Thomas Heston | Health Professions | Best Research Article Award

Thomas Heston | Health Professions | Best Research Article Award

Washington State University | United States

Dr. Thomas F. Heston, MD, is a distinguished physician, researcher, and academician with over 1,500 citations and an h-index of 22, reflecting his significant contributions to medical science and emerging technologies. He currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences at Washington State University, Spokane, and as Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle. Dr. Heston holds multiple advanced qualifications, including a Doctor of Medicine from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, a Fellowship in Nuclear Medicine from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and an MS in Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology from the University of Nicosia, Cyprus—highlighting his interdisciplinary expertise bridging medicine and digital innovation. His academic journey also includes residencies at the University of Washington and Oregon Health and Science University, an internship at Duke University, and undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Music from the University of the State of New York and the University of Washington, respectively. Board-certified in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Family Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, and Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Heston’s work spans nuclear imaging, clinical education, artificial intelligence, and healthcare innovation. His research integrates data-driven medical diagnostics with emerging technologies, advancing precision medicine and ethical AI in healthcare. Through his teaching, publications, and clinical expertise, Dr. Heston continues to inspire innovation and evidence-based excellence in modern medical practice.

Profile: Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Heston, T. F., & Khun, C. (2023). Prompt engineering in medical education. International Medical Education, 2(3), 198–205.

Heston, T. F., & Lewis, L. M. (1992). Gender bias in the evaluation and management of acute nontraumatic chest pain. Family Practice Research Journal, 12(4), 383–389.

Goldsmith, S. J., Parsons, W., Guiberteau, M. J., Stern, L. H., Lanzkowsky, L., & Heston, T. F., et al. (2010). SNM practice guideline for breast scintigraphy with breast-specific γ-cameras 1.0. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 38(4), 219–224.

Heston, T. F. (2017). A case study in blockchain health care innovation. International Journal of Current Research, 9(11), 60587–60588.

Heston, T. F. (2023). Safety of large language models in addressing depression. Cureus, 15(12), e50729.

Heston, T. F. (2011). Standardizing predictive values in diagnostic imaging research. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 33(2), 505–505.

Heston, T. F., & Sigg, D. M. (2005). Quantifying transient ischemic dilation using gated SPECT. Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 46(12), 1990–1996.

Heston, T. F., & Wahl, R. L. (2010). Molecular imaging in thyroid cancer. Cancer Imaging, 10(1), 1.

Hamide Nur ÇEVİK ÖZDEMİR | Nursing and Health Professions | Best Researcher Award

Hamide Nur ÇEVİK ÖZDEMİR | Nursing and Health Professions | Best Researcher Award

Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University | Turkey

Asst. Prof. Dr. Hamide Nur Çevik Özdemir is a dedicated academic and researcher in the field of Pediatric Nursing at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Turkey. With a career spanning both clinical practice and academia, she has made significant contributions to child health, pediatric oncology, and innovative nursing practices. She earned her PhD in Pediatric Nursing from Ege University, focusing on the development of a Care Burden Scale for families of children with cancer. Her academic journey also includes a master’s degree from Ataturk University and an Erasmus program at the Medical University of Silesia in Poland. Dr. Özdemir has held positions as research assistant and later rose to Assistant Professor, where she also serves as the Head of Department. Her teaching and research embrace pediatric diseases, social pediatrics, therapeutic play, qualitative research, and scale development. She is recognized internationally with numerous awards and continues to contribute to advancing pediatric healthcare.

Publication Profile

Orcid

Education

Dr. Hamide Nur Çevik Özdemir has a comprehensive educational background in nursing and pediatric health. She began her undergraduate studies at Ataturk University, Faculty of Health Sciences, with an Erasmus exchange program at the Medical University of Silesia in Poland. Her bachelor’s studies built a solid foundation in clinical nursing practices. She advanced her academic training with a Master of Science in Pediatric Nursing at Ataturk University Health Sciences Institute, completing a thesis on mothers’ traditional attitudes and practices in infant sleep. She later pursued her PhD in Pediatric Nursing at Ege University Health Sciences Institute, where she developed the “Care Burden Scale” for families of children with cancer, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Selmin Şenol. Her doctoral research integrated scale development and applied pediatric care, shaping her expertise in child health, family support, and evidence-based pediatric nursing practices.

