Our Team

Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Shannon leads programmatic oversight of the Knight Scholars Program across OHSU programs and statewide partnership sites is a population scientist. She is a Professor in the Division of Oncologic Sciences who specializes in population health. Her research studies prevalence and determinants of disease at the population level.  She is also the Associate Director at OCTRI, Director of the OCTRI Community Engagement and Collaboration Core, and Associate Director of Knight Cancer Institute Community Outreach and Engagement.  Learn more about Jackie Shannon.

Co-Principal Investigator

Dr. Druker is the Director of the Knight Cancer Institute at OHSU. He is a Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, and the JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research. His research revolutionized the treatment of cancer, resulting in the first drug to target the molecular defect of a cancer while leaving healthy cells unharmed – marketed as Gleevec®. Druker now is applying key principles of precision medicine to early detection. Earlier detection of lethal cancers represents the greatest opportunity to increase cancer survival rates. Learn more about Brian Druker.

Dr. Shugerman oversees summer research experiences at OHSU by providing central coordination for K-12 science education efforts. She works with faculty, students and staff to provide direct services to classroom teachers and students, develop OHSU faculty, students and staff to be better teachers, mentors, and translators of science, provide general scientific education to the public and develop OHSU's infrastructure to support science education.  Dr. Shugerman supports partnerships and collaborations for this project.

Amanda is the Knight Scholars Program Manager. She coordinates the overall program operations and oversees training and mentoring. Amanda has over 20 years of experience in undergraduate laboratory science training.  She joined the program in March 2022.

Lynda is the Community Research Liaison for Klamath and Lake Counties. She supports the Knight Scholars Program and the students from this area with recruitment, mentoring, and shadowing placements throughout the program. She also works with the Inter-Professional Experience students through Campus for Rural Health, collaborates with partners in community health improvement projects, and assists with the Northwest Native American Center of Excellence (NNACOE) Native Pathways curriculum.

Azalea is the Community Liaison for the Woodburn region students. She supports the Knight Scholars Program and the students from this area with recruitment, mentoring, and shadowing placements throughout the program. She also works as a Community Liaison with the On Track OHSU! program in Woodburn working with middle and high schools to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority backgrounds in the health sciences and in Oregon's biomedical workforce. She mentors students interested in health and science careers.  

Kaitlin is the Community Research Liaison for Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties. She supports Knight Scholars from the Central Oregon region with recruitment, mentoring, and shadowing placements to enhance their research training experience and demonstrate how a research career can be applied in their own communities. As part of the OHSU Community Outreach, Research, and Engagement team, Kaitlin works with community partners to identify opportunities for community-engaged research and research technical support to improve health and well-being in the region through data-informed decision-making. 

Sadie McIver is the Community Research Liaison for the Eastern Oregon region. She serves Baker, Union, Umatilla, and Wallowa counties. Sadie also works with the Knight Scholar Program, supporting the Eastern Oregon students involved in this program by helping find shadowing placements, providing mentoring opportunities, and increasing students’ understanding of careers within the medical field. 

Sadie is currently supporting her community in their concerns of the growing fentanyl crisis in Eastern Oregon. She has been attending community meetings and has joined several committees and coalitions which are focused on bettering the health of their community using research, grant funding, and programs to raise awareness of this issue. 

Raul lives and works in Portland.  He joined the team in April 2022 and coordinates shadowing placements for our scholars in the Portland region.

Arcelia was the Program Manager of Knight Scholars and the Community Liaison for Portland students; she supported the students from this area with recruitment, mentoring, and shadowing placements throughout the program. She oversaw programmatic details. Arcelia has over 20 years of experience in bilingual teaching (Spanish and English language development), after-school education, and nonprofit administration. 

Melanie Ramsey is a Science Teacher at Faubion PK-8 School in Portland teaching Integrated Science, STEAM and MESA. She has 35 years of teaching experience including Bioengineering, STEAM, Chemistry and Forensics. She focuses on teaching science using a lens of culture, equity and social justice to encourage and empower students to achieve their goals. Throughout her career, Melanie has encouraged and guided her students (and herself) to take risks and challenge themselves to strive to always learn and experience new and wonderful things around them. “Knowledge is power!”

Sara was the Community Liaison for students from Central Oregon. She supported the Knight Scholars Program and the students from this area with recruitment, mentoring, and shadowing placements throughout the program. As part of a larger team building capacity for community-engaged research across the state of Oregon, Sara built relationships and identifies opportunities for collaboration to support her community partners and her research community at OHSU. She lives and works side by side with community leaders and health and wellness stakeholders to improve health in Central Oregon. She now works with Oregon's Office of Rural Health.

Deb was a Research Associate for the Knight Cancer Institute implementing and developing cancer prevention and control programs as part of the Knight Cancer Network in Oregon and Idaho. She formerly served as Community Liaison for students from Central Oregon supporting students from this area with recruitment, mentoring, and shadowing placements throughout the program. 

Derrik is a Community Health Educator in support of the NIH National Outreach Network priorities and provides administrative support to both the Knight Scholars and Ted R. Lilley Cancer CURE internship programs. He also serves on the leadership team for the Knight Diversity & Inclusion Committee and works as part of the U01 database development team.

Jonna is the Project Coordinator for the Education & Training and Community Outreach & Engagement teams at the Knight Cancer Institute. She assists with the programmatic details of the Knight Scholars Program.

Major: Public Health Studies: Pre-Clinical Health Science on a Pre-Medicine track. 

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Alex Vazquez-Cortes (he/him) is a soon-to-be first-generation college graduate at Portland State University. Alex is a BUILD EXITO scholar placed in the Donald D.Trunkey Center for Civilian and Combat Casualty Care at OHSU. His research project centers around using interventional digital technology during the pediatric perioperative period to see if it impacts anxiety levels in children undergoing surgery. Alex hopes to use his previous experiences to help students familiarize themselves with working in research. 

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions! alexxvcortes@gmail.com 

Major: Biology on a Pre-Medicine Track

Minor: Neuroscience and Psychology

Expected Graduation Date: June 2024

Bio: Connie Tran (she/her) is a first-generation college student and second-generation immigrant who is currently enrolled in her third year of undergraduate at Portland State University. She is currently interning at the Donald D. Trunkey Center for Civilian and Combat Casualty Care at OHSU as a trauma clinical researcher. She is also involved in many campus activities such as the Hong Kong Student Association, Pre-Medicine Student Association, and UNST FRINQ Peer Mentor Program. She is excited to continue supporting scholars who are now entering their research labs!

Please reach out to connietran2002@gmail.com if you have any questions!

Major: Public Health: Pre-Clinical Health Studies

Minor: Psychology & Interdisciplinary Neuroscience

Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2023

Bio: Amy (she/her) is a first generation college student currently working as a Medical Scribe in the Emergency Department and Dermatology Clinic who's is on the Pre-Physician Assistant Track. She is also a Cohort 7 Exito Scholar working on Mandarin-English Bilingualism Research at Dr. Carolyn Quam's lab. At PSU, Amy is also a Lead Mentor for EMPOWER (Asian-American & Pacific Islander Program). In her free time, she enjoys gaming, reading, and cafe hopping with her friends. She is excited to work with the returning scholars this year and to continue supporting their research journey.

Major: Psychology

Minor: Sociology

Expected Graduation Date: Summer 2023

Bio: Clare Hansen (she/her) is a non-traditional, first-generation college student who is currently in her senior year at Portland State University, pursuing a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. She is excited to return this summer as a peer mentor for the Knight Scholars program. She currently works as a peer mentor for BUILD EXITO, an NIH funded undergraduate