Born in Romania, Adriana moved to the suburbs of Chicago as a teenager. She earned her bachelor’s in biology and bioinformatics at Loyola University Chicago. She then remained at Loyola to complete her Master of Science in Bioinformatics with a thesis for which she was awarded distinction. While at Loyola, she conducted research in the Putonti lab, focusing on the urobiome in relation to urinary tract infections and bacterial genomics. Her research findings have been featured at several national conferences. Post-graduation, she remained in the lab while taking on a part-time role teaching computer science at Loyola. She also worked as a radiology tech aide in the Emergency Department of Swedish Covenant Hospital. Adriana’s downtime is spent walking her dog and enjoying family time. Looking forward, Adriana is enthusiastic about IMED and wants to use her computational skills for medical innovation.

Deneb is a passionate contributor to healthcare innovation with roots in both Mexico and Chicago. Fueled by a deep curiosity about people, their well-being, and the impact of their structural environments, Deneb earned her degree in Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago. Outside the classroom, she founded a startup delivering affordable produce and educational materials to families in Chicago’s food-insecure neighborhoods. In parallel, Deneb conducted research on the post-cancer treatment experiences of Latine women, developing an educational mobile app to address their unique physical and mental health challenges.

Recently, she worked with pharmaceutical companies, running clinical trials for groundbreaking cancer immunotherapies and COVID vaccines. Deneb’s passion lies in leveraging technology and entrepreneurship to break down barriers to healthcare accessibility and will continue pursuing this as a physician.

Away from the hustle of medical school, you’ll find her rock climbing or diving into exciting cooking projects (admittedly, with a strong focus on the joy of eating).

Rhys was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit. Rhys attended Michigan State University (MSU) for his undergraduate degree in microbiology. Rhys also received a masters degree from the University of Notre Dame in Engineering, Science, Technology, & Entrepreneurship. While at MSU, he minored in entrepreneurship and innovation and worked on several innovative projects. One of those projects included the development of an educational video game about the immune system that made its way into over 25 middle/high schools in Michigan.

This project propelled Rhys’ interest in innovation/health/education and what drove his desire to receive a masters degree from Notre Dame. At Notre Dame, Rhys worked on additional innovative projects. One project, in collaboration with the Whirlpool Corporation, focused on developing accessible accessories for persons with disabilities. Rhys also developed a 3D-printed device to solve a recurring issue that he faced in the clinic. All of these experiences curated Rhys’ interest in medicine, technology, and innovation which ultimately led him here to the IMED program at UIC.

Kelly grew up in the Bay Area and was a biology major at Duke, where her research and senior thesis were focused on cancer pharmacology. She was also part of the Design Health program, designing and filing a patent for a medical device in interventional cardiology. After graduating, she moved to Chicago and spent her two gap years as a healthcare consultant at Accenture, helping hospitals and health insurance companies develop novel approaches to improve patient care. Kelly absolutely loved working with clients to tackle challenges on the business side of healthcare. She is determined to continue working at the intersections of medicine, innovation, and business to disrupt healthcare for the better, and is very excited about all of the opportunities IMED has to offer. When the books are closed, you can find her running on the lakefront, exploring Chicago’s restaurant scene (200+ and counting!), or listening to the latest episode of the ‘How I Built This’ podcast.

Katie was raised in Los Angeles, California and graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a B. S. in Bioengineering and a Minor in Asian American Studies. During her time there, she had many research interests at the intersection of medicine and signal processing where she worked in labs to analyze high frequency oscillations in EEGs to earlier predict pediatric seizures, improve surgical techniques in pediatric epilepsy surgery, and model and understand human decision making through artificial neural networks. Her undergraduate work culminated in a senior capstone project using novel motor imagery signals for a more efficient and user-friendly brain computer interface for those with ALS and other types of paralysis preventing classical forms of communication. Her background in engineering and interest in discovering novel techniques and technologies  for patients led her to pursue IMED and work with other similar-minded physician scientists.

Born in Poland and growing up in Palatine IL, Izabela attended Northwestern University where she earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and minored in Global Health Studies. At Northwestern, her research focused on thermal flow-sensing technologies for hydrocephalus shunt flow assessment and the development of a pediatric cannulation training simulator for use in Tanzania. After college, she worked as a Research Engineer at Briteseed, LLC, a startup for real-time detection of critical structures in laparoscopic and robotic surgery. She also worked as a Patient Care Technician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and as a Teaching Assistant for Pritzker School of Law’s Entrepreneurship Lab. Izabela hopes to use IMED as a vessel to work on other interdisciplinary teams and make healthcare innovations accessible as a future physician-innovator. During her free time, Izabela is passionate about weight-lifting and connecting with other first-generation college students like herself.

Jon Silberstein was born and raised in Highland Park, Illinois, and earned his B.S. in Bioengineering with a minor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, Jon worked on various early stage medical devices within the TheraNova Medical Device Incubator in San Francisco, before going on to help build the company Piccolo Medical. At Piccolo, Jon developed IP, prototyped devices, gained FDA 510(k) clearance, and ran the pilot clinical trials for the SmartPICC System. The SmartPICC measured and analyzed intravenous blood flow during bedside central catheter placement to improve placement accuracy. He also acted as a consulting engineer for Ananya Health, building a closed-loop cervical cryoablation system designed for point of care pre-cervical cancer treatment in low resource settings around the world. With his IMED and physician training, he intends to identify pressing clinical problems and translate his research into patient centered solutions.

Nathan grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) where he obtained his undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Chemistry in 2022. There he gained experience with the potential of software through internships and research and quickly developed an interest in how these concepts could be applied to the healthcare setting. Nathan is especially interested in the emerging role of artificial intelligence and machine learning and how these concepts can be safely and accurately used as a tool in medicine to improve the care that patients receive. Through IMED, he hopes to further learn how technology and engineering can be leveraged to make advancements in the field of medicine and make him a better physician innovator in the future. In his free time, Nathan enjoys playing basketball, cycling, watching shows, and spending time with friends.

