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Meet our DO/MD-PhD Student Panelists
Mel Anderson-Chavarria
General Panelist
Female Leaders
The Color of my Identity
LGBTQ+ Leaders
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Faryal Mir
General Panelist
Female Leaders
The Color of my Identity
Chronic Illness/Disability? Possibility.
Amber Vocelle
Female Leaders
Laura Harding
Female Leaders
Jose Rodrigues
General Panelist
The Color of my Identity
Camille Wang
General Panelist
Female Leaders
The Color of my Identity
LGBTQ+ Leaders
Luca Kaiser
Chronic Illness/Disability? Possibility.
Erika Sarno
Female Leaders
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Soo hun Yoon
General Panelist
The Color of my Identity
LGBTQ+ Leaders
More information:
Mel Anderson-Chavarria (she/her/hers)
General Student Panelist/Female Leaders/The Color of My Identity/LGBTQ+ Leaders
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS3, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Medical Anthropology
Research:
Medical Anthropology
Foci: Pediatrics, Autism Studies, Disability Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Hometown:
Aguada, Puerto Rico and Byram, New Jersey
Education:
A.A., Simon's Rock College
B.A. Anthropology, Rutgers University
M.S. Biomedical Sciences, Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Hobbies/Interests:
Roller Derby, Triathlons, and road trips with my wife Lily and our two beagles Casey and Fred
Why a dual degree?
Medical anthropologists examine how political, economic, sociocultural, and historical factors influence our health and health care systems. I have always wanted to learn the clinical practice and art of medicine, and a dual degree program allowed me to do that along with the enrichment of a macro-level view of our larger global system
Mel Anderso-Chavarria
Laura Harding (she/her/hers)
Female Leaders Session Moderator & Panelist
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS4, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Physiology
Research:
I study the electrophysiology of neurons in the brain
Hometown:
Okemos, Michigan (I haven’t strayed too far yet!)
Education:
B.S. Genomics and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University
Hobbies/Interests:
1. I enjoy baking: It’s like experimenting in the lab but with tastier results!
2. In the summer I enjoy running through local parks and neighborhoods.
3. I love playing with my dog, we keep each other sane!
Why a dual degree?
I have always loved to learn about the complex ways by which our bodies maintain health. I joined the MSU DO-PhD program so that I could study how to solve the problems that can occur with those processes!
Laura Harding
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Faryal Mir (she/her/hers)
General Student Panelist/Female Leaders/The Color of My Identity/Chronic Illness? Disability? Possibility.
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS3, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Cell and Molecular Genetics
Research:
Genetics in Imaging
Hometown:
Lahore, Pakistan
Education:
B.S. Biochemistry, Northeastern University
Hobbies/Interests:
Dog, home improvement and activism
Why a dual degree?
Research changes real lives!
Faryal Mir
Jose Rodrigues (he/him/his)
General Student Panelist/The Color of My Identity
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS4, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Research:
Disease dynamics of antibiotic resistant foodborne pathogens
Hometown:
Stoughton, MA
Education:
B.S. Biochemistry, Northeastern University
Hobbies/Interests:
Hikes with Remy (the doggo), playing video games with regular group of friends, cooking/baking with some music on
Why a dual degree?
I am really passionate about the intersection of data, medicine, science and compassionate care. I felt that physician-scientist training and more specifically DO-PhD training at MSU could support me in my pursuit of becoming a leader in infectious disease research, public health and prevention medicine.
Jose Rodrigues
Erika Sarno (she/her/hers)
Content creator & Social Media Coordinator
Female Leaders panelist
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS3, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Research:
Neuroimmunology and Mood Disorders
Hometown:
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Education:
B.S. Biochemistry and Cell & Molecular Biology &
B.S. Philosophy,
University of Scranton
Hobbies/Interests:
Cats, working out, makeup, Content Creator for Student Docs for Diversity Instagram and Newsletter
Why a dual degree?
I want a unique career that allows me to address big-picture problems by integrating a basic science understanding with a translational perspective.
