Throughout my life, the ability to apply what I have learned, directly and indirectly, in an academic setting for a greater purpose and a broader scale resonates with me. As a public health major with interests in pre-health, I am excited to delve into undergraduate research as a freshman and work alongside experienced researchers in the field to contribute meaningful results to their research. The idea of being immersed in a critical thinking and problem-solving environment and having the opportunity to impact and inform how treatments of these vulnerable populations are conducted is fascinating. As a passionate advocate for this topic, this research allows me to not only learn more about this subject and apply my knowledge to an integral area of study, but also contribute meaningful results through this program.

Pre-Existing Depression/Anxiety on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, or ARDS, has been linked to new-onset depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder amongst its survivors and its caregivers.
In this research, we aim to determine whether pre-existing depression and anxiety are associated with worse outcomes in ARDS patients. We predict that pre-existing depression is associated with an increased number of mechanical ventilation, ICU days, total hospital days, and an increased incidence of tracheostomy. Furthermore, we also predict that pre-existing depression is associated with an increased discharge rate to a subacute nursing facility, nursing home, or an acute rehabilitation center.