Student ScholarsJohn P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine

Bobby Bobby is an aspiring physician, scientist, and educator who took the non-traditional, scenic path into medicine. Born and raised in south India, he immigrated to the United States at the age of 12. His adolescence was marked by poverty, housing insecurity, and limited access to care. For nearly a decade, his family relied on charity clinics and fragmented safety-net systems—experiences that gave him a personal and early understanding of health disparities and structural inequities. Shortly after high school, Bobby began working at UTMB as a unit secretary and patient care assistant. Inspired by the doctors and nurses around him, he enrolled in college while working full-time, taking classes at night and on weekends. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the UTMB School of Nursing, graduating at the top of his class, and went on to work as a critical care and perioperative nurse at UTMB and hospitals in the Texas Medical Center. In addition to bedside care, he has led day-to-day clinical operations, overseen quality improvement projects, and mentored dozens of new nurses and first-generation students. His contributions have helped reduce hospital-acquired infections, improve staffing models, increase ambulatory surgical volume, and ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.  

 Today, Bobby is a medical student at the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine, where he is pursuing a Scholarly Concentration in Translational Research and the Honors Research Program. As a research assistant in the Hayek Lab, he studies the role of suPAR in cardiovascular and kidney diseases, and has a particular interest in understanding inflammatory mechanisms driving cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, tissue injury, and repair. He also serves as a Health Innovation Fellow in the Office of Innovation and Commercialization, helping advance early-stage biopharmaceutical ventures, including novel therapies for glioblastoma and neuropsychiatric disorders. Beyond research and innovation, Bobby is deeply committed to medical education, mentorship, and outreach. He serves as a student ambassador and outreach coordinator in the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, co-founded the Business of Medicine Initiative to promote education in finance, entrepreneurship, and healthcare management, and has helped distribute valuable resources to over 200 students. He is also a member of the Asclepios Osler Society, has served on several institutional committees, and previously represented his class as a senator in the Student Government Association.

 In his free time, Bobby enjoys mentoring high school students, staying active, and making homemade hot sauces with peppers from his local H-E-B. He’s also a fan of musicals—especially Hamilton—science fiction, and spy/heist movies. He hopes to build a career that blends clinical care, research, teaching, and innovation.

Throughout medical school, Clara has distinguished herself through her leadership, scholarship, service, and dedication to advancing health equity. She has held numerous leadership positions within the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), serving as President of the UTMB chapter, Region III Assistant Regional Director-West, and currently as Co-Head Liaison for the SNMA General Surgery Student Interest Group. Her leadership has been recognized with the 2026 SNMA Region III Board Member of the Year Award, and she helped lead the UTMB chapter to earn the distinction of 2025 SNMA Region III Chapter of the Year.

Committed to serving underserved communities, Clara volunteers at St. Vincent's Student Clinic, where she serves as Director of the Administrative Committee. In this role, she has helped coordinate medication assistance for uninsured patients. Beyond clinical service, she has remained actively engaged in the UTMB community as a student mentor, academic tutor, Student Ambassador, Vesalius Osler Student Society Coordinator, and former Co-President of the Pan African Student Society.

Clara is also passionate about research at the intersection of medicine, health disparities, and the medical humanities. Her work in endocrinology has focused on communication barriers, patient safety, and health disparities among hospitalized patients, resulting in peer-reviewed publications and presentations at regional and national conferences. She has also explored the history and ethics of medicine through scholarly work presented at the American Osler Society Annual Meeting and published in the Journal of the Young Oslerians.

Katelynn Evans is a medical student at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in the Class of 2028. Though she lived in many states growing up, she considers Austin, TX her home. For undergraduate studies, Katelynn attended UT Austin where she studied public health and Spanish, and completed her master’s degree at UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth. Prior to medical school, Katelynn gained professional work experience in both a women’s health clinic as well as in preventative and public health at the local and state levels.

 Katelynn is passionate about understanding the unique needs of underserved and vulnerable populations, and dedicates much of her time in medical school to these communities. She is a frequent volunteer at St. Vincent’s Student Run Health Clinic and was selected as a member of the 2025-2026 class of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, in which she designed and executed a yearlong community project aimed at addressing social isolation among older adults. Katelynn also served on the Board of Directors for Vesalius Osler Student Society and particularly cherished her role in planning the annual Willed Body Memorial, in which those who generously donated their bodies to the UTMB Anatomy Lab are honored. Coming from a family of veterans, Katelynn is also interested in improving the lives of the military community. She served as Vice President of Veterans Health Initiative at UTMB and gave a presentation on the use of music as medicine in the military at the 2025 American Osler Society annual meeting during her first year of medical school and plans to continue this scholastic and volunteer work throughout her career.

