Student Engagement

Aloha! My name is Ye Won Ham, and I am a junior studying Molecular and Cellular Biology with a secondary in GHHP. Born and raised in Hawaii, I was lucky enough to grow and learn in such a culturally diverse place. With this diversity, however, came many challenges, one of which was differences in health outcomes due to cultural health disparities and language barriers. As a result, I became really interested in tackling these problems, especially as someone who wants to pursue medicine. Currently, I’m doing an internship with ThinkNeuro on their second medical language exchange project, conducting research at the Nett Lab on the biosynthesis and role of medicinal alkaloids, and exploring different communities at Harvard. Outside of school, I enjoy taking workshops through the ceramics program, playing golf, and watching K-dramas (contact me for recs!). Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about global health at Harvard, being pre-med, or would just like to chat over a cup of coffee!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Cultural health disparities, cross-cultural medicine, language barriers in healthcare, and infectious disease
• Other Student Organizations: PBHA PEN program, HKA
• Research/Internships: ThinkNeuro Internship (Second Medical Language Exchange Program), Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Nett Lab (Harvard MCB Department), Student Intern (Hawaii Medical Association)

Hey! My name is Tseyang and I’m a sophomore from New York City studying Social Anthropology and East Asian Studies with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Growing up with a father who had practiced Traditional Tibetan Medicine in India and now conducts volunteer home visits in his spare time (as America does not recognize TTM) and with a Tibetan immigrant community whose careers often reflect a commitment to service as a nurse, I was surrounded by healthcare workers and acutely aware of the limitations of the American healthcare system. I developed a penchant for global health research and advocacy, and resolved to work towards alleviating health disparities and bringing unique attention to epidemiologically invisible communities. I’m particularly interested in employing an ethnographic lens in examining social suffering, trauma, and diverse sociocultural explanatory frameworks of illness in the Tibetan community in exile. Outside of health, I am a human rights activist in the Tibetan Freedom Movement. You can find me reading, crocheting, or watching Friends! If you have any questions about global health, medical anthropology, being FGLI at Harvard, or just want to chat, feel free to reach out to me!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Medical Anthropology, Human Rights, Medical Pluralism, Trauma
• Global Health-Related Student Organizations: CrimsonEMS, Harvard Undergraduate Medical Humanities Forum, IOP Health Policy, Harvard Undergraduate Foreign Policy Initiative, Harvard Undergraduate Health Policy Review, The Harvard Undergraduate Research Journal, Harvard Undergraduate Tibetan Cultural Association
• Research/Internships: Project Cascade Intern (Raise Uganda Now), independent research on the Tibetan refugee health profile

Hello! My name is Alae Aboussad, and I study Applied Math on the Psychology track with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. While I now live in Leverett House, I was born and raised in Rabat, Morocco. I am passionate about public health, harm reduction, and community advocacy, with a focus on practical, on-the-ground solutions to social issues, including increasing Narcan accessibility and supporting at-risk populations. My experience includes working at a shelter, contributing to public health non-profits, and managing finances as the Finance Director at HSHS. Beyond public health, I am interested in the intersection of politics, care, and social justice, particularly in global contexts. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need guidance navigating resources as an international student at Harvard!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Harm reduction, social determinants of health, healthcare accessibility, health technology
• Related Student Organizations: Pre-med society, Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Society of Arab Students
• Research/Internships: HBS RA, Prolepsis Institute – vaccine access intern

