15th Annual McMaster Child Health Research Day Back In-Person

McMaster Child Health Research Day 2024 is on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. Click here for more information.

On Wednesday, March 29, the Department of Pediatrics held the 15th annual McMaster Child Health Research Day. This event showcases the exciting child health research taking place in the department and McMaster Children’s Hospital through presentations by learners and research staff.  

McMaster Child Health Research Day was held virtually in the last two years due to the pandemic. This year’s event was back in-person with poster presentations in the Ewart Angus Centre and oral presentations in MDCL 3020. 

A total of 68 presentations by research trainees from more than 10 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs, as well as research staff showcased the incredible work happening in the Department of Pediatrics, all of which drives us closer to our vision of a brighter path for every child and their family.   

Split into four sessions throughout the day, the presentations reflected a broad range of topics in child health from basic science to clinical and community-based research.  

First-time presenter and winner of Top Poster Presentation by an Undergraduate or Medical Student in Session B, Sarah da Silva said she really enjoyed experiencing her first Child Health Research Day.  

“I liked being able to walk over to another poster and learn about their research in such a casual setting. I also appreciated that anyone could pop in to review our posters, as I had many visitors from different professional/academic backgrounds, forcing me to explain my work in a way that anyone could understand it. This was good practice and validated that all my hard work paid off as most visitors were very excited about my project and its potential,” she said.  

Both faculty members and learner judges adjudicated presentations, with award winners recognized at a virtual awards ceremony via Zoom on March 30.  

Congratulations to all the award recipients: 

Top Poster Presentation by an Undergraduate or Medical Student (Session A): Daniel DeSouza & Nikki Nguyen, Caring beyond the biopsy: A scoping review of the physical and psychological health of children following a diagnosis of Celiac Disease applying the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Framework 

Top Poster Presentation by an Undergraduate or Medical Student (Session B): Sarah da Silva, Assessing Aerobic Fitness in Youth with a Chronic Inflammatory Disease 

Top Poster Presentation by a Master’s Student: Johan Carballo, Investigating the Association of the Infant Gut Microbiota with Growth and Body Composition during the First Three Years of Life 

Top Poster Presentation by a Clinical Fellow or Resident: Dr. Claire Young, Wellness Needs Assessment of McMaster Pediatric Trainees: An Appreciative Inquiry  

Top Oral Presentation of Work in Progress by a Non-Clinical Trainee (MSc, PhD or Postdoctoral Fellow): Maria Sunil, Influence of in utero cannabis exposure on the developmental programming of the gastrointestinal tract  

Top Oral Presentation of Work in Progress by a Clinical Trainee (Clinical Fellow or Resident): Dr. Andres Felipe Fajardo, A pilot prospective safety and feasibility trial of delivering anticoagulation therapy in children at risk of thrombocytopenia  

Top Oral Presentation Completed Work by Graduate or Postgraduate: Dr. Celia Kwan, Addressing The Unmet Social Needs of Children and Families in a Pediatric Weight Management Program: A Qualitative Description Study 

“It was great that all of us could return in person for Child Health Research Day this year! The discussions with trainees, the sharing with colleagues and the energy at the event this year were all excellent — in keeping with the outstanding work of our trainees, staff and faculty members,” said Katherine Morrison, the department’s Associate Chair of Research, and co-lead of the MODR research team. 

Child Health Research Day is also an opportunity to celebrate the year’s recipient of the Anthony KC Chan Rising Research Star Award. This year, Dr. Mihir Bhatt was recognized for his innovative and influential research as an early career investigator in the Department of Pediatrics. Bhatt completed his MD, Pediatric Residency training, as well as Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at McMaster University before accepting a faculty position in September 2018. He acknowledged how learning and conducting research involves guidance, mentorship, and support of many people at different levels – colleagues, leaders, patients, learners and family, among others. 

The awards ceremony and Bhatt’s lecture that accompanied his award are available on the Department of Pediatrics’ MacVideo Channel below: