The University of Pittsburgh has chosen five undergraduate researchers to represent the university at the 2024 ACC Meeting of the Minds conference, one of whom is a Pitt Nursing BSN student.
“When I received the email notifying me that I was chosen for the ACC Meeting of the Minds conference, I felt honored that I would be able to represent my university and am thrilled that I could share my passion for my research,” said Michelle Chung, a BSN, and Frederick Honors College Student.
The annual ACC Meeting of the Minds conference is an opportunity for universities in the ACC to highlight the diversity of research undergraduate students are doing and to allow them to share their work with peers.
Chung will give an oral presentation on her abstract “Association Between Area Deprivation Index and Outcomes After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.” The study analyzed the relationship between a socioeconomic factor (the deprivation levels of patients’ neighborhoods) and the quality of life after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
“It shines the light on healthcare disparity and emphasizes the need for targeted interventions for patients living in deprived neighborhoods,” said Chung.
Chung said this research is important to her because healthcare disparity is a personal topic to her and millions of Americans.
“In my first semester of clinicals, I was struck with grief when my patient expressed to me that they were unable to afford insulin to treat their diabetes,” said Chung. “Now, as I transition into my fourth year of clinicals, I feel more anger than sadness as I meet tens of more patients in the same position of hopelessness due to the healthcare system. My professors and peers also discuss their experiences with patients who struggle to afford healthcare, which convinces me that this is an issue that encompasses the nursing profession and one that all nurses and future nurses must fight against. Addressing this issue through my research is my way of advocating for myself, fellow healthcare workers, and patients of all socioeconomic statuses.”
Notre Dame is hosting the conference in April. Chung said she’s looking forward to building her interpersonal skills as she learns more about studies beyond healthcare research.
“I also hope to find similar research done on healthcare disparity,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to expand my scope of knowledge and meet brilliant new minds.”