Completing a publishable research project is a graduation requirement at Oceania University of Medicine (OUM). Presenting one’s research prospectus at the Research Club is a major student milestone and the first step in being cleared to proceed with one’s project. Following approval by the Research and Ethics Committee, students may begin data collection. Successful Research Club presentation also means you are cleared to begin clinical rotations once your preclinical studies are completed.

More Expected — No Longer an “Extra” 

It is well documented that medical students who apply for postgraduate work with research experience have an advantage over those who don’t, gaining notice from more internship and residency directors who view them as better prepared for what lies ahead.

A study published in the October 2023 Academic Medicine journal drew attention to the importance of research experience among residency/internship applicants. A survey of 885 residency program directors found that 41 percent believe research participation will become more important in determining which applicants to invite to interviews.

“Research experience is a critical part of medical education and gives our students the edge in their medical careers,” says Associate professor Jenny Wilkinson, PhD, OUM Director of Research, who guides the University’s research program and the Research Advisors who work with students on meeting their requirements. “It’s becoming much more expected on US Match applications and impacting postgraduate interview invitations globally.”

Research Presentation: CHECK ✔

“Well done” to the OUM students who have presented at the Research Club over the last several months, clearing a prominent curriculum hurdle to proceed with their MD program. Congratulations to (In alphabetical order):

A

Oyewale Abayomi: “Mental illness and relapse; perceptions of case managed clients in a local mental health service in Melbourne, Victoria” (14 May 2025)

Nassar Abudu: (and Kereng Modise) “A Retrospective study on; The use of Medicinal Cannabis for Pain Management in patients with chronic pain in Canberra, Australia” (23 July 2025)

Ola Adepoju: “Patient Perception of artificial intelligence in healthcare: understanding, trust, and acceptance of AI interventions.” (24 September 2025)

Oluwaseyifunmi Afolabi: “Exploring Steatotic Liver Disease in Children and Their Parents: Prevalence, Metabolic Risk, and Intergenerational Patterns in a Community-Based Cohort” (22 October 2025)

Maeva Grace Ah Yen: “A study on placental pathology findings on stillbirth cases at Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital, Samoa: A 3-year retrospective study” (1 October 2025)

Ray Avery: “Chronological and Immunological Associations Between Childhood Asthma and Adult-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Australian Cohort Study” (15 October 2025)

B

Bek Barlow: “Delayed, Dismissed, and Misdiagnosed: The Impact of Gender on CSF Leak Recognition and Treatment” (21 May 2025)

Sandhya Bibin: “Comparative effectiveness of probiotic strains in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea in Australian hospitals” (20 August 2025)

C

Lucius Chongo: “Combined Pharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Adult Depression: A Retrospective Study Using HoNOS” (2 July 2025)

D

Anshul Das: (and Kaushalya Kamburwala Kankanange Dona) “An assessment of patient knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use in a primary care setting.” (20 August 2025)

Kaushalya Kamburwala Kankanange Dona: (and Anshal Das) “An assessment of patient knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use in a primary care setting.” (20 August 2025)

F

Anna Ferguson: “Investigation of Accessibility of Preventative and Therapeutic Inhalers in Māori and Pacific Adults with Asthma in Auckland” (21 May 2025)

William Flentri: “Environmental Stressors and Renal Health: Investigating AKI and CKD Outcomes During Extreme Weather In WA.” (29 October 2025)

G

Savannah Gomboso: “Exploring Sexual Health Awareness and Disease Prevention Strategies in the MidNorth Coast: Bridging Gaps for Health Equity” (30 July 2025)

H

Peter Hanna: “The impact of imaging on patient confidence & physiotherapy outcomes in disc-related spinal pathologies” (17 September 2025)

Mitchell Hartley: “What are the Rates and Predictors of Mental Health Screening (for Anxiety and Depression) in Patients Presenting with Recurrent Musculoskeletal Pain in General Practice? A Cross-sectional Study Using Data from an Australian General Practice.” (18 June 2025)

Firdoz Hassan: “The Effectiveness of Clonidine on Post-operative Anxiety and Agitation within the Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU)” (10 September 2025)

J

Tenille Jones: “Evaluating admission outcomes for elderly patients with functional decline in a metropolitan Queensland emergency department: should we skip the short stay?” (15 October 2025)

K

Gagandeep Kaur: “Exploring Postpartum Depression Among Indian Immigrant Women in Melbourne, Victoria: A Qualitative Study” (3 September 2025)

Gurinder Kaur: “Awareness of the Government-funded Heart Health Check in the North Brisbane patient population” (14 May 2025)

