About Us

Rachel is a senior at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst majoring in Psychology with a Neuroscience concentration and working towards earning a certificate in Creative Writing. When she’s not studying or working, she’s usually writing music, volunteering within her community, or hunting for a good book to read. She aspires to become a physician-writer. 

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"After taking my first Narrative Medicine class, I was hooked on the idea that the two things I am most passionate about, medicine and creative writing, could be integrated into a field where I can feel most at home. I was motivated to initiate a project that focused on the intersection between the humanities and medicine, and am thrilled to collaborate with and meet other like-minded individuals to bring this idea to life. I know that weaving medicine and the arts together will only strengthen my desire to connect with patients and work towards my goal of being a physician."

 Kristen is a rising senior at the University of Maryland, College Park majoring in Neurobiology and Physiology. She loves her current job as a Dermatology Medical Assistant where she scribes and assists during surgical procedures. In her free time she is an amateur guitarist and watercolor artist. She loves connecting with new people and serving in her campus and church ministries as she pursues a career as a physician.

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"I grew up with my head always stuck in a book, but as I developed a passion for medicine I came to realize that in STEM, the humanities are often overlooked. The Heart of Medicine is a perfect combination of my interests that allows me to pursue this unique intersection and share it with others."

Kashish is pursuing a major in Biomedical Physiology and a minor in Psychology at the Simon Fraser University. She is ardently passionate about neuropsychology and neurosurgery and plans to contribute to that field in the coming future. She holds education very dear to her heart and is currently making herself more involved with student activism. She hopes to give back to the world that has given her so much!

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"I feel that by taking on this project I am in a position to highlight the underrepresented groups in medicine and promote the wellbeing of those marginalized folks that our healthcare system most often tends to ignore. I want to do my due diligence towards these groups while  also sharing the creative side of medicine with the world. I want to give people a different perspective towards health and medicine so they can enjoy it and love it as much as I do."

Desiree is a rising junior at UC Riverside majoring in Biochemistry with an emphasis in Medical Sciences. Desiree loves working with the Riverside and greater Inland Empire community and does so by mentoring high school students who are looking to pursue a career in medicine and spreading awareness about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome to women’s health organizations. She aspires to become a primary care/family medicine physician.

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"In my life there is a clear separation between the arts and science; science is strictly academic, where the arts is a form of expression where I can let my hair down and explore. Although it is nice at times to have a separation of academic work and leisure activity, the idea of exploring the intersectionality of both disciplines is quite exciting, and I’m beyond happy to have found an opportunity where I can further explore."

Rose is a graduate of Troy University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in music. She is currently doing a DIY post-baccalaureate at Cape Fear Community college to finish her prerequisites for medical school. Her own bariatric surgery has inspired her to pursue a career as a bariatric surgeon. When she is not studying or at work, Rose can be found cooking, baking, or singing. 

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"I joined this project because I am very passionate about both the arts and sciences. I want to use this opportunity to bridge the gap between doctors and the general public. Medicine and healthcare should be something we can all appreciate and understand." 

Elise recently graduated with her Master’s in Medical Physiology from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Elise is currently working on cardiac surgery research during her growth year while applying to medical school. She is passionate about mentoring other students and serves as a Peer Advisor for CWRU. She loves using social media for advocacy efforts, healthcare education, and outreach. In her free-time she enjoys taking dance classes, reading books, and going on adventures with friends.

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"As a non-traditional pre-medical student, I am thrilled to be able to combine my love of the humanities and arts with medicine, and to share our efforts at The Heart of Medicine with other students and trainees around the world. So many people think that science and art exist in separate worlds, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Medicine is an art in and of itself, and beyond that so many students, trainees, and physicians are incredibly passionate about the humanities. I hope to use this online magazine to inspire other students to further understand, embrace, and harness their passions for medical humanities."

Gabrielle is a junior at Seton Hall University, majoring in Biology and minoring in African American Studies. Gabrielle has a passion about relaying information that she has either learned from others or she has learned on her own, and has hobbies that allows her to pass on anything she deems valuable, including tutoring, and college workshops.

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 "I joined this project because I felt like this was the perfect place where my love of history and medicine collides. The Heart of Medicine is giving me, and so many other pre-medical students, a place to start creating change in the field that we love. We are able to shed light to medical injustices and how we and many others can be a part of the change, as well as the medical glories and champions that we revere."

Elissa is a junior at Duke University pursuing a Neuroscience major on the premedical track. She has always been passionate about collecting and telling stories of human experience, through the lens of journalist, researcher, and home health aide. In her free time, she loves traveling, cooking with friends, and finding new books to read. As an aspiring physician, she is drawn to helping patients and families through difficult life transitions.