Mia grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and attended the University of Minnesota where she majored in Biomedical Engineering with a specialized focus in Cell and Tissue Engineering. She explored the intersection of technology and medicine in her senior capstone project, collaborating on a team of engineers to develop a device for laparoscopic cholecystectomies. This experience ignited her enthusiasm for creating solutions that directly enhance patient care and surgical procedures. In addition to her academic pursuits, she pursued a minor in leadership. She spent time in Ireland, the UK, and Tanzania studying biomedical and mechanical engineering.

In Tanzania, she was part of a team that designed a system to deliver clean water to an isolated village, emphasizing the need for sustainability (which is set to be implemented in the upcoming year!). Upon graduation, she joined the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) program to accelerate the development of COVID-19 tests. The urgency of the pandemic underscored the importance of innovation and collaboration in advancing healthcare solutions. Most recently in RADx, she has been working to improve accessibility of OTC tests. She earned her Master’s in Medical Sciences, culminating in the honor to speak at the commencement ceremony. Mia is thrilled to be a part of the IMED and eager to contribute to the innovation of medical and surgical procedures. In her free time, you’ll find her attending live concerts, playing the violin, and exploring new cities.

Ryan Park was born in the US and grew up in the Chicagoland suburbs. He pursued a BS in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago with a concentration in cell and tissue engineering. As an undergraduate student, he was involved in biomedical engineering research at the In-Situ Nanomedicine Laboratory (ISNL) at UIC, where he assisted with several projects including 3D bioprinting and flame-spray pyrolysis nanoparticle synthesis.

Ryan’s academic experiences in bioengineering culminated in his senior thesis project, where he designed an ocular bulbar redness measurement device that could measure objective changes in relative eye redness to address the needs of ophthalmologists struggling to reliably use subjective ocular redness grading scales. Outside of UIC, he engaged in a four-year internship at WPA Law Firm, where he was trained and involved in US patent prosecution on behalf of clients such as SK Hynix and ETRI. Through this internship, he was also trained in the patent procurement process, allowing him to apply for and obtain three approved patents by 2023 for inventions including wireless electronic light fixtures and novel martial arts weapon mechanisms.

The combination of bioengineering research, bioengineering academics, and patent law have guided Ryan to pursue innovation in medicine. As an IMED student, Ryan hopes to continue innovating and learn more about how the needs of patients or physicians can be best identified in clinical settings to better guide innovation towards meeting those needs. In his free time, Ryan likes to practice Taekwondo, go on runs, hang out with friends and family, and play with his dog.

Rohith Erukulla was born and raised in Peoria, IL. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he graduated with a B.A. in Biomedical Engineering in 2022. His honors senior capstone project studied the growth of stem cells in different natural and synthetic biomaterials. Rohith then pursued a M.Sc. in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, which he graduated from in 2023. Rohith wrote a dissertation on the links between insulin resistance, white matter lesions in the brain, and cognitive deficits indicative of Alzheimer’s disease. Rohith also wrote a dissertation on human amphetamine models of paranoia. Through IMED, Rohith aims to learn more about medical technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Outside of school, Rohith enjoys weightlifting, running, reading, and travelling.

Arvind was born and raised in Madison, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he graduated in 2020 with a degree in Computer Engineering and minors in Biology and Chemistry. While completing his degree, he completed his Honors Capstone Project by collaborating to develop a method for in-situ verification image-based machine learning algorithms and his Senior Design Project in development of a responsive web interface for an updated high-performance computing cluster for the College of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He also worked as an Emergency Department scribe during that time. After graduation, he worked as a Software Design Engineer for 2.5 years following graduation at Torch Technologies, primarily in robotics with a focus on sensor fusion, environmental mapping and autonomous navigation, edge computing, and multi-vehicle distributed systems. He hopes to use his IMED experience to innovate within medicine to advance medicine and improve healthcare quality for patients and providers. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, TV Shows, and sports, going on walks, spending time with family, and travelling.

Yosman Dhar was born in India and grew up in England, Canada, and the United States, until recently settling in New York. She pursued a BE in Biomedical Engineering from Stony Brook University’s Honors College and a MS in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University. Yosman’s research experiences parallel the diversity of her childhood starting from her publications in hematology oncology to her work in single-cell diagnostics and early-stage drug development. Her interests transitioned towards medical devices after attending BMES Coulter College at Medtronic and participating in the Biodesign Internship at Stony Brook Medicine. As a result of the internship, Yosman submitted a patent for an arterial carbon dioxide monitoring device and won a university-wide pitch competition for surgical retractor adaptors. For her Master’s thesis, she expanded her work in medical devices to explore frugal technologies and innovations for resource-constrained settings. As a member of IMED, Yosman is excited to combine her past experiences and engineering background to develop patient and provider inspired innovations. Outside of school, Yosman enjoys weightlifting, gardening, and exploring Chicago.

Sonakshi was born and raised in Southeast Michigan. She graduated from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in 2021 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and a minor in Gender and Health. During her time as an undergraduate student, she was involved with socially-engaged medical innovation work, leading a team that created a modified walker to reduce fall risk in high-fall risk older adults. She also helped run a medical innovation incubator program that guided interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate students through the engineering design process using real clinical needs. In addition, Sonakshi conducted behavioral neuroscience research throughout her undergraduate career which culminated in a senior thesis on behaviorally and neuronally defining hunger states in d. Melanogaster. She hopes that her IMED education allows her to develop meaningful solutions to clinical needs in her future career. In her free time, Sonakshi enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and going to concerts.

