Madaline Witort's journey into the study of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is deeply personal and driven by her own experiences with recovery. Her research investigates the psychological impact on students within the BrainSTEPS program, which provides comprehensive support for TBI-affected students in Pennsylvania.
Throughout her research journey, Witort has embraced opportunities for growth and learning, such as attending the 14th Annual Traumatic Brain Injury Conference, which refined her presentation skills and broadened her understanding of current research in the field. The support from the Welter-Muzic Endowment has been pivotal, enabling her to engage with cutting-edge research and reaffirming her commitment to advancing the field of neurology as she pursues her Master's in Nursing and aspires to a PhD. The following Q&A session delves into Witort's motivations, insights, and impactful support that have guided her into a promising pediatric TBI research career.
What inspired you to focus on pediatric traumatic brain injury, and what unexpected findings or insights have emerged from your investigation?
I was motivated to study pediatric trauma because much of my high school experience was spent recovering from a traumatic brain injury. My presentation, "Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: The Effects of Anxiety and Depressive Disorders," studied students who were a part of the BrainSTEPS presentation. BrainSTEPS (Strategies Teaching Educators, Parents, and Students) works across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support students with TBI of all severity by providing education on brain injury, advocacy, and recommendations for academic support. BrainSTEPS participants are followed through to graduation. My project aimed to determine if students with formal return-to-school service (BrainSTEPS) for pediatric TBI patients will be significantly associated with reduced parent reports of psychological disorders and executive functioning disorders post-injury compared to children who do not receive formal return-to=-school services (Ohio Control Group). I was surprised to find that the difference in anxiety and depression scores between these two groups was found to be insignificant. These findings are important to consider for pediatric traumatic brain injury because they shape how future research should consider both student interviews and questionnaires to understand changes in students post-injury better. This was a similar finding in many other projects where the data from the questionnaires underreports how students feel compared to interviews with their families.
What led you to choose a long-term student approach involving parents and self-reports?
I wanted to include parents and self-reports in a longitudinal study because pediatric research can be complex! Often, students may underreport their symptoms. Students report their life is "just fine" even though their parents have noticed that their grades are slipping and that they no longer want to spend time with their friends. Listening to student interviews in Dr. Ciccia's lab taught me the importance of mixed-method research to ensure I could get a true sense of how students and their families felt about the impact of their traumatic brain injury. I will be sure to consider this type of approach in future research projects to ensure my research accurately measures the population.
Have there been any surprises or exciting moments during your research journey?
Attending the 14th Annual Traumatic Brain Injury Conference was an invaluable experience! I learned about blood diagnostic tests, current clinical research, and, most importantly, improving my presentation style. Learning from other student researchers at the event was instrumental in preparing me for future research and engagement in pediatric traumatic brain injury research. This conference was one of my first opportunities at a large networking event.
How has the support from the Welter-Muzic Endowment helped shape your research on pediatric traumatic brain injury? Can you share any specific instances where this support has made a difference in your research work or your post-graduation goals?
The Welter-Muzic endowment has been instrumental in allowing me to continue my passion for neurology research by allowing me to hear what conversations are happening in brain injury research around the world! Through this conference, I was able to learn about research being conducted on brain injury in student-athletes in Canada, how scientists are improving helmet safety in the NFL, rates of traumatic brain injury in the geriatric population across the country, and what measures have been taken to protect those who serve in the armed forces from gunshot blasts. It was exciting to hear from renowned faculty about how much the field of brain injury has changed in the last twenty years. Twenty years ago, if you went to urgent care with a head injury, you most likely would not have even gotten a diagnosis! Now, we can connect patients with specialized doctors and support services like the BrainSTEPS program. I am grateful to be a part of this change as I continue to pursue my Master's in Nursing. I am dedicated to including this experience to best advocate for my patients. This opportunity solidified my desire to pursue a PhD as a future nurse scientist to continue to better understand brain injury and how we can better support patients from all walks of life.