HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – More than 300 students, post-doctoral residents, fellows and faculty participated in the 38th Annual Marshall University Health Sciences Research Day Friday, Oct. 2, at Marshall Health Network – St. Mary’s Center for Education Conference Center. 

The day-long symposium is hosted each fall by the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in partnership with the School of Pharmacy, the College of Health Professions and the College of Science to highlight original research and educational innovations.  

Participating students include undergraduates as well as graduate, medical, pharmacy, nursing, health professions and postdoctoral trainees in medicine, biomedical sciences and clinical and translational sciences. Oral and poster presentations in the areas of clinical science, basic science, medical education and quality improvement are judged by faculty members who select the best abstracts.  

“Research Day 2026 was record-setting with 187 total presentations showcasing the creativity and innovation of our health sciences research community,” said Richard Egleton, PhD, associate dean of health sciences graduate programs at the School of Medicine. “The dedication of our medical school faculty and staff is evident through the project mentorship they provide each year." 

This year’s keynote address was delivered by Gabriel G. Haddad, M.D., a distinguished professor of pediatrics and neurosciences and chairman emeritus of the department of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego.  

Winners of the 2026 Marshall University Health Sciences Research Day are listed below. 

The Intermed Labs Innovator of the Year Award was given to Chad Lavender, M.D., assistant professor at the School of Medicine.  

The Dr. John Karickhoff Medical Innovation Award is given for the best overall research performance by a medical student. This year's winner was Alexander Burbelo for his abstract entitled: Patient-Reported Return to Sexual Function After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Survey Study. 

Oral Presentation Winners 

• Best Medical Student: Alexander Burbelo (Mentor: Dr. Matthew Bullock)  

• Runner-up Medical Student: John Dransfeld (Mentor: Dr. Wei Li)  

• Best Graduate Student: Faith Malone (Mentor: Dr. Chris Risher)   

• Runner-up Graduate Student: Esther Mensah (Mentor: Dr. Brandeon Henderson)  

Poster Presentation Winners 

• Best Undergraduate Student: Grace Angelona (Mentor: Dr. Mary-Louise Risher)  

• Runner-up Undergraduate Student: Jordan Bryson (Mentor: Dr. Jessica Childs) 

• Best Medical Student: Alexandria Chapman (Mentor: Dr. Brandon Henderson)  

• Runner-up Medical Student: Braden Ross (Mentor: Dr. Vaibhav Sidarala)  

• Best Graduate Student: Sidney Strause (Mentor: Dr. Sandrine Pierre)  

• Runner-up Graduate Student: Christopher Bender (Mentor: Dr. Monica Valentovic) 

• Best Post-Graduate: Davinder Singh (Mentor: Dr. Mader)  

• Runner-up Post-Graduate: Christopher Conley (Mentor: Dr. Ben Frear) 

• Student Award for Best Poster (organized by the Medical Student Research Interest Group): Mandeep Shergill (Mentor: Dr. Brandon Henderson) 

The Dr. E. Norval Carter* Research Scholar Award was given to:  

• Kathleen Mai (Mentor: Dr. Adam Franks) 

• Oli Noel (Mentor: Dr. Nikolaus Yanina) 

• Noah Sherman (Mentor: Dr. Soudamani Singh) 

*Dr. E. Norval Carter (1911-1944) was a Huntington physician and United States Army captain who served as a battalion surgeon with the 115th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division during World War II. Prior to his military service, he practiced family medicine in Huntington, West Virginia, and was known for his dedication to caring for others. Dr. Carter landed at Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion and continued treating wounded soldiers while advancing through Normandy before being killed in action on June 19, 1944. His courage, selfless service, and commitment to helping others continue to inspire future generations through this award established in his memory. 

MEDIA ASSETS  

• Photos: 38th Annual Research Day - Marshall Health 

• Social Media: @MUSOMWV  

• Research Day Archives (programs, winners, photos): https://jcesom.marshall.edu/research/research-day/

Date Posted: Monday, October 5, 2026