On February 24, second-year family nurse practitioner (FNP) students gathered to present their research theses, but there was a catch—they only had three minutes to do it.
Presenters had to find a way to clearly explain the background, methods, findings, and implications of the research projects they’ve conducted during their graduate studies within the three-minute time constraint.
The first-place winner, Chelsea Best, went on to represent BYU College of Nursing and compete against students from other colleges in the annual Brigham Young University 3 Minute Thesis presentation competition.
Presentations |
Chelsea Best, First Place Chelsea shared a personal breast cancer scare as a backdrop to presenting a community health initiative where she, along with 14 nurse practitioner students, provided free breast and cervical cancer screenings to 52 low-income and uninsured women in rural Moab, Utah over the course of a day and a half. The program, which partnered with local clinics and a mobile mammography service, successfully identified three cases of cervical cancer and provided diagnostic imaging for women who had suspicious findings. These screenings aimed to reduce the projected 47,000 annual American deaths from these preventable diseases. A video of Chelsea’s presentation can be found at the end of this article. |
Whitney Bassett, Second Place Whitney was also part of the cohort of family nurse practitioner students that partnered with the Moab Free Health Clinic and a mobile mammography service to host a one-and-a-half day Women's Health Fair. They provided 52 uninsured rural women with pap smears and mammograms, matching the clinic's entire previous year of screenings. The event detected three cervical cancers and flagged nearly a third of women for additional breast imaging, with surveys revealing that most participants would not have been screened at all without the event. |
Mariita Carter, Third Place Mariita, joined by other BYU College of Nursing students conducted a foot care outreach project for people experiencing homelessness. They provided on-site cleanings, screenings, and wound care kits at a local warming center and the Food and Care Coalition in Provo. Across 69 participants, they found widespread foot wounds, most commonly from ill-fitting shoes and prolonged walking, underscoring the value of mobile, community-based care for this population. |
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Marissa Hiatt Marissa presented a literature review comparing the five FDA-approved SGLT-2 inhibitor medications for type 2 diabetes based on effectiveness at blood sugar control, cardiovascular protection, kidney protection, and cost. Her key takeaway is that there is no single best option. Instead, the right choice depends on each patient's individual needs and financial situation, with the newer, less expensive medication offering meaningful access to cost-constrained patients. |
Rebecca Drake Rebecca and other BYU College of Nursing nurse practitioner students partnered with the Food and Care Coalition in Provo to provide free on-site A1C diabetes screenings to people experiencing homelessness, a population with significant barriers to routine care. Across 54 participants, nearly one in three tested in the pre-diabetic or diabetic range, highlighting the critical need for community-based, low-barrier screening models. |
Ivie Wittwer Ivie assisted in the development and delivery of a three-day simulation-based training program for disaster first responders in Uttarakhand, India, covering scenarios like trauma, hypothermia, and mass casualty events. The program resulted in measurable improvements in both knowledge and confidence, demonstrating that simulation training is an effective way to better prepare first responders for real-world disaster conditions. |
Katelin Johnson Katelin developed an evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship protocol for acute sinusitis at a local urgent care clinic. In response to the growing global threat of antibiotic resistance, the protocol aimed to reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing. Guided by the COM-B behavioral change model, the protocol streamlines clinical decision-making for busy providers, with similar initiatives showing up to a 20% reduction in unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions. |
Cardon Schiess Cardon partnered with Utah County Search and Rescue to provide simulation-based wilderness medical training for volunteer first responders, giving them hands-on practice with realistic, high-stress scenarios. Participants reported increased confidence in their ability to respond, work as a team, and apply life-saving skills in the future, reinforcing that true preparedness requires experiential practice, not just knowledge. |
Sydney Smith Inspired by her father-in-law's experience with diabetes, Sydney conducted a literature review of lifestyle interventions for type 2 diabetes, evaluating five diets and three exercise approaches. She found that all diets effectively lowered blood sugar but only while being followed, and that a combination of aerobic and resistance training was most effective. With the CDC projecting that one in three U.S. adults will have type two diabetes by 2051, Sydney emphasized that even small, sustainable changes in diet and exercise can make a meaningful difference in prevention and management. |
Susy Vega Using the "starfish thrower" story as a metaphor, Susy reflected on the impact of the Moab Women's Health Fair, where 52 women received pap smears and breast exams, resulting in three cervical cancer diagnoses and several additional referrals for follow-up care. This was the same project shared by Chelsea and Whitney. Susy shared that many of the women learned about the event through word of mouth, showing the importance of strong community connections. With 31 women reporting they would not have been screened otherwise, Susy emphasized that meaningful change doesn't require reaching everyone, it only needs to reach one person at a time. |
Saul Villalobos Saul conducted a clinical paper comparing the glycemic efficacy and cost of available GLP-1 medications for type 2 diabetes, finding that higher price does not correlate with better blood sugar control, with some more affordable options performing comparably to more expensive alternatives like injectable semaglutide. The key takeaway is that clinicians should select GLP-1 medications based on evidence-based efficacy rather than cost or popularity to optimize patient outcomes. |
DeeDee Long DeeDee and other BYU College of Nursing students visited the Food and Care Coalition and warming centers across Utah County and surveyed 101 individuals experiencing homelessness using a validated quality-of-life instrument. They recorded suboptimal scores across physical, psychological, environmental, and social domains, with five key unmet needs emerging: nutrition, mental health, health screenings, hygiene, and mistrust of the healthcare system. The findings suggest that seasonal warming centers represent a valuable opportunity to build trust with this population and serve as accessible entry points for delivering targeted health interventions. |
Jacie Price Jacie partnered with a local urgent care clinic to design and implement an evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship protocol for a targeting acute bronchitis, a viral infection that is frequently and inappropriately treated with antibiotics. Using the children’s story "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" to illustrate the chain of consequences from unnecessary antibiotic use, Jacie highlighted that stewardship protocols can be a useful tool for reducing inappropriate prescribing and combating antimicrobial resistance. |
Amanda Ball Amanda and a team of BYU nurse practitioner students traveled to Rishikesh, India to implement simulation-based pediatric burn care training for the country's first helicopter emergency medical services program, which launched in October 2024. The training resulted in meaningful knowledge gains, with knowledge exam scores rising from 75% to 84% and participants reporting increased confidence and competence in treating pediatric burn patients in the field. |
Throughout the morning, students were supportive of one another, cheering for each of their peers by name as they went up for their presentation. There was such an uplifting atmosphere as students celebrated each other’s accomplishments that it was easy to forget they were competing against one another.
Good job to all those who presented, and congratulations to Chelsea for advancing to the next round!