This project consisted of examining how disability is excluded from discussion and curricula in a high school setting, in particular, when the focus is around sex education. Students, youth and even adults with physical and intellectual disabilities are not exposed to the same imperative information around sex, sexuality, and relationships that is required for healthy sexual development and intimate relationships that their non-disabled peers receive. Nor do curricula on sex education have information concerning disability specifically. I focused on analyzing issues of consent, policy and law, violence, and what ableist ideologies and stereotypes surrounding disability are imbedded in the institution of sex education. For my project I reviewed and analyzed scholarly literature, conducted interviews with educators as well as students with disabilities, utilized platforms of social media such as Twitter to gather data and information on educational resources and examined online sources on disability-centric sex education and curricula. Myths and stereotypes around disability were found to be contributing factors to the lack of discussion around sex and disability, specifically the myth that all disabled people are asexual. Additionally, because of the stigma attributed to disability, parents, educators, and health professionals felt unprepared and uncomfortable addressing anything regarding sex with youth who were disabled. I worked with the social worker and health educators at Mountlake Terrace High School to bring in a new perspective on sexuality and relationships around disability. I created and provided an introductory kit that consisted of scholarly work from my research around Disability Studies, information on how and what kind of language to use, fact sheets, and lesson plans and curriculum ideas for them to use as a starting point for implementing a more inclusive experience for disabled students.

In the late 1920s, geologist J Harlen Bretz proposed that a catastrophic flood - larger than any in human history - had carved the Channeled Scablands of Eastern Washington State. Established geologists rejected this theory as impossible and repeatedly attempted to discredit and deny his work. Undeterred, Bretz continued to research the Channeled Scablands and ultimately wrote 15 comprehensive academic papers on the subject. His megaflood theory did not see wide acceptance until the 1960s. Modern writings about J Harlen Bretz all tell the same story; he was a rebel protagonist with an outrageous theory who was vehemently opposed by his fellow geologists until vindication finally arrived after 40 years. But where did this story come from? Bretz's history has been recorded through academic papers, biographies, newspaper articles, and popular sources online. I use the language of these varied sources to explain how the perception of J Harlen Bretz changed from heretic to hero over the course of 40 years. The evolution of Bretz's legacy highlights that the process of science is not always as rational, dispassionate, and removed from human emotion as we would prefer to believe. It is a case study for the role of human nature in scientific pursuit.

Therapsids (mammal-like reptiles) document the transition to modern mammals and are an important study tool in examining how the past informs the present. Understanding diseases today requires understanding the deep evolutionary history in our fossil ancestors. We present an instance of dental pathology in a gorganopsid therapsid (~260 million years old). Using fossil histological techniques, we examine a gorganopsian canine and preliminary results reveal abnormal mixture of dental tissue next to the functional tooth. These individual ectopically expressed teeth have preserved tissue layers such as enamel, dentine and a pulp cavity. Based off of the histological characters of our specimen as compared to modern clinical studies we hypothesized two possible diagnoses: odontoma and enamel pearls. Enamel pearls show dento-enamel pearl nodules protruding from the enamel of a functional tooth. Odontoma presents as individual teeth with their own histological packaging (i.e. dentine and enamel). These results suggest that our specimen most likely had odontoma. In modern cases, this results in excess dentinal tissue growth and un-alignment of teeth. The cause of this odontoma in modern clinical practices is a result of either trauma or rapid tooth replacement. The canine tooth of this gorgonopsid was prone to trauma since it served to pierce prey and was subjected to intense forces. Alternatively, gorgonopsids replaced their teeth continuously. This continous replacement could have gone awry resulting in this disease. This study presents the oldest possible case of cancer in the fossil record and elucidates the evolution of such pathologies. This study has relevance in dental clinical studies because understanding how diseases operate in humans requires an understanding of how they evolved in our deep evolutionary history. 

The purpose of this quality improvement study is to determine if hospital protocols regarding central line disinfection techniques are being followed. A central line is an intravenous access with a catheter leading directly to the heart, and is more permanent than a standard peripheral intravenous line. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a serious concern within patient care settings. Improper central line maintenance techniques contribute to CLABSI incidence, which leads to significantly increased patient health burden, length of hospital stay, medical costs, and mortality risk. Observations will be performed in four intensive care units at a metropolitan level one trauma hospital in the greater Seattle area. Patients with central lines will be identified on observation days. The number of opportunities for central line lumen caps to be covered by an alcohol-impregnated cap versus the number of caps that are actually covered will be counted. Number of opportunities are identified as being: unused lumen of central line, any unused or used peripheral IV, and side ports of tubing connected to central line or peripheral IV, per institution policy. Moreover, if a RN accesses a line during observation, disinfection techniques will be observed and compared to institution policy. We anticipate our results to show a 50% compliance rate with the protocol we are observing. We also anticipate that a lack of knowledge on the protocol will play a role in this, as evidenced by nurses asking questions during our observations. It is the hope of this study to identify if disinfection practices are in compliance with central line maintenance care protocols. If not, then further interventions can be developed and put into place to increase compliance and aid further in the reduction of CLABSI.

In 2015, the American Heart Association (AHA) stated that sudden cardiac arrest is still a primary cause of death in the United States. During cardiac arrest, lack of intervention to maintain the perfusion of tissues with oxygenated blood leads to irreparable damage to the brain and vital organs within minutes. In 2010, the A-B-C (airway, breathing, circulation) of CPR changed to C-A-B (circulation, airway, breathing) due to strong evidence that supports the idea that high-quality CPR chest compressions help sustain life until the underlying causes of cardiac arrest are addressed. The purpose of this study was to use technology to measure and review chest compression data collected during cardiac resuscitations, and evaluate specific compression parameters, in relation to AHA standards, for overall quality improvement. The CODE-STAT™ technology used in this study measured changes in thoracic pressure during a cardiac resuscitation, and then generated a report stating rate of chest compressions per minute, and total time spent on chest compressions. The data was then given to the hospital resuscitation teams so that they could visualize and discuss the quality of their performance in comparison to AHA and hospital standards. Thus far, results of the study have shown that in-hospital resuscitation teams have compression rates that are too fast and there are too many pauses, or times without chest compressions. A compression rate above 120 beats per minute can decrease sufficient blood return to the heart from the rest of the body, making subsequent compressions less effective at dispersing blood. Too many pauses in chest compressions can negatively impact the pressure gradients in the thoracic cavity that are required to maintain adequate cerebral and coronary blood flow. Hospitals must continue to implement technologies that measure CPR performance so that cardiac arrest patients receive the best possible outcomes for survival.