Capstone
One unique benefit of the MSMHA program is that you have the ability to mingle and work in many interprofessional settings. Everyone I encountered was willing to go out of their way to help students and create opportunities that fit your interests. I will personally pay off your student loans if you can find a program with faculty that are more enthusiastic and dedicated to student success than the MHA team!
Lindsey Milgrom | MHA Class of 2020
Pathology Assistant Student | Louisiana State University New Orleans
Overview
The capstone project is a scholarly and/or research-based pursuit of knowledge and content development in the area of anatomical sciences, modern imaging and modeling technologies, and educational science completed as part of the MS in Modern Human Anatomy.
To ensure that our students are free to pursue the many opportunities offered by the Anschutz Medical Campus and surrounding scientific community, we define a capstone project less by what it is than by what it should include. As such, a capstone project should include:
- Result in a tangible product or deliverable which enhances or adds to existing content being studied.
- Reflect a significant level of scholarship and creativity, and provide a scholarly contribution.
- Entail new learning for the student and demonstrate that the student has gained a new level of expertise.
- Involve in the characterization of a structure (or structures) ranging in scale anywhere from a molecular to organismal or gross levels of organization.
- Include at least one (and preferably more) of the following: 2D Images, 3D images, animations, or 3D models.
The minimum requirements for advancing to capstone enrollment include:
Capstone & Project Highlights
Past Capstone Projects
| Student | Capstone Mentor | Capstone Project Title |
| Erika Alor | Emily DeBoer, MD | The Use of a 3D-Printed Model for the Interpretation of Chest CT Scans |
| Melissa Barella | John Thompson, PhD | Responsive Neurostimulation Implants Improved Outcomes in Patients with Drug-Resistant Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Regardless of Probe Proximity to Hippocampus or Amygdala |
| Katherine Colon Reyes | Christy Niemeyer, PhD | Microglia Infiltration Within Distinct Brain Regions Across Acute HSV-1 Infection |
| Michael Corigliano | Christy Niemeyer, PhD | Metabolic Dysfunction of Spinal Astrocytes Following Alphaherpesvirus Infection |
| Quinlan Cuddy | Allison Shapiro, PhD | Examining the Association Between Brain Connectivity and Satiety Responsiveness in Adolescents |
| Joseph Gilmore | Gareth Morgan, MD | Design Informed by Anatomy – An Overhead Arm Support Apparatus for Use in Cardiac Catheterization Procedures |
| Michael Ha | Natalia Vergara, PhD | Using Patient Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Organoids to Investigate the Mechanisms of Retina Development and Degeneration in Down Syndrome |
| Rourke Haas | Diego Restrepo, PhD | Smells Like Trouble: Antibody Verification in the Olfactory Bulb |
| Ashlee Harry | Traci Lyons, PhD | Perivascular Macrophage and Macphatic Roles in Metastatic Migration of Breast Cancers |
| Caitlynn Hudlow | Chelsea Lohman Bonfiglio, PhD & Danielle Royer, PhD | “This Atlas is the Reason I Passed My Lab Practical!”: Evaluating the Use of Course-Tailored Review Resources in the Medical Gross Anatomy Flipped Classroom |
| Marie Izere | Jill Kaar, PhD | It Takes Guts to Be Innovative! The G-Tube Health Literacy Project |
| Aimee Kim | Nicholas Jacobson, MDesS | Liver Long and Prosper: How a 3D Liver Library Can Optimize MRI Imagining to Improve 3D Printed Models for Hepatic Pre-Surgical Planning |
| Ryan LaGreca | David Howell, PhD | Translating Concussion Gait Evaluations to a Mobile Approach: Reliability and Test Environment Differences |
| Maria Porpio | Chelsea Lohman Bonfiglio, PhD | Vessels Less Traveled: Learning Upper Limb Arterial Anastomoses Through Gamification in Graduate Gross Anatomy |
| Justin Schweigert | Jenny Zablah, PhD | Generation of Z-values of Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Structures |
| Katherine Spencer | Allison Shapiro, PhD | A Little Something Sweet: Glucose-Stimulated GLP-1 Secretion and Functional Brain Connectivity in Adolescents |
| Kara Tripp | Nicholas Jacobson, MDesS | “Face Fixin’”: Developing an Algorithm for Complex Zygoma Surgical Reconstruction Following Trauma |
