-Based Day 2016 photos

Organized by Elizabeth Capezuti, PhD, RN, FAAN, Malini Lall, and HPEC Director Martin Dornbaum, MS, the 10th annual SHP-SON-SHS Brookdale Campus Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day was held on April 20, 2016. Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day concluded with a few words on The Intersection of Research and Evidenced-Based Practice from Keynote speaker, Margaret Barton-Burke, PhD, RN, FAAN Director of Nursing Research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center..

The 9th Annual SHP-SON Student Faculty Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day
April 30, 2015

View Additional Evidence-Based Practice Day 2015 photos

Organized by Elizabeth Capezuti, PhD, RN, FAAN, Malini Lall, and HPEC Director Martin Dornbaum, MS, the 9th annual SHP-SON-SHS Brookdale Campus Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day was held on April 30, 2015. Evidence-Based Practice Poster Presentation Day concluded with a few words from Keynote Speaker, Linda A. Hatfield, PhD..

At the end of the event, the following poster awards were presented for exceptional research. Congratulations to the winners of the 9th Annual Evidence Based Practice Poster Presentation Day!

2015 Poster Presentation Day Winners:

Impact of Home Care Staff - Directed Intervention on HHCAHPS Scores Faculty Sponsor
Amauche Obi-Eyisi. Faculty Sponsor: Elizabeth Capezuti

Evaluation of Distress Levels and Coping Self-Efficacy in Inpatient Adult Oncology Nurses
Lara Wahlberg. Faculty Sponsor: Elizabeth Capezuti

Nursing Care for Patients with Aphasia: Learning How to Communicate Effectively
Mariel Acosta Melo and Maria Ponce. Faculty Sponsor: Elizabeth Galletta

The 8th Annual SHP-SON Student Faculty Research Conference
May 08, 2014

View Additional Research Day 2014 photos

Organized by Carol Roye, EdD, RN, CPNP, Malini Lall, and HPEC Director Martin Dornbaum, MS, the 8th annual SHP-SON-SHS Brookdale Campus Research Conference was held on May 7th, 2014. Research Day concluded with Keynote Speaker, Jed Levine's, MA, presentation Alzheimer's Disease: Are We Prepared? Research, Policy and Resource Update .

At the end of the event, the following three poster awards were presented for exceptional research. Congratulations to the winners of the 8th Annual Research Conference!

2014 Research Conference Winners:

An Aphasia Rehabilitation Readings Group as the Foundation for Clinical Research Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Conjunction with Language Treatment for Aphasia
Lindsay Cuneo

A Review of the Literature on Psychotherapeutic Interventions to Decrease Depression among Informal Caregivers of Adults with Dementia in the Community

Samantha Roche
A Literature Review of the Effects of Breastfeeding on Pain in Neonates
Ejiroghene Idolor, Anna Liefshitz, Kenny Lin, and Jiali Liu



7th Annual SHP-SON Student Faculty Research Conference
May 08, 2013

View Additional Research Day 2013 photos

Organized by Carol Roye, EdD, RN, CPNP, and HPEC Director Martin Dornbaum, MS, the 7th annual SHP-SON-SHS Brookdale Campus Research Conference was held on May 8th, 2013. Breaking the record with 56 poster entries, Research Day concluded with Keynote Speaker, Marita G. Titler's, PhD, RN, FAAN, presentation on translational research and evidence-based practice.

At the end of the event, the following three poster awards were presented for exceptional research. Congratulations to the winners of the 7th Annual Research Conference!

2013 Research Conference Winners:

The effects of different interventions in reducing fall-related injuries among the elders in communities and healthcare settings
William Lau, SooJung Lee, PoYu Li, Sujata Gurung, Ye Seul Lee, Gian Leonzon

Improving Quality of Life in the Patient with Renal Failure
Pamela D'Amato, Ann Marie Gardiner, Yan Yan Leon, Samantha Morel, Elisabeth Sanderson, Lynette Wells, Andrea Williams, Stephen Wong

Considering a Biopsychosocial Model of Health in the Translational Application of a Specific Voice Treatment
Meghan Ahern



The Center for Nursing Research(CNR) and the Office of Research and Grant Support(ORGS) Merge

Now that the School of Public Health has moved uptown, and with it, the ORGS overseer, Dr. Beatrice Krauss, the CNR and the ORGS have merged to become CNR/ORGS.

The ORGS resources will be available to all the programs currently housed at the Brookdale Campus. The ORGS facility on the Mezzanine level will remain the ORGS/CNR Technology Center, and Room 405W will become the CNR Conference Center.



ORGS hosts 6th Annual SHP-SON Student-Faculty Research Conference
May 02, 2012


View Research Day photos



Continuing Excellence at Brookdale Campus

On May 2nd, 2012, the hallways of Brookdale Campus clamored with people -- School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing faculty and students alike -- eager to present and read the many posters displayed in the lobby. With a record number of poster presentations and attendees, the 6th annual SHP-SON Student-Faculty Research Conference was an undeniable success.

Organized by Carol Roye, EdD, RN, CPNP, Carol Silverman, PhD, MPH, and Martin Dornbaum, MS, the 6th annual Research Day broke the record for the number of research submissions-- a trend which is expected to continue in coming years.

The ability to incorporate various suggestions and edit a presentation accordingly throughout the course of a day aids students in developing communication, presentation, and critical thinking skills.

"The use of poster presentations is an ideal opportunity to disseminate research findings. One of the most rewarding aspects of presenting a poster is the ability to meet other presenters, seeing other posters, and talking to people who are interested in the topic. It's a great way to build connections between researchers within the Hunter Community," said Mr. Dornbaum at the end of the evening.

Participating in the SHP-SON Student-Faculty Research Conference gives students within the health professions a unique opportunity to practice these vital skills.

The day continued with a speech by the keynote speaker, Daliah Heller, PhD, MPH addressing "Health Care Provider Perspectives On Caring for Patients with Substance Use" and concluded with the presentation of awards to Research Conference winners. With topics ranging from Preliminary Findings for the Hearing Efficacy of the NYEEI Non-ferromagnetic Stapes Prosthesis, to Teen Abuse of Prescription Opioid Medication to The Effects of Kangaroo Care on Thermoregulation in Term and Preterm Infants, choosing winners was a difficult task. Eventually six winners were chosen:

Vitamin D Administration to Prevent Falls in the Elderly
Anne Cheun, Tova Cohen, and Shari Dawson - Undergraduates, School of Nursing
Faculty Sponsor: Pamela Mahon, PhD, NEA-BC, CNE, RN

A Literature Review of the Effects of Magnet Designation on Reported Nursing Burnout, Job Satisfaction and Perception of the Work Environment
Sylvia Amor Crispino, Treesa Panjikunnel, Loleta Rumble, Cheri Tang - Graduate, School of Nursing
Faculty Sponsor: Diana Mason, PhD, C, FAAN, RN

Honey: Treatment for Burns
Kristine Santos, Teshmanie Rampersaud, Norman Jabaut, Timur Kitaev, Jin He - Undergraduates, HBSON
Faculty Sponsor: Mary Belmont

A Cognitive Model for Translational Treatment of Hypophonia
Meghan Ahern - Graduate, Communication Sciences
Sponsor: Elizabeth Galletta, PhD

Is The Risk of Post-op Complications Reduced In Patients Who Pre-operatively Abstained From Smoking As Compared To Patients Who Didn't Stop Smoking?
Ninara Ibragimova, Grigoriy Fooks, Anna Ibragimova, Ivanna Tsykhulyak - Graduate Students, HBSON

Inhibition of Glutamate Dependent Growth in U-87MG, Human Glioblastoma Cell Line
Zarina Yelskaya and Vangie Carrillo - Med-Lab Science
Faculty Sponsor: Shahana S. Mahajan, PhD

All participants received 8-GB Flash drives, while winners received gift certificates to Barnes & Noble's. Congratulations to all the winning participants of the 6th annual Research Day! And a special thanks to Malini Lall for her hard work and contribution to the 2012 Conference.



