Contributors

Rutha Adhanom is a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew College of Medicine in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the University of Maryland (UMD), College Park, with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, specializing in Neurobiology and Physiology. She also earned a Global Public Health certificate in the College Park Scholars Program at UMD. Rutha is an aspiring dermatologist who is passionate about autoimmune dermatology, skin of color, and immune dysfunction and its effects on the skin. Specifically, she is interested in dermatological diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Rutha is dedicated to addressing health disparities through advocacy, biomedical research, and community service. Her goal is to improve outcomes in skin of color and address the disparities that hinder access to care, such as socioeconomic status and low health literacy. Her current research interests include pediatric dermatology, cutaneous lupus, non-scarring/scarring alopecia, and skin of color.

Sanam Ahadi is an Orange County native who grew up in the city of Anaheim, California with her parents. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. Her academic and career goals have primarily focused on addiction medicine and dismantling the stigma surrounding substance abuse. Through early experiences working in rehabilitation facilities and witnessing the impact of drug addiction, Ahadi became inspired to work with this patient population. Working as a medical scribe in the ER during the COVID-19 pandemic only further exposed her to the severity of the opioid epidemic. Her undergraduate research focused heavily on addiction biology at UC Irvine School of Medicine, which deepened her understanding of the biological markers contributing to adolescent drug dependence.  As a medical student at Charles R. Drew College of Medicine, Ahadi’s passions have fueled her profound fascination with learning medicine at the deepest level while concurrently shedding light on the pervasive health disparities. She is currently the Chair of Community Outreach for the American Muslim Medical Student Association and the lead director for the Student-Run Free Clinic Mental Health division in South Los Angeles.

Ngozi V. Alia is a Prince George’s County native who grew up in the Washington Metropolitan area with her parents and brothers. She graduated from Frostburg State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a concentration in African American studies. As a health contributor, Ngozi has written articles centered on improving the health outcomes of African Americans and their contributions to the health field. As a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science—College of Medicine, Alia is passionate about the intersections between public health, the arts, media, and health edutainment initiatives in underserved communities. She plans to become a health producer, double board-certified internist, and psychiatrist. Alia firmly and actively believes in the World Health Organization’s definition of health, “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Ferdinand Anokwuru is a first-generation immigrant, and a first-generation college graduate. He attended a military boarding school in Nigeria for high school before moving to the United States of America. He then attended Baltimore City Community College, where he earned his associate degree. While there, he served in various leadership positions, including; being Appointment by the Governor of Maryland to serve as the student trustee for a year. He eventually transferred to a Morgan State University, where he graduated Summa Cum laude in Biology. After witnessing the health disparities and inaccessibility to good health care for individuals from poor backgrounds, he decided to enter the medical field to become a force for change. He became a Certified Pharmacy Technician and a Medication History Technician to experience outpatient pharmacies (CVS pharmacy and Walmart pharmacy) and Inpatient pharmacies (Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Northwest Hospital Randallstown, and University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center) and understand the relationships between hospitals and pharmacies. He also wanted to understand the various roles of medical personnel in inpatient care. He shadowed Physicians, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, and various other medical personnel and was present during rounds where the medical personnel discuss the treatment procedure and current states of patients. Ferdinand understands that Medicine is about people—their feelings, struggles, and concerns. Humans are entitled to compassionate and understanding doctors. People deserve doctors who are constantly questioning and insatiably curious about new medical developments. They deserve someone who enjoys the challenging task of problem-solving and developing unique solutions for them, and he aspires to be that doctor.

Kevin A. Artiga is a South Los Angeles native. He earned his Associate of Arts in General Science at Santa Monica College. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science with an emphasis in Neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego. Artiga completed the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Pre-Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. His upbringing in South Los Angeles shaped Artiga’s desire to commit his efforts to research education and engagement with underserved communities. Artiga is intensely passionate about community engagement, serving at free health clinics as a patient navigator and conducting clinical research to address health disparities. As a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science—College of Medicine, Artiga is determined to engage with his fellow South Los Angelenos with a focus on community involvement and research. Previous experiences have driven him to break cultural boundaries and create a Spanish guideline for students interested in learning Spanish medical terminology. Artiga is establishing the inaugural American Association of Neurological Surgeon’s Student Chapter at CDU and the Neurological Surgery Student Interest Group, serving as the President for both organizations. Artiga also plans to work with underrepresented community college students interested in medicine and serve as a mentor and resource in navigating the undergraduate pre-medical path.

Esinam Attipoe is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles, California. Born and raised in South Mississippi, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Jackson State University and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Her research background focuses on the genetic basis of hypertensive kidney disease and addressing healthcare disparities in underserved populations. Esinam is an active member of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and serves on the Executive Board of the Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation (GPSF), where she works to increase representation in medicine. She has a strong interest in cardiology and anesthesiology but remains open to wherever her medical journey leads her.

Dr. Judi Aubel, Ph.D., is in adult education (MA), health education (MPH) and anthropology & education (PhD).  She has worked for many years in community development programs mainly in Africa but also in Latin America, Asia and The Pacific.  Her long-standing concern has been the gap between cultural context, roles and values of communities and development programs.  She is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Grandmother Project (GMP) – Change through Culture.  GMP is a US non-profit organization (501c3) and a Senegalese NGO. She lives between Rome and West Africa where GMP has a small office and team. Judi’s work has focused on both research and development of culturally-grounded and community-driven programs on health, education and child protection. Her work is conceptually grounded in community psychology, community development, anthropology and adult education.  As a social scientist-practitioner, she has developed programs that: build on community assets; promote intergenerational communication; actively involve elders; and that strengthen community leadership to build social cohesion and social capital. Judi identified grandmothers as an abundant and underutilized resource for programs supporting women and children and she and her team have developed an intergenerational and grandmother-inclusive methodology that contributes to community-driven social change.

Tien Austin, M.A., is a graduate from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa with a bachelors degree in both Psychology and Studio Art. Her research has examined the continued recovery from homelessness experienced by individuals once housed using Photovoice and content analysis. She has worked in the community as a Homeless Outreach Specialist as well as a Case Manager for people with severe mental illnesses in a transitional living facility.

Abdelkader Awad is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles and later worked as a Staff Research Associate at the University of California, San Francisco, studying the immune system’s role in fetal development and repair. Passionate about immigrant and refugee health, he is currently leading a mixed-methods research project on the medical and psychosocial needs of Palestinian children evacuated from Gaza to the U.S. for treatment. Aspiring to become an Emergency Medicine physician, he is dedicated to disaster medicine, global emergency response, and improving healthcare access for displaced populations. Born and raised in Rammun, Palestine, he hopes to continue serving his community in the future.

Tamaya Bailey, LMSW,  is a Behavioral Health Counselor at Prism Health North Texas, the largest local nonprofit HIV/AIDS service organization in north Texas providing HIV care, free STI and HIV testing, transgender care and more. She works with individuals living with HIV/AIDS and has additional interest in maternal health and postpartum depression. Tamaya earned a Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in mental health and substance abuse from the University of Texas at Arlington. Tamaya is also a proud U.S. Air Force veteran.

