CAHS Scholarly Showcase 2026 highlights record student participation and expanded opportunities

The University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) recently hosted its largest-ever research showcase, bringing together students, faculty, alumni and community partners to highlight the breadth and impact of student scholarship across disciplines.

The 2026 CAHS Scholarly Showcase was held in the Health Sciences Building on the university’s medical campus. The event created opportunities for broad engagement with student research and innovation.

A defining feature of this year’s showcase was its expansion to include all undergraduate students alongside graduate participants. This change significantly broadened participation and highlighted the full continuum of research engagement within CAHS.

Nearly 400 students presented their work, including approximately 59 graduate posters and 71 undergraduate posters. The expanded format allowed attendees to explore research spanning early-stage inquiry to advanced graduate scholarship, reinforcing the college’s emphasis on building research skills across academic levels.

Opening remarks from Melinda Butch Kovacic, PhD, associate dean of research, emphasized the central role of research in advancing health care practice and preparing students for long-term careers in allied health fields. She underscored that continuous improvement in patient care depends on the advancement of evidence-based practice.

As she noted, “We don’t want patients receiving the same care in 50 years that’s available now. Research drives innovation, and innovation drives high-quality care.”

The showcase featured projects addressing a wide range of topics, including clinical care, health education, social determinants of health and disparities in access to services. Organized by the Interdisciplinary Research Committee and the Research and Scholarly Activity Committee, the event reflected the college’s commitment to collaborative, applied research.

The expanded structure of the showcase created new opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and academic levels. Faculty emphasized the value of connecting undergraduate and graduate research experiences to strengthen interdisciplinary learning and professional development.

Whitney Bowen, associate professor and MRI program director for the advanced medical imaging technology program, noted the significance of this year’s expansion, highlighting how the inclusion of undergraduate students allowed participants to better understand the progression of research from early exploration to advanced study.

Alumni engagement further enriched the event. Danny Meyer, DPT, CAHS, '14, '17, described the showcase as an opportunity to reflect on professional growth and application of classroom learning. He shared that the event encourages participants to think beyond coursework and consider how their skills can be applied to create meaningful impact in health care settings.

He stated, “This showcase is such a cool spot to think about what’s next — how to use the skills we learn in the classroom and really think beyond the textbook to make an impact outside of our day to day. It’s exciting to be back here as a judge and alumni and to see what the future holds in these new and young professionals.”

Students highlighted the importance of hands-on research experiences and their role in shaping professional goals. Emily Gerke, a senior in health sciences, described her work examining nutrient intake and cardiometabolic risk among recreationally active female college students.

She emphasized the importance of addressing gaps in representation within clinical research and the value of applied learning experiences. Her work included hands-on use of bioelectrical impedance analysis for body composition assessment and Cholestech technology for metabolic data collection, which she noted strengthened her commitment to advancing female-focused clinical research.