WCHHS Research and Engagement Day 2024

Monday, April 15 in the Student Center University Rooms, Kennesaw Campus

RED is a celebration of research, scholarship, and community engagement in the Wellstar College. Join us for presentations from students, faculty, and community partners, a research volunteer match session, a faculty research spotlight with a special presentation from each department, awards, and our keynote address. 

Download Research and Engagement Day 2024 Program
  • Session
    Time
  • Welcome, Podium 1
    9:00 AM - 10:05 AM
  • Poster Session 1
    10:20 AM - 11:20 AM
  • Podium Session 2
    11:20 AM - NOON
  • Student Research Match
    NOON - 1:00 PM
  • Poster Session 2
    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Podium Session 3
    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
  • Pechakucha Faculty Research Spotlight
    3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
  • Awards Ceremony 
    3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Keynote Address
    4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Keynote Speaker Announced

We are pleased to announce that Smith L. Johnston III, MD, MS, FAsMA will deliver the Keynote Address for Wellstar College’s Research & Engagement Day 2024 entitled, “Space Medicine: Terrestrial Applications for Human Health, Performance, and Longevity.”

Dr. Smith Johnston received a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1976 and a Doctor of Medicine in 1981 from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.  From 1984 to 1990, Dr. Johnston completed residencies in Internal and Aerospace Medicine from Wright State University, as well as a Master’s of Science in Aerospace and Preventive Medicine. Dr. Johnston is a member of the Adjunct Clinical Faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Dept. of Preventive, Occupational and Environmental Medicine in Galveston, Texas.  Dr. Johnston has spent most of his career as a Medical Officer and Operational Flight Surgeon for NASA Medical Operations Branch at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Over the past 30 years he has supported the medical care of the active Astronaut Corps, their families, and the retired Astronauts. He has been the lead physician for the International Space Station (ISS) Emergency Medical System and Crew Return Vehicle development and has supported two Expedition ISS missions and over 25 Shuttle missions.  Before retiring from NASA in 2019, he served as the Medical Director of NASA-JSC Aerospace and Occupational Medicine Clinics and was the lead of NASA’s Astronaut Medical Selection and Retention Standards, and the Fatigue Management and Human Health, Performance, and Longevity Programs. Dr. Johnston was Board Certified in Aerospace Medicine from the American Board of Preventive Medicine in 2000 and 2010 and is an Emeritus Fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association.  After retiring from NASA in 2019, he became the Chief Medical Officer for Axiom Space, Inc. and recently retired from that position in 2023. Dr. Johnston’s expertise centers on taking the innovations discovered from the US and International Space Programs to benefit not only the lives of the Astronauts and Cosmonauts, but also his Earth-bound patients.

Please join us for Dr. Johnston’s address on the ways space-age medical innovations can translate to and transform everyday lives here on Earth! The keynote address will be at 4 pm on April 15 in the Student Center University Rooms during RED.

Student Research Match Event

Wellstar College Students: Interested in research? We have a new session at Research and Engagement Day this year called Student Research Match. It’s your opportunity to meet and interact with faculty researchers and scholars and volunteer to participate on their research teams. The event will be on April 15th from 12-1 in the Student Center University Rooms.

Here’s the concept: Faculty researchers will be seated at tables, ready to talk about their projects. Students will rotate to different tables every few minutes to hear each pitch, share your background, and ask questions (feel free to bring resumes). Students will then be provided with a list of all the faculty and projects represented, and you will be able to provide your contact information for projects that interest you. Be aware that these are volunteer opportunities, that there is no promise of funding, and that certain training might be required for participation.

Pizza will be provided, and all students who participate will be entered into a drawing for a Wellstar College Swag Bag.

Student Research Match RSVP
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