| Tiajah Valerio | Jenny Zablah, MD | Putting the A.R. in Heart: Utilizing Augmented Reality in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab |
| Maxwell Walker | Nicholas Jacobson, MDesS | 3-D Printing for Vessel Location in Anterolateral Thigh (ALT) Grafts During Phalloplasty Procedures |
| Elizabeth Widgahl | Chelsea Lohman Bonfiglio, PhD | Cadaveric Donor Care: Establishing a Protocol for Longitudinal Integrated Curricula in Anatomy Labs |
| Gabriel Yuen | Jenny Zablah, MD | An Examination of Physical Parameters Across Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Systems and Potential Correlation with Post-Placement Arrhythmia in Congenital Heart Disease Patients |
| Student | Capstone Mentor | Capstone Project Title |
| Jane Brusilovsky | Peter Pressman, MD | Conversational Floor Exchanges in Neurodegenerative Disorders |
| Jamie Ernewein | Caley Orr, PhD | Bullseye! Preliminary Results on the Kinematics of the Dart Thrower Motion in Non-Human Primates |
| Monica Fong | David James, DPT | Glenohumeral Ligaments Explained: The Use of a 3D Printed Model to Understand the Movement of the Glenohumeral Joint |
| Denisa Grofova | Cecilia Caino, PhD | Phosphorylation of T214 SNPH Does Not Alter Mitochondrial Subcellular Distribution in Cancer Cells |
| Katherine Gustilo | Chelsea Lohman, PhD | &A Novel En Bloc Circulatory System Dissection: A Teaching Tool for Systems-Based Medical School Curricula |
| Jessica Hoffman | Allison Shapiro, PhD | In-Utero Maternal Depression Exposure and the Offspring Amygdala |
| Ivy Macaraeg | Francis Smith, PhD | The Creation of a 3D Digital Database to Showcase the Individual Variation in Treacher Collins Syndrome |
| Linda Neely | David Howell, PhD | Post-concussion exercise frequency is associated with a decreased risk of developing persistent post-concussion symptoms |
| Robyn Pierce | Matthew Riscinti, MD | The Creation of a Cost-Effective, Reusable, and Accurate Ultrasound Phantom of the Interscalene Space and Brachial Plexus |
| Benjamin Rajic | Allison Shapiro, PhD | Brain-Body Connection: Synchronization of Endogenous Insulin and Hypothalamic Neuronal Activity During Hyperglycemia |
| Logan Scott | Juliana Wilson, DO | Tele-Ultrasound: Virtual Hands-on Medical Education for Novice Users Utilizing FAST & Carpal Tunnel Models, Pilot Study |
| Kristoffer Seidl | Katherine Rennie, PhD | A Method for Counting Ribbon Synapses in Aging Vestibular Epithelia |
| Amanda Telfer | Jenny Zablah, MD | An Evaluation of 3D Printed Cardiac Models and Their Role in Patient, Caretaker, and Staff Education: One Print, Multiple Uses |
| Jeannie Than | Jenny Zablah, MD | Step Into Another World: Virtual Reality Applications in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory for Patients with Congenital Heart Disease |
| Kyetiil Vicenti | Abraham Nussbaum, MD | Sick and Tired of Learning Psychiatry the Old Way? Try Hippocampus Game |
| Ryan Wendell | Cory Christensen, PT, PhD | The Role of Pain in Gait Deviations Caused by Unilateral Hip Osteoarthritis |
| Student | Capstone Mentor | Capstone Presentation Title |
| Hailey Angus | Lisa Lee, PhD | What the head and neck? A study of integrated gross anatomy with embryology and its effect on learning and retention (watch presentation) |
| Eliza Biondi | Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD | Can you stand it? A comparison of vertical ground reaction force in patients with osteoarthritis (watch presentation) |
| Jessica Bryant | Ernesto Salcedo, PhD | Animating and 3D Printing the Cranial Nerves (watch presentation) |
| Caleb Fiebig | John Thompson, PhD | We’re on the right tract: Diffusion tensor imaging assessment of epileptogenic zone using depth electrode locations to investigate white matter networks (watch presentation) |
| Marisa Flores | Juliana Wilson, DO | That costs How Much: 3D printing a female pelvic ultrasound phantom (watch presentation) |
| Cassandra Gonzalez | Jill Kaar, PhD | Long-term Cardiometabolic Risk Among Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated by Bone Marrow Transplant (watch presentation) |
| Marissa Hight | Lisa Lee, PhD | Change of Heart: Virtual Embryonic 3D Heart Model with Interchangeable Conotruncal Septa Promotes Clinically Oriented Learning (watch presentation) |
| Andrew Hull | Lisa Lee, PhD | Embryorigami: The Educational Value of 4D Virtual Embryo Models on Student Learning and Confidence (watch presentation) |
