Student Project Scholarships

2025–2026 ADHCE Scholarship Recipients

Congratulations to Dr. Celia McIntosh and Lily Caglianone.

ADHCE Student Project Scholarships support students whose projects advance disability-inclusive health professions education and align with the ADHCE Core Competencies on Disability for Health Care Education.

$1,000

Student Project Scholarship Winners

Each 2025–2026 scholarship recipient was awarded $1,000 for their winning project submission.

2025–2026 Scholarship Recipient

Dr. Celia McIntosh

DNP, RN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, SCRN, CCRN, CEN, CNRN

St. John Fisher University · Rochester, New York

Dr. McIntosh is a doctorally prepared Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner. Her graduate and DNP education, extensive practice experience, and efforts to combat human trafficking reflect a commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and respect for the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities.

Scholarship Project

AmplifIDD: Elevating Awareness and Response for Trafficked Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

Background

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are among the most vulnerable and overlooked populations impacted by human trafficking. Communication barriers, dependence on caregivers, and limited self-advocacy opportunities can further increase risk.

Project Goal

AmplifIDD is a student-led, interprofessional collaborative educational project designed to raise awareness, build competency, and prepare frontline providers to recognize and respond to human trafficking involving individuals with developmental disabilities.

Objectives

The project will develop a training toolkit that includes a 30–60 minute educational presentation, reference guide, and tip sheet. It will also pilot one to two AmplifIDD educational workshops or guest lectures for health professions students and community health care providers.

Potential collaborators include nurses, social workers, faith-based communities, anti-trafficking coalitions, nonprofit organizations, and others working with people with developmental disabilities.

Alignment with ADHCE Core Competencies

  • Competency 1: Contextual and Conceptual Framework of Disability — explores how structural and systemic inequities can increase trafficking risk within the disability community.
  • Competency 5: Clinical Assessment and Intervention — equips learners with practical tools for recognizing and intervening in potential trafficking situations.

Lily Caglianone
recipient photo

2025–2026 Scholarship Recipient

Lily Caglianone

Master of Science in Clinical Research

Rush Medical College · Expected Graduation May 2026
Quality Assurance & Regulatory Manager, University of Illinois Chicago

Ms. Caglianone is a scientifically trained professional with more than seven years of experience in clinical research and health care communication. Her background includes neuroscience, clinical research, relationship building, education on complex topics, and operational improvement.

Scholarship Project

Examining Biased or Ambiguous Clinical Documentation and Diagnostic Delay in Women with Bipolar Disorder

Project Focus

This project seeks to apply natural language processing (NLP) to clinical notes from the Epic electronic health record to identify biased or ambiguous documentation in the year preceding a breast cancer diagnosis among women with Bipolar Disorder.

Objective

The project will test whether exposure to biased or ambiguous language is associated with diagnostic delay, defined in the proposal as more than 60 days from first symptom documentation to diagnosis.

Long-Term Goal

The long-term goal is to inform tools and education that can reduce bias and improve diagnostic equity.

Alignment with ADHCE Core Competencies

  • Competency 1: Contextual and Conceptual Framework of Disability — examines how discrimination and structural inequities shape care for women with Bipolar Disorder.
  • Competency 2: Professionalism and Patient-Centered Care — examines tone, stigma, and respect in clinical communication surrounding breast cancer care.
  • Competency 3: Legal Obligations and Responsibilities — considers whether documentation reflects appropriate accommodations or perpetuates bias.
  • Competency 4: Teams and Systems-Based Practice — examines whether multidisciplinary care is collaborative and patient-centered.
  • Competency 5: Clinical Assessment — evaluates whether documentation accurately reflects patient symptoms and needs without distortion from psychiatric labels.
  • Competency 6: Clinical Care Over the Lifespan — highlights the importance of timely screening and diagnosis across the lifespan for women with psychiatric disabilities.

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Contacts

General Inquiries:  adhce.org@gmail.com
Membership Dues / Donations:  Andrew Symons


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About the Alliance

The Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education, Inc. (ADHCE), is a '501(c)(3) Public Charity' organization of healthcare educators and professionals who are working to integrate disability-related content and experiences into healthcare education and training programs.

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