Ramy Barhouche – After 9 years of focusing my career and studies on international development and community empowerment through Non-Governmental Organizations, (NGO) I decided to shift my focus due to my disappointment in the harmful and colonial structure of the field. I am currently completing my PhD in Community Psychology with a focus on decoloniality and multiple narrative storytelling in the SouthWest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) regions, in the hope to highlight the diverse voices and cultures of the region and dismantle the perceptions of homogeneity, hegemony, and systemic oppression.

Dr. John P. Barile, Ph.D., is the Interim Director of the Social Science Research Institute and a professor of psychology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Jack earned his doctorate in community psychology from Georgia State University in 2010 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He currently manages an active research program pursuing questions concerning ecological determinants of health and quality of life. His research aims to improve the lives of historically marginalized communities, including those experiencing homelessness, multiple chronic conditions, and severe mental illness.

Naima Batson is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, College of Medicine. Naima recalls her earliest memory of healthcare being her grandfather’s battle with diabetes and glaucoma. As Naima grew older, she learned more about his condition and other diseases that disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities. Naima graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a minor in Chemistry. Naima founded CDU’s first Medical Spanish Club, empowering students with the resources to enhance language skills and cultural competency to serve diverse patient populations. Naima’s international interests led her to volunteer as a medical assistant helping to provide free vision and healthcare services to patients in Belize. Naima also worked at a Federally Qualified Health Center, where she enrolled uninsured families in Medicaid, Chip, and SNAP, helping her understand the barriers many families face in accessing healthcare. Naima’s long-term goal is to have a career in global healthcare by working with the US State Department. She aims to provide nonprofit medical screening clinics, enhance international health and research relations, and learn about effective international healthcare models to improve the affordability and accessibility of global systems. Naima serves her CDU community as Vice-President of the Women in Surgery interest group, and Vice-President of the Plastic Surgery- Sculpt Society. Naima’s commitment to international medicine and education emphasizes core values of excellent health and wellness for all in a world without health disparities.

Nicolas Hurtado Bautista, an Afro-Latino from Bogotá, Colombia, was raised in Anaheim, California, by his single mother and grandparents, who instilled in him the value of education. He graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a Biology major and Chicana & Chicano Studies minor, then completed a postbaccalaureate program at Charles R. Drew University to strengthen his medical school preparation. Now a medical student at CDU, he is dedicated to addressing health disparities, promoting cultural empathy, and increasing Afro-Latino representation in medicine. He aspires to uplift communities and inspire underrepresented students to pursue careers in medicine.

Ann Marie Beals, PhD, is a Two-Spirit Afro-Indigenous L’nu’k scholar, educator, and community organizer from Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. They are an Assistant Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, located on the traditional territories of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. Ann Marie is the founder of Wele’g Dwennimmen, an academic and community-based institute dedicated to Afro-Indigenous, Black, and Indigenous ways of being and knowing, with an emphasis on health and wellbeing. Their scholarship and community work center Afrikan and Indigenous knowledges, survivance, and relational governance. They emphasize care and protection of and for our Earth Mother, intergenerational responsibility, and the ways Black and Indigenous communities sustain cultural continuity while resisting colonial erasure. Through storytelling, land-based learning, and community collaboration, Ann Marie advances liberatory futures rooted in solidarity, self-determination, and collective wellbeing.

Rania Berkane is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, with a deep-rooted passion for serving underserved communities. Growing up in Algeria, Rania witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of limited healthcare access, including the tragic loss of her father and grandfather. After immigrating to the Unites States, she continued to see the impact of healthcare disparities in Santa Ana, California, where many in her community lacked basic medical resources. These formative experiences, combined with her own journey through motherhood, have deepened her commitment to advocate for vulnerable populations, particularly women of color and immigrants who face systemic barriers in healthcare. With a focus on addressing health disparities and a growing interest in maternal mental health, Rania aims to contribute to research and clinical efforts that support equitable and compassionate care for postpartum women, especially those from marginalized backgrounds.

Nyoko Brown is from Bakersfield, California where she was raised by her mother and grandmother. Brown is a medical student at Charle’s R. Drew University of Medicine and Science – College of Medicine committed to furthering CDU’s mission of making physicians community leaders of health. For undergraduate, she attended the University of California, Los Angeles. There, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Science with a minor in Public Health. Before starting medical school, Brown worked as an emergency medical technician and a medical assistant. She used the time with her patients to survey their experiences, and she was inspired by their stories and thus pursued research and community-oriented opportunities to make healthcare more equitable and accessible. With her yoga teacher certification, Brown teaches free classes at her medical college and in her community, eager to share the benefits of the practice with as many people as possible. Currently, Brown is Co-President of the CDU Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group and Vice president of the CDU Urology Interest Group, which are both aligned with her passion for reproductive health.

Joshua Brown, LCSW, serves as the Chief Programs Officer for the Fort Bend Women’s Center. In this role, he oversees numerous programs serving survivors of intimate partner violence. These programs include mental health services, permanent and rapid rehousing, emergency shelter, children’s services, life skills, and case management. He got his start in the intimate partner violence field developing FBWC’s innovative neurofeedback program. Josh has a background in psychology, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and is board certified in neurofeedback.

Dr. Kyrah Brown, Ph.D.  is an Assistant Professor of public health at the University of Texas at Arlington. At the intersection of public health and community psychology, her research focuses on addressing social and structural factors that shape racial inequities and disparities in women’s/maternal health across the life course. She has expertise in needs assessment and evaluation, community capacity building, and community based participatory research approaches. Dr. Brown was the recipient of the 2021 Reby Cary Faculty Excellence Award from the UT-Arlington African American Faculty and Staff Association and the 2019 SCRA Early Career Award.  Dr. Brown is a proud alumna of Spelman College and earned her MA and PhD in Community Psychology from Wichita State University.

Sydney Y. K. Brown, MA, BS, is a distinguished researcher, nonprofit leader, and medical student dedicated to advancing medical innovation and promoting equity in underserved communities. She is currently pursuing her medical degree at Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine, with an anticipated graduation date of 2027. In 2019, Sydney became the youngest scholar and first undergraduate admitted to the prestigious Satcher Health Leadership Institute: Community Voices at Morehouse School of Medicine. She graduated magna cum laude in neuroscience from Agnes Scott College and earned a master’s in leadership and public service from Lipscomb University. Sydney has been recognized for her commitment to research excellence, receiving the 2021 Synapse Award in Research Excellence and membership in the Nu Rho Psi Neuroscience Honor Society. A prominent voice in the Black in Neuro community, her research has been featured at leading conferences, including the Xavier University Health Disparities Research Conference, the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, and international forums in Costa Rica, Colombia, South Africa, and Ghana. Notable achievements include her participation in the 2024 Keck School of Medicine of USC and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Summer Oncology Fellowship and the NIH-supported Summer Oncology Research Fellowship.