Michaela grew up in Colorado and moved to Chicago to study Neuroscience and Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago. Michaela’s interest in research started during her second year while she was studying neuroscience in Paris. Throughout her undergraduate career, she conducted stem cell embryology research centered around neural development. She successfully developed a multi-plasmid system to specifically tag progenitor cells, culminating in the completion of her senior thesis. After graduating in 2020, she worked as an Undergraduate Admissions Counselor at UChicago for a year, then transitioned to being a medical assistant. Michaela has always loved working with kids and is very interested in development. Through IMED she is excited to expand her research skills further into the clinical realm of neurology or women’s health. In her free time, Michaela loves working out, traveling and painting.

Greg was born and raised in Poland. During his early career he trained as a paramedic, and throughout his research and conference proceedings, he attempted to impact the EMS public policy. For over a decade Greg worked as a software developer, DBA, and a network administrator. He served in a broad range of roles, including senior system architect, and Chief Technology Officer. He is passionate about incorporating Agile Methodologies beyond the realms of IT teams, improving collaboration and efficiency of diverse teams. Greg graduated from Aurora University, where he participated in in vitro research on compromised wound healing in Diabetes Mellitus patients. He sees innovation in medicine, possible thanks to advancements in technology, as an integral part of a modern physician’s career. He believes in twenty-first-century healthcare advancement being accessible and easy to use by regular patients and their families. Greg chosen UICOM and IMED to bring his transformative vision of boundless and modern healthcare into reality. In his free time Greg enjoys snowboarding, hacking the Linux kernel, and thinking about ways to simplify our daily lives with technology.

Haari grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to obtain an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in cell and tissue engineering. While in UIC, Haaricollaborated with physicians and software engineers from ImmersiveTouch to create virtual/augmented reality training programs for surgeons. Additionally, healso worked as a research assistant at the Craniofacial Center at UIC, where he performed research on 3D virtual reality programs to visualize and manipulate patient specific anatomy. These experiences, along with his degree in biomedical engineering, has driven Haari to pursue his passion for innovation in medicine. In his free time, Haari likes to play tennis, spend time with family, or find new restaurants to eat at.

Nikith Erukulla grew up in central Illinois and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) for his BS in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in cell and tissue engineering. During his undergraduate education he performed research at the University of Illinois Health’s Craniofacial Center in conjunction with ImmersiveTouch Inc. where he performed 3D virtual reality surgical simulation research. Furthermore, he did an internship with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where he worked on the creation of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for the drug labetalol in pregnant women.Finally, he also worked on the development of a dashboard tool to help visualize cancer data statistics at a large hospital systemin Illinois. All of these experienceshave solidified his desire to become a physician innovator. Through IMED he hopes to learn how to identify and solve clinical needs with the skillset that he possesses. In his free time, Nikith loves to play tennis, drive his car, and lift weights in the gym.

Kelly McConnell grew up in Los Altos Hills, CA. She attended Harvey Mudd College and earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. While at Mudd, she was awarded an Engman Fellowship in Dr. Elizabeth Orwin’s labfocusing on corneal tissue engineering. Inspired by the biomedical engineering work at Mudd, she pursued a Masterof Science in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Galway in Ireland. Her thesis work focused on manipulating the chemical and physical environment of tendon cells to promote cell growthand collagen production.She then worked in Dr. Paul George’s lab in the Neurology Department at Stanford University, investigating strategies to improve neurogenesis using stem cells, conductive materials, and electrical stimulation in conditions such as stroke and peripheral nerve damage. Outside of school, Kelly enjoys cooking, baking, running, soccer, pottery, and sewing.

Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Temple University in 2021. After her involvement in investigating the role of PD-1 in T-cell mediated and antibody mediated rejection of liver and kidney allograftsEinstein Hospital of Philadelphia, she became interested in lessening the shortage of donor organs. She interviewed physicians and worked closelywith biomedical engineering to achieve feasibility and effectivenessin herprospectiveinvention. Laura designed a heart probe that removes atherosclerotic plaque from ex-vivo donor hearts so they are viable for transplantation, and her invention wasselected as a finalist in the Innovative Idea Competition at Temple University. As an IMED student, Laura aspirestoremedy problems in medicine through innovation toachieve a higher quality of care for patients. In her free time, she enjoystraveling, spending time with family, and cooking.

I’m originally from Birmingham, England, in the UK. Iattended DePaul University in Chicago and graduated in 2018 with a degree in Health Sciences and a minor in English Literature. After graduation Iworked as a research technician in various laboratories around Chicago, including the Neurosurgery Department at Northwestern University and Memorial Hospital. As a tech, Iwas in a unique position in that he could work both in the laboratory and the operating room through mylab’s clinical trial. Our goal was to test the efficacy of a third-generation implantable ultrasound device, designed temporarily open the blood-brain barrier and facilitate the delivery of chemotherapy inpatients suffering from recurrent glioblastoma.This was an incredible experience for me in that I worked alongside incredibly talented physicians and scientists. I also saw firsthand how innovative new medical devices can push forward the practice of medicine. I also loved working in an interdisciplinary team of physicians, scientists, and engineers, all working on the same project and try to improve the lives of our patients. As a future physician I hope to engage in similarly impactful clinical research, pertaining to the testing of new medical devices can offer benefit to patients in need. Outside of medicine, I love cooking, running, playing the guitar, and I also work for a summer camp for children with disabilities.