Erika Sarno
Camille Wang (she/her/hers)
General Student Panelist/Female Leaders/The Color of My Identity/Chronic Illness? Disability? Possibility.
Program:
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Year:
GS4, MD-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Neuroscience
Research:
Neuroscience
Hometown:
San Marino, CA
Education:
B.S. Human Biology, Cornell University
Hobbies/Interests:
being outside, hanging with friends, improv comedy
Why a dual degree?
I want to work at the intersection of medicine and science, learning about both fields to bridge the gap and improve treatments and quality of life for patients. In my graduate training, I investigate mechanisms of synaptic physiology and antidepressant treatment, and I hope to one day be a physician scientist who helps improve the quality of life for patients with psychiatric needs through scientific advancement and compassionate care.
Camille Wang
Soo hun Yoon (he/him/his)
Event Organizer/General Student Panelist/The Color of My Identity/LGBTQ+ Leaders
Program:
Year:
PhD field:
Research:
Hometown:
Education:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
GS3, DO-PhD candidate
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Exploring how bacteria adapt to the environment through cyclic/oligonucleotide signals
Freetown, Sierra Leone
B.S. Biochemistry, biology minor,
Abilene Christian University
Hobbies/Interests:
Travel, cooking and playing with Baguette (Corgi)
Why a dual degree?
I fell in love with research in undergrad and have long wanted to pursue a career where I can serve others by finding solutions to global health and research deficits.
Soo hun Yoon
Amber Vocelle Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Day of Coordinator/Female leaders panelist
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS4, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Physiology
Research:
Biomechanics and improving function
Hometown:
Lake Odessa, MI
Education:
B.A. Biology & B.A. Chemistry with Chinese minor,
Kalamazoo College
Hobbies/Interests:
Hiking, reading, playing with my son
Why a dual degree?
I joined a dual degree program so that I could gain both research and medical expertise so that I can conduct high quality translational and clinically relevant research.
Amber Vocelle
Our Student Volunteers!
Jazib Gohar (he/him/his)
Registration and Student Communication Coordinator
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS1, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Epidemiology
Research:
Epidemiology
specifically the intersection between Genetic Epidemiology and Social Epidemiology
Hometown:
Skokie, Illinois
Education:
B.S., Northwestern University
M.P.H., Emory University Rollins School of Public Health
Hobbies/Interests:
1. I play a ton of basketball and spend my winters watching college and pro basketball
2. I’m a big Cubs fan and spend my summers at Wrigley Field
3. I love attending concerts and music festivals
Why a dual degree?
I wanted to combine my interests in population health and medicine into one comprehensive educational experience. Though my PhD training, I get to study how social determinants of health drive health disparities. Through my DO training, I get to treat patients at an individual level, making an impact at a more personal level.
Jazib Gohar
Alex Moauro (she/her/hers)
Ad-Content Creator
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS3, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Physiology
Research:
Stem Cell Research
Hometown:
Golden, Colorado
Education:
B.S., Regis University
Hobbies/Interests:
Drawing, Dance and Home Improvements
Why a dual degree?
I want to become a DO-PhD to help bridge the gap between research and medicine. With extensive training in both fields, I plan to work as a liaison between the two. I see myself fulfilling this goal by working in clinical trials and developing new patient therapies.
Alex Moauro
Athanasios Kondilis (he/him/his)
Day of Coordinator
Program:
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Year:
GS5, DO-PhD candidate
PhD field:
Cell and molecular biology
Research:
investigating the neural regions that underlie obesity-promoting feeding behaviors
Hometown:
Chicago, Illinois
Education:
B.S. Psychology & B.S. Molecular and cellular biology,, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaigne
Hobbies/Interests:
Cooking, eating, and traveling to places to eat more
Why a dual degree?
I chose a dual degree program so that I can develop the toolset needed to tackle the obesity epidemic utilizing a neuro-oriented research approach while also learning how to provide clinical care and management for this ever-growing patient population.
Athanasios Kondilis
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