Jalen Castille is a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University with a strong passion for serving underserved communities. Originally from Ontario, California, he earned his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Texas Southern University in 2017, where he was also a student-athlete on the football team. Before medical school, Jalen gained valuable clinical experience as an operating room assistant and medical scribe at UCLA, followed by a post-baccalaureate program in Chicago. His journey has been deeply rooted in addressing healthcare disparities, and he is committed to pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery, with a focus on pediatric orthopedics. Through his work, Jalen aims to bridge the gap in access to specialized care and make a lasting impact on the communities he serves.

Dr. Noé Rubén Chávez is a Community Psychologist, Assistant Professor and Program Director of Psychology in the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU). Dr. Chávez also co-teaches a Medicine & Society course in the medical school at CDU, and in this role mentors and supports medical students in learning about health justice and the intersection of the social/behavioral sciences in medicine. Additionally, Dr. Chávez serves as a mentor and co-leads the program evaluation and wellbeing sessions, for the CDU Health Career Opportunities Program (HCOP), that supports the educational and career development of underrepresented pre-Med and pre-PA program students. He is on the editorial boards of Journal of Latinx Psychology, American Journal of Community Psychology, Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, and Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community. His research focuses on community-based participatory action research with Latinx immigrant communities, to address mental health challenges with Latinx families and youth toward developing culturally and community responsive resources to foster wellbeing.

Dr. Dessie Clark, Ph.D.,  is the Research Collaboration Coordinator for the ADVANCE program at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Clark completed her PhD in Community Sustainability at Michigan State University. Dr. Clark’s research interests are broadly related to increasing quality of life for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. More specifically, Dr. Clark is interested in exploring the use of neurofeedback therapy in survivors who have experienced a traumatic brain injury.

Laila Cross is a second-year medical student and member of the inaugural class of Charles R. Drew University’s College of Medicine. She is motivated by her commitment to uplifting marginalized communities and addressing healthcare disparities, particularly those affecting pregnancy and early childhood. Cross graduated from Boston University’s Sargent College in 2020 with a BS in Human Physiology. While at the University, she helped foster community among underrepresented students by serving as the Public Relations Chair for the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students. Since beginning medical school, Cross has continued to take on leadership roles to promote diversity in medicine, notably as the Head of HBCU Outreach for CDU’s Student National Medical Association chapter and Co-Vice President of the Obstetrics & Gynecology Interest Group. Prior to entering medical school, Cross completed several experiences in community health for underserved populations within the metro-Boston area, including an undergraduate practicum experience at Boston’s largest day shelter, Saint Francis House, and research on perinatal health outcomes for women with substance use disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital. Additionally, she spent four years as a dedicated research assistant with Children’s Health Watch, contributing to a longitudinal study that informs public health policy designed to improve the health of urban pediatric populations. After graduation, she played a pivotal role in managing the Grow Clinic for Children, a program that provides specialized care to children facing growth challenges. More recently, she was selected from a national pool as a Primary Care Leadership Program Scholar for the summer of 2024. During this program, Cross led a team on a research project designed to demystify the Regional Center referral process for the families of developmentally delayed children with limited English proficiency at Clínica Romero, a federally qualified health center dedicated to promoting health in the Hispanic immigrant community. With a passion for primary care and a dedicated focus on reducing disparities in maternal-child health through innovative multidisciplinary interventions, Cross aspires to become a compassionate physician and is excited to make contributions to healthcare equity and enhance primary care practices.

Chidi S. Ezeofor is a Los Angeles native who spent his childhood with his parents and brother in the cities of Carson, California and Long Beach, California. In addition to being a dedicated learner throughout his academic career, what really curated his character was his drive to be fulfilled at whatever he did, be it sports, games, or skateboarding. He is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology. Chidi Ezeofor’s exposure to health professionals began when he was in high school. As a student at Millikan High, he had the chance to shadow a health professional for a senior project and he chose a pharmacist. During this opportunity, he was able to interact not only with pharmacists and technicians but also with a few doctors. It was through one of these interactions with a doctor that he was intrigued by the intensive work some doctors do with international communities to address global health inequities, some of which he had witnessed in person. Mr. Ezeofor has engaged in community outreach work including food drives and has volunteered in local community health clinics for underserved communities. As a medical student in the CDU MD Program, Ezeofor wishes to continue the work that inspired him to pursue medicine. With opportunities to engage with underserved populations through interest groups and campus activities, Ezeofor will continue to partake in opportunities to improve health equity during his medical education.

Sigry Ortiz Flores (she/her) was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the United States, where she pursued her passion for healthcare and advocacy. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Human Biology from the University of California, Merced, and later completed the Post-Baccalaureate Program at UC Irvine School of Medicine. She is currently a medical student at Charles R. Drew University, where she is committed to addressing healthcare disparities and serving underrepresented communities. Sigry’s dedication to global health led her to volunteer in the Philippines, where she collaborated with local healthcare providers and gained firsthand experience in rural, underserved medical settings. Her extensive background in research, mentorship, and community outreach reflects her commitment to improving health equity and medical education.

Josue Fraga is a medical student attending Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles. Growing up in the Coachella Valley, he saw the dire need for culturally competent medical providers in his community and decided to pursue a medical career. After attending the University of California-Los Angeles for a degree in Psychobiology B.S., he continued his passion to give back to underserved communities by continuing to volunteer at free medical clinics in Tijuana and became a mentor and tutor for students in grade K-12. After obtaining his medical degree, he aspires to become a primary care provider and advocate for Hispanic communities and LGBTQIA+ communities in South LA.

Selom Stacey Gbewonyo, a native of California’s San Fernando Valley, is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, committed to addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Riverside, where she cultivated her passion for mentorship, leadership, and advocacy through UC Riverside’s African Student Programs. Born into a rich Ghanaian heritage, Selom’s upbringing instilled in her a deep reverence for her cultural roots and a strong sense of responsibility as the eldest sibling. Her experiences as a Health Scholar provided hands-on clinical exposure, reinforcing her dedication to patient-centered care and strengthening her resolve to pursue medicine. At Charles R. Drew University, Selom serves as President of the CDU Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Parliamentarian of Region One of SNMA, and External Coordinator for the CDU OBGYN Interest Group. She actively creates spaces for aspiring Black physicians and advocates for improvements in medical education and healthcare access. Inspired by the resilience of her community and the contributions of Black medical professionals, Selom aspires to specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN), focusing on improving maternal health outcomes for Black women. Through her work, she is dedicated to advancing equitable care, empowering future generations, and ensuring all patients receive the dignity and quality of care they deserve.

