Category: SharkBytes

HCAS Biology Student Presents at Life Sciences Undergraduate Symposium

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Vinay Munlapudi

On Oct. 25, 2025, Vinay Munlapudi presented an oral talk at the Life Sciences South Florida (LSSF) Annual STEM Undergraduate Research Symposium held at Alan B. Levan NSU Broward Center of Innovation.

In collaboration with Munlapudi’s independent study mentor, Dr. Santanu De, associate professor at NSU’s Department of Biological Sciences, the interdisciplinary project was titled “Evaluating Global Efficacy of Artificial Intelligence for Active Learning and Assessment in Health Sciences and STEM”. Details about LSSF as an acclaimed, growing regional scholarly society can be found here. Additionally, as a presenter at LSSF, Vinay actively participated in the United Nations Institute for Training and Research’s International Training Center for Authorities and Leaders in Miami, hosted by Outreach Aid to the Americas in partnership with Florida International University.

Vinay Munlapudi

Munlapudi is a bachelor of science student with dual majors in pre-med/biology at NSU’s Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and Health Informatics within NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a part of the class of 2027.

NSU Professor Shares Research in Iceland and Denmark

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Dr. Adithya Chandregowda, associate professor from the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, presented a research poster at the 21st Congress of the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS), held in Reykjavik, Iceland.

His poster was titled “Promoting Interaction Between Individuals with Severe Communication Impairments and their Loved Ones: Implications for End-of-life Care.” Dr. Chandregowda presented a one-hour lecture on primary progressive aphasia — also referred to as “language-led dementia” — and end-of-life communication to the faculty and speech pathology students at the Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Researchers and students from the speech pathology program at the University of Southern Denmark joined this lecture online. His lecture was well received, and he appreciated the warm hospitality. He remained thankful for these opportunities as they help him gain global perspectives about his professional areas of interest.

NSU MD Students Present at Gold Humanism Summit

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On Sept. 20, 2025, six students from NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine had the opportunity to present their work at the 2025 Gold Humanism Summit in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Gold Humanism Summit is hosted yearly by the Gold Foundation and Gold Humanism Honor Society, providing health care workers a space to share their efforts in the area of humanistic care. And NSU MD students Cristina Benites, Makenna Bowman, Jeams Richard-Costa, Iman Fakhoury and Matthew Houser did just that, with support from NSU MD graduate Samuel Angel — now an M1 at the University of Florida — and faculty advisor Vanessa Johnson, Ph.D.

HELPWISE Communities (Healthcare Educators Leading Prevention, Wellness and Intervention while Supporting and Empowering Communities) is a student-founded community health education initiative. It is funded by the “Quality of Life” grant with the goal of reducing health inequities by providing our communities with access to health education. This initiative provides an opportunity for medical students to do what they do best: teach each other and the community, while providing the community with access to free information and resources through programs like STOP THE BLEED, 2 Step CPR, Women’s Health Education and Health Screening information.

The students of HELPWISE Communities shared this initiative and preliminary data on the effectiveness of this program at the Gold Humanism Summit in hopes that students around the country may replicate the program in their area and improve the lives of communities across the country.

Photo1: NSU MD HELPWISE Team Pictured Left to Right- Matthew Houser (M2), Iman Fakhoury (M3), Cristina Benites (M4), Makenna Bowman (M4), Jeams Richard-Costa (M3) Photo2: Cristina Benites, M4, Founder of HELPWISE Communities – with poster presented at the 2025 GHHS Summit

KPCOM Student Presents During Virtual Conference

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On Tuesday, October 14, Ms. Yumna Indorewala, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine candidate at Nova Southeastern University’s Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, presented a poster at the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) 2025 Virtual Conference.

In collaboration with her research independent study mentor Dr. Santanu De, associate professor at NSU’s Department of Biological Sciences, the interdisciplinary project was titled “Case Studies on Education and Research in Global Healthcare and STEM Adapted to COVID-19: A Comprehensive Evaluation.”

The mission of this prestigious, scholarly society is to promote teaching excellence in the critical health science disciplines of anatomy and physiology around the world.

Education Alumna Opens Private School in Palm Beach

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alumna Kisha Bellande-Francis, Ed.D., has opened a new private school in Palm Beach County.

DOTT Academy (Daily Opportunity to Thrive) opened its doors to the public on Sept. 3, 2025. Instead of using traditional grade levels, DOTT Academy uses a competency-based mastery learning model, something Bellande-Francis said allows students to progress based on their individual skill level and allows instructors to devote more time to students who need extra teaching or give advanced students more challenging instruction.