| Rawan Jarrar | Isabelle Buard, PhD | Neural correlates behind selective attention and visual conflict monitoring using a Stroop task (watch presentation) |
| Canaan Kerr | Emily DeBoer, MD | Integrating Endoscopy: Visual Scoring and Lung Fluid Cellularity Associated with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (watch presentation) |
| Jensine Lamira | Thomas Greany, DDS | Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block Using A Mixed-Reality Haptic Trainer (watch presentation) |
| Alexis MacDonald | Jenny Zablah, MD | Evaluation of 3D Printed Models on Cardiac Catheterization Staff Education of Single Ventricle Palliation (watch presentation) |
| Deion Peña | Michael DiMaria, MD | Heart Grew Three Sizes: Improving the Health Literacy of Patients Utilizing 3D Heart Model of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (view presentation) |
| Conner Secora | Natalia Vergara, PhD | Traumatic Brain Injury Exacerbates Alzheimer’s Disease in the Retina (watch presentation) |
| Peter Therriat | Daniel Goldberg, JD, PhD | Anatomy Educators’ Ethical Views on the Re-creation of Human Tissue via 3D Printing Technology (watch presentation) |
| Kimberly Thies | John Thompson, PhD | Targeting Effects of rZI vs. STN in Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease (watch presentation) |
| Lauren Wahl | Caley Orr, PhD | Evaluation of 3D Digital Models in Head and Neck Anatomy (watch presentation) |
| Zachary Zylstra | Thomas Greany, DDS | Assessment of Cone Beam CT Accuracy for Creating Digital Scale Models: an Essential Step for Actualizing 3D Printed Dental Implants (view presentation) |
| Student | Capstone Mentor | Capstone Presentation Title | ||
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Alexander Berthusen |
Alexander Barker, PhD |
Check That Flow Out: A Hemodynamic Comparison Study of Fick and Phase-Contrast MRI in Children with Tetralogy of Fallot (watch presenation) |
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Tanner Bloks |
Timothy Tran, MD |
A 3-D Printable Ultrasound Phantom For Subclavian Central Lines (watch presentation) |
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Tara Brooks |
Natalia Vergara, PhD |
Elucidating the Mechanisms of Developmental Cell Death in the Retina Using Stem Cell-derived Organoids (watch presentation) |
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Cody Buongiorno |
Stephen Hawkins, MD |
Interactive 3D Resources to Improve Parent Understanding of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Children with Down Syndrome (DS) (watch presentation) |
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Yu Jung Choi |
Lisa Lee, PhD |
“Build an Embryo”: Educational Efficacy of 3D Printed Embryo Models in Pieces or En Bloc in Enhancing Spatial & Temporal Anatomy Learning (watch presentation) |
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Wyatt Colloty |
Maria Nagel, MD |
Distribution of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection in Wild Type Mice Following Intranasal Inoculation (watch presentation) |
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Leanne DeMay |
Caley Orr, PhD |
Evaluating Bilateral Asymmetry in the Proximal Femora of Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes (watch presentation) |
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Laura Finger |
Rachel Davis, MD |
Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging to Find Optimal Deep Brain Stimulation Targets for the Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (watch presentation) |
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Rocío Griggs |
Maria Nagel, MD |
Evaluating the Adrenal Glands During Simian Varicella Virus Infection in Rhesus Macaques (watch presentation) |
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Lisa Hirt |
John Thompson, PhD |
Quantifying Circuit Activation in Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery For Essential Tremor (watch presentation) |
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Tyler Johnson |
Chelsea Lohman Bonfiglio, PhD |
Developing and Printing 3D Printed Hearts for Graduate Level Ultrasound Training (watch presentation) |
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Lindsey Milgrom |
Ethan Hughes, PhD |
Parvalbumin axons may be more susceptible to demyelination (watch presentation) |
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Nazeen Morelli |