Dr. Sheba George is professor in the Department of Preventive & Social Medicine, at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles. She is course director for the pre-clerkship longitudinal course Medicine & Society. She is director of the HRSA funded CDU Health Careers Opportunity program (HCOP) that serves educational and career development of underrepresented pre-Med and pre-PA program students. She is also director of the CDU Community Health Worker Academy that focuses on workforce development for community health workers in clinical settings. She has extensive expertise in using social scientific theories and qualitative/quantitative and community engaged methods in studying health inequities among minority, under-resourced populations. Her research has included the digital divide and its impact on meaningful use of health IT, research participation among vulnerable minority populations and the development of a cultural framework for health. She is also adjunct professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

Harneel Gill is a medical student at CDU. She immigrated to the U.S. at a young age and was raised in an underserved community, where she witnessed the challenges immigrants face in accessing healthcare. These experiences sparked her passion for medicine and healthcare equity. She began her education at Bakersfield Community College before transferring to UCLA, where she earned a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Health. At UCLA, she worked as a research assistant in the Parkinson Environmental Gut (PEG) Lab, studying the link between environmental exposures and Parkinson’s disease. This experience deepened her interest in research-driven policy change to protect vulnerable populations. She gravitated towards similar projects in medical school and hopes to continue similar work in her future career by serving the most vulnerable populations in our communities.

Eric Gomez is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA. Previously a resident of the Inland Empire, he achieved a Bachelor of Science in Biology at California State University, San Bernardino and a Master of Biomedical Sciences at California University of Science and Medicine. His passion for medicine stems from years of working in the Emergency Department as a medical scribe, where he witnessed both the struggles patient’s face when trying to access preventative healthcare and subsequent need to present to the Emergency Department. His goal is to create a system across networks where patients can be directly established with a primary care physician once they leave the Emergency Department. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Emergency Medicine Interest Group and previously served as the Wellness Chair for the Latino Medical Student Association at CDU.

Jeneane Hamideh is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Health and Sciences, currently pursuing her Doctor of Medicine degree (anticipated June 2027) with a deep commitment to advancing healthcare equity and serving underserved communities. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from UC Riverside and completed a postbaccalaureate program at UC Irvine School of Medicine. Her current research roles include investigating pancreatic disease mechanisms at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Pandol Lab, focusing on metabolic pathways and inflammatory responses, and contributing to innovations in minimally invasive urology techniques at the Innovation Center for Urologic Research & Education (iCURE). Jeneane’s previous research experiences include studies on social determinants of health and mental illness disparities and chronic kidney disease management at Stanford University. With a clear vision to bridge healthcare access gaps and promote social justice, Jeneane aims to leverage her clinical and research experiences to uplift vulnerable populations and inspire future healthcare leaders.

Justin M. Henry, MPH, MS,  is the Grants Manager for Program Compliance in the Ryan White Grants Management Division at Dallas County Health and Human Services. He has worked in strategic planning, management and performance improvement and evaluation since 2015. His experience includes leading, designing, and implementing innovative, performance-driven strategies to scale in addition to improving program evaluation, policy development, and budget formulation for national, federally funded grant programs.

Paola Hernandez is a medical student. Paola attended UCLA and earned her Bachelors of Science, Biology.  During her undergraduate studies, she volunteered for five years with Venice Family Clinic, a federally qualified health center (FQHC). Following post-graduation, she became a medical scribe and research coordinator for the FQHC clinic in East Los Angeles.

Dr. August Hoffman, Ph.D.,   is currently a Professor of Psychology at Metropolitan State University. He earned his B.A. from UC Santa Barbara, M.A. from Radford University in Clinical Psychology, and Ph.D. from UCLA in educational psychology. Dr. Hoffman is an avid Wisconsin Master Gardener and has recently participated in several community development projects (fruit tree orchards, community gardens, and green space programs) in Detroit, MI, Yalpemech, Guatemala, Fond du Lac and Red Lake Tribal Nation, MN. He is a 2020 APA Division 27 Society for Community Research Action (SCRA) Fellow and recipient of the 2020 Metropolitan State University President’s Civic Engagement Leadership Award.

Dr. Amber Kelly, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the Society for Community Research and Action, Division 27 of the American Psychological Association.  In addition, she is the founder of Community Engagement Collective (CEC), a community-based nonprofit that fosters human-centered connections through community-engaged events and research. She has worked on various projects focused on community outreach, nonprofit leadership, program evaluation, and community-based participatory research. Dr. Kelly is an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Cincinnati (UC) and National Louis University (NLU). At UC, she teaches Community Involvement, and at NLU, she teaches Strategies for Community Interventions, Intro to Human Services, Research Methods, and Dissertation Proposal Seminar. She aspires to help students understand the importance of understanding community assets and community voice in promoting inclusion. Dr. Kelly completed her doctoral studies in community psychology at National Louis University. She holds a Master of Public Service Management from DePaul University and a Master of Public Mental Health and Certificate in Health Disparities and Health Inequality from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed her undergraduate studies at Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Minor in Spanish.

Sherin Lajevardi was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is currently a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She graduated with a B.S. and M.S. degree in Molecular and Cellular Physiology from the University of California, Davis. Sherin has a strong interest in cardiology, specifically how women and minority populations are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease. In addition, Sherin is passionate about global and immigrant health, she is committed to addressing healthcare disparities in marginalized communities and aims to bridge these gaps as a future physician.

Ethan Lawrence grew up in Palm Bay, Florida, and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Sociology. Ethan’s academic and career pursuits have displayed a fervent commitment to public health and health advocacy in underserved communities. His volunteer experiences have reinforced the importance of understanding how one’s environment, resources, and upbringing can drastically impact an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health. As a medical school student, Ethan serves as Co-President of CDU COM Eye and Ear, Co-Lead of Social Services of CDU COM Student-Run Clinic, and a second-year Medical School Representative of CDU COM Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. He has also been committed to improving patient care through his translational research at Mass Eye and Ear, where he worked on AAV gene therapy for Usher Syndrome. Ethan’s passion for serving under-resourced communities and influencing health policy drives him to become a culturally and linguistically competent physician knowledgeable about the social determinants of health. Ethan aspires to use his skills in American Sign Language and experiences in deaf culture to impact deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in the future.

Rhonda K. Lewis, Ph.D., MPH. is a Professor and serves as the Graduate Coordinator, and the Community Psychology Ph.D. Coordinator in the Psychology department at Wichita State University. She received her Ph.D. in Developmental and Child Psychology from the University of Kansas and her Master of Public Health from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She is the Director of the Behavioral Community Research and Action Team (BCRAT), where she and her graduate students are engaged in community-based participatory research. She uses social ecological, culturally responsive, and strength-based approaches to build the capacity of community-based organizations. Her research is focused on adolescents and emerging adults, substance abuse prevention, mental health and social justice. Dr. Lewis was the recipient of the Outstanding Contributions for Mentorship in Racial Justice Award from the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA); she is a SCRA Fellow (Division 27 of APA), serves as an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Community Psychology, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Kevin Lopez is a medical student and passionate advocate for eye health equity, currently in his second year at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU). With a Bachelor of Science in Biology-Physiology from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from CDU. For nearly a decade, he contributed to groundbreaking diabetic retinopathy research at CDU, earning co-authorships in 2013 and 2021. Collaborating with Drs. Omolola Ogunyemi and Lauren P. Daskivich, Kevin helped advance innovative solutions to improve access to diabetic eye care screening for underserved communities across Los Angeles County. Driven by a deep commitment to expanding eye care access, particularly in underserved populations, Kevin envisions a future where CDU houses a thriving ophthalmology department and residency program. His future goal is to train and empower a new generation of culturally diverse ophthalmologists ready to meet the unique needs of South Los Angeles and beyond.

