The University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences hosted its largest research showcase to date on April 20, bringing together students, faculty, alumni, and community partners to present a wide range of student scholarship across disciplines.
The event took place in the Health Sciences Building on the university’s medical campus. Organizers said it aimed to provide broad engagement with student research and innovation within allied health fields.
A notable change for the 2026 CAHS Scholarly Showcase was its expansion to include all undergraduate students along with graduate participants. Nearly 400 students presented their work, including about 59 graduate posters and 71 undergraduate posters. This format allowed attendees to see research spanning from early inquiry stages through advanced graduate projects.
Melinda Butch Kovacic, PhD, associate dean of research, opened the event by emphasizing the importance of ongoing research in health care practice. “We don’t want patients receiving the same care in 50 years that’s available now. Research drives innovation, and innovation drives high-quality care,” Kovacic said.
Faculty highlighted how connecting undergraduate and graduate researchers helps strengthen interdisciplinary learning. Whitney Bowen, associate professor and MRI program director for advanced medical imaging technology, said that including undergraduates gave participants insight into how research progresses from initial exploration to more advanced study.
Alumni also played a role at this year’s showcase. Danny Meyer described his experience returning as a judge: “This showcase is such a cool spot to think about what’s next — how to use the skills we learn in the classroom and really think beyond the textbook to make an impact outside of our day to day. It’s exciting to be back here as a judge and alumni and to see what the future holds in these new and young professionals.” Student presenters like Emily Gerke shared that hands-on experiences were important for shaping their professional goals.
By expanding participation across academic levels and encouraging collaboration between disciplines, organizers say this year’s CAHS Scholarly Showcase demonstrated a growing culture of research within allied health sciences at University of Cincinnati.
