Family medicine poster contest winners announced

Medical students displaying posters include, back row from left, Elizabeth Rogers and Jeremiah Jansen. Front row: Heather Gomes, Erin Jenkins and Sarah Kippenbrock. Not pictured: Brian Boerner.

UNMC College of Medicine student Sarah Kippenbrock was surprised to find women feared breast cancer more than heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among women.

Her classmate, Erin Jenkins, was stunned to learn that most cases of latent tuberculosis are discovered outside the required immigration physical.

Their findings were on display Tuesday in the Durham Outpatient Center’s second-floor atrium as part of the M3 rural Family Medicine poster contest.

Students are required to do a project relating to a specific health care concern at the site where they did their eight-week family medicine rotation. This year’s students analyzed such topics as diabetes, heart disease, pneumococcal vaccinations and tuberculosis screenings. In all, six posters were on display.

Kippenbrock and Jenkins each received a $250 cash prize for their winning projects. Both are fourth-year medical students at UNMC.

Kippenbrock’s study examined the risk factors (perceived vs. actual) of heart disease in women ages 21 to 50. Jenkins studied whether current screening practices are adequate in finding latent TB among the immigrant population.