Posts

Building on the success of the CARESTREAM experiential clinical learning program, lead course coordinator Dr. James Crick and the LIFT Lab recently completed the inaugural cohort of CARESTREAM-CURE, a course-based undergraduate research experience. During Summer 2025 CARESTREAM-CURE offered former CARESTREAM students the opportunity to gain access to ongoing Learning Health System (LHS) research projects affiliated with the LIFT Lab while gaining foundational didactic training and skills in LHS science. This three-credit-hour course was developed and implemented with grant funds provided by the Ohio State University Office of Academic Affairs.

“I’m really thrilled with the opportunity that CARESTREAM-CURE provides for students,” notes Dr. Crick. “There is such tremendous talent, drive, and curiosity amongst students within HRS which has continually inspired us to create new educational offerings. We were spurred on by the success of our CARESTREAM course which has been running continuously for three years. Being able to give students experiential research opportunities, which we knew are a high-impact educational offering, was a great opportunity for us to bring firsthand exposure to Learning Health Systems research.”

The CARESTREAM-CURE course offers students a hands-on introduction to the research process by embedding them in lab meetings and current LHS projects. Through a mix of online synchronous and asynchronous learning, optional in-person lab engagement, and mentored contributions to research projects, students build skills in study design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination. The course fosters confidence, professional growth, and teamwork while giving students course credit and the opportunity to see how research can directly improve healthcare systems.

• Is there anything specifically notable about your experiences, from which you learned new perspectives?

“To me, the class focused on the concept of a universal Learning Health System (LHS), and all research methods and content were related back to that framework. I found that we spent much of the summer semester examining research motives and design specifically through the lens of an LHS.”

 

• What did you feel was good about your participation in particular, and what did you feel was the most meaningful about the program for both yourselves, and for the community at large?

“Our participation was mostly observational but I strongly feel that this was a meaningful component of the class. Attending lab meetings, speaking with guest lecturers, and engaging in class discussion offered insight into the everyday workings of the research side of medicine. After this experience, I hope to become more involved in research and give back to the community through it.”

The LIFT Lab is excited to welcome Rylie Severson into our ranks! She will be helping the LIFT Lab to further develop the CARESTREAM and SPIRIT Club Projects, collecting and managing data for SPIRIT Club, while acting as a preceptor and student mentor for CARESTREAM. We are very much looking forward to having Rylie on our team.

Welcome aboard, Rylie!

We are excited to share that the Healing and Empowerment Actions for Recovery from Trauma (HEART) trial has received a five-year, $16.6 million award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

The HEART trial will test a new approach to trauma recovery that prioritizes both physical and psychological healing. While traditional care often focuses on visible injuries, this study will integrate support for mental health, anxiety, and caregiver well-being alongside orthopaedic recovery.

Our lab is excited to lead the Clinical Coordinating Center core, working hand-in-hand with an outstanding network of partners. This multi-center effort includes collaborators from Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, University of Maryland, University of Colorado, Dartmouth Hitchcock, and Hennepin County Medical Center. We are also proud to work closely with trauma recovery experts from the Evellere Group, whose expertise strengthens the trial’s focus on holistic, patient-centered recovery.

Together, these partnerships are paving the way toward a more comprehensive model of trauma care, one that addresses the full spectrum of healing.

Learn more about the grant from these notable news reports!

Wexner Medical Center – OSU Post

Spectrum News 1 – Dayton

News Watchman – Pike County

At Ohio State’s inaugural Women’s Health Research Day, the LIFT Lab’s DREAMS team showcased two exciting presentations highlighting their upcoming study.

Dr. Carmen Quatman and Dr. J.P. Anders delivered an oral presentation addressing the critical gap in research on women working in high-stress environments.

Meanwhile, Angela Emerson, a PhD candidate with the LIFT Lab, presented a poster outlining the innovative methodologies that will guide the team’s future work.

These presentations mark an important step forward in advancing women’s health research; stay tuned for what’s ahead!

Najhee Purdy of the LIFT Lab recently led a publication exploring women’s opinion on using HPV self-collection for cervical cancer screening following FDA approval. This was work was completed as part of his Master of Public Health program specializing in Health Behavior and Health Promotion with a focus on policy.

This study shows most women in the United States are willing to use HPV self-collection in a healthcare setting if it is free or covered by health insurance.

To read further about this study, and to learn more about its findings, you can do so here.

Matthew Paponetti of the LIFT Lab recently received two new awards – the Promotion of Doctoral Studies Scholarship, from the Foundation of Physical Therapy Research; and the STRiDE Award, from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Both awards support Matthew’s research, and greatly emphasize his contributions to the study of physical activity and function, body composition, and the experiences of adolescents with obesity, namely those being treated with GLP-1 Receptor Agonist medications.

Congratulations, Matthew, and may your research and work continue to progress to new heights!

Congratulations to Dr. Carmen Quatman, who has recently become the Director of Research for FAME – the Center for Faculty Advancement, Mentoring, and Engagement!

Dr. Quatman’s experience as an orthopaedic trauma surgeon-scientist, and as an Associate Professor with Tenure in Emergency Medicine and Orthopaedics, vastly enhance her ability to lead strategic efforts in support of the College of Medicine faculty, particularly those engaged in research. She will continue building expert committees, fostering  cooperation across campus, and designing development initiatives with targeted purpose.

Well done, Dr. Quatman! We look forward to seeing your future contributions as FAME’s Director of Research!

Yogesh and Carmen recently published a study regarding Spinopelvic Alignment’s effect on fixation stability in pelvic ring fractures. The study was published in Clinical Biomechanics, and investigates a largely unexamined aspect of this type of injury. This study is likely the first to be published on this particular focus, consequently opening a door to new research.

To read about the findings of this study, click here.

Riley Summers of the LIFT Lab recently led a publication exploring American adults’ willingness to receive a combined influenza and COVID-19 vaccine. This work was completed as part of her Master of Public Health program specializing in Health Behavior and Health Promotion.

This study has shed more light on public attitudes regarding influenza and COVID-19 vaccines and has given great insight into the role of vaccines in America’s public health. To read further about this study, and to learn about its findings in more detail, you can do so here.

Congratulations, Riley!

The LIFT Lab is excited to welcome Dr. Grace Peters, a visiting Post-Doc, to our team! Dr. Peters is a seasoned public health expert and educator with over two decades of experience in global health, reproductive care, and implementation research. She holds a PhD in Family Medicine from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa; an MPH in Health Promotion; and a BS in Human Nutrition from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Throughout her career, she has led community-driven health initiatives, developed educational curricula, facilitated national capacity-building programs, and published on malaria prevention, healthcare access, and family health. Having worked with Save the Children UK, UNICEF, the Chaplaincy of the Nigerian Army (The Protestant Church), and Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Peters has helped implement scalable health interventions across the country. We are thrilled to have Dr. Peters with us for the summer!