Isabella Zorra was born in Wichita, Kansas and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She attended Parsons School of Design, studying fashion, architectural and urban design through the Interdisciplinary Design program. She continued her studies at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, focusing her research on sculpture and cordwaining, exploring materials and methods such as leather molding and plaster casting, creating innovative fabrics using latex and laser cutters. She has a keen interest in prototyping and fabrication, leading her to develop a sandal line and take on custom clients, specializing in footwear solutions for post surgical patients while completing her B.Arch in Architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology. After graduation, Isabella worked in real estate construction and development for Fifield Companies while simultaneously earning an M.Eng from IIT in Construction Engineering and Management. She has since been working in project management for companies in the energy sector includingIndianapolis Power & Light, Duke Energy and TC Energy. She is looking forward to collaborating on interdisciplinary teams at IMED and bringing her wide design and fabrication skill set to assist in finding innovative solutions to medical issues. In her free time Isabella also enjoys ballet, basketball, contemporary art, adventurous travel and her two cats.

Cadence grew up in Northern Californiabefore moving to Providence, Rhode Island to obtain an undergraduate degree inHealth & Human Biology and a Master’s degree in Biotechnology fromBrown University. After graduating, she worked as a cardiovascular research fellowfor 4 years, studying immune-mediated mechanisms of vascular remodeling. Shehas experience with CRISPR-Cas9 in developing novel murine genetic strainsas well as patent workdeveloping a surgical device for use in aortic aneurysm surgery. The combination of her translational research and her experience growing up with a disabled older sister inspired a perspective on advancing medicalinclusionand advocacythrough innovation, which she hopes to explore through the IMED program.Outside of school, Cadence enjoys photography, soccer, wrestling, and cooking.

Richard Chiu grew upin Gurnee, a north suburb of Chicago. He attended UIC for his undergraduate education, where he earned a double degreein Biological Sciences and Applied Statistics. During this time, Richard developed an interest in the applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence in medicine. Hewas involved in research of Hepatitis C andspearheaded a project developing a vaccine clinical trial recruitment methodology that incorporated machine learning to improve the feasibility and equity of vaccine trials. As an IMED student, Richard hopes to learn more about how technology can best address the clinical needs of patients and physicians.In his free time, Richard enjoys playing badminton, taking naps, and going on long walks on Chicago’s lakefront.

Malek Allababidi graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. Throughout his undergraduate career, he conducted research in cancer nanotechnology, where he synthesized iron oxide core silica nanoparticles for radiofrequency-triggered delivery of therapeutics in the treatment of cancer. He also led a team that designed a prototype medical device that would facilitate the insertion procedure for the Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube. After college, Malek engaged in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research at UIC, where he investigated the use of siRNA gradients in the spatial control of bone tissue regeneration. These experiences have reinforced his desire for a career centered on innovation. As an IMED student, Malek hopes to grow into a physician innovator who can address clinical needs through novel technological solutions, and consequently advance the healthcare field. In his free time, Malek enjoys playing chess, basketball, and biking Chicago’s Lakefront Trail.

Dionna Bidny was raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and attended UIC for her BS in biomedical engineering with a cell and tissue engineering concentration. During her time studying engineering, Dionna cultivated an interest in user-centered innovation, through projects including a multi-sensory fetal doppler accessible to Deaf parents, an improved bladder irrigation system, and a development of a therapeutic approach for musicians with Parkinson’s. Her interest in the interdisciplinary and her hobby of classical piano together motivated her to pursue a MMus in Musicology at the University of Glasgow during her gap year. For her Masters dissertation, Dionna investigated the cultural perception of disabled musicians in music performance, explored the gaps in accessible instrument design, and collaborated with an ensemble of disabled musicians to design a sonic visualization system to positively impact the live experience for both artist and audience. As a future performing arts medicine physician, Dionna looks forward to additional collaborative projects through IMED and beyond that explore the possibilities at the interdisciplinary, particularly with a focus on disability access and universal design. In addition to playing piano, Dionna enjoys reading books, rock climbing, pursuing various craft hobbies, and being the proud parent to numerous plants.

Klaudio Haxhillari grew up in Albany, NY. He attended Cornell University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2019. At Cornell, he conducted undergraduate honors research on the gut microbiome. Prior to entering medical school, Klaudio worked as a scribe at a family medicine practice and then at a Heme/Onc office. He also volunteered as an EMT throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During his early clinical experiences, Klaudio became interested in the ways in which innovation has changed medicine – from the evolution of prehospital equipment in EMS to new cancer therapies in Oncology. As a member of IMED and as a future physician innovator, Klaudio hopes to build upon the skills necessary to find novel solutions to evolving problems in medicine.

Sam Jiang was born in Beijing, China and grew up in Boston, MA. He received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Haverford College in Pennsylvania, where he created a real-time sign language-to-text translation device using computer vision and support vector machines for his thesis. After college, Sam worked as a full-stack software engineer at Fiserv, developing web applications and component libraries in ReactJS. Prior to starting medical school, he conducted research on non-invasive diagnostic techniques for isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant gliomas, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and hypoxic brain injury at the Center for Clinical Spectroscopy (CCS) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He held a wide range of responsibilities at CCS, where he developed data analysis pipelines in Python, conducted multivariate analyses in R, operated MRI scanners to acquire diagnostic and neuroprognostic imaging, and instructed the hospital’s MRI technicians on spectroscopy protocols. He also worked as an Emergency Medical Technician and was a Stop the Bleed instructor. Sam is excited to learn how he can combine his technical knowledge and love of medicine through the IMED program. In his free time, Sam loves to powerlift, learn new recipes to cook, and explore Chicago’s restaurant scene.

Davey grew up in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon. He attended the University of Waterloo and studied Biomedical sciences, where he completed his undergraduate thesis in synthetic biology. In addition, he spent his summers conducting translational research in homeobox gene expression at the University of Alberta. After college, he worked at Seiji’s Bridge, a startup company focused on improving the special education curriculum in public schools using multi-sensory toy devices. He is excited to continue his learning through the IMED program where he plans to foster his innovation skills to solve clinical problems. During his free time, he loves spending quality time with his Husky and mountaineering the Pacific Northwest.

