Third-year Honors student Sarah Dallas has been awarded the 2025 Valadi N. Venkatesan Research Award for her Honors Thesis! Further, Sarah has also submitted her thesis for publication in the Journal of Tropical Pediatrics.
Sarah’s thesis, entitled “Parents’ Expectations for the Management of Pediatric Diarrhea in the Clinical Setting: Perspectives of Parents and Physicians in Bangladesh,” is a culmination of her research with Melissa Watt. Her work examined the dynamic relationship between physicians and parents of children with pediatric diarrhea in rural Bangladesh. Sarah focused on their respective expectations regarding the use of antibiotics as “miracle drugs.”
Public Health Around the World
In the fall semester, Sarah Dallas presented her poster at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans, Louisiana. After finishing her thesis and submitting her paper for publication this spring, Sarah was awarded the Venkatesan Research Award by the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR). This award recognizes student researchers that examine significant contemporary issues. Sarah comments, “My research has been not only the defining aspect of my undergraduate experience, but it is also a meaningful step toward advancing compassionate, patient-centered care and preserving the efficacy of some of modern medicine’s finest achievements – antibiotics.”
Sarah’s interest in public health began when she participated in the Honors Integrated Minor in Health. “What I learned while studying in South Africa was foundational and showed me how public health research can have a positive impact on communities and improve people’s everyday lives,” she explains. She credits Honors Professor and Integrated Minor lead Melissa Watt for her inspiration, which Sarah carries with her into every endeavor.
Progress for Public Health
As affirmed by Sarah’s receival of the Venkatesan Award, her research is significant in the public health sphere. Sarah explains, “My paper has revealed a possible route for improving antibiotic stewardship by reevaluating patient-provider interactions and educating local stakeholders on the importance of accurate communication in the clinical setting. In making small behavioral interventions, we have the ability to make real differences in the public health landscape and improve the lives of thousands. Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing problems facing the world today and studies like these enable us to understand paths forward and make the most informed decisions possible.”
Sarah’s Advice for Fellow Researchers
Sarah hopes that her path from an honors course to a finished and awarded thesis can inspire other honors students. For those who are unsure of where to begin their journey, Sarah advises students to Google their professors’ research and talk with them after class. “I’ve not met a single professor at the U who isn’t willing to help a student. They can answer questions you have about their research or research in general, and I’m sure they would be willing to connect you to a colleague with similar interests.” Sarah implores students who are already in research to “lean on your team.” She continues, “The process definitely hasn’t been easy, but with the support of my mentor, Dr. Melissa Watt, and the encouragement of our team, I was able to bring hundreds of hours of hard work to fruition…. Research should never be done in a vacuum, and those around you, especially your mentor, can help guide you through.”
McKenna Hall | Journalism Intern, University of Utah Honors College