Jill Kaar, PhD |
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Begins Early In Males With Klinefelter Syndrome (watch presentation) |
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Christopher O'Neill |
Peter Pressman, MD |
Prosodic Expression in Two Variants of Primary Progressive Aphasia (watch presentation) |
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Holly Olson |
Paul Rochon, MD |
A 3D Printable Model of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation as a Useful Tool for Improving Patient Education (watch presentation) |
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Yuna Park |
Tyler Muffly, MD |
“My Vagina Did What?”: Evaluating a Mobile App of 3D Enterocele Anatomy in Post-Hysterectomy Women (watch presenation) |
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Megan Ryan |
Corbett Wilkinson, MD |
Postsurgical complications in patients undergoing baclofen pump implantation (watch presentation) |
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Jake Shearer |
Vic Spitzer, PhD |
Keyframed Anatomy: Developing Anatomical Digital Education Resources for Distance Learning (watch presentation) |
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| Charlotte Wilson | Thomas Greany, DDS |
Development of augmented reality and mixed-media trainer for dental anesthetics (watch presentation) |
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| MariaFrancisca Zabalaga-Haberman | Norma Wagoner, PhD |
Twisted Development: Assessing the educational value of a 4D interactive embryonic gut tube model (watch video) |
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| Student | Capstone Mentor | Capstone Presentation Title | ||
Nathaniel Alzofon | Lauren Fishbein, MD, PhD | Rare Tumors in a Unique Patient Population: A pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma pilot study with a focus on head and neck paraganglioma | ||
Sara Beck-Pancer | Roger Bannister, PhD | Fiber-type transitions in skeletal muscle of the FUSR521C mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | ||
Christine Castillo | Rony Marwan, MD | Visualizing Twin Connections: Creation and Usability of a 3D Parent Education Toolkit for Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome | ||
Athena Clemens | John Thompson, PhD | Impact of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus on Neuropsychological Outcomes and Voxel-Based-Morphometric-Analyses in Parkinson’s Disease Patients | ||
Nathan Davis | John Thompson, PhD | Correlation between local field potential activity and myelin changes in the lenticular fasciculus and subthalamic nucleus using diffusion tensor imaging in Parkinson's disease patients | ||
Yannick Dzowo | Thomas Finger, PhD | Quantification and Characterization of Taste Cells in Mice Circumvallate Taste Buds | ||
Mckenzie Hackmaster | Emily DeBoer, MD | Comparing flexible bronchoscopy landmarks to computed tomography imaging in pediatric tracheomalacia patients: A step towards a more objective diagnosis | ||
Haylie Helms | Jeffrey Jacot, PhD | Generation of Cardiac Organoids using Cardiomyocytes, Endothelial Cells, Epicardial Cells, and Cardiac Fibroblasts derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells | ||
Chorong Hong | Maureen Stabio, PhD | Anatomical Evidence for a Novel Circuit in Human Retina | ||
Natalie Hourigan | Angela Falco, NP, MPH/MSPH, MS, RN | iBooks Learning Resource Increase Patient and Caregiver Understanding at the Blood Infusion Center | ||
Ritesh Kashyap | Caley Orr, PhD | Sexual Dimorphism and the Scaling of Intrinsic Thumb Muscle Physiological Cross-Sectional Area and Trapeziometacarpal Joint Size | ||
Brian Kelly | Janet Corral, PhD | Efficacy of Virtual Reality Training for Physical Therapy Students | ||
Mark Malham | Mark Erickson, MD | Comparable CT segmented models used in preoperative surgical planning after minimizing the number of slices | ||
Daniel Marchetti | Travis Turnbull, PhD | Quantitative and Qualitative Orthopaedic Shoulder Anatomy: An iBook Review Tool | ||
Nadira Matin | Todd Hankinson, MD | Interactive 3D Module Improves Parent Understanding of Shunt Placement for Hydrocephalus | ||
Leandra Nikont | Karen King, PhD | Tackling the Most Prevalent Disease in the United States: Development and Assessment of an Educational Module to Emphasize the Similarities and Differences between Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis | ||
Cassidy Plunkett | Lisa Lee, PhD | Embryos in Gross Anatomy Laboratory? The Educational Impact of 3D Printed Embryo Model Integration in Medical Basic Sciences Education | ||
Samantha Rosicke | Brianne Bettcher, PhD | Association of White Matter Integrity and Visuospatial Function in Clinically Normal Adults vs. Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment | ||
| Natasha Rousseau | Janet Corral, PhD | Investigating the Impact of the Voice-Activated Chatbot Application for Study Skills on Student Usability in Physical Therapy Anatomy Application | ||
| Riley Ruse | Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD | Reliability of an MR-based Knee Cartilage Semiautomatic Segmentation Protocol for Non-Clinicians | ||
| Debra Szuster | Caley Orr, PhD | A novel approach to resolving the brachial index issue of A.L. 288-1 (“Lucy”) using 3D computer models of hominid forelimb bones | ||
| Sydney Taylor | Yvette Nout-Lomas, DVM, PhD | Undergraduate Education on Equine Cervical Vertebral Compressive Myelopathy | ||
| Peter Thomsen | Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD | Assessing Post-Rehabilitation Quadriceps Strength and Movement Quality During a Step Down Task after Total Knee Arthroplasty | ||
| Meredith Ware | Jill Kaar, PhD | Pancreatic fat is not related to PCOS status in obese adolescents but is related to prolonged hyperinsulinemia | ||
| Student | Capstone Mentor | Capstone Presentation Title | ||
Rossana Blanco Prado | John Thompson, PhD | Use of Systematic Stimulation Mapping and Functional/Structural Imaging to Improve Localization of Seizure onset in Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy. View Poster | ||
Cory Buenting | Lisa Lee, PhD | One Does Not Simply Integrate: Assessing Integrated vs. "Silo-ed" Anatomical Sciences Presentation in Online Learning Module. View Poster | ||
Andrew Cale | Danielle Royer, PhD | Gross Anatomy Review Course for Anesthesiology Residents on the Acute Pain Service: How Basic Science Training Can Improve Knowledge and Confidence. | ||
Dane Donegan | Cristin Welle, PhD | Neuromodulation of Motor Learning and Performance Mediated by Optogenetic Stimulation of the Basal Forebrain. | ||
Angelique Duenas | John Thompson, PhD | Assessing 3D Learning Resource Preference and Performance in Embryology Education. View Poster | ||
Elizabeth Eichinger | Enrique Alvarez, MD | What's the Matter?: A Longitudinal Look at Multiple Sclerosis-Related Total Brain vs Structure Atrophy and Cognitive Performance. | ||
Nicholas Evans | Thomas Greany, DDS | Bridging the Gap: Integrating a Virtual, 3D Model with Finite Element Analysis to Examine Fixed Dental Prosthesis Materials Under Combined Loading. View Poster | ||
Jake Feiler | Benjamin Mullin, PhD | An fMRI Study Examining Inhibition and Threat Vigilance Among Adolescents with Severe Worry. View Poster | ||
Shilpi Ganguly | Luis Zea, PhD | Characterization of P. Aeruginosa Growth Patterns Under Varying Gravitational Regimes. View Poster | ||
Daniel Heck | Abigail Person, PhD | The Organization of Synaptically Convergent Purkinje Cells to Distinct Postsynaptic Cell Types in the Mouse Cerebellum. | ||
Sam Hunt | John Thompson, PhD | The Disruption of Myelin in the Auditory Brainstem Response. | ||
Hannah Koury | Janet Corral, PhD | I Have a Tear Down There?": Implementing a Three-Dimensional Anatomical Education Resource into Post-Partum Perineal Laceration Care. View Poster | ||
Chase Lewis | Thomas Greany, DDS | Objective Assessment of Dental Anatomy Using Surface Scanning Technology and 3D Image Analysis. View Poster | ||
Guttu Maskalo | Victoria Pelak, MD | The Relationship Between Radial Optic Flow Perception and Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease: A Volumetric MRI Analysis. View Poster | ||
Mayu Oya | Nidia Quillinan, PhD | Analysis of Dendritic Spine Density in Hippocampus Following Cardiac Arrest. View Poster | ||
Ian Stewart | Lisa Lee, PhD | Development and Incorporation of Virtual Pathology Slides with Instructor Simulation Tools in Pathology Residency Training and Histology Education. | ||
Daniel Uy | John Thompson, PhD | Inter-hemispheric Analysis of Compensatory Neural Activity and Volumetric Changes in Deep Brain Stimulation Patients. | ||
Carissa Vinovskis | Lauren Fishbein, MD, PhD | Prevalence of Adrenal Incidentalomas and Assessment of Practitioner Follow Up Per Guidelines. View Poster | ||