By Payton Tholstrup
Photos courtesy of Ali Wisniewski, PhD, Stormont Vail Health Clinical Research Program Manager
In 2020, Stormont Vail Health and Kansas State University entered an Academic Affiliation Agreement that laid the groundwork for a growing partnership in education and research.
The agreement supports several programs, including K-State Physician Assistant (PA) Program, the Simulation Training Lab for the College of Health and Human Sciences, and other collaborative activities. The agreement also helped pave the way for a deeper research partnership between the two institutions.
In 2023, the partnership expanded when Stormont Vail opened its Manhattan Campus on the northeast corner of K-State’s campus. Around the same time, the organizations announced a formal Medical Research Affiliation. Because of their shared interest in scientific advancement and medical innovation, the collaboration was the perfect fit.
Development of this partnership was led by Dr. Carl Ade, Associate Professor and Director of the Clinical Integrated Physiology Lab at K-State, and Mary Martell, Vice President of Strategy and Regional Development at Stormont Vail.
Dr. Ade also established K-State’s Clinical Research Coordination Center under the Office of Research Development. There, K-State faculty and Stormont Vail staff can submit requests and propose research projects.
The partnership operates as an extension of Stormont Vail’s Clinical Research Center, which was established in 2004 and directed by Carmen Burns. The center currently conducts more than 100 clinical trials across many different healthcare areas.
“The partnership also allows for engagement in education, extension, and outreach efforts that mutually benefit K-State and Stormont Vail. At Stormont Vail’s Manhattan Campus, there is a research space dedicated by the C. Clyde and Midge Jones Family, where investigators can meet with participants to run their studies in a medical environment with the same amenities as an exam room” said Ali Wisniewski, PhD, Stormont Vail Health Clinical Research Program Manager.
Wisniewski added that the partnership helps get discoveries out of the lab and into real healthcare settings. Physicians, nurses, and other clinicians can take part in cutting-edge research that directly impacts patient care.
“This clinical research leads to new treatments and therapies and better care for our local and regional patient population. These outcomes don’t come from some lab far away,” said Wisniewski. “They come from academic and medical research in our community. Additionally, participants contributing to these new developments include K-State students and patient volunteers from Stormont Vail.”
When speaking of the partnership’s success, Wisniewski mentioned the PA Program. “72 Stormont Vail Physicians and advanced practice providers serve as preceptors for K-State PA students. One-third of PA student rotations are provided by Stormont Vail and over the last two years, 5 K-State PA graduates are now employed by Stormont Vail.”
The collaboration also provides K-State students with applied learning experience. Over the last two years, 43 undergraduates and 13 graduate students have been involved in K-State research at Stormont Vail. Three of these students completed their theses with data they collected at Stormont Vail.
Patient volunteers also play a meaningful role. By participating in studies that may one day influence their own care, they contribute to medical advancements in a direct and personal way.
“Even if a new treatment is years from FDA approval, knowing they contributed to data leading to these new developments is a powerful and generous act.”