Vivian was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated in 2019 from Stanford University as a first-generation college graduate with a B.S. in Human Biology and a concentration in Human Development, Global Health, and Design. As an undergraduate, Vivian explored her passions at the intersection of art and science which ultimately converged in an interest in healthcare design. Through the philosophy of human-centered design that she learned at Stanford, Vivian sought ways to marry the rigor of research and experimentation with the art of storytelling and empathy through healthcare design projects. Following graduation, she became the inaugural Medical Intelligence and Innovation Institute (MI3) Fellow at CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange County, CA. Vivian’s curiosity about medicine and interdisciplinary design continued to grow as she explored projects ranging from artificial intelligence and data science to digital health and medical devices. All the while, she gained incredible mentors, experiences, and insight into innovation (especially pediatric innovation) within CHOC and hospitals around the world. Through IMED and her medical education, Vivian hopes to apply herself in a space where the art and science of medicine, design, and innovation intersect to meet the needs and enrich the lives of people and patients. A few of her other interests include volleyball, photography, reading & writing, and traveling!

Mehul Patnam is a first-year medical student from Champaign, IL. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2021 with degrees in Biological Sciences and Psychology. During his undergraduate years, Mehul was heavily involved in Alzheimer’s disease research as a part of UIC’s Anatomy and Cell Biology department, along with several student organizations on campus. As a part of the IMED program at UIC, he hopes to identify areas for innovation in all areas of medical care, whether it be in the clinic or the operating room. In his free time, Mehul enjoys spending time with friends, catching up on sleep, and eating grapes.

Sitara grew up in Andover, MA and attended Tufts University. She graduated in 2020 with a B.S.in Biology and a minor in Computer Science. During her undergraduate years, she conducted research on alcoholic liver disease at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, as well as cardiovascular research at Tufts Medical Center. She took part in Tufts hackathons and attended computer science conferences, which fostered an interest in informatics and medical applications of artificial intelligence. After college, Sitara went on to work as a Marketing Analystat UBERDOC, a health technology startup company. In this position, she met physician innovators and mentors who inspired her to think about healthcare through a new lens. Sitara hopes to use her IMED education to identify clinical needs and work with interdisciplinary teams to develop solutions. In her free time, Sitara enjoys cooking, running, drawing, and spending time with her dog, Juneau.

Nolan was born and raised in the Western suburbs, a proud Batavia High School graduate almost two decades ago! During high school he was already training as a firefighter and EMT having always been interested in emergency care. Nolan went on to become a career firefighter/paramedic; he found that to be an innovator’s dream job. He describes responding to 911 calls as being called to solve unique problems in the moment. He says firefighters are the most innovative group of people out there, if you need a better method or a new tool to do something, ask a firefighter. Nolan went on to become a flight paramedic as he was being drawn more into medicine and science. He believes the key to solving problems is to intimately understand the system you’re working with. This philosophy applies to medicine and the human body. That notion motivated him to study molecular biology and bioinformatics at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. Nolan applied his education towards managing more complex physiology as an organ donation specialist. This role consisted of caring for donors in the ICU, coordinating procurement, and working with families undergoing great loss. He felt medicine was still calling him to keep learning. Nolan chose UICOM hoping that formal exposure to innovation medicine can hone his informal innovate spirit into a prepared physician innovator. Outside of studying he enjoys spending time with his partner and two children.

Neil Sundaram is a first-year medical student from Morton Grove, IL. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 2020 with a degree in Integrative Biology and a concentration in engineering. During his gap year, Neil worked for an analytics consulting firm prior to attending medical school. He hopes to integrate the data science skills from his prior experience into his medical career. In his free time, Neil enjoys bouldering and snowboarding depending on the season!

Elizabeth was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She attended The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering. During her time as an undergraduate student, she explored her interest in innovation through research in genetic noise and various projects. She hopes to use her passion for innovation to provide better care for future patients and improve health care for people with chronic illnesses. During her free time, she enjoys art (painting, card making, calligraphy), reading, and spending time in nature.

Jeremy Yuan grew up in Atlanta, GA and attended undergraduate college at the University of Chicago. There, he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and computer science with a specialization in human computer interaction. At UChicago, he conducted primarily mass spectrometry and data science research to help automate the research and development procedures. As a future physician and innovator, Jeremy hopes to connect people and medicine through technology with a focus on transparency, ease-of-use, and simplicity in his work. Jeremy’s non-academic interests include cars and baseball, and he enjoys playing tennis and billiards in his free time.

Sohil Amin was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was raised in Saint Charles, a western suburb of Chicago. He went to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and graduated in 2020, majoring in Bioengineering and minoring in Chemistry. While at UIUC, he conducted undergraduate research in a micro- and nanotechnology lab, looking to develop a graphene-based sensor to detect DNA at small resolutions. He also worked as data analytics intern at Carle Hospital in Urbana. Sohil is excited to join IMED with the aim to findsolutions for real-world clinical problems with a combined engineering and medical approach. In his free time, Sohil enjoys swimming, watching sports and catching up on the news.

Yusairah grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. She went on to graduate from Illinois Institute of Technology with a major in Biomedical Engineering. As part of her senior design project, she worked with Medline to design a female external catheter. After graduation, Yusairah worked as a research engineer at Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center where she conducted quality control tests on MRI scans. She is excited to bring these skills to IMED and further develop her interests in both medicine and innovation.