 In her free time, she loves taking care of and learning about animals, visiting her family in Austin, and talking on the phone with her partner who is active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. Katelynn is interested in the field of anesthesiology, but is looking forward to rotating through all the specialties that medicine has to offer as she pursues her life’s dream of becoming a physician.

A lifelong Texan, Grayson R. Jackson was raised in Grapevine and attended Baylor University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2020. At Baylor, Grayson studied biology, public health, and medical humanities as a University Scholar and completed the Honors Program and the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core while maintaining a perfect GPA. He was named a Hillis Scholar in Biomedical Science and a Texas finalist for the Harry S. Truman Scholarship and inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Grayson was introduced to scientific research in an environmental science lab at Baylor where he investigated lead-contaminated soil and childhood lead exposure. He also spent two summers at the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development in Houston where he conducted projects related to antigen cloning and purification for neglected tropical diseases like schistosomiasis and dirofilariasis. This research inspired his honors thesis, which explored the intersections of vaccine hesitancy with populism, political polarization, and public policy. Aside from his undergraduate studies, Grayson was also actively involved as a trumpet player and staff member in the Golden Wave Marching Band and as a member of student government, in which he helped organize Baylor’s inaugural mental health awareness week.

Grayson is currently an M.D.‒Ph.D. student at UTMB with aspirations to become a physician-scientist, physician-advocate, and medical educator. His clinical interests include infectious diseases and LGBTQ+ health, and he will pursue a Ph.D. at the Institute for Bioethics & Health Humanities to study ethics, law, and health policy. A believer in interdisciplinary education, Grayson also studies in the Interprofessional Scholars Program and the global and public health tracks. Since moving from Waco to Galveston, Grayson has volunteered at St. Vincent’s as a member of the steering committee and administrative team for the newly established Interprofessional Clinic. He also serves as president of the Pediatric Student Association, chair of Allies in Health, and UTMB’s student delegate to the Texas Medical Association. Grayson hopes to promulgate the values of Sir William Osler as a student and in his future clinical practice—one which integrates the medical humanities with patient-centered care.

Josselyn Muñoz was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States at the age of eleven. Growing up in a border community as an immigrant, she faced barriers that many families encounter in accessing education and healthcare. As the first in her family to earn a college degree in the U.S., she transformed her family’s hopes into a legacy of opportunity for future generations. She attended Rice University, where she studied Cognitive Sciences and earned a Distinction in Research and Creative Work. During college, she studied abroad in Denmark, exploring positive psychology and preventive approaches to wellness. This experience strengthened her belief that health is influenced not only by biology, but also by community, culture, and human connections.

 Prior to medical school, Josselyn worked as a research coordinator at Baylor College of Medicine for the LATINO Study, a multinational investigation of psychiatric genomics spanning more than 50 sites across 14 countries. In this role, she contributed to achieving the study's 5,000-participant enrollment goal, resolved cross-border challenges involving biological sample shipments, and transformed complex scientific findings into cartoon learning modules now used by patients and families throughout Latin America. Along the way, she built lasting professional relationships with collaborators in Mexico, Argentina, Peru, and beyond. Josselyn has presented her work at national and international conferences, including meetings in Puerto Rico, Ecuador, and Chile, and has collaborated in multiple manuscripts focused on cultural considerations in psychiatric assessment and international data harmonization. This experience challenged her to think globally, act responsibly, and advance equity in health care.

 At the University of Texas Medical Branch, Josselyn continues to pursue opportunities that combine leadership, service, and community engagement. She serves as External Vice President of the Latino Medical Student Association, is a member of the Blackwell Osler Student Society Board of Directors and participates in the Global Health and Bilingual Health Scholarly Concentrations. Committed to serving vulnerable populations, Josselyn volunteers regularly at St. Vincent's Clinic and participates in Cuentos y Corazones, where she shares the joy of reading with pediatric patients while encouraging imagination, connection, and a love of books. Josselyn plans to pursue a career in psychiatry or pediatrics. Inspired by Sir William Osler’s belief that medicine is both a science and a profound human calling, she strives to meet every patient with curiosity, humility, and empathy while leading with purpose and serving others with compassion.

 Outside of medicine, Josselyn enjoys traveling, running, journaling, reading, scrapbooking, and spending time with her Pomeranian, Cherry. She treasures visits home to Laredo and conversations with family and friends. Whether exploring a new country, training for a marathon, or caring for patients, she strives to push her limits, embrace the unknown, and keep moving forward.

Pritika Paramasivam was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and raised in Austin, Texas. She is honored to be the first doctor in her family, a journey made possible by the support of her parents and sister.

