91��Ƭ��

Students from the didn’t just stand out at the recent Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) Conference — they led the way.

91��Ƭ�� students swept first, second, and third place in the undergraduate poster competition, and earned first place in the master’s competition — outperforming nearly 100 peers from top programs and research institutions.

“The competition is pretty hefty on the East Coast. You’re up against programs like Yale, and it’s not just academic institutions — major research hospitals are submitting projects as well,” says Alyssa O’Brien, associate clinical professor of nursing. “It was kind of wild. I haven’t heard of another school taking first, second, and third in the same year in the 12 years I’ve been in ENRS.”

This marks the second consecutive year a 91��Ƭ�� student has earned first place in the undergraduate competition. O’Brien says the successes reflect the program's emphasis on research.

“We’re an R1 research institution, and one of our goals is that even if students don’t conduct their own studies, they understand how important research and evidence-based practice are in nursing,” O’Brien says. “They take a research class as freshmen, complete statistics, and see these concepts woven throughout the program. We talk about research in every class, and our faculty work hard to mentor students in ways that align with their goals.”

Adding to the accomplishment, 91��Ƭ�� officially submitted just one undergraduate poster, with the second- and third-place projects submitted by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center on behalf of two 91��Ƭ�� students who completed the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (iSURF).

91��Ƭ�� nursing students swept top undergraduate research poster awards at the Eastern Nursing Research Society Conference. Pictured (left to right): Luke Ricci ’26, Meryam Belhassad ’26, Aubrie Woodward ’28 and Chloe Mitchell ’28.

The award-winning projects included:

First Place: Aubrie Woodward ’28 and Chloe Mitchell ’28 for their poster with Jing Wang, “Voices, Boundaries, and Belonging: Ethical Considerations of In-Home Robot Use in Dementia Care.”

Woodward and Mitchell explored how people living with dementia and their caregivers interact with in-home assistive robots, focusing on the ethical challenges that come with using this technology in everyday life. Their research found that while robots can provide helpful structure and support, families must actively adjust how they’re used to protect autonomy, privacy, and dignity.

Woodward says that she and Mitchell were honored to place first and credited the mentorship and support from the 91��Ƭ�� nursing faculty and staff.

“This experience helped us see that nursing offers many exciting paths beyond bedside care, all with opportunities for growth, mentorship, and impact,” Woodward says. “It reinforced for us how valuable research and scholarship can be in shaping the future of nursing practice.”

Second Place: Meryam Belhassad ’26 for her poster submitted from her Dartmouth research fellowship with Jamie Plimpton at DHMC, “APP-Physician Dyads: A Promising Solution to Burnout and Disrupted Continuity in Primary Care.”  

Belhassad’s research examined how pairing physicians with advanced practice providers could help address burnout and improve continuity of care in primary care settings. By reviewing existing studies, she found that strong team-based partnerships can lead to better patient outcomes, more consistent care, and improved provider satisfaction.

“Considering how many students were at the conference presenting posters, along with many high-standing and achieving schools, I was baffled that they would choose mine,” Belhassad says. “I was honored and proud to receive such an award, as it reflects all the dedication and hard work that went into this project.”

Belhassad says the (ENRS) Conference was a great opportunity to connect with other healthcare researchers and explore future education opportunities. Belhassad will be returning to Dartmouth Health after graduation, accepting a position in the birthing unit.

Third Place: Luke Ricci ’26 for his poster submitted from his Dartmouth research fellowship with Mary Kate Andrews, “Improving Low Fresh Gas Flow Adherence to Lower CO2e Emissions.”

Ricci’s research examined how lowering the flow rate of anesthetic gases during surgery could significantly reduce healthcare-related emissions. By analyzing data from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, he found that lower anesthetic gas flow rates during surgery could dramatically reduce emissions — equivalent to more than 34 million miles of driving over five years — without compromising patient safety.

Ciera Hunter’s research poster earned first place in the master’s category.

First Place/MS Students: Ciera Hunter for her work with Sophie Weider and Kerry Nolte, “Wound Management: Insights From Individuals Accessing Harm Reduction Programs in New Hampshire.”  

Hunter examined how people accessing harm reduction programs in New Hampshire manage wounds and skin and soft tissue infections, finding that many delay or avoid seeking care due to stigma and other barriers. Her research highlights how harm reduction programs provide more accessible, nonjudgmental care and play a critical role in improving health outcomes.

“This experience and Dr. Nolte's mentorship reinforced how essential it is to elevate the voices of people who are often overlooked in healthcare research,” Hunter says. “It strengthened my commitment to advancing patient-centered care, supporting underserved populations, and being innovative in how to overcome inequities. This will shape the way I approach both clinical practice and future scholarly work.”

More important than the recognition, O’Brien says, is what students gain from the experience — both in conducting research and presenting their work among peers.

“I want students to be proud of themselves for being here and to see this kind of work as part of what it means to be a nurse,” she says. “Everything we do is grounded in evidence, and I want them to see their peers doing this and think, ‘I could do that too.’”  

Beyond continuing to build research into the curriculum, 91��Ƭ�� is also expanding opportunities for students to collaborate with partners across the state. The School of Nursing is piloting a new initiative with Dartmouth Health that will pair undergraduate honors students with nurse researchers, giving them additional opportunities to contribute to real-world projects that directly support the health and wellness of New Hampshire residents, according to O’Brien.