AAPA and the PA Foundation are pleased to announce the 2024 All of Us Student Research Scholars. This program is supported by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) All of Us Research Program.
The awardees are expected to produce high-quality research in collaboration with AAPA/PAF and will use data from the All of Us Research Program and Researcher Workbench. They will complete their research and write-up by December 2024. AAPA/PAF will provide analytical support and guidance through cohort-style mentoring and one-on-one assistance as needed. The scholars will also develop a poster for presentation at AAPA 2025 in Denver, CO.
The All of Us Research Program is one of the largest biomedical data resources of its kind. More than 10,100 health researchers are leveraging this one-of-a-kind dataset to improve understanding of health and disease, identify opportunities to reduce disparities, and enable more precise approaches to care. Explore the types of data available in the Researcher Workbench by browsing aggregate-level data in the open-access Data Browser.
2024 All of Us Student Research Scholars
Arin Barth
Arin Barth (no pronouns) is a student in the Doctor of Health Sciences/Master of Physician Assistant Studies dual degree program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Arin is dedicated to promoting healthcare equity and justice for transgender patients and looks forward to contributing to research in this area.
Research question: What is the prevalence of disability within the LGBTQ community, including overall and for subgroups of the community? To what extent does disability among LGBTQ people relate to the prevalence of mental health disorders in this population?
Weilong Li
Weilong Li, MMS, CGC, PA-C, is a PA currently practicing in the Division of Metabolism, Section of Human Genetics, at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also a current DMS student at Butler University. He received his MMS in Physician Assistant Studies from Salus University in 2023. He also holds an MS in Genetic Counseling from Northwestern University, and Bachelor degrees in Theatre and Cell Biology from the University of Maryland at College Park. He served previously as the Director of Student Communications of the AAPA Student Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 leadership year. He is excited to explore how the use of large representative data sets such All of Us can eliminate healthcare disparities and support evidence-based medicine for all.
Research question: Are demographic and social determinant of health (SDH) data predictive of the rates of sequence variants of uncertain significance on genetic testing in the general population?
Roma Patel
Roma Patel is originally from southern Ohio and is currently a second-year PA student at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia, completing her clinical rotations. Her interest in research and advocating for healthcare equity grew from time spent as a research assistant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Plastic Surgery Department and The Ohio State University’s Cognitive Development Lab prior to starting PA school. With support from the PAF/AAPA All of Us Student Research Scholars Program, her research is focused on investigating whether socioeconomic and racial factors influence the severity of diverticular disease at diagnosis, and if so, how this affects treatment decisions and health outcomes for those represented in the All of Us database. She hopes to relay these findings to better explain how patients’ perceptions of healthcare providers and lifestyle factors are linked to diverticulitis. As a future provider, Roma is eager to apply her research to enhance patient care and improve health outcomes through tailored, evidence-based practices.
Research question: Do socioeconomic and racial factors impact severity of diverticular disease at time of diagnosis and thus impact treatment choices and outcomes?
Darani (Ashley) Thammavongsa
Darani (Ashley) Thammavongsa (she/her/hers) is a PA student at Ithaca College. She holds a master’s degree in Health Care Genetics from the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Southern Connecticut State University. She was previously an ambassador, mentor, and scholar for the All of Us Research Scholars Program. Ashley is a member of several organizations, including the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), ConnAPA, NYSSPA, Society of Physician Assistants in Genetics and Genomics (SPAGG), and Women in Bio (Connecticut Chapter). She is passionate about researching healthcare disparities and mentoring students in STEM. In her spare time, she enjoys various outdoor activities like running and biking and spending time with her cat (Luna) and friends and family.
Research question: What are the genetic and environmental factors associated with the prevalence of cataracts and other eye conditions in a diverse population, and how do these factors interact to influence disease risk and progression?