The ORGS hosts the 3rd Annual SHP-SON Student-Faculty Research Conference
April 29, 2009 - Summary and Wrap-up


On April 29, 2009, ORGS hosted its third annual research conference in the health professions, showcasing faculty and student work from departments in the School of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing.

View photos and the 2009 Abstract Book




The level of participation in the conference was unprecedented. The conference consisted of 39 poster presentations and 10 oral presentations of ongoing or completed health-related research authored or co-authored by students, faculty and staff affiliated with SHP and/or SON, compared to 28 poster presentations and four oral presentations in 2008. Eight of this year's research presentations also included affiliated, external collaborators.

The conference culminated with a keynote address by MacArthur award-winning environmental activist, Majora Carter. Co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost, Carter's address entitled, Greening the Ghetto, and How Much It Won't Cost You, was preceded by opening remarks frpm Provost Vita Rabinowitz and by an award presentation for posters that were primarily authored by a student.

Eighty persons authored or co-authored poster presentations: two undergraduate students, 34 graduate students (both Master’s and Doctoral), 20 faculty and four research staff or fellows; together representing SON, COMSC, PT and COMHE, as well as 20 affiliated external collaborators representing NYC metropolitan colleges and universities (e.g., NYU, Columbia, St. John’s), community-based organizations (e.g., MRI Diagnostics of Westchester, Amsterdam Nursing Home, Gay Men’s Health Crisis), and national and international universities or community-based organizations (e.g., University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus; University of Cuenca, Ecuador; NAACP, Northwest Ohio; Nevada Cancer Institute; Ecuadorian Neurocysticercosis Group). Twenty posters had faculty sponsors, most of whom authored or co-authored other posters themselves.

Of the student first-authored posters, ORGS awarded three outstanding poster presentations:

  • Hanlon, A. (ComSc). The effect of melodic intonation therapy on childhood apraxia of speech. With Cascella, P.W. (Faculty Sponsor).
  • Robson, P.C. (Nursing). The effect of percutaneous biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction on quality of life and pruritus. With Hofmann, J. (Faculty Sponsor).
  • Yung, J. et al. (UPH). Effect of living environment and working condition on neurocysticercosis in Ecuador. With Kelvin, E.A. (Faculty Sponsor).

Our 4th Annual SHP-SON Student-Faculty Research Conference will be held sometime in Spring 2010, pending support from both schools.


Majora Carter to Keynote 3rd Annual SHP & SON Student-Faculty Research Conference, Wednesday April 29, 2009



The 3rd Annual Hunter College Schools of the Health Professions and School of Nursing Student-Faculty Research Conference will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, from 1pm – 6:30pm. We are pleased to announce our keynote for the conference: MacArthur Fellow, community activist, and South Bronx resident, Majora Carter. This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP for the Keynote by emailing us at orgs@hunter.cuny.edu

Tentative Schedule:

  • 1:00–5:00pm — Poster Exhibition (Brookdale West Lobby)
  • 3:00–4:30pm — Oral Presentations (East Lounge)
  • 5:00–6:30pm — Award Ceremony and Keynote (Brookdale Auditorium)


Keynote Bio

Majora Carter was born, raised, and continues to live in the South Bronx. Her career has taken her around the world in pursuit of resources and ideas to improve the quality of life in environmentally-challenged communities. She founded Sustainable South Bronx in 2001 after writing a $1.25M Federal Transportation grant to design the South Bronx Greenway. The Greenway includes: 11 miles of bike and pedestrian paths connecting the rivers and neighborhoods to each other, and the rest of the city. That project secured over $20 million in funds for first phase construction and serves as alternative transportation, an economic-development anchor, storm-water management infrastructure, as well as healthy recreation.

She has been instrumental in creating river-front parks, building green roofs, working to remove poorly-planned highways, all in favor of positive economic development. She has also successfully implemented the Bronx Environmental Stewardship Training (BEST) program, a pioneering green-collar job training and placement system, seeding a community with a skilled workforce that has both a personal and economic stake in their urban environment.

