Current ARI-AHEC Scholars |
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Hello, I am Lauren Ashton, am a first year pharmacy student at NEOMED. I enjoy reading, watching movies, and spending time with my dogs. I am part of a volunteer therapy dog team with my dog, Boaz. I anticipated that the AHEC program would be a helpful, however I did not expect it to become an amazing resource that I utilize often. This program has provided me with so many outside experiences that have helped strengthen my abilities within the classroom. |
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Hi, my name is Michael Bodjanac, and I am currently a junior at Akron University getting a degree in biomedical science. My dream is to become a surgeon and specialize in trauma. I love the outdoors so anytime I can go on a hike or go dirt biking I will always take that opportunity. My family and friends are very important to me so I also look forward to being able to spend time with them. The reason I wanted to become an AHEC scholar was to gain community experience and try to make a difference in underserved populations. I wanted to help neighboring communities that may not have the healthcare access that more privileged communities might have. Ideally, every single person no matter where they live, their race, or culture will be able to have the best healthcare imaginable. |
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Hi, my name is Kelly Ortiz, and I am a first-year graduate student in the Doctor of Audiology program at NOAC. I recently moved to Ohio from Florida, and I have been really enjoying the change in scenery. Before gaining admission into the University of Akron for the NOAC program, I previously worked as an audiology assistant in a private practice setting. I have worked with underserved communities and find that it is rewarding to not only help others medically but to also learn about these diverse populations. These communities face a lot of challenges on a day-to-day basis, and they deserve to be healthy and have access to medical care. I aspire to be an advocate and a guide for these communities in the future, so that they may get the resources they need. I became a scholar so that I can attend seminars or conferences to learn skills and further my knowledge so that I can become a better future provider and overall have a stronger understanding of the whole-body approach with my future patients. |
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My name is Brian Sutton, I am the owner of a remodeling company, a graduate student in the School of Social Work at the University of Akron and a person in recovery from multiple drug addictions. My desire is to promote a better world with each day available to me. Although I sometimes fall short in this attempt, I am committed to progress and enlightenment in the process. I became a scholar to gain and share valuable perspectives with other dedicated students of life. |
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Hi! My name is Melyna Sweeney and I am a sophomore at the University of Akron, majoring in Biomedical Science. When I'm not doing schoolwork, you can usually find me reading, hanging out with friends, or babysitting. I am currently pursuing the certificate of Advanced Spanish in the Health Professions, as well. I joined AHEC to expose me to new opportunities that will help prepare me for a career in the medical field. I also joined to gain a community of people who are interested in pursuing similar goals to myself. |
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Hi, my name is Sidney Teach! I recently graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelors in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology and I am currently studying to get my doctorate in Audiology at the Northeast Ohio Audiology Consortium. I just recently joined the AHEC Scholars program and I am excited to be apart of a great group! In my free time I like to nap (too much) and I enjoy doing aerial yoga. I decided to become an AHEC Scholar because I want to have an impact on my community and to be able to give back to those in need. The AHEC Scholar program provides me with wonderful opportunities and knowledge through hands on training. I couldn't be more proud of the work the program does and I am honored to be a part of it. |
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Hello, my name is Amanda Wade and I am a sophomore at Kent State University majoring in biology with a premed concentration. My dream job is to be a trauma surgeon. I enjoy volunteering, being outside, shopping, and spending time with my dog! I joined the AHEC scholars program because of the opportunities it can provide for me. I was interested in the different hands-on volunteer experiences and the affiliation the scholar's program has with NEOMED. I also wanted to work with people who have similar interests as me and meet new people! Having a group to connect with and discuss relevant topics with is something I am always looking forward to. I wanted the opportunity to help within the underserved population. I have previously worked with underserved communities in a clinic and learned a lot from the experience. I was able to not only help people within the clinic but immerse myself in different populations. |
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My name is Brooke Campbell, and I am a second year AHEC Scholar with ARI-AHEC at the University of Akron. I am a junior at the University of Akron majoring in biomedical science with a minor in chemistry and a certificate in gerontology. At UA I am involved in many leadership positions and organizations on campus, such as being a Student Trustee on the UA Board of Trustees, in the Tiered Mentoring Research Program, in Phi Delta Epsilon Premedical Fraternity acting as a Plant Pal Project Chair, a member of the Williams Honors College Advisory Board, and work at a local nursing home, Brookdale Senior Living, as a caregiver. After I graduate from UA, I will be attending NEOMED through the Early Assurance Program that UA has with NEOMED, and I plan to pursue ophthalmology or gerontology. I decided to be an AHEC Scholar in order to broaden my knowledge within the medical field. Getting the ability to get hands-on training, experiences within my community, and build relationships with other scholars and medical professionals are just some of the great benefits that are offered to Scholars. I have been given so many opportunities to increase my education, volunteer in my community and attend informational sessions at local medical schools. The experiences within AHEC Scholars have been a great and I am so glad that I joined! |