Briana Lopez is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU). Raised in Fresno, California, she was deeply influenced by her grandparents, Louis and Cecilia, whose support shaped her journey toward becoming a physician and health advocate. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from UCLA, followed by a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences and a Master of Public Health in Urban Health Disparities from CDU. She is honored to continue her medical education as part of CDU’s inaugural College of Medicine (COM) class. Her ultimate goal as a physician is to alleviate health disparities in Los Angeles County by fostering community partnerships, cultivating strong patient-centered relationships, and advocating for systemic healthcare reforms. She envisions herself as a physician-leader, working alongside fellow providers and community leaders to create a more equitable healthcare system—one where accessible, high-quality care is a fundamental right, not a privilege.

Stephania Luna is a Los Angeles native, raised in a multi-generational household with her grandmother, parents, and brother. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a focus on environmental science from Mount Saint Mary’s University – Los Angeles in 2019. As a first-generation college student, Stephania dedicated her volunteer work with various programs that focused on providing mentorship to other first-generation college students pursuing a career in healthcare, social justice, health advocacy, and providing services to underserved communities. She is currently a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science – College of Medicine and is interested in oncology and palliative care to guide patients and their loved ones through vulnerable times, including expanding access to palliative care to underserved patients. Stephania is committed to advocating for health equity for communities of color through policy and health disparities in cancer and palliative care research in the future.

Dr. Katie McAuliff, Ph.D., is a mixed methods community psychologist and health services researcher who completed her Ph.D. at DePaul University in 2017. Her dissertation focused on predictors of health-related quality of life among youth with spinal cord injury. Currently, her research focuses on social determinants of health and health-related quality of life, particularly among populations experiencing disabilities and chronic conditions. She is currently working at Brown University on a project focused on Meals on Wheels. Prior to working at Brown, she worked on a Medicaid redesign initiative in New York State. During graduate school, she worked on several evaluation projects, most of which focused on identifying barriers and improving access to care among underserved populations.

Eva McKinsey , is a PhD student in the Applied Social and Community Psychology program at North Carolina State University. She has done research on various topics, in diverse contexts, and using a multitude of research methods, including: participatory action research on housing and homelessness in Honolulu, Hawai’i ; secondary research on military personnel issues with the Congressional Research Service; and experimental studies within the criminal legal context. She has recently directed her research to better understanding tools, methods, and interventions that have potential in shifting us away from our reliance on retributive justice. Her current work focuses on the transformative potential of trauma-informed and healing-centered training. She is also a committed learner and advocate of transformative justice, anti-racism, and mutual aid philosophy – in sum, how to be in right relationship with one another. When she’s not in researcher-mode, Eva enjoys spending time outside, especially in the water, moving her body, and being in the company of loved ones.

Taylor Mitchell is a medical student at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine. Raised as an only child in the San Fernando Valley, Mitchell’s journey to medicine has been shaped by her dedication to both academics and athletics. She completed her undergraduate studies at Duke University, where she was a student-athlete on the Duke women’s soccer team. Mitchell double-majored in psychology and evolutionary anthropology, while also minoring in chemistry. Mitchell is deeply committed to advancing health equity, striving to create a world where it is not only an ideal but an expectation. She seeks to drive this change through both patient care and research. Over the past several years, she has contributed to several research projects focusing on health disparities, doctor-patient communication, shared decision-making, and medical school curricula. She is particularly passionate about advocating for underserved communities, with a focus on supporting Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) populations.

Sabrina Montgomery, an Inglewood native, is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, driven by a passion for improving health outcomes for underserved communities and women of color. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with double minors in African American Studies and Global Health. During her time at UCLA, Sabrina conducted research examining race/ethnicity and socio-economic status as predictors of postpartum depression and actively volunteered with programs designed to prepare inner-city high school students for higher education, recognizing education as a pathway to improved health outcomes. At Charles R. Drew, Sabrina’s commitment to addressing health inequities continues to flourish. She is the founder and Co-President of the OB/GYN Interest Group and actively collaborates on Maternal-Fetal Medicine research with Stanford University’s Dunlevie Center of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Her research explores disparities in stillbirth care, furthering her goal to address the high morbidity and mortality rates faced by Black women in the United States. Sabrina is also a proud member of the Student National Medical Association, where she continues to advocate for diversity and equity in healthcare. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Sabrina is deeply connected to her community and heritage. She aspires to serve as an Obstetrician-Gynecologist to prolong the lives of women in underserved communities, grounded in her belief that the health of a society begins with the health of its women.

Alan T. Nguyen is a Los Angeles native who grew up in Canoga Park, California. He is a child of Vietnamese immigrants and the first in his family to pursue medicine. He is a California State University, Fullerton graduate, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science with a concentration in cellular and molecular biology and a minor in chemistry. While attending Fullerton, Nguyen was accepted to the Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program funded by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine to conduct stem cell research at Stanford University. Through the research completed at Stanford, Nguyen co-authored several publications related to pancreatic adenocarcinoma, wound healing, and abdominal adhesions. After his time in research, Nguyen volunteered at a food bank in Canoga Park and began working at Vida Mobile Clinic. At Vida, he found his work with uninsured patients to be immensely fulfilling. This experience led him to make a life-long commitment to continue working with underserved patients in medicine. As a medical student at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science—College of Medicine, Nguyen is passionate about providing care to under-resourced communities. He aims to use his research and clinical background expertise to provide high-quality care to patients with complex medical histories. Ultimately, Nguyen plans to pursue a career in surgery for underserved communities.

Dr. Patricia (Pat) O’Connor, Ph.D., is a  Professor and the Lorraine Walker Distinguish Chair in Psychology at Russell Sage College in Troy/Albany, NY. She was a director of their graduate psychology programs for almost 25 years and currently is the Chair of the Psychology Department. Graduates of the M.A. in Counseling and Community Psychology program can be licensed as mental health counselors in New York State. As part of Dr. O’Connor’s career, she has emphasized building and ensuring quality in master’s level education in psychology. In 1989 she helped organize the first national conference on master’s standards and was involved in developing accreditation standards in 1995. Further, Dr. O’Connor serves as the Executive Director of the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) since 2003, which was recently awarded CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) recognition. Research focuses on conducting program evaluations, working with local, state-based, and national agencies and not-for-profit organizations or groups. Dr. O’Connor encourages the development of an evaluation mentality, a process of incorporating evaluation designs and implementations from the onset of intervention planning to ensure a  regular assessment of whether a program or intervention is needed, implemented as planned, produced the expected outcome, and budgeted appropriately.

Matthias Ojo was born and raised in Nigeria before immigrating to the United States. He is currently a second-year medical student at Charles R, Drew University of Medicine and Science. He graduated with a B.S. in biology and an M.S. degree in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Quality Management and Patients Safety. Matthias is committed to eliminating healthcare disparities by advocating for equitable access to quality medical care and increasing health literacy. He is passionate about preventative medicine and seeks to advance research and clinical initiatives that promote early intervention and long-term wellness for chronic illnesses.

