Student Research Assistants in Ethiopia

Alysha McFadden and Sandi Morrison, senior nursing majors, are working as student research assistants with nursing Professor Mary VanderWal.

They are working on a research study entitled "An Evaluation of Nutritional Supplementation on Health Outcomes for Children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."

The goal of this project is to positively impact the health and nutritional status of children in Ethiopia as well as evaluating the potential benefit of nutritional supplements. The proposal has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Calvin College and has received initial approval from the Ethiopian Government.

In July, they traveled to Ethiopia to start the process of attaining government approval, making connections, and working out details for the study. It is anticipated that the final approval will be received by January, and they will return to initiate the study and begin enrollment.