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My name is Caleb Carr and I attend Kent State University. My major is Neuroscience with a Pre-med concentration. I am from Alliance, Ohio and graduated from Marlington Highschool. After graduating Kent State, I plan to attend medical school to further my academic and professional career. In my free time I enjoy playing the guitar and partaking in various outdoor activities. I wanted to be a scholar to not only improve myself, gain hands on experience, and learn about my community, but also to help those who are in need and create relationships and experiences that I won't ever forget. |
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Hello, I am Olyvia Watson and I am a Junior at Kent State University majoring in Biology with a Pre-Med concentration. My dream job is to be a Surgeon and on my off time from schoolwork I enjoy volunteering, spending time with family/friends, and expanding my knowledge of the field of medicine. I joined the AHEC scholars program because I wanted to be surrounded by likeminded individuals who are striving towards similar goals. I also wanted to help within underserved communities or rather with these individuals because I feel it is very important. I believe the scholars program gives me the ability to give back to those in need and expand my knowledge of healthcare in underserved communities. I also love the Scholars program because of the hands on trainings that are provided along with discussions of current important topics within healthcare. |
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Hi, my name is Angelena Mazzolini, and I am about to graduate from the University of Akron. I am graduating with a Bachelors in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology with a minor in Child Development. My dream is to be accepted into the NOAC program through the University of Akron and become a certified Audiologist. I originally wanted to work with children however, through shadowing, I like a variety of patients from newborns to geriatric patients. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, volunteering, and listening to true crime podcasts. I joined the AHEC Scholars Program to further my knowledge in underserved communities and to help me work better with an interdisciplinary team. Through the program, I have met a lot of students who strive to make the healthcare system better. The program has helped me connect with many others who have my same goals. Being an AHEC Scholar has helped me become a more compassionate, knowledgeable, and open-minded person. In the future, I hope to work in an underserved community as an Audiologist and provide the best quality of healthcare to my patients. |
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My name is Ellie Marhefka, and I am currently a sophomore at Kent State, majoring in biology with a premed concentration. I love working with kids, and my dream is to become a pediatrician someday. I love learning about science, as well as all of the social impacts on our health. I am on the cross country and track teams for Kent, so in my free time I love to find and explore new trails to run with my friends. I also enjoy spending my time with friends from my premedical fraternity, and have made a lot of great memories with them. I really wanted to join AHEC because it really prepares you for the healthcare field in ways that you cannot experience in a classroom. I am constantly working to become more well-rounded and build my experiences working in the community. AHEC is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to expose themselves to all kinds of people in need, and get inspired to start making a difference. I already love how it has surrounded me with people with the same interests and desire to give our service to others. It lets me know that we are all in this together, and I am excited to see what this community can do in the future. |
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Hi, my name is Trey Saunders, and I am currently a senior at Hiram College majoring in Biomedical Humanities with minors in Biology, Chemistry, and Public Health. Currently, I aspire to be a physician who practices medicine, and contributes to the medical community with my interests in research and leadership. In addition to being an AHEC Scholar, I am an Eclectic Scholar, Garfield Center for Public Leadership Scholar, President of Medicus, and Vice President of the AmeriCorps Corps for Rural and Urban Success in Health (CRUSH) at Hiram. During my junior year, I served as the President of the Hiram College Student Senate. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with my friends and family. I originally learned about the AHEC Scholars program by participating in NEOMED's MEDCAMP during the summer of 2020. I found AHEC fascinating, and was excited to have the opportunity to have experiences outside of my standard undergraduate curriculum. Since joining AHEC, I have been trained in Mental Health First Aid, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Crisis Intervention & De-escalation. I was also able to earn my Geriatric Resource Certificate. AHEC has given me the opportunities to explore my passions in addressing health inequities and serving under-resourced communities. As an AHEC Scholar, I have gained a vast array of knowledge about health issues that impact various communities; I believe what I have learned will certainly lead me in becoming a better healthcare provider and leader. |
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Hello, I'm Lana Tso! I am a Biomedical Science Major at The University of Akron. I am interested in cardiology and orthopedics. I enjoy listening to music and spending time with my friends & family. I decided to become an AHEC Scholar because I was interested in some of the things scholars got to do. Now that I am a scholar, I know that there's lots of things that we do! We have access to special trainings and certifications, as well as the launching of our first ever podcast series! Go check out our podcast "What the AHEC? Scholars in the Studio"! |
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