These accomplishments grow from her notion that self-image is influenced by surroundings, —as such, those surroundings should be beautiful! Her vision, drive, and tenacity earned her a MacArthur "Genius" Grant. At the start of 2007, she was named as one of Newsweek'’s “25 To Watch”. By the end of the year, she was named one of Essence Magazine’'s “25 most Influential African Americans”. She has been named one of the “50 most influential women in NYC” by the NY Post for the past two years, and NYC's Most Influential Environmentalist by the BBC World Service. Majora is president of the Majora Carter Group, LLC, a board member of the Wilderness Society, and host of a special national public radio series called, The Promised Land.

Download Conference Agenda


Call for Abstracts: 3rd Annual SHP & SON Student-Faculty Research Conference


The ORGS is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Hunter College Schools of the Health Professions and School of Nursing Student-Faculty Research Conference, to be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, with the support of Deans Olden and Gebbie, Acting Senior Associate Dean Auerbach, Associate Dean Flammino, the 2009 Research Conference Student Advisory Board, and the Auxiliary Enterprise Board.

Our theme for 2009 is Building Healthy Environments. The conference will showcase the work of students and faculty in the Schools of the Health Professions and the School of Nursing. Poster and oral presentations will be scheduled for the afternoon, followed by a keynote speaker.

We invite undergraduate and graduate (Master’s and Doctoral) students, faculty, and Research Center staff to submit abstracts for poster presentations and/or brief oral presentations (approximately 10-15 minutes) in areas of research, clinical practice and project development, policy, advocacy and literature review on topics related, but not limited to, this year's theme.

The (soft) deadline for abstract submissions is Wednesday, March 18, 2009. Abstracts received after this date will be considered if space permits. We encourage students who completed outstanding work in the Fall 2008 semester to submit abstracts. Students who are working on projects during the Spring 2009 semester are also encouraged to submit abstracts of works in progress.

Abstracts must be submitted using the Abstract Submission Form and should be limited to 200 words. Forms must be submitted electronically to orgs@hunter.cuny.edu. All student submissions must include a faculty sponsor. E-mail acceptance notifications will be sent on a rolling basis. Funding and support for poster design and production will be available; details will be included in the acceptance notification.

Stay tuned for a schedule of poster and oral presentations, information about participant awards, prizes for best student posters and the keynote. We look forward to seeing the outstanding work of Brookdale students, faculty and staff!

Conference Date: Wednesday, 4/29/09, 1pm – 6:30pm
Abstract Submission Deadline: Wednesday, 3/18/09

Download Abstract Submission Form

View photos and abstracts from last year's conference



New Statistical Consultant for Fall 2008, Spring 2009

The ORGS welcomes Dr. Dana Draghicescu as our statistical consultant for the 2008-09 school year. Dana will be available to answer questions and provide one-on-one statistical consulting with faculty and research staff through the end of Spring 2009. All faculty are asked to have their data already entered and ready for the data analysis phase before making an appointment. As always, casual questions about statistical techniques or best practices are welcome.

Dana Draghicescu is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Hunter, which she joined in August 2004. She holds a Ph.D. in Mathematical Statistics from the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, and is working on both theoretical and applied statistical problems. She has been involved in multidisciplinary research projects during her doctoral work and as a pos-tdoctoral research associate at the University of Chicago. Her research interests include inference for dependent data (including non-stationary processes), quantile modeling, smoothing techniques, space-time processes, applications in atmospheric sciences, demography, environmental science and management, epidemiology, finance, mathematics education, medicine, and psychology.

Open Consultation Hours: Thursdays, 1pm - 3pm
Location: ORGS PC Lab, Mezzanine Level, Brookdale Campus
Email: dana.draghicescu@hunter.cuny.edu


Congratulations to our 2008-09 Seed Money Awardees

We are pleased to announce that 7 faculty members have been awarded ORGS Seed Money Awards for 2008-09:

Acee, A. Diabetes and Depression in Hispanics at a Community Health Center. $3992, 1 yr.

Johnston, D. Mechanisms of Innate Immunity. $8000, 2 yrs.

Mahon, P. et al. Program evaluation plan for Accelerated Second Degree Progam. $8000, 2 yrs.