 Pritika attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with honors as a double major in Neuroscience and Health & Society. She created an undergraduate certificate program titled Reproductive Justice and Asian American Identity and authored a thesis on Indian nurse migration during COVID-19 to qualitatively examine the lived experiences of sojourning healthcare workers. During her time at UT, Pritika worked as a research assistant at the Texas Policy Evaluation Project, studying reproductive health policy and its impact on the health of Texans. She also volunteered clinically at the KIND Clinic, providing free STI screenings to the Austin community.

 Before beginning medical school, Pritika served as a New York City Urban Fellow. She was selected for a prestigious placement at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in the Bureau of Maternal, Infant, and Reproductive Health, where she focused on substance use treatment policy for pregnant and postpartum individuals.

 In medical school, Pritika leads the Family Planning Clinic at St. Vincent’s Hope Clinic and was selected as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow. Through the fellowship, she is partnering with the ADA Women’s Recovery Center to develop a trauma-informed reproductive health curriculum. Pritika is committed to becoming a physician grounded in social justice and dedicated to eliminating health inequities.

 Arun Rajan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is of South Indian heritage. He graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a minor in Sociology. During his undergraduate years, Arun developed a passion for education and mentorship, particularly within primary education programs. Through experiences working with underserved students in Ohio and Texas, he witnessed firsthand how disparities in opportunity can diminish long-term health and life outcomes.

At the John Sealy School of Medicine, Arun has continued his commitment to early education, mentorship, and service. Driven by a belief that curiosity and scientific thinking should be cultivated from a young age, he founded BLAST (Bridging Learning and Scientific Thinking), a STEM mentorship initiative that introduces students across Galveston to scientific inquiry and hands-on research experiences. He also serves as Director of Research for Connect at UTMB, mentors aspiring healthcare professionals through the Learn to Lead Scholarly Concentration, and represents the Class of 2029 as UTMB’s elected delegate to the AAMC Organization of Student Representatives.

Arun is also deeply involved in research and innovation. He conducts clinical and translational research in head and neck cancer through nationwide institutional collaborations and UTMB’s Advanced Bio-Optics Imaging Laboratory. In addition, he served as a Healthcare Innovation Fellow through the UTMB Office of Innovation, and afterwards worked with Bairitone Health, a startup focused on improving sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment through artificial intelligence–based airway mapping. Through these experiences, Arun has developed a strong interest in leveraging research and technology to improve patient care and health outcomes.

Outside of medicine, Arun enjoys traveling, basketball, working out, playing the piano, and exploring new cultures and experiences. He is also passionate about cooking, sharing meals with friends and family, teaching people how to cook, and trying local and international cuisines in every city he visits.

Katherine “Nikki” Sheffield is a non-traditional medical student from Austin, Texas. For many years, she worked as a paralegal in Affordable Housing. To feed her soul from a demanding and challenging career, she also practiced yoga and volunteered for CASA of Travis County as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care. Through these two endeavors, she was introduced to the mind-body connection and the ability of our nervous system to heal or harm our health. Fascinated by the neuro-physiological response of our thoughts and emotions, she decided to return to university to learn more from neuroscientists.

She attended St. Edward’s University in Austin and complemented her studies with research investigating the relationship of stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines and the therapeutic ability of meditation to modulate pain. As one of seven winners of a Summer Academic Excellence Award, she spent a summer at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center studying the mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.

Maia Smith is a medical student at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in the Class of 2028, where she is also pursuing a scholarly concentration in translational research. She grew up in Cedar Creek, Texas, a small town of just over 800 people. She earned her Bachelor of Science and Arts in Biology from The University of Texas at Austin, with a minor in Business and a certificate in Pre-Health Professions. She then earned her Master of Science in Anatomy from UT Health San Antonio. During her three gap years before medical school, she taught anatomy to medical, dental, and physical therapy students while also performing bench research on protein dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

Maia’s academic interests center on the intersection of anatomy, metabolism, and otolaryngology. At UTMB, she works in Dr. Tomoko Makishima’s lab, where she uses 3D imaging to study anatomical differences of the temporal bone in mouse models of metabolic dysfunction. Her broader research interests include inner ear development, metabolic mechanisms of otologic disease, and the use of clinical databases to better understand risk factors and outcomes in otolaryngology. She has presented her work at national meetings including the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, and the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions.

Maia’s interest in Oslerian and humanistic ideals began with her project, “Oslerian Thought and the Rise of Empirical Medicine in Ancient Egypt’s Earliest Otolaryngologists,” which allowed her to use historical inquiry to better understand how physicians have observed, interpreted, and cared for patients across time. She hopes to continue approaching otolaryngology and humanistic medicine through an Oslerian lens as she works to increase hearing health access in the Galveston community.