Vanessa Peña-Garcia grew up in Highland Park, California, as a first-generation Mexican American and proud daughter of immigrant parents. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from California State University, Northridge. During her undergraduate education, Peña-Garcia researched the effects of inflammatory markers on the maternal gut microbiome, where she received the award for best oral presentation at her institution’s honor society research symposium. In 2018, Peña-Garcia joined AltaMed Institute for Health Equity as a Medical Education Specialist, developing the AltaMed Scholars Summer Program for underrepresented medical students. As a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Peña-Garcia was the co-president for her school’s Latino Medical Student Association, vice president for CDU’s Student Run Health Center, and secretary for the CDU OBGYN Specialty Interest Group. She is involved in various research projects exploring topics such as trauma, medical education, and medical student attrition rates. In 2024, Peña-Garcia was a National Medical Fellowships Primary Care Leadership Program Scholar at Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero in Los Angeles, conducting quality improvement research on the Los Angeles Maternal Mental Health Access program. She is currently a National Medical Fellowships Health Equity Leadership Program scholar. Peña-Garcia aims to eliminate health disparities by combining her passion for medical education with providing quality care to historically disinvested communities as a future women’s health physician.

Claudy Jean Pierre, BSPH, is a professional health planner for the Dallas County Health and Human Services Ryan White Planning Council. He is pursuing his Master’s degree in public health at the University of Texas at Arlington and has experience working in women’s health and HIV/AIDS prevention. He is also engaged in community-based work related to women’s health in Grand-Goave, Haiti.

Dr. Anna Pruitt, Ph.D.,   is faculty affiliate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and a research associate with the Research Corporation of the University of Hawai’i. Using participatory and intersectional approaches, her research examines the effects of extreme poverty on individuals and communities. Her applied research on homelessness and food insecurity has been used to promote community wellbeing and resilience and to encourage equitable access to resources and voice in decision-making processes for traditionally marginalized communities.

Vishal Rao is a Bay Area native who grew up in the city of San Jose, California with his mother, father, and older sister. He is a graduate of UC Davis, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. From community engagements both locally and overseas, his desire to advocate and serve underserved communities specifically has grown. He has volunteered with such communities in Northern California by conducting blood pressure screening events for people experiencing homelessness, assisting with clinics at local Gurdwaras, and traveling to remote villages in Costa Rica to help provide medical relief.  While an undergraduate student, Rao took his interest and passion for strength training to the MyoMatrix Lab at UC Davis, where he conducted research to observe the effects that chronic kidney disease has on muscle fibers. As a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science – College of Medicine, Rao is curious to build upon his research experiences to learn about the pathophysiology of different diseases and conditions. He currently serves as the Co-President of the Surgery and Radiology Interest Groups at CDU to stimulate interest in other medical students and explore specialties within the fields of surgery and radiology.

Madilynn Reynoso is a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Raised in San Diego, California, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University in 2021. Growing up without health insurance and limited access to healthcare, she was inspired to pursue a career as a physician to provide care for individuals facing similar barriers to care. Her passion for humanitarian medicine developed through her experience in free clinics domestically and internationally, including in Mexico and Cambodia. Madilynn was awarded a full-tuition scholarship from the National Health Service Corps for her commitment to providing primary care in underserved communities. Madilynn aspires to complete a dual residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry. She plans to work as a physician for the Indian Health Service on reservations across the United States and hopes to work internationally with global medicine organizations such as Doctors Without Borders in the future.

Dr. Tonya Roberson, Ph.D.  is the Director of Community Engagement, Program Development and Academic Support at Governors State University in the College of Health and Human Services and the CEO/Founder of Helping Communities Help Themselves. Dr. Roberson has vast knowledge in biomedical research, culturally tailoring initiatives, community engagement and practice, survey design, extensive research recruitment, independent consulting, and evaluation. This experience is backed by twenty- five years of clinical nutrition/food service systems management experience which was acquired in large academic medical centers, healthcare organizations and community-based settings. She has a particular expertise in methods to address health inequalities, health promotion theories, and models to assess the holistic health of African Americans in the urban centers. Dr. Roberson is well connected and trusted in the Chicagoland communities and many other  large US cities and is committed to giving generously of her time and talents through her community organizing efforts and outreach work to educate, empower and inspire individual be their own advocate for their health.

Martha Romero is a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science- College of Medicine. Born and raised in Santa Ana, California in a working-class immigrant family, she became the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a Biology B.S. with a minor in Chicano Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA, Martha established a mentorship linkage between her hometown and UCLA’s ALMA Science Academy focusing on reducing educational disparities in underserved communities. Before medical school, Martha continued serving as a leader in the Madison Park Neighborhood Association’s educational pipeline programs and working as a bilingual medical assistant and manager at Clinica Medica Guerrero.  As a medical student, she serves as president of the Family Medicine Interest Group and secretary of the CDU Latino Medical Student Association chapter. She was selected to participate in the National Medical Fellowship’s Primary Care Leadership Program, where she partnered with AltaMed to conduct a community engagement research project. Her work focused on identifying best practices for engaging underserved communities and exploring strategies for community-based organizations to effectively address social determinants of health to reduce healthcare disparities. Martha is dedicated to becoming a compassionate and culturally competent physician, driven by her commitment to improving the health and well-being of her community.

Dr. Jacqueline Samuel, Ph.D., is the Program Director of the Master of Public Administration and Assistant Professor at National Louis University (NLU).  Jacqueline is actually returning to NLU as she earned her MA in Public Policy and Ph.D. in Community Psychology.  Previously Jacqueline served as the Project Manager for the Housing Authority of Cook County, South Suburban Safe and Thriving Communities Program to address youth violence in 3 suburban townships. She also facilitated and developed quality of life programs for 10 years in the South Chicago Area.  She has served on the Health and Healing committee/ Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Commission for a Safer Chicago, The Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Kitchen Cabinet Commercial Development Advisory, Advocate Trinity Hospital Community Health Council, Community Advisory Review Council for the Institute for Translational Medicine (CARC) and the Illinois ACE’s Response Collaborative.  She was also a Co-Investigator for Community Academic Collaboration to Prevent Violence in Chicago Research for Lurie Children’s Hospital Strengthening Chicago’s Youth. Recent awards include National Louis University REACH Award, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Courage Award, and the Chicago Police Department CAPS Award for the 4th District area.  Jackie was born and raised in Chicago. She has a love for the arts and has performed in numerous plays and films based in Chicago.

Jerrise Smith  is a senior public health student at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a proud U.S. Air Force veteran with eight years of exemplary service. Jerrise’ s interest and experience span maternal and infant health, food security, posttraumatic stress disorder in low-income communities, and drug and alcohol use among veterans with dishonorable discharge.