Navder, K.. Body Fat in Newborns of Teenage Mothers. $8000, 2 yrs.

Romero, D. & Viladrich, A. Disparities in Public Health: Increasing Latino & Immigrant Professionals in the Field. $8000, 2 yrs.

Todaro-Franceschi, V. Transforming Death Attitudes and Power As Knowing Participation in Change. $2310, 1 yr.

Yeh, M. Development of a computer-based weight loss program for Black and Hispanic female adults. $4000, 1 yr.

Seed Money Awards are used to fund pilot projects enhancing faculty research, curriculum development, or training projects in order to lead to larger, externally-funded grant applications. Deadlines are annual, during the third week of March.

Read more about ORGS Awards


ORGS Grant Deadline Approaching: 10/15/2008

Applications for the SHP Grant Preparation Award, which funds three credits of reassigned time for grant preparation activities to SHP faculty, is due on October 15, 2008. Visit our awards page for more information, and to download application forms.


Concept Papers 101 Workshop, Spring 2008

In May of 2008, the ORGS held a workshop on developing a strong concept paper, which is perhaps the single most important tool used for acquiring funding. Attendees came with an idea for a project and worked with one another to begin developing the idea into a two-page paper for future funding opportunities. If you missed out or would like one-on-one assistance with developing your own concept paper, feel free to contact us for assistance.


Community of Science (CoS) Workshop, Spring 2008

April 2008. ORGS invited Bob Buckley and Carolynn Julien from Research Administration to Brookdale to demonstrate the Community of Science website, a useful tool to search for funding opportunities. For those who could not attend The ORGS is working on a video tutorial on using CoS.
From any CUNY campus computer, you can search COS Funding Opportunities.

Visit CoS Website for RF CUNY


2nd Annual SHP Research Day-2008: Summary and Wrap-up

On April 16, 2008, the ORGS hosted its Second Annual Research Conference in the Health Professions, showcasing faculty and student work from departments in the School of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing.

View photos and the 2008 Abstract Book




A total of 28 poster presentations were shown, representing Communication Sciences, Urban Public Health, Medical Lab Sciences, Nursing, and Physical Therapy. This year, ORGS added 4 oral presentations to the day's itinerary, which preceded the 5th Annual Dorothy F. Epstein Lecture in Nutrition.

The conference featured 14 graduate students, two undergraduate students, and 12 faculty members presenting as first authors. Four student authors received awards for outstanding poster presentations:

  • Raufman, Jill, Bruning, Nancy, et al. (UPH). Vida Activa (Active Life): Using Health Literacy to Promote Physical Activity among Latinas.
  • Gunderman, Jenny. (ComSc). Using Volunteers as Communication Partners for People with Aphasia.
  • Vagnetti, Michael. (UPH). School-Based Economic Interventions to Prevent Childhood Obesity: A Literature Review.

Our 3rd Annual Research Day will be held on April 29, 2009. Abstract submissions will be accepted until mid-March (exact date TBA).


Laura Cobus and Paul Cascela Win ORGS Poster Production Awards

Laura Cobus, Head Librarian of the Health Professions Library, has been awarded funding by ORGS for the production of a poster on her recent project, Web 2.0 and Information Literacy: The Importance of Critical Thinking in the Health Sciences. It was presented at the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) New York Annual Symposium on November 30, 2007 and will be presented at the upcoming Modern Language Association Annual Conference in Chicago on May 18, 2008. A Poster Production Award was given earlier in 2007 to Paul Cascela of Communication Sciences, who presented at the American Speech Language Hearing Conference. Congratulations to Laura and Paul for their outstanding work.


Robert Raffaniello Wins ORGS Grant Preparation Award

Robert Raffaniello, Medical Lab Sciences, has been awarded ORGS funding to develop and submit a federal grant proposal on Human genetic polymorphisms and gastric cancer. The award offers full-time faculty course release time (3 credits), in order to expand pre-existing pilot projects, concept papers, or other scholarly works into externally fundable grant applications.These are then submitted upon completion. We wish Dr. Raffaniello luck with his application.