Rohan Bhattaram was born and raised in Kildeer, IL, a northwest suburb of Chicago.He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he graduated with a B.A.in General Psychology in 2019. His honors senior capstone project concerned the relationship between religiousness and stigma towards mental health counseling inthe South Asian community, especially among college-aged adults. Rohan then moved to London to pursue a M.Sc.in International Health Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, which he graduated from in 2020. Rohan has interned at Consilium Scientific, a non-profit health policy organization, where he conducted research for his dissertation, which was an appraisal of the methodological quality of solid tumor cancer trials. Rohan has also interned at IQVIA, working in cancer drug development consulting with clients such as Pfizer and Myovant. Through IMED, Rohan aims to expand his learning in bioengineering and physician innovation. He intends to bridge gaps in health equity through technological advancements and entrepreneurship endeavors. In his free time, Rohan likes to read Indian philosophy and bike around Chicago for the next best coffee spot.

Katie Buzenius lives in downtown Chicago with her husband and daughter. She is an owner of Midwest Blood, a company providing blood management services in the Chicagoland Area. She started working clinically as an autotransfusionist in surgery while obtaining her business degree. She joined multiple transfusion organizations to improve the quality of perioperative transfusions. Through these organizations, she helped develop national standards, perform perioperative assessments for healthcare facilities, and extend educational opportunities to clinical technicians. Within the private sector, she has advised transfusion tech companies as well as consulted for clinical teams. Providing patient care motivated her to continue her educational journey to become a doctor. She completed her Masters of Science in Medical Physiology in 2019 at the University of Illinois in Chicago and is now enrolled there as a medical student. With the help of IMED and her previous business experiences, Katie hopes to developand implement innovative solutions within transfusion medicine. When she is not studying, youwill find her traveling with her family in a small van named TIFF, looking for places to go rock climbing.

Chris was born and raised in Elmhurst, IL. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as an Evans Scholar where he studied Chemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology. Chris’ interest in technology began in his time as an undergraduate researcher in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, during which he developed a protocol for distinguishing real signals from spectral artifacts. Chris then took a hiatus from his research pursuits to learn about device quality as an intern at AbbVie Inc, gaining insights about the regulatory world and how medical devices and combination products are supported on a day-to-day basis. He later accepted a full-time position at AbbVie as a quality chemist. Chris is excited to build upon his previous experiences through the IMED program and contribute to the next generation of medical technology as a clinician. In his free time, Chris enjoys playing guitar.

After growing up in River Forest, IL, Alex attended Northwestern University where he earned a B.S.in Biomedical Engineering and minored in Global Health. During college, in addition to a summer research assistant position at UIC and R&D internships at Baxter Healthcare, Alex worked on multiple projects designing technological solutions for low-resource environments. After college, he gained valuable experience as the director of product development at a nascent medical device startup aiming to preemptively detect kidney injury in the ICU. Following that role, Alex then became the Grants and Operations Lead at Briteseed, LLC, a startup developing advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical technologies, where he managed federally funded research projects and oversaw much of the user-centered design process for the company’s surgical tools. Alex is excited to combine his interests in healthcare innovation and addressing healthcare disparities with his career as a physician.Outside of school, Alex is an avid baker and soccer player and loves spending time outdoors.

Victoria Marino was born and raised in San Diego, California. She transferred to Harvey Mudd from Palomar College, a community college in San Marcos, California and earned a B.S. in Engineering with a concentration in Spanish. Past research experience includes research at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (genetics lab), Cornell-Rockefeller-Sloan Kettering (neurobiological lab) and in HMC’s bioengineering department as part of the Engman Fellowship Program. Other project involvement includes work on projects for Intuitive Surgical and Nike Inc. She worked as a medical scribe in the Emergency Room and Family Practice. She enjoys spending time with family and all things athletic.

Faisal Masood was born in Pakistan but moved to Illinois at the age of four. He graduated in May 2020 from theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he attained his B.S. in bioengineering with a minor in chemistry. Throughout his time as an undergraduate, Faisal was passionate about using technology and his engineering background to lessen educational disparities in his community. Early on in his undergraduate career, he noticed that a local school lacked the necessary funds to provide complete skeletal models to their anatomy classes. He worked with a group of peers to develop a pipeline to convert MRI scans into 3D printed anatomy models. This group he co-founded also delivered lectures on engineering and hosted 3D printing workshops as a means to spark a love of learning in the local, rural community. Faisal was also heavily involved in tissue engineering researchand further exercised his love of teaching and education as a laboratory assistant for a cell and tissue engineering lab. A strong proponent of education and lessening educational disparities, Faisal is confident that IMED will provide him an additional platform to foster collaboration with like-minded individuals. He is excited to further develop his design and entrepreneurial skills. Apart from his studies, Faisal loves to play guitar, experiment withnew recipes, and spend time with his loved ones.

Sneh Patel was raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.A. in Chemistry. His senior capstone project was centered on an idea in memory research called future thinking. In his project, he analyzed how prediction outcomes affected memory. Sneh also is part of a research lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago that primarily focuses on pancreatic cancer. He is excited about joining IMED and learning the mindset of a physician focused on innovation. In his free time, Sneh enjoys playing basketball and listening to music.

Born and raised in Niles, a town on the outskirts of Chicago, Ryan moved to the East Coast to attend Boston College, where he majored in Biology and minored in Faith, Peace, and Justice. During his time at Boston College, Ryan was involved in preclinical research on cancer metabolism. Specifically, Ryan examined the effects of glucose and glutamine deprivation on the proliferation and metastasis of Glioblastoma Multiforme in mouse models. His responsibilities included intracerebral tumor implantation, drug/diet administration, and bioluminescence quantification, along with other data collection techniques. After graduation, Ryan transitioned to clinical research at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where he was the lead coordinator on a number of oncology-related clinical trials. Ryan’s spent most of his time coordinating an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Brigham’s Radiology and Urology Departments. The trial examined a novel drug delivery/diagnostic device, which is implanted locally into tumor lesions under MRI-guidance. As a member of IMED, Ryan hopes to continue working with interdisciplinary teams to find innovative solutions to real world problems. Apart from academia, Ryan enjoys hiking, traveling, and playing/watching soccer.

