JMU Scholarly Commons is the home for electronic PA Capstones from 2020 to the present.
Current students: Click here to submit your capstone.
Submissions from 2023
Efficacy of dry cupping therapy as treatment for non-specific lower back pain, Lucas Albrecht and Kelly Ettari
Leak complications in laparoscopic vs robotic bariatric surgery, Kristina Benton and Amy Heung
Shorter duration of dual antiplatelet therapy following second generation drug eluting stent placement, Alexandra Coy and Caitlyn M. Murtha
Utility of bariatric surgery in the remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus, Christine Ercoline, Alyssa Bower, and Corinne Singh
Is racial diversity important when applying to JMU PA program?, Gaelyn E Young and Deonte J. Hope
Are lidocaine infusions the future of chronic pain?, Clara Gilbert and Hayley Loos
Does probiotic supplementation help decrease symptoms in adults previously diagnosed with major depressive disorder?, Alexa Hammock and Hayley Loiselle
Looking to the future: Vitamin E infused highly cross-linked polyethylene acetabular cups, Melissa Hango and Sarah Sutter Kaufmann
Effectiveness of trauma informed care implementation, Brooke Harmon and Jessica A. Stanley
Reducing adverse event with single and double bundle ACL reconstruction techniques, Alicia Hudalla and Caroline Casey
Efficacy of the hepatojugular reflux test, Adrienne Irmiter, Cheyanne Dolan, and Sarah Edrington
Focused assessment with sonography exams vs CT scan, Anne Kresge, Charlotte Mueller, and Briar Tures
Investigation of the effectiveness of intraoperative radiotherapy in treatment of unifocal invasive breast cancer, Julie Schultz and Annie M. Oslund
Measuring Perceived Medical School Stress (PMSS) scores among physician assistant students, Ashley Sharp and Anna Worthley
Can a healthy high fat diet improve fatigue symptoms in patients with relapse and remitting multiple sclerosis?, Sarah von Euler and Elizabeth Henry
Submissions from 2022
Use of CardioMEMs HF sensor in management of NYHA Class III heart failure, Trevor Andrunik and Anne Eady
Effect of mesenchymal stem cells on osteoarthritis of the knee, Brendan Avery and Jessica Gray
Do support groups mitigate the effects of imposter syndrome?, Tyler Barnes and Meranda Mayer
The use of Kernig’s and Brudzinski’s sign in determining meningitis: A review, Crystal T. Duong, Ashton Hughes, and Kerem Yilmaz
Use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine in HIV maintenance therapy, Andrea K. Ferrero and Nabil Naim
Investigating the effectiveness of prehospital recognition and administration of intravenous antibiotics in septic patients, Laura Keane and Ian Peterson
The use of autologous PRP gel for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, Erin Klein and Dominic E. Paoletti
The effect of a wellness curriculum on first semester JMU PA students, Abigail Larson and Jeanine Aberbook
Plantar fasciitis: Steroids or PRP?, Alexandra Lepecha and Grant Rankins
Prophylactic intravenous prehydration with sodium bicarbonate or sodium chloride in the prevention of contrast induced acute kidney injury, Briana Lockett and Caroline Dong
Risking the wrist, Tyler Mosier and Evan White
Is a lumbar puncture necessary? Identifying the need for a LP with a negative CT scan when diagnosing a non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, Carlee Raymond and Erin S. Lang
The safety and efficacy of pravastatin in the treatment of preeclampsia, Miranda Shelly and Tara Riley
Injuries in manual and mechanical CPR, Macon Spruill and Malik Bangura
Submissions from 2021
Paracetamol compared to NSAIDs as treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in neonates, Toné Boykins and Carly Anne C. Wilson
The effect of platelet rich plasma on the treatment of androgenetic alopecia compared to placebo, Mackenzie D. Comstock and Hannah E. Stephenson
The necessity of implementing a wellness curriculum into physician assistant programs, Jessica K. Erim and Darryl Bines Jr.
Effectiveness of tPA at reducing amputations in patients with severe frostbite, Kylie Gravatt and Meredith Mahen
Effects of cannabidiol as adjunct therapy for management of treatment-resistant epilepsy, Harry Gray and Molly Anadale
SGLT2 inhibitors in the management of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, Susannah Jackson and Meghan Mathis
DM II bugging you? Probiotics may help reach your glycemic goals, Robert Kime and Kayla Siford
Photodynamic therapy with topical aminolevulinic acid vs placebo in the treatment of actinic keratosis, Michelle Nguyen and Katherine Shook
Breakthroughs in hormonal male contraception, Alexander Patton and Seth Vann
Peer support wellness groups in physician assistant school, Allison Pingston and Alexa Wagoner
Effects of subthalamic deep brain stimulation on treating motor symptoms in early Parkinson's disease, Emily Reale and Gina Legaluppi
Baseline BMI, gender, & age as predictive factors for intragastric balloon weight loss outcomes, Nirali Shah and Miranda A. Myers-Burton
Unscrambling egg allergies: Examining the impact of introduction timing of egg protein on the development of food allergies, Emily Sherald and Mark Peterson
The effect of hydroxychloroquine on mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, Misha Suresh and Jeff Abraham
Are polypills a viable option to improve health outcomes in those with cardiovascular disease?, Alexander Voytovich and Cara McKee
Ketamine as a treatment modality for treatment-resistant depression, Tracy Wulff and Shen Cao
Submissions from 2020
Efficacy of fecal microbiota transplant in conjunction with oral vancomycin for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile, Abigayle Afflick and Jackson LaBoue
Transcatheter vs. surgical aortic valve replacement in patients at intermediate surgical risk, Nichole M. Bonzano and David M. Milligram
Routine versus selective episiotomies causing severe perineal tears, Hannah Brown and Anneliese Trader
Galcanezumab as a treatment for the prevention of migraines, Jacob Brown and Chelsea Weedon
Deep brain stimulation of the subcallosal cingulate gyrus in the treatment of treatment resistant depression, Megan Caravas and Melanie Sov
Efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of chronic PTSD, Alexis Coleman and Nicole Blixt
Honey vs. silver sulfadiazine in the reepithelialization of partial-thickness burn wounds, Andi Diamond and Monica Bowler
Evaluation of hyperhomocysteinemia in the progression of Parkinson's disease, Marisa A. Ducach and Pritpal S. Saggu
Lactobacillus reuteri in the management of infantile colic, Katherine Evans and Helena Gaitan
Induction of hypothermia in patients with traumatic brain injury, Frank Hadden and Courtney Lennix
Efficacy of pulmonary ultrasound compared to N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide as a diagnostic tool for congestive heart failure in patients presenting with acute dyspnea in the emergency setting, Leah Krohn and Michael Burns
Angiotensin II in the treatment of distributive shock, an old theory revitalized, Jennifer D. Leach and Daniel P. Curran
Short term effects of electronic cigarettes on pulmonary function in healthy adult smokers when compared to conventional cigarette use, Kayleen Lynch and Rachel Bastianelli
WATCHMAN compared to warfarin in reducing risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, Peyton Parrish and Matt Isherwood
Diagnostic accuracy of McMurry’s test in the diagnosis of meniscal tears, Jessica Smyth and Hartwell Rainey
Mindfulness based stress interventions in physician assistant programs, Lucas Vance
