OHIO Health Collaborative hosts research symposium featuring educator and pediatrician Gilbert Liu, M.D.

On Friday, Feb. 2, the 2024 Health Scholars Research Symposium will showcase work impacting the future of health in Ohio and beyond, with special guest speaker Gilbert Liu, M.D.

“This is the Health Collaborative’s second year hosting this event, and we are thrilled to provide this opportunity for the community to experience the incredible research being conducted at OHIO,” said John McCarthy, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences and Professions. “By encouraging collaboration among different fields, we can discover innovative solutions to some of this region’s most pressing health issues.” 

The symposium will highlight a wide range of health and medical research being conducted by OHIO students, with posters by 62 OHIO students and postdoctoral fellows being showcased. Featured research topics include Appalachian health disparities, type 1 diabetes and childhood health factors.. 

“Research is critical to advancing practitioners’ approach to treating medical issues and improving the health of our communities,” said Ken Johnson, D.O., executive dean of the Heritage College and OHIO’s chief medical affairs officer. “It’s exciting to see the groundbreaking work being spearheaded by the next generation of physicians and health care providers.”

In addition to learning about health research, attendees will also hear from keynote speaker Gilbert Liu, M.D., who has more than 20 years of experience as a pediatrician and educator. 

Liu became the medical director of the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center in 2021, where he assists in developing research initiatives and health care improvement programs. He also serves as a professor of clinical pediatrics at Ohio State University and a practicing pediatrician in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital primary care network. 

Prior to joining the Government Resource Center, Liu served as medical director for Nationwide Children’s Hospital Partner for Kids, chief medical officer of the Kentucky Department of Medicaid Services and professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Louisville.

“The exchange of knowledge this event provides is incredibly exciting,” said Tracy Plouck, M.P.A., dean of the Voinovich School. “Bringing together researchers, community members and the expertise offered by Dr. Liu creates a strong atmosphere of collaboration and communication that exemplifies the spirit of the Health Collaborative’s mission.”

The Health Scholars Research Symposium will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Grover Center E234 on the Athens campus, Medical Education Building 2, room 240 on the Dublin campus and SPS 110 on the Cleveland campus. Welcome events and poster awards presentations will begin at 11 a.m. followed by a noon keynote. Attendees will have the opportunity to view poster submissions and network from 1 to 2 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Ohio University Health Collaborative, which comprises the College of Health Sciences and Professions, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service.