Chad Simon grew up in Buffalo Grove, a northwestern suburb of Chicago. After living in Israel for two years, he attended University of Maryland, where he graduated in 2020 with a degree in bioengineering. While at UMD, he was a member of the QUEST honors program, a co-curricular, three-year program consisting of engineering, business, and computer science students. In QUEST, he gained a variety of design and systems thinking skills through a number of projects, including consulting for a Maryland-based defense contractor. In addition to QUEST, he performed research in the Bio-inspired Advanced Manufacturing Lab, where he applied his love for 3D design and printing to develop a 3D cell sorting device. While in college, he worked with Stratasys and a Jerusalem-based hand surgeon to develop a 3D-printed hand model for surgical resident training. For his senior design project, he and his good friends partnered with a pediatrician at Children’s National to create a 3D-printed, adjustable cast design for infant clubfoot correction. Chad’s experiences throughout his education has led him to the IMED program, where he plans to hone his clinical need finding and innovation skills. In his free time, Chadloves to read, run, and watch movies.

Hesham graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and minors in Math and Science. During undergrad, Hesham used 3D CAD simulation software to research the dynamics of mechanical vibrations systems. Hesham, along with colleagues at CMU, published a patent for a novel Asymmetric Aeolian vibration damper used to reduce overhead transmission line damage in high winds. Hesham also conducted research in creating 3D anatomical models of alveolar sacs used in particle deposition and air flow computational fluid dynamic simulations to advance aerosol drug delivery efforts. In addition, Hesham was lead engineer for his Senior Design team tasked with prototyping a biomedical pill crusher flusher device used for patients receiving medication through enteral tubing. Aside from research, Hesham worked part-time as a writing consultant at the CMU Writing Center editing technical paper drafts and presentations. After graduation, Hesham worked as a mechanical engineer at Carl Zeiss in Novi, MI working on manufacturing quality assurance, GD&T CMM inspection plan programming, mathematical modeling, and 3D/2D CAD design of CMM fixture systems and probe tooling. Outside of work, Hesham created a workflow to convert 2D MRI medical images to 3D CAD solid models used in a 4-wall CAVE virtual reality laboratory in personalized medicine research at Eastern Michigan University. Prior to matriculation, Hesham worked at Carlisle Fluid Technologies as a lead mechanical engineer, and designed industrial-grade electric doser assemblies mounted on Kuka robots, used by Big Three Automotive for adhesive/sealant applications. Hesham is honored to be a part of IMED, where he hopes to use his prior industrial experience to make an impact in solving clinical problems through new product design, computational simulation, and innovative engineering solutions. Outside of work and school, Hesham encourages basketball workouts, camping, chess, and movies.

Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, Arthur moved to sunny southern California to attend Harvey Mudd College. Aside from premedical studies, he has developed a diverse technical skill set through elective courses, a tissue engineering research experience on corneal wound healing, and an industry-sponsored senior capstone project in medical device development. He then completed a master’s program in applied life sciences at the Keck Graduate Institute, where he helped lead a team-based project in medical diagnostics, and conducted clinical research on sepsis screening for his master’s thesis. These experiences have led him to believe that innovation can take many forms, and that non-technical solutions could be just as valuable as complex gadgets in improving patient care. Through the IMED program, he looks forward to learning from physicians actively involved in innovating healthcare, solidifying his particular area of interest, and working alongside motivated peers. Outside of school, Arthur loves bubble tea/boba, Asian food, casual hiking, racquet sports, playing piano/guitar, and growing in his faith. He also spends too much time watching YouTube videos and following Major League Baseball.

Melanie grew up in Vernon Hills, IL, a northwest suburb of Chicago. She attended Case Western Reserve University and graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. While at CWRU, Melanie conducted numerous clinical research projects in the Emergency Department of University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She also pursued tissue engineering research focused on using stem cells for bone tissue regeneration. Before joining the UICCOM Class of 2023, Melanie continued her undergraduate research focused on using RNA spatial patterning in high cell density constructs for therapeutic controlled gene expression. Additionally, she worked as an emergency department medical scribe and volunteered for a hospice and palliative care organization. As a member of the IMED program, Melanie is looking forward to using her engineering background to explore novel approaches to medicine. Outside of school, Melanie enjoys Zumba classes, spending time with family, and trying new restaurants in Chicago.

Eric Cooper graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. During his time in Minnesota, Eric performed research on deep brain stimulation technology within The Minnesota Neuromodulation Lab and interned with the Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center where he focused on design and fast prototyping of medical solutions including a novel microfracture device for improved cartilage repair. After graduation, Eric worked as a Research & Development engineer at Boston Scientific with a focus on peripheral vascular disease and interventional oncology. Here Eric was a part of an interdisciplinary group that performed clinical and market research to expand the company’s R&D portfolio and grow its product markets. Eric also spent time as an EMT within several EMS organizations. Now as a member of the IMED program, Eric looks to use his experiences in device innovation to bring together teams that can address unmet clinical needs and improve healthcare delivery. In his free time, Eric enjoys skiing, attending concerts, playing cello & guitar in his performing string duo, and exploring all the great local food spots.

After growing up in Massachusetts, Martine left the Bay State to get her electrical engineering degree from Virginia Tech. Curious to experience many different perspectives, she moved to four different states over the next five years and worked in several different industries, including sales, education, software development, and engineering. She enjoys working with diverse groups of individuals to solve hard problems and looks forward to bringing this cross-disciplinary approach to medicine. She is excited about the opportunity to put this into practice through the IMED program by gaining the tools required to identify potential areas for innovation and learning how to bring together teams to transform these ideas into solutions. When not studying, she can be found reading, baking, going to the gym, and managing her multifamily rental property in the Logan Square neighborhood.