In addition to research, Maia is committed to service, teaching, and mentorship. She serves as Director of the St. Vincent’s Education Committee, student leader of the St. Vincent’s Hearing Screening Initiative, and an executive officer of the Otolaryngology Interest Group. She has also worked as a gross anatomy teaching assistant at UTMB, helping first-year medical students learn clinically relevant anatomy while honoring the willed body program. Through these roles, Maia hopes to combine her love of anatomy, education, and community care in her future career.

Rose Sulentic is a medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the Class of 2028. Originally from Texas, she earned her B.A. in Plan II Honors from The University of Texas at Austin before completing a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences at Yale University. While at Yale, Rose received the Jan A. J. Stolwijk Fellowship to investigate adolescent exposure to phthalates in drinking water in Romania. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Peter and Patricia Gruber Post-Graduate Fellowship through Yale Law School to study maternal health and permaculture in Malawi.

Before beginning medical school, Rose spent nearly a decade working at the intersection of public health, global health, and medical research. She managed a maternal and child health program with Baylor College of Medicine in Malawi, partnering with the Malawi Ministry of Health to strengthen women's health services and improve access to care in underserved communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as an epidemiologist and team lead for the Texas Department of State Health Services, helping coordinate the state's public health response across multiple regions. She later joined the CDC Foundation, where she supported the Global Tobacco Surveillance System in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overseeing international surveillance and capacity-building efforts in 15 countries across all six World Health Organization regions. Most recently, Rose worked as a program manager at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, supporting international scientific conferences that advance innovation in cardiovascular medicine.

At UTMB, Rose has continued her commitment to serving vulnerable communities through clinical care, advocacy, and medical education. She served as President of the Street Medicine Interest Group, helping expand opportunities for students to care for individuals experiencing homelessness. She also served as Vice President of Students for Choice and co-directed the Humanities in Medicine Lecture Series. Her scholarly work focuses on health equity and the care of underserved populations, with presentations and publications spanning global maternal health, environmental health, climate change, tobacco control, and street medicine.

Anne Wang is a medical student at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) John Sealy School of Medicine in the Class of 2029. She is from Atlanta, GA, and completed her undergraduate studies at Rice University, where she graduated cum laude in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Sciences, alongside minors in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and the Medical Humanities. During her time at Rice, she worked with organizations focused on mental health in migrant communities, fostering her passion for bridging the gap between healthcare and underserved populations. At Rice, she also nurtured her growing interest in mentorship and service by spearheading Orientation Week for incoming students, and she was one of four graduating seniors to receive the Hugh Scott Cameron Service Award, awarded to students whose leadership, dedication, and tangible contributions to student life have left a lasting impact on the Rice campus community.

At UTMB, Anne continues her passion for addressing healthcare gaps and providing compassionate care by dedicating herself to working with underserved populations and developing her medical knowledge and mentorship abilities. She is in a leadership role at St. Vincent’s Clinic and loves to spend her time volunteering whenever possible. She is also on the officer board of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) at UTMB, where she helps build community and plan events, such as local health fairs, to address healthcare needs.

Leonard Wang was born in Bellevue, Washington and raised in Austin, Texas. He completed a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Houston through an accelerated BS/MD program. Leonard is a 4^th-year MD/MPH student at UTMB. In 2024, he received a US-UK Fulbright Award to complete an MSc in Health and Social Policy in Glasgow, Scotland. For his MSc dissertation, he conducted ethnographic research at community-based clinics in the informal settlements of Cape Town, South Africa. As a 2025 Medical Fellow for the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics, Leonard traveled to Germany and Poland to examine medical ethics and professionalism through the historical lens of the Holocaust.

After his Fulbright year, Leonard completed an MBA in Health Strategies at the University of Cambridge as a St. Catharine’s Benavitch Scholar with funding from a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship and Cambridge Judge Business School. He worked as a consultant for Bayer AG and the PHG Foundation, a Cambridge-based biomedical policy think tank.

Leonard previously served as the Health Policy Research Coordinator for UTMB’s Center for Violence Prevention and Department of Family Medicine where he coordinated research-to-practice projects with over $1.1 million in funding. He was the first medical student selected for the American Society of Human Genetics’ advocacy program and was subsequently elected to serve a three-year term on the ASHG Government & Public Advocacy Committee. He serves as the sole medical student on the Board of Governors for the American Osler Society.

For his research on health equity, medical education, and the medical humanities, Leonard received the Rheumatology Research Foundation Medical Student Preceptorship Grant, 2024 Dean’s Award for Research Excellence, and the 2023 Elias Hochman Research Award. His narrative medicine articles have been published in Annals of Internal Medicine, Academic Medicine, The American Journal of Surgery, The Journal of Rheumatology, Family Medicine, and other peer-reviewed journals.