Hi everyone! My name is Alif and I’m a sophomore in Winthrop House studying Integrative Biology and Education. As an immigrant from Bangladesh who grew up in the United States, I’m extremely passionate about environmental health and how it can affect low-income and immigrant communities. On campus, I am part of Bengali Association of Students at Harvard College, and am also involved with Harvard Buddies and I work as a research assistant at the Gaab Lab where I help conduct MRI scans with young kids to learn about typical and atypical learning trajectories. Outside of academics and extracurriculars, I love to read in my free time and go on walks along the Charles!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Environmental health, access to healthcare for immigrant and low-income populations, social determinants of health
• Related Student Organizations: Harvard Undergraduate Pediatric Cancer Buddies, First-Year Urban Program, PBHA BRYE 1-2-1, Bengali Association of Students at Harvard College
• Research/Internships: Research Assistant at Gaab Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education, Research Intern at Dana Farber, Research Intern at Harvard/MIT Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Arsema is a sophomore, studying Sociology with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Though she was born in Ethiopia, she grew up in San Diego, California. She’s very passionate about centering marginalized communities in healthcare, particularly through understanding social determinants of health and decolonial/anti-racist healthcare solutions. In the past, Arsema has worked in various sectors within the public health field, ranging from culturally-competent nutrition research or creating equitable health metrics for international NGO health infrastructure projects. On campus, she serves as an Analyst for the Harvard College Consulting Group, an Assistant Director for Harvard National Model United Nations, and the first-year representative for Harvard’s Eritrean Ethiopian Student Union. In her free time, she loves cooking Ethiopian food, crocheting, and going into Boston with her friends.

• Areas of Interest in Global Health: Social determinants of health; decolonial global health solutions; maternal health in East Africa; health policy
• Related Student Organizations: Harvard College Consulting Group; Harvard National Model United Nations; Harvard Eritrean Ethiopian Student Association; Association for Black Harvard Women; Black Student Association
• Research/Internships: Nutrition Research Intern (University of California, San Diego & Leah’s Pantry); Monitoring and Evaluation Intern (Build Health International); Communications Intern (American Civil Liberties Union); Health Media Intern (San Diego Refugee Community Coalition)

Aneesh is a sophomore at Harvard College from Dallas, Texas, studying Neuroscience and Government. He is currently conducting research on neurodegenerative diseases at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. There, he is working to understand the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s and develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the disease. Additionally, at the Massachusetts General Brigham Medically Engineered Solutions in Healthcare Incubator AI group, he is exploring the implementation of artificial intelligence-based technologies, such as large language models, across various domains of the clinical workflow. Outside of research, Aneesh serves as an advocate for legislation that promotes more equitable healthcare at the federal and state level.

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Neurodegenerative diseases, Healthcare policy, Equitable healthcare access, Diagnostic and therapeutic innovation, AI in healthcare
• Related Student Organizations: HealthPath Horizons, VISION, GAMI, HUHPR, CBE, HDTT, OpenBio, Y2Y
• Research/Internships: Intern at the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Global Primary Care Student Scholar at the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care, Intern at the Mass General Brigham MESH Incubator, Undergraduate Research Fellow at UT Southwestern

Christiana is a first-year student studying Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology as well as Classics on a pre-medical school track. She is a Greek-American and grew up on Long Island, New York. She is very passionate about global health and the importance of access to quality healthcare. She created EnableAthletics in 2023, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering those with limb-difference through athletics, and is looking forward to continuing this here at Harvard in collaboration with HGHI to increase access to adaptive sports. In her free time she also greatly enjoys running and playing the Greek bouzouki.

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Accessibility to prosthetic devices, education, and health policy
• Related Student Organizations: Global Alliance for Medical Innovation, Tech and Global Health Initiative, The Crimson, Elderly 1-2-1, ExperiMentors, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and the Harvard Undergraduate Hellenic Society
• Research/Internships: Trabecular bone research at the Bone Biomechanics Lab at Long Island University, for which she was named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Top 300 Scholar. Her current research work includes prosthetic arm device testing (Project Manager) (GAMI) and writing work with Project MADE for their disaster relief resource allocation engine for crisis zones (collaboration with Health Tech Without Borders).

Cristian champions mentorship and helps maximize individuals’ potential on campus, in Greater Boston, and nationally. He is a firm believer in the adage,” If you know better, you do better.” Through his service, he hopes to empower those beginning their pre-health journies by sharing HGHI’s valuable resources! Before crystallizing his passion for Psychological research and setting his eyes on a Ph.D. Although he spent two years studying sociology and economics and two summers consulting, he pivoted his Jr. Fall. He credits his immersion and flourishment in the field to his tenacity and informed advisors. As his predecessor Chuby Uche did for him, Cristian aspires to pay forward his wisdom to the next generation beginning their impactful journeys in Global Health!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Health equity, access to care in metropolitan hubs, Black male advancement and health related studies
• Other Student Organizations: Co-President Greener Scott Scholars and The Crimson
• Research/Internships: Moore Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program, City of Boston Black Male Advancement Policy Fellow

