Jean School Seniors Finish Strong with Ambitious Research and Thesis Projects

With spring semester rounding the corner, several Jean School of Nursing and Health Sciences seniors concluded their four-year tenure with astounding undergraduate research and thesis projects.

Although the final weeks can be emotionally overwhelming and feel like a full-force sprint to the end, these final projects diligently detail intricacies within the students’ desired disciplines that will greatly benefit their postgraduate practice and professional careers.
 

Kathleen Crowley ’26 
Community and Public Health major

Changing your major late can lead to positive outcomes, and Kathleen Crowley ’26 is proof. As a junior, Crowley transitioned from nursing to community and public health to tackle a broader range of health matters. Her desire to work in healthcare, interest in genetics, and familial tie to the BRCA gene (a mutation that causes increased cancer risk) inspired her to research the most common cancer in women worldwide: breast cancer. 

After analyzing National Cancer Institute registries and screening processes in rural and urban communities nationwide, Crowley constructed a data display of breast cancer rates in areas with and without clinical exams. The qualitative, county-level study focused on the influence geographic inequality has on breast cancer incidents. Through her research, Crowley’s observations corroborated her hypothesis that having widespread access to healthcare services can lead to more proactive identification and treatment of the disease.
 

Hope Marcou ’26 
Community and Public Health major 

As a commuter, golfer, and aspiring healthcare professional, Hope Marcou ’26 knows a thing or two about drive. Though she dreams of becoming a nurse, Marcou opted to study community and public health to strengthen her overall familiarity with American healthcare systems, hospital functions, and public health studies. This curiosity led her to investigate the adverse health outcomes associated with an increasingly popular type 2 diabetes and obesity treatment—GLP-1 receptor agonists (RAs). 

For her research, Marcou studied the frequency of GLP-1 RA-related implications in real-world populations, which included monitoring whether the prescription surge caused higher hospitalization rates and healthcare utilization associated with the treatment’s negative effects. Marcou established that understanding the medication’s potential consequences can lower harm, maximize public health benefits, and ensure patient safety in GLP-1 RA post-use marketing. This can help identify population-level safety trends which then informs clinical guidelines, improves risk communication, supports prescribing practices, and contributes to evidence-based policy decisions.
 

Konstandina Eliadis ’26 
Nursing major 

Konstandina Eliadis ’26 fell in love the way nursing blends science and critical thinking with human connection. Having always admired the kindness, patient advocacy, and familial support nurses provide during vulnerable moments, Eliadis knew it was the perfect profession for her. During a cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) clinical, the student nurse noticed how ICU patients were surrounded by an overwhelming number of machines and monitors. This left her wondering how this might negatively affect the patient experience and make them feel like a medical diagnosis instead of a person. 

Eliadis’s thesis explored how nurses can maintain meaningful relationships with those dependent on life-sustaining technologies while preserving patient dignity regardless of communication ability. She prioritized finding practical solutions that keep patients “in view” while continuing to deliver high-acuity care. Eliadis suggested that using a “Get to Know Me” board would help care teams learn about patients’ personal histories, values, and preferences to help them see individuals over equipment. She also noted that encouraging families to share about their loved one and providing nurses with spaces to debrief challenging situations can help balance the demands of advanced life-saving machinery with compassionate, humanistic care.

These seniors are destined to flourish on their next adventures given the perspectives, practice, and persistence they demonstrated on the Hilltop. Eliadis hopes to work in a Boston hospital while advancing, developing, and expanding her expertise. Marcou will head to graduate school at Manchester Community College to begin a two-year nursing program, and Crowley plans to earn a graduate nursing degree before pursuing a career in oncology.

Their advice to those beginning a four-year healthcare journey at Saint Anselm?

“Talk to literally everyone because everyone is always friendly,” says Crowley. “They’ll say hi even if you’ve only met them once. They are always there to help you.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help or meet with your advisor as teachers and advisors are your best friends,” Marcou says.

“Even during the most challenging moments of your program, [remember] that the knowledge and skills you develop will allow you to care for others in meaningful ways,” shares Eliadis.