Sunil Dommaraju was born and raised in Westmont, Illinois but moved to Chicago to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he attained a B.S. in Bioengineering in May of 2019. There, under the guidance of the Department of Anesthesiology, Sunil developed a novel, quantitative method to analyze histology of lung injury due to 72-hour exposure to inhaled anesthetics. This research served as his Honors capstone project. For his senior design project in bioengineering, Sunil helped develop a medical device that facilitates prone head positioning following ophthalmic surgery, for which his team won first place in the category of Rehabilitation Engineering at UIC EXPO. He is nationally recognized by the American Forensics Association as a top 12 speaker in multiple categories of public speaking. Sunil hopes that the IMED program will further cultivate his interests in medical technology and health care design to better address health inequity. Apart from academia, Sunil enjoys watching coming-of-age films, cooking, and traveling.

Samer Habeel grew up in Ann Arbor and attended the University of Michigan where he graduated with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. During his time there, he worked on transforming a night vision scope into a fluorescence lifetime imaging microscope to one day be used as a medical diagnostic device. He also worked in a nanoparticle research lab, where he optimized the Electrohydrodynamic co-jetting method of creating nanoparticles that have proven effective in early treatment of glioblastoma on mice. He also worked on creating a non-invasive and cost-efficient blood pressure sensor, using signal processing and instrumentation techniques. He also worked on adding an ergonomics division to Formula SAE with the goal of simulating the human experience in a 3-D environment. Taking this skillset to industry, he started as a design engineer and program coordinator at Nissan while working on next generation vehicles. He hopes to use this engineering design creativity coupled with doctoring and clinical skills to innovate new technologies in medicine.

Rahul Kataria was born and raised in northern New Jersey and attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. There, Rahul earned a bachelors in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Physics in May 2018. His honors research project investigated presynaptic protein synthesis in mammalian central nervous system tissues. He used techniques in electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and advanced microscopy to look further into the inner workings of the brain. Furthermore, Rahul was an active member in multiple organizations including the Rutgers Ski and Snowboard Team, East Brunswick Rescue Squad, and the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. Following graduation, Rahul served as an AmeriCorps service member in Boston, MA. Here, he taught 6th grade mathematics at Match Charter Public School with the goal of increasing educational attainment in financially disadvantaged minority groups. Rahul is excited to be a part of IMED, where he hopes to one day apply what he learns to find innovative solutions for problems frequently encountered in medical practice. For recreation, Rahul enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and being outdoors.

Kyle Kelly grew up in western Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, where he obtained his B.S. degree in Biology. After undergraduate, he continued his education at the University of Florida, where he achieved his PhD in Pharmacodynamics. His research focused on investigating the neurophysiological basis of memory, and how memory is disrupted in advanced age. Specifically, he utilized in vitro whole-cell electrophysiology to investigate age-related changes in neurotransmitter signaling in various regions of the rodent brain. Upon completing his PhD, Kyle accepted a position as a postdoctoral fellow in the Physiology department at Northwestern University, where further pursued research under a mechanisms of aging and dementia training grant. Kyle is excited to join IMED and address real-world clinical problems, from finding opportunities for innovation to implementation. Outside of work, Kyle enjoys baking bread and pizza, practicing guitar, and playing with his tiny dogs.

James Nie grew up in Springfield, Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he majored in Mechanical Engineering and minored in Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering. While at the university, he conducted research in tissue biomechanics. He also worked at Caterpillar, Inc as an additive engineering intern. James is excited to apply his engineering background through the IMED program to advance medical innovation. In his free time, James enjoys reading, skiing, and hockey.

Isidore Pires believes that collaboration leads to innovation. Isidoregraduated with a BS in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology. At GM Electromotive Division, he led a research team that examined how sharing product information and other technical details online can have an immediate, positive impact on solving clients’ problems and lead to greater collaboration and innovation in future products.Later, atthe University of Chicago, Isidore obtained an MS in Computer Science and worked on an internetbased viewer that enabled surgeons to discuss procedures using 3D anatomical images inreal time. As a professional software engineer, Isidoreworked on a multi-yearproject to create a direct, connected marketplace for buyers and sellers of media spots for cable television.This project facilitated communicationbetween senior executives, programmers, sales and marketing personnel.Isidore’s other pursuits include improvisational comedy, interactiverobotic animatronics, swimming, and jogging by the lake.Through IMED, Isidore hopes tocollaborate with other innovators to develop noveltherapies that will help improve care to underserved populations.

Vanitha grew up in Naperville, IL, a northwest suburb of Chicago. She went on to study Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Polymer Engineering at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. During her time at CWRU, she worked on device development for the rapid treatment of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy in newborns, and conducted research in drug delivery and cancer immunotherapy. This exposure to immunotherapy led her to the National Institutes of Health, where she worked on a translational team that carried out clinical trials for T-cell-based immunotherapies to treat HPV-related cancers. Through IMED, she hopes to develop as a physician-innovator and find novel, interdisciplinary solutions to make healthcare more equitable. Vanitha enjoys reading and traveling in addition to listening to music, which she can be found doing when she isn’t talking to friends.

Andy grew up in Skokie, a northern suburb of Chicago. He attended the University of Chicago and graduated in 2016, earning a B.A. in Public Policy with Honors (specialization in Health Policy) and a B.S. in Biological Sciences (specialization in neuroscience). He worked in the healthcare tech startup world for three years following college, most recently as Research Manager for CareBand, a technology pertaining to dementia. Outside of school, Andy enjoys following politics and political comedy, as well as exploring the city and travelling outside it.