Hey everyone! My name is Divangel Guerrero, and I’m a sophomore from New Jersey concentrating in Neuroscience on the Neurobiology Track with a secondary in GHHP. I’m extremely passionate about global health, and trying to address the current health issues within our society. As of right now, I have a strong interest in racial health disparities which have affected marginalized communities for decades, as well as looking into the poor allocations of resources in certain areas which exacerbate such disparities. This semester I’m excited to spread awareness of current global health issues, and looking to continue addressing health disparities within local communities. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing basketball, lifting, doing calisthenics, and listening to music. If you have any questions on pre-med oriented classes, global health classes, being a FGLI student, or why New Jersey is a Top 5 state don’t hesitate to reach out!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Health Policy and Governance, Health Care Accessibility, Medical Anthropology, Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Response, and Mental Health
• Related Student Organizations: Harvard Undergraduate Premedical Society, Harvard Global Research Consulting Club, Harvard Undergraduate Dominican Student Association Secretary, Harvard Black Students Association Development Co-Chair, Harvard Global Research Consulting Associate Consultant, Society of Black Scientists and Engineers, Harvard Black Men’s Forum
• Research/Internships: Holy Name Medical Center Cardiology Intern (New Jersey), Louis D. Brown Peace Institute Survivor Outreach Services Mindich Fellow

Hi everyone! My name is Harlie Williams, and I’m a first-year student from Tampa, Florida, studying History of Science with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. Growing up alongside my younger brother, who has Trisomy 18, a rare genetic disorder, I developed a deep passion for healthcare and disability advocacy. I’ve also conducted research on disparities in newborn screening for Trisomy 18. Through my advocacy work, I am committed to addressing health disparities in underserved communities through policy, research, and community service. I’m also a pre-law student with a specific interest in the ethical and legal implications of medicine and healthcare. On campus, I serve as a First-Year Representative for the Harvard Undergraduate Black Health Advocates, an editor for the Harvard Undergraduate Health Policy Review, and currently an Administrative Intern for the Harvard Global Health Institute. Outside of academics, I love all things fitness, beauty, theater, and craft-making. If you have any questions about classes, internship opportunities, pre-law, being FGLI at Harvard, or just want to chat, feel free to reach out!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Health Law and Policy, Bioethics, Disability Justice, Rare Disease Advocacy, Social Determinants of Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health
• Related Student Organizations: Harvard Undergraduate Black Health Advocates, Harvard Undergraduate Health Policy Review, Harvard Undergraduate Legal Committee, Harvard College Black Pre-Law Association, Harvard College Generational African American Students
• Research/Internships: Administrative Intern (HGHI), Community Engagement/Fundraising Intern (Project LINK), Trisomy 18 Newborn Screening Participation Research (The E.WE Foundation)

Hi everyone, my name is Hugh! I am a junior in Adams concentrating in Social Studies and Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology, with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. My interests broadly focus on global health policy design and implementation to increase health access and improve health equity. Outside of the classroom, I conduct research on health access and utilization in Philadelphia and medical debt accumulation nationally, as well as autoimmune disease therapeutics at the Wyss Institute. I am also a policy researcher for the IOP Health Policy Team and am involved with a few other on-campus organizations, including THURJ and OpenBio. I am so excited to be a member of the HGHI SAC and can’t wait to hear more about your interests in global health! I am here to help you navigate through all the incredible opportunities that HGHI has to offer – don’t hesitate to reach out about concentrations, research, internships, global health, health policy, or anything else!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Comparative Health Policy, Health Access and Utilization, Health Equity, Health Systems Strengthening, Healthcare Implementation
• Related Student Organizations: THURJ, OpenBio, IOP Health Policy, PBHA (HSHS), Harvard Judo Club
• Research/Internships: Research Intern – Cellular Immunotherapies (Wyss Institute), Research Assistant – Medical Debt (Brigham and Women’s Hospital), Independent Research on Health Access in Philadelphia