Dr. Deidra Somerville, Ph.D., has worked for more than 25 years as an organizer, counselor, advocate, and administrator. Trained as a clinician and macro practitioner, she brings a unique lens and skills set to clients, organizations, and communities. She began her work as a clinician in school settings, youth-focused residential treatment centers and drug treatment settings. Her initial clinical work led to an examination of, and interest in the connections between individual treatment and systems change. She facilitates discussions on this topic, as explored in her workshop titled, “The Master’s Tools Will Not Dismantle the Master’s House: Organizations As Tools for Community Empowerment”, presented in 2013. Her dissertation work, examining the strategies and networks of Black maternal activists in Chicago, has given her insight into the challenges, opportunities, and possibilities for communities to use disruptive practices while working with established systems to improve the quality of life in communities. Her work centers Black mothering, organizing, and the indigenous knowledge that is drawn upon to resist and persist in the face of structural oppression. She is trained in both clinical and liberatory based healing strategies and draws upon these approaches in her work as a community psychologist with clients and communities.

Fatimatou Saka is a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She was born and raised in Togo, West Africa. Her firsthand experience with limited healthcare access, both in her home country and within her community, inspired her to pursue a career in medicine with a focus on serving underserved populations. She earned her undergraduate degree in physiology with a minor in French from the University of Minnesota and later completed post-baccalaureate studies at California State University, East Bay. Fatimatou’s commitment to community service is demonstrated through her volunteer work at Los Angeles County General Hospital and West Valley Food Pantry. As a medical student, she continues her outreach efforts and currently serves as the Community Health Screening Coordinator for the Dotun Ogunyemi MD Foundation (DOF). Passionate about health equity, Fatimatou aims to practice medicine in underserved communities and conduct research that advances healthcare outcomes for immigrant populations, minority groups, and low-income individuals.

Austin Hudson is from Carson, California, and currently a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science (CDU). Prior to beginning medical school, he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana followed by a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from CDU. His experiences as an educator, medical scribe, and a volunteer at Martin Luther King Community Hospital laid the foundation for his commitment to addressing health disparities. Austin aspires to become an orthopedic surgeon and ultimately create systemic change that leads to improved health outcomes for underserved communities.

Alexander Afewerki is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. He was born and raised in Eritrea, where his early life experiences inspired his desire to pursue a career in medicine focused on addressing healthcare disparities. He earned his bachelor’s degree in human biology and society from the University of California Los Angeles and also earned a master’s degree in applied Life sciences from Keck Graduate Institute. As a student, he is involved in community outreach programs working to provide education and mentorship to students from underserved backgrounds. Alexander is committed to returning to similar communities, where he aims to provide compassionate care, address healthcare disparities, and advocate for lasting systemic improvements in health outcomes.

David Heredia is a lifelong resident of the city of Bell Gardens, a small town in Southeast Los Angeles, and lives with his wife and two children. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. He has volunteered for over a decade in youth sports teams, city cleanups, and COVID clinics in under resourced neighborhoods, such as his hometown. Over the past six years he has also served as Chairperson of the City of Bell Gardens Traffic and Safety Commission to help promote health through safe outdoor physical activity. As a medical student, at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine, Heredia is considering a career in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. He is passionate about working in underserved neighborhoods with a focus on researching health disparities such as limited healthy food availability and outdoor play, and their effects on youth that lead to cycles of unhealthy habits.

Monika Watat is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. As a first-generation Cameroonian immigrant, she is driven by a desire to care for the communities that raised her. Growing up in Baltimore, she earned a B.S. in Public Health Studies from Johns Hopkins University, where she developed a passion for reproductive health and disparities-based research. She later obtained an MSPH with a focus in maternal, fetal, and perinatal health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, during which time she worked with local organizations supporting mothers of color with babies in the NICU. As a future physician, Monika aspires to integrate research, advocacy, and clinical care into her practice, and looks forward to deepening her commitment to reproductive health and healthcare equity.

 Makeen Yasar, B.S. (he/hm), is a change agent, poet, writer, and medical student attending Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA as part of their inaugural class. Yasar has roots in Los Angeles by way of his ancestors’ migration from Kansas City and St. Louis. Born in Pasadena and raised in Palmdale, CA, Yasar settled down in LA in his late teens and attended Loyola Marymount University (LMU) where he earned his B.S. in Health and Human Sciences with a minor in African American Studies. Yasar aims to become a Family Medicine doctor committed to revolutionary organizing, community-centered healing, and the transformation of health systems.

Amina Latif is a first-generation medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, driven by a deep commitment to serving vulnerable and underserved populations. Earning her Master of Biomedical Sciences from the same institution further fueled her passion for medicine, solidifying her dedication to bridging healthcare disparities. With a profound curiosity for the complexities of orthopedic surgery, she is determined to advance the field and improve surgical outcomes, ensuring that all patients—regardless of background—receive the highest quality of care. Through her work, she strives to make a lasting impact on both individual lives and the broader healthcare system.

Daphne Okoro is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA. Originally from Friendswood, Texas, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, with a minor in Spanish, from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Inspired by her personal experiences growing up with two brothers who have Autism, Daphne’s academic interests center on psychiatry, preventive medicine, and the role of nutrition in health and wellness. Her current research explores these themes in vulnerable and underserved populations.

Kaylah Denise Wade B.A, M.S, is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) and a member of the university’s inaugural MD class of 2027. She is from Bellflower, California and considers herself a Los Angeles County native. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley, before completing a master’s in biomedical sciences at CDU. Her research focuses on mental health disparities, particularly as they impact vulnerable populations.

Lule A. DeShields, a Los Angeles native is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. As the child of an immigrant, Lule A. DeShields was propelled to pursue community medicine after witnessing the barriers communities of color faced when accessing health care. In college, she became involved in a research initiative to combat LA homeless opioid addiction, where she learned about social determinants of health through interviewing social workers, community leaders, and the homeless from Skid Row. This experience influenced DeShields to continue researching different ways to incorporate community resources and implement programming into care for the medically underserved. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science with a concentration in physiology and metabolism from UC Berkeley in 2019, with the intention of having a more holistic understanding of how nutrition plays a role in a patient’s overall health. While at UC Berkeley, DeShields served as the regional director of the SCS Noonan Scholars. In this leadership role, she held on-campus events and mentored other undergraduates. She was also a Berkeley Biology Scholar, which allowed her to connect with students who also came from marginalized communities. DeShields is also one of eight recipients of the 2023 LA Care Safety Net Scholarship. Currently, DeShields is conducting research on health disparities in pediatric patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease with the Stanford Department of Pediatrics. She is a member of the Student National Medical Association and Internal Medicine Interest Groups. She is also on the executive board of CDU’s first student-run free clinic, where she works on Community Outreach. In the future, she aspires to address health disparities in culturally competent care, health literacy, and nutrition through advocacy and community collaboration.

Chrystal Kumar, a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science—College of Medicine (CDU), is committed to improving healthcare access for underserved communities and nurturing the next generation of physician leaders. Her passion for addressing systemic barriers in healthcare is exemplified by her participation in the National Medical Fellowships Primary Care Leadership Program, where she worked with AltaMed’s Government Affairs team to identify strategies for California to increase the number of International Medical Graduates and tackle physician shortages. Additionally, she is a mentor in the Health Careers Opportunity Program at CDU, directly impacting mentees by guiding them through the medical school application process, as part of her broader vision to diversify and strengthen the medical profession. Ms. Kumar has also founded and serves as the Co-President of both the Women in Medicine and the Pediatrics Interest Groups at CDU. Elected by her peers as Vice President of the CDU College of Medicine Class of 2027, Ms. Kumar’s leadership is recognized and valued within her academic community.