The academy currently supports students who traditionally fall between kindergarten to sixth grade, with plans to expand to eighth grade in the future. Bellande-Francis graduated from NSU with her Ed.D. in instructional leadership.

With over 20 years of experience in education, she developed the long-term goal of opening her own school. After initial plans to open a school fell through in 2021 due to the pandemic, she was finally able to achieve her goal. The experience has been an emotional rollercoaster for Bellande-Francis, but she said it has also been a fulfilling one. Congratulations Dr. Bellande-Francis!

To learn more about the DOTT Academy, visit the school’s website here.

Criminal Justice Student Publishes Article on Estate Planning

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice doctoral student Sandy Rao published an article on estate planning and law enforcement officers. The article, “The Perils of Neglecting Estate Planning,” was published in Police Chief Magazine.

Rao, who has worked with the U.S. Marshals since 2001, was motivated to investigate estate planning and how it relates to fellow officers after the death of a close friend and mentor, his parents and grandmother. He was also motivated by the overall dangers that come with working in law enforcement.

Rao also created a Survey Monkey questionnaire and administered it in his own task force. The survey included questions on how often the officers themselves faced danger and traumatic experiences while on the job. Rao hoped to show his colleagues how dangerous the profession is, and the benefits of being prepared if something happened. Out of the total respondents, over 51% had been involved in a shooting 53 percent had been injured or hospitalized, and 49 percent had been exposed to a dead body on the job.

However, only 23% of respondents had a will. “Policing is a dangerous profession, making it a field in which estate planning is especially important,” Rao wrote. Rao is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Nova Southeastern University. Looking ahead, he said he hopes to do his dissertation on probable cause fugitive cases.

NSU College of Dental Medicine Named an Apple Distinguished School

College of Dental Medicine Apple Designation

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2025–2028, one of only four dental schools nationwide to receive this honor.

College of Dental Medicine Apple Designation

The designation highlights the college’s leadership in innovation and education, with a fully digital curriculum, immersive virtual and haptic simulation training, and creative teaching models that prepare students for success in today’s technology-driven healthcare environment. The integration of iPads enhances collaboration, expands access to resources, and transforms how students learn and engage.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to transforming dental education,” said Dr. Steven Kaltman, dean of the College of Dental Medicine. “We’re empowering students with the tools and experiences they need to excel and this is what excellence looks like.”

NSU Researcher Explores New Approaches to Alzheimer’s Disease

Sabbir

Dr. Mohammad Golam Sabbir, an assistant professor in Nova Southeastern University’s Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, is working to uncover new ways to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

With support from Miami-based biotech company Curallux, LLC, he is studying how brain cells lose the ability to communicate as the disease advances and exploring therapies that could protect memory and cognitive function. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of Americans, gradually eroding memory, thinking, and independence.

Sabbir

Dr. Sabbir’s research focuses on a key brain receptor involved in memory, which is often lost early in the disease. His findings suggest that treatments aimed only at boosting brain chemicals may not be an effective therapeutic strategy for many patients, pointing to the need for new strategies that restore the brain’s natural signaling pathways. One promising approach Dr. Sabbir is investigating is photobiomodulation, a non-invasive therapy using low-level red or near-infrared light to stimulate biological processes in cells and tissues.

By combining this with strategies to restore critical brain receptors, his work aims to protect neurons, slow cognitive decline, and bring the field closer to more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s patients.

Explore Dr. Sabbir’s research publications here.

NSU Students Excel at 2025 ISSN Conference

Emma Sterne

Emma SterneThe Department of Health and Human Performance in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine made a strong impression at the 2025 International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference held in Delray Beach, Florida.

With mentorship from Drs. Corey Peacock, Monique Mokha, Anthony Ricci, Jose Antonio, Tobin Silver, and Lia Jiannine, the department contributed to ten accepted abstract presentations, each featuring NSU Florida students as first authors or co-authors. The accepted presentations highlighted a range of topics in sports science and nutrition, including biomechanics, body composition, eating behaviors, and weight cutting strategies in mixed martial arts.

Undergraduate student Emma Sterne earned first place in the undergraduate category for her research comparing the influence of lower-body biomechanics versus body composition on sprint performance in the 40-yard dash. Cassandra Evans, MS, RD, who serves as adjunct faculty in both the Department of Nutrition and the Department of Health and Human Performance, earned second place in the PhD-level category for her project examining sex-related differences in eating behaviors.

These achievements reflect the department’s strong culture of student-driven research supported by engaged and experienced faculty mentors. Students participated in many stages of the research process alongside faculty, gaining valuable experience and helping elevate the department’s national presence in health and human performance.

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