Hi! My name is Jessica Zhuo is a sophomore at Harvard College from New York City concentrating in Neuroscience with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy on the premedical track. My academic interests lie at the intersection of health equity, education, and social entrepreneurship. On campus, I’m a researcher at Brigham Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School as a SURFiN fellow in the Buckner Lab, a communications intern at the Harvard Global Health Institute, and Director of Research for Neurological Health for the Health Disparities Think Tank. I am also involved with Harvard Model Congress and the Institute of Politics Policy Program. During my free time, I enjoy cafe-hopping, going on runs, and making new pieces for my jewelry business!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Health Equity & Policy Reform, Neurological Health, Infectious Diseases & Public Health Interventions, Intersection of Education & Health, Biomedical Ethics
• Related Student Organizations: Institute of Politics Health Policy, Harvard Mission Brain, Health Disparities Think Tank, Harvard Model Congress, Harvard World Model United Nations, Harvard Ed Portal
• Research/Internships: Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN) in the Buckner Lab on Enhancing the Precision of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Harvard Global Health Institute Communications Intern, Harvard Radcliffe Institute Student Researcher on Rodent Olfaction, Neuroendocrinology Research in the Navarro Lab at Harvard Medical School, Road to Recovery Internship

Hi all! My name is Kaitlyn, and I’m a sophomore in Adams House from Quincy, Massachusetts. I’m studying Government on the Public Policy track with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. As a pediatric cancer survivor with a strong interest in public policy, I’m deeply passionate about health care policy and its role in ensuring patients have timely and comprehensive access to care. Last summer, I conducted research on patient administrative burden in cancer care and utilization management policies for antiemetics in the ACA and Medicaid formularies. Aside from my global health work, I’m involved in the Institute of Politics, Harvard Model Congress, and several pre-law organizations on campus. In my free time, I enjoy cheering on the Boston sports teams, exploring coffee shops, and curating my Spotify profile. Please feel free to reach out if you want to chat about research, internships, classes, or anything global health at Harvard!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Health Care Policy & Governance (e.g., Health Insurance), Non-Communicable Diseases, Administrative Burden in Healthcare, Social Determinants of Health
• Related Student Organizations: Harvard Public Opinion Project, Harvard Political Review, Harvard Model Congress, Harvard Vietnamese Association
• Research/Internships: Research Assistant (Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School)

Hi y’all! My name is Keira Adams and I’m a Sophomore in Winthrop studying Neuroscience and Global Health & Health Policy on the Pre-Med track. I have lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dallas, New Orleans, Senegal, Northern Virginia, and El Paso! I am most interested in how healthcare disparities affect Black communities and what steps can be taken to make amends. I am also heavily involved in Harvard’s Generational African American Student Association and the Association of Black Harvard Women. You can usually find me laughing with my friends in the Dhall or at Black events on campus. Besides global health, I try to get involved in mentorship with Black youth. I love anything to do with Daniel Caesar, NYT games, and trivia. If you have any questions about being a minority in healthcare or literally anything else, feel free to contact me.

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Black Maternal Health, Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Intersectionality
• Related Student Organizations: Harvard Undergraduate Black Health Advocates, Association of Black Harvard Women, Generational African American Student Association
• Research/Internships: Partners In Health, Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences

Hi! My name is Rylea Pritchett and I am a sophomore studying psychology (cognitive neuroscience and evolutionary psychology track) and American Sign Language on the pre-dental track. I currently live in Leverett house but am originally from Greensboro, North Carolina. I am passionate about dentistry, female reproductive and youth health. I enjoy learning more about advances in pediatric dentistry and educating peers and marginalized groups on sexual health and wellness. I am excited to explore more about the intersections of my interests, and shed more light on marginalized community voices. Outside of academic spaces, I love anything beauty and fashion-related, journaling, and baking. Please reach out with any questions about being FGLI or pre-dental/pre-health at Harvard!

• Areas of interest in Global Health: Dentistry, female reproductive and sexual health, mental health, and youth advocacy
• Related Student Organizations: Harvard University Pre-Dental Society, Harvard College Wellness Educators, Association of Black Harvard Women, Generational African American Student Association, Strong Women Strong Girls – Harvard Chapter, Alberta V. Scott Leadership Academy
• Research/Internships: Intern at Triad Kids Dental – Greensboro, NC