Medical student Nimra Hassan, M.P.H., at left, collects an award from Department of Pediatrics’ Jenn Brandt.

The Wayne State University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics hosted its third Pediatric Research Day on May 17 at the university’s Integrative Biosciences Building. The event showcased medical students’ and trainees' advancements in clinical, basic and translational research.

Herman Gray, M.D., professor and chair of Pediatrics, presents at the annual event.

The event featured 16 presentations on a range of pediatrics topics, aimed to discuss ongoing research and recent developments in clinical, basic and translational research in pediatrics, as well as provide a forum for collaboration and development of ideas related to pediatric research. The event also aimed to discuss potential changes in practice that can be implemented based on the research.

Topics included vaccine acceptance in HIV+ youth, air pollution as an environmental risk for pediatric neurological syndromes in Detroit, and barriers to epinephrine auto-injector use. Guiding several research studies were the physicians of Wayne Pediatrics, which serves as home to Wayne State Department of Pediatrics faculty.

“This was a wonderful showcase for the Wayne State University School of Medicine and St John's Ascension Hospital Pediatric trainees, inclusive of medical students, graduate students, residents, fellows and post-doctoral trainees,” said Elizabeth Secord, M.D., a Wayne Pediatrics allergist and immunologist and founding member. “The presentations varied from clinical reviews of HIV patient vaccinations to cancer treatment bench work.”

The next Pediatric Research Day will be held May 8, 2024. “We are very proud of our trainees and the cumulative work that was reported this year, and look forward to next year’s presentations,” Dr. Secord said.