Amon Rodgers, MD, MPH, MBA, is a family medicine physician and an assistant professor at Charles R. Drew University (CDU) of Medicine and Science. He serves as the founding co-director for the university’s school of medicine’s “Medicine and Society” curriculum, a course designed to introduce medical students to topics around health equity, community partnership, and leadership. He also serves as principal investigator and medical director for the university’s Mobile Health Outreach Program, which focuses on providing primary care and public health services directly to communities disproportionately affected by health inequities throughout Los Angeles County. Dr. Rodgers received his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and completed his Family Medicine residency at Kaiser Permanente in Fontana. He also completed a fellowship in minority health equity at Harvard School of Public Health where he received his MPH, as well as a fellowship in health equity and leadership at Yale School of Management where he received his MBA.  His professional interests include mobile health service delivery, leadership development, optimizing healthcare delivery for underserved communities, understanding the relationship between community development and one’s health, and addressing health system strategic decision making through a health equity framework.

Mubarak Sanni was born in Ilesa, Nigeria, and moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, at the age of four with his family. He completed his undergraduate studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, majoring in Neuroscience & Behavior and Science in Society. Sanni contributed to community health research, co-authoring a paper on the impact of gentrification in Harlem on aging African Americans. He also co-led a mental health activism group promoting global health awareness. Sanni worked as a healthcare consultant and later joined Weill Cornell Medicine’s geriatrics and palliative care unit, conducting clinical research on chronic pain in older adults. As a medical student at Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, Sanni is passionate about health advocacy for minority populations locally and globally. Growing up in Bridgeport, he has firsthand knowledge of inequities like limited healthcare access, food insecurity, and violence. He aspires to become a culturally competent physician addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities. Sanni is involved with the Student National Medical Association and serves as co-president of the American Muslim Medical Student Association. He is also on the board of CDU’s first free clinic, focusing on mental health and addiction services.

Martin Vazquez, a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine, has a commitment and appreciation for diversity, volunteering, and mentoring. In 2017, Mr. Vazquez graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a BA in Chicana and Chicano Studies and BS in Biology. While an undergraduate, he served as the programming director for the Latino Student Health Project, where he helped plan health fair events both in Los Angeles County and across the border in Tecate, Mexico. After graduation, he completed an informal post-baccalaureate program through UCLA and UCSD Extension while working at the Venice Family Clinic, a Federally Qualified Health Center. He also earned a Master of Science in Medical Sciences at Western University of Health Sciences. His academic and career pursuits have displayed a fervent commitment to health advocacy in underserved communities. As a medical school student, he has volunteered at several clinics for underserved populations and giving back to the unhoused population in downtown Los Angeles. Being part of the inaugural class Vazquez helped establish both the Latino Medical Student Association and the Family Medicine Interest Group. Currently, he serves as the Medical Student Representative on the Board of Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC). In this role, he will be able to advocate and represent the diverse medical student population that encompasses California Vazquez is dedicated to creating a pathway for future medical students. He serves as a mentor for various programs which aim at providing mentorship for underrepresented youth in Southern California who are interested in a career in healthcare.

Darrin S. Ward is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science—College of Medicine, currently on the path to realizing his lifelong dream of becoming a physician. Hailing from his hometown of Compton, California, Darrin holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside. Post-graduation, he pursued a postbaccalaureate certificate and later earned a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences from CDU. Darrin’s motivation to pursue a career in medicine was deeply rooted in a personal experience—witnessing his mother go into hypoglycemic shock. The paramedics’ timely intervention saved her life, and from that day forward, his mother became his first medical mentor, teaching him how to administer insulin by practicing on oranges in their backyard using a glucose meter. Darrin envisions practicing medicine in his hometown of Compton, where his journey began. His goal is to contribute to the well-being of the community that shaped him and to address healthcare disparities by providing accessible and compassionate medical care to all. Through his dedication, Darrin strives to be a positive force, promoting health equity and empowering individuals to seek medical attention without fear of judgment. At CDU Darrin is an active member of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and serves as community Liaison. Darrin is also Vice President of the orthopedic student interest group. Darrin continues to sit as executive board member of the organization “The Coalition of Black Men Physicians”

Denise Willoughby grew up in Los Angeles, California, and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology. Her passion for medicine started at a young age, inspired by watching her father, a dedicated orthopedic surgeon, treat and advocate for his patients in the underserved community. Before entering medical school, Denise gained pivotal insights into surgical care under the mentorship of Dr. Jacqueline Lezine-Hanna as her preceptor. She is also dedicated to providing mentorship to the next generation with the hope of encouraging them to get involved in the medical field by sharing her experiences, opportunities, and resources. While speaking with the members of the Making Choices Mentoring Program, which she used to be a member in when she was younger, she directly saw the impact she could have on empowering young African American females to strive toward success and pursue their career goals. As a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew University, Denise is determined to use her knowledge and resources to increase the representation of minorities in medicine and decrease health disparities in her community. In the past she has served as the Secretary in the CDU Surgery Interest Group, where they strive to build relationships with residents and physicians in different specialties. She also served as MS1 Liaison in the CDU chapter of Student National Medical Association in hopes of fostering mentorships with the next MS1 class. She currently serves as Secretary in the CDU Women in Surgery Interest Group, Social Media Chair for the Eye and Ear Interest Group, and Vice President of the Yoga Interest Group.

Ciann L. Wilson, PhD, is a Black woman, scholar, consultant, and mother. Wilson is the 2023 Robbins-Olivier Award Winner for Excellence in Equity Research, as well as a Canada Research Chair in Community-Based Research, Ethics, and Wellbeing. Her interdisciplinary work focuses on the health and well-being of Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities, incorporating intersectional, anti-colonial, and anti-oppressive frameworks on topical issues that range from education to mental, as well as sexual and reproductive health and justice.

 Dr. Susan Wolfe, Ph.D. – is a Community Consultant at Susan Wolfe and Associates in Cedar Hill, TX. She conducts evaluations and needs assessments, supports coalition development, builds organizational capacity, and facilitates strategic planning with local community-based, state, and national organizations. She has over 35 years of professional experience. Her work is performed through an equity and decoloniality lens with a focus on systems level change. She regularly presents at national and international conferences and has published numerous peer-reviewed and other journal articles, book chapters, edited volumes, blogs and reports. Dr. Wolfe was the recipient of the US Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General’s Award for Excellence in Evaluation and three Exceptional Achievement Awards, the Society for Community Research and Action’s (SCRA) Distinguished Contributions to Community Psychology Practice, John Kalafat Practitioner Award, and the Don Klein Publication Award. Dr. Wolfe has a Master of Arts Degree in Ecological Psychology from Michigan State University and a PhD from The University of Texas at Dallas in Human Development and Communication Sciences.