Maria Kisembo: “What demographic, socioeconomic, and educational factors influence the use of emergency contraception among women aged 18–50 in rural and urban areas of South Australia.” (9 July 2025)

Julianne Krieg: “Comparative outcomes in children with cerebral palsy receiving botulinum toxin injections versus non-recipients” (16 July 2025)

Krishma Krishma: “Prevalence, Indications, Awareness of Side Effects, and Review Frequency of Statin Use in a Residential Aged Care Facility.” (7 May 2025)

L

Melissa Lafferty: “Emergency Department Utilization and Hospital Admissions for Wound-Related Conditions at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital” (11 June 2025)

M

Jessie McLachlan: (and Marc Stofberg) “The Impact of Heidi Health’s AI Platform on Healthcare Efficiency in Rural and Metropolitan Clinics” (30 July 2025)

Vivian Mikhail: “Undiagnosed Depression in Older Adults: Healthcare provider awareness and cross-sectional study in primary care settings.” (4 June 2025)

Kereng Modise: (and Nassar Abudu) “A Retrospective study on; The use of Medicinal Cannabis for Pain Management in patients with chronic pain in Canberra, Australia” (23 July 2025)

Cian Mulcahy: “Barking at the moon: exploring the association between the lunar cycle and requests for service to the Queensland Ambulance Service” (24 September)

Liam Mulcahy: “Investigating the correlation between musculoskeletal health literacy and patient outcomes in physiotherapy private practice” (13 August 2025)

Courtney Murray-Rickard: (and Daniel O’Dempsey) “Medical Practitioner Initiated Psychiatric and Psychological Input in the Management of Private General Medicine Patients in Metro Brisbane” (13 August 2025)

Tarisai Muringapi Mutuma: “Nurses’ experiences of administering antipsychotic medications to manage responsive behaviours in residential aged care facilities: A qualitative study” (8 October 2025)

N 

Anam Nazir: “Evaluating the Impact of Structured Exercise on Fall Risk in Elderly Residents with Lower Limb Lymphedema” (6 August 2025)

Aram Niaz: “Age-related decline in vestibular reflex testing” (25 June 2025)

O

Daniel O’Dempsey: (and Courtney Murray-Rickard) “Medical Practitioner Initiated Psychiatric and Psychological Input in the Management of Private General Medicine Patients in Metro Brisbane” (13 August 2025)

Marion Oliver: “Trimethoprim Effectiveness for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections: A Retrospective Study in Western Australia.” (9 July 2025)

Emmanuel Leke Oni: “Pre-psychotic treatment option for early dementia based on age of diagnosis among Australian aged care residents: a retrospective study” (16 July 2025)

P

Neha Patel: “Mental healthcare professionals’ attitudes, perceptions, and satisfaction of using telehealth services for their patients in Central Queensland (CQ) region.” (2 April 2025)

Q

Garrett Quill: (and Amandeep Randhawa) “Correlation between Use of Antihypertensive Medications and Incidence of Falls Among Elderly Individuals in Aged Care Settings in Different Regions of Australia” (6 August 2025)

R

Amandeep Randhawa: (and Garrett Quill) “Correlation between Use of Antihypertensive Medications and Incidence of Falls Among Elderly Individuals in Aged Care Settings in Different Regions of Australia” (6 August 2025)

S

Oliver Statham: “The Influence of Competitive Demands and Match Conditions on the Longevity of Careers and Health After Retirement Among Professional Tennis Players” (4 June 2025)

Marc Stofberg: (and Jessie McLachlan) “The Impact of Heidi Health’s AI Platform on Healthcare Efficiency in Rural and Metropolitan Clinics” (30 July 2025)

T

Scarlett Teng: “Perspectives of Chinese adults in Aotearoa (New Zealand) on the diagnosis and medication of adult ADHD: a cross-sectional survey” (27 August 2025)

Liam Thihlum: “Effect of Hydralazine on Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice” (28 May 2025)

Jurieaster Tuilagi: “A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Paediatric Anaemia in Samoa to Understand Severity Patterns and Contributing Factors” (23 July 2025)

W

Linda Washington-Brown: “Identifying Anxiety and Depression among Adult Homeless Men and Women using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9” (3 September 2025)

Justin Wong: “Hidden GP Deserts? Appointment-based spatial accessibility in South Australia: A cross-sectional ecological validation of E2SFCA against DPA status” (17 September 2025)

Z

Emma Zeratsky: “The correlation between full moon and trauma system activations in Nebraska.” (8 October 2025)