09/01/2026
Welcome to Day 2 of our Faculty/Student Collaborative Research Series! Today, we are excited to feature Dr. Jennie Lynn Florkey, Assistant Professor of Nursing, with student Kevin Vondruska, and Dr. Susan Banks, Associate Professor of Biology, with students Ava Benedict, KatieGrace Cassidy and Kemar Samuel.
In Dr. Florkey’s project titled "Experiencing Care from the Other Side: Role-Reversal Virtual Reality Simulation to Enhance Empathy Toward Hispanic Patients with Limited English Proficiency." Florkey and nursing student Kevin Vondruska are using virtual reality to help future nurses experience the challenges of language barriers firsthand, building empathy and preparing students to provide more compassionate, patient-centered care. (Funding provided by the Office of the Provost.)
In Dr. Banks’ project, "Behavioral analysis of synaptic associated Parkinson’s Disease-linked proteins in Drosophila melanogaster" Banks and students Ava Benedict, KatieGrace Cassidy and Kemar Samuel are using genetic models to investigate how Parkinson’s disease-associated proteins affect neuron function, generating new data while gaining hands-on experience in genetics, neuroscience and experimental research. (Funded by Hansen Science Scholars Fund and the Office of the Provost)
To view the full story, visit the link in our bio. https://flsouthern.edu/news/student-faculty-summer-scholarship-campaign-day-2