Experience

Dr. Özdemir’s professional journey reflects a blend of academic and clinical expertise. She began her career as a trainee and ICU nurse at Erzincan Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital. Transitioning into academia, she worked as a research assistant at Afyon Kocatepe University and Ege University Faculty of Nursing. During her PhD, she gained international exposure as an observer at the University of Girona, Spain. she was appointed Assistant Professor at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, where she continues to teach and supervise research in pediatric nursing. She also serves as the Head of Department, leading academic and administrative initiatives. Her clinical experience, combined with teaching and research, equips her with a unique perspective on pediatric health, family-centered care, and innovative nursing practices. Her work bridges clinical relevance with academic rigor, making her a respected figure in pediatric nursing education and research.

Honors and Awards

Dr. Özdemir has earned numerous awards for her outstanding academic and research contributions. she received third prize for oral presentation at the  Aegean Pediatrics Congress. she secured first prize for oral presentation at the Congress on Current Approaches in Pediatric Rehabilitation in Denizli. Earlier in her career, she was recognized with third prize for best poster at the Congress on Healthy Growing Children third prize for oral presentation at the International İzmir Pleasurable Age Fair and Congress and both first and third prizes at the Ege Pediatrics and  Pediatric Nursing Congress  She was awarded third prize at the International Children’s Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care Congress  and recognized as part of the Young Researchers Forum at the World Nursing Conference in Canada. Her earliest achievement includes second prize for poster presentation at the Children’s Emergency Medicine Congress.

Research Focus

Dr. Özdemir’s research focus lies at the intersection of pediatric diseases, family care, and innovative health interventions. Her work emphasizes pediatric oncology and hematologic diseases, particularly exploring the psychosocial dimensions of childhood cancer and chronic illnesses. She has conducted extensive studies on immigrant children, children with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations under the scope of social pediatrics. She is especially interested in therapeutic play and music therapy, applying creative methods to reduce anxiety, pain, and stress in children undergoing medical procedures. Her expertise extends to qualitative research, psychometric scale development, and the integration of innovative health technologies, including virtual reality applications in pediatric care. She has led and collaborated on multiple funded research projects, such as assessing virtual reality and music in circumcision pain management and validating parental efficacy scales. Her interdisciplinary approach advances child-centered care and contributes to developing culturally relevant nursing tools and interventions.

Publications

  • Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Stress Scale for Nurses Providing End-of-Life Care for Children.

  • Caregiver and parent–child relationship during COVID‐19: The mediator role of anxiety and life satisfaction.

  • Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the parental competence scale for parents of children with autism.

  • Comparison of single- and dual-task gait parameters of children with cancer and typically developing children.

  • The relationship between psychological resilience, perceived stress, and anxiety levels of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic process.

  • The Effect Of Anxiety On Resilience Level In Mothers Of Babies Examined For Retinopathy Of Premature: A Regression Study.

Conclusion

In summary, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hamide Nur Çevik Özdemir has established herself as a passionate educator, skilled researcher, and proactive leader in pediatric nursing. Her academic journey, marked by a PhD from Ege University and international experiences, reflects her commitment to advancing child health and family-centered care. Through her teaching and department leadership at Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, she continues to shape the next generation of nursing professionals. Her numerous awards highlight her consistent excellence in research presentations, while her projects demonstrate a balance of innovation, clinical relevance, and psychosocial understanding. Dr. Özdemir’s focus on therapeutic play, music therapy, qualitative methods, and scale development underscores her ability to blend compassion with evidence-based practice. With an expanding body of international publications and collaborative projects, she continues to contribute meaningfully to pediatric nursing, bridging academic insights with practical solutions to improve the lives of children and families.