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 "I have been searching for an outlet to merge my interests in English, medicine, humanities, and storytelling, and I feel that I have found that in The Heart of Medicine community. Here is a group of people that understands the value of integrating art into medical contexts as both healing and leading to a better understanding of the people behind the illnesses. As someone who has worked in hospice, storytelling has been critical for me to carry on my client’s legacy but also come to terms with my own experience. I believe in a humanities-informed paradigm as it relates to improving holistic patient-centered care."

 Srilayah is a freshman student currently in the process of obtaining a Clinical Medical Assistant certification, and plans to major in Psychology. In addition to her medical career ambitions, she has a passion for writing and is interested in filmmaking and producing music. On days off, she is spending time with loved ones or binging supernatural, true crime and mystery shows.

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 "I joined this project to explore the medical field and connect with fellow pre-meds who share my similar passions for the arts and sciences. By using these disciplines in tandem, I aim to be a stronger advocate for mental health and other health issues that are important to me. I’m also seizing this opportunity to gain further insight on my future career in healthcare. "

Ambika is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology. During her gap years, she works as the trial manager of an FDA-approved phase 2 COVID-19 clinical trial near Chicago, IL. In her free time, she volunteers with hospice patients and as a sexual assault hotline advocate. As a future physician, she is passionate about creating more opportunities for women in STEM and hopes to make science more accessible to the public. 

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 "Being a part of The Heart of Medicine provides a unique opportunity for me to present my passion for writing and science to a broader audience. The path to becoming a physician is notoriously stressful, but written expression offers an outlet like no other. I want to share my perspectives in hopes of inspiring and encouraging other premed students. "

 Paula is a rising Junior double-majoring in Art History and Natural & Applied Sciences at Florida International University. Ever since she was little, she has had a passion for learning, particularly History and Archeology. Furthermore, as an artist, she developed a love of the human figure, and her interest in anatomy soon turned into a passion for the sciences. Her aim in life is to pursue the idea of the Renaissance Man, and be able to explore her varying interests while finding unexpected connections between them, such as the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci. By closing the bridge between the Sciences and the Humanities, Paula hopes to show the world that who we are is not defined by just one thing, but by bringing all of our interests together and using them to improve humanity and society.

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"As an Art History and Natural & Applied Sciences double major, I have had many people give me a look of confusion when they hear what my majors are. I grew up having a passion for history, where I learned all about these men and women who were not defined by just one field of expertise, but instead found ways to combine them and use this to improve society. Scientists were also artists. The greatest contributions to humanity were made when people looked beyond their fields and found links between all the interests the human mind could have, and that is the same message I look to convey through this project."

Jaclene is a graduate from University of California, Irvine with a B.S in Biological Sciences. While passionate for medicine and science, she also is greatly interested in the arts, particularly performing arts as she has spent most of her life dancing. She spends her free time helping teach children with special needs dance choreography and shadowing doctors. She hopes to explore the connection between art and medicine on her journey to becoming a physician. 

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 "Medicine can be viewed through various lenses, with the most popular of course being factual and evidence based. However, I believe that looking at medicine through the lens of the arts offers up a world of instrumental opportunities, outlooks, and discoveries that have to be explored by curious minds. "

Steph is a graduate from Rowan University with a BS in Biological Sciences, a minor in French, and concentrations in Honors and Pre-Med Studies. She recently completed a 7-month teaching program in France, where she gave a variety of presentations to high school students about health, social and lab sciences, technology and all things related to food and American culture. During her free time, she loves making music, cooking, and studying new languages/cultures. She is passionate about mentorship, education, community service, and global health and plans to incorporate these topics into her career as a physician someday.

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"One quote that has always moved me as a pre-med/musician is, 'Medicine heals the body, music heals the soul.' I believe that the arts and humanities go hand-in-hand with medicine, which can help us understand and connect with patients and healthcare workers on a different level and allow us to provide the best care possible. I am very excited to bring light and solidarity to different experiences in healthcare and hope to educate and inspire others through this project.  "

Baani is a junior at the University of California, Merced studying biological sciences with an emphasis in human biology. She enjoys reading, traveling, and watching documentaries. Baani loves connecting with others through compelling stories and all forms of writing. As she works towards becoming a physician, she is passionate about exploring the connection between medicine and the humanities.

 

"As someone who has always loved both the sciences and humanities, I felt that The Heart of Medicine embodies my passions and merges my interests into a tangible project that can be shared with others. I strongly believe that storytelling is one of the most powerful and effective ways to connect with a wider audience. This online magazine is an amazing way to explore the medical humanities and delve into the nuances and intricacies of medicine."