McGovern students selected for, advance in AMA research challenge

Twenty students from McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston had their posters selected for the 2026 American Medical Association Research Challenge Poster Symposium. (external link)  

Additionally, one of those students, Hufsa Arain, advanced to be one of the five finalists competing for a $10,000 grand prize for her research (external link), “Uncovering Predictors of the 2025 Measles Resurgence in Texas: Ecologic Determinants and Risk Patterns.” 

“Advancing to the final round feels incredibly exciting and meaningful. As a second-year medical student, it’s encouraging to see a project focused on a public health issue affecting our Texas communities receive national recognition,” Arain said. “I’m also very grateful to everyone who took the time to view the poster, support the research, and help it reach this stage.” 

About the Research Challenge Poster Symposium 

The AMA Research Challenge Poster Symposium features research from 1,000 medical students, residents, and international medical graduates from 202 medical schools. Out of the 1,000 posters, 65 semifinalists are chosen and voted on to decide the five finalists, who then go on to compete for the $10,000 grand prize.  

The finals will take place in the first quarter of 2027.  

“It’s prestigious because it is a recognized national forum of a leading professional organization,” said Mary Kollmer Horton, PhD, MPH, assistant professor in the Office of Educational Programs at the medical school and director of the Medical Student Research Office. “They’ve been running these challenges to engage students with research, encourage students in research. Always be open to opportunities and pursue them with confidence.” 

Explore the research posters 

From a pool of 1,400 abstract submissions, 20 McGovern Medical School students had their posters chosen to be featured. 

• Hufsa Arain—“Uncovering Predictors of the 2025 Measles Resurgence in Texas: Ecologic Determinants and Risk Patterns” (external link) 

• Kishan Asokan—“Daily Dose of Radiology: Design, Engagement Analysis, and Proposed Curricular Integration of an Online Radiology Puzzle Platform” (external link) 

• Anthony Basta—“When Less is More: Evaluating Adherence and Deviation to Contemporary Algorithms of Frontal Sinus Fractures” (external link) 

• Blair Bath—“TikTok Portrayal of Melanotan: A Cross-Sectional Observational Analysis” (external link) 

• Mihai Bendea—“Methylomic and Transcriptomic Signatures of Suicide Death in Postmortem Brains of Individuals with Bipolar Disorder” (external link) 

• Madison Black—“Improving Physician Preparedness in Pediatric Human Trafficking” (external link) 

• Mason Chimenti—“Effect of Obliquity on Radiographic Metrics in Pediatric Supracondylar Fractures” (external link) 

• Lucy Couture—“Preeclampsia and Maternal Brain Health: Axonal Injury and Cognitive Vulnerability” (external link) 

• Brandon Cunningham—“Shifts in California’s Emergency Department Diagnostic Patterns Following the COVID-19 Pandemic” (external link) 

• Faith Folorunso—“Hospitalization as an Opportunity for Elder Mistreatment Screening in Acute Care for Elder Units” (external link) 

• Simone Garcia—“Attitudes Towards Patients with Substance Use Disorder and Perceived Preparedness Among Preclinical Medical Students: A Mixed-Methods Needs Assessment” (external link) 

• Marjorie Harrison—“Educational Attainment and Symptom Improvement in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis Across Treatment Modalities” (external link) 

• Emily Koch—“Intraoperative Radiation Exposure Using CT Navigation in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Surgery” (external link) 

• Jeff Kue—“When ‘Adherent’ is Not Enough: Medication Theft Among Patients Experiencing Homelessness” (external link) 

• Racquel Lyn—“A Step in the Right Direction: Clubfoot Treatment Equity” (external link) 

• Hunter Martin—“Site-of-Service Cost Differences in Pediatric Surgery: A National Analysis of Ambulatory Surgery Center vs. Hospital Outpatient Department Facility Payments” (external link) 

• Mia Nguyen—“Using Pain Quality, Intensity, and Pain Catastrophizing to Differentiate Hemicrania Continua from Other Primary Headaches” (external link) 

• Neha Patil—“Real-World Outcomes of GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonist Therapy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Retrospective Case Series” (external link) 

• Benjamin Roberts—“Antibiotic Timing and Fracture-Related Infection in Type III Open Tibia Fractures: A Contemporary Single-Center Analysis” (external link) 

• Marissa Thibodeaux—“Is Health Literacy Associated with Understanding of Injury-Related Discharge Instructions” (external link) 

Submissions now open for 2027 AMA Research Challenge 

The AMA is accepting abstract submissions (external link) for its 2027 research challenge, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. July 15, 2027. The criteria for submitting abstracts includes:  

• Submitters must join or renew their AMA membership by the submission deadline.  

• The abstract must be submitted using an approved template, and without pictures, graphs, citations, or references.  

• The abstract must not exceed 400 words, excluding the abstract title, page numbering, or any ancillary entrant information.  

• The abstract must be the lead author’s original work and not published elsewhere as of the submission deadline.  

More information about the 2027 AMA Research Challenge can be found online. (external link)  

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