A Look Inside the 2025 PNWU Research Symposium
On April 8, PNWU hosted our 2025 Research Symposium, drawing students, faculty, and community partners together to celebrate the power of inquiry, collaboration, and purpose-driven scholarship.
With 47 original research projects presented, the annual event continues to grow not only in scale, but in its demonstration of the passion and potential that define PNWU’s research community.
This year’s projects explored a range of topics with one thing in common: a deep commitment to improving the health of our communities. From clinical case studies and biomedical innovations to public health initiatives and healthcare access research, each project reflected the university’s mission to serve rural and medically underserved areas through research grounded in human connection.
To highlight that spirit, we connected with Student Doctors Jocelyn Johnson (OMS3), Johan Velo (OMS2), and Anna Song (OMS2), who teamed up to present a case study titled Delayed Diagnosis of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in a 36-year-old Postpartum Female Without Known Risk Factors. Their work offers a lens into the compassion, rigor, and advocacy that fuel all student research at PNWU.
“We were moved by her perseverance, and how she turned her journey into an opportunity to advocate for others.”
“Our case is about a young mother whose cancer diagnosis was delayed because her symptoms were dismissed during pregnancy,” explained Student Dr. Johnson. “She eventually underwent treatment and is now in remission. We were moved by her perseverance, and how she turned her journey into an opportunity to advocate for others.”
The trio chose the topic not just because of its clinical complexity, but because of what it represents: a call to listen more closely, ask deeper questions, and never overlook the human behind the symptoms.
Their research aligns with a growing national concern over early-onset colorectal cancer, especially among patients who don’t meet traditional screening criteria.
“At PNWU, we’re taught to be present, to treat each patient holistically, and to advocate for equity in every encounter.”
“As future physicians in rural and underserved areas, we know how easy it can be for warning signs to slip through the cracks,” said Student Dr. Velo. “At PNWU, we’re taught to be present, to treat each patient holistically, and to advocate for equity in every encounter.”
The students emphasized how their research was shaped by the education and hands-on opportunities they’ve received at PNWU — from simulated patient encounters to community-based clinical experiences. For them, the Research Symposium wasn’t just a showcase of findings — it was a celebration of the values they’re learning to live out every day.
“Everyone presenting had a story, a reason why their research mattered,” explained Student Dr. Song. “Our project was just one window into a community of students who are passionate, thoughtful, and driven to make a difference.”
As the event concluded, that passion remained palpable.
Whether sparked by a case study, a lab experiment, or a policy question, every project represented a student stepping into their role as a future healthcare leader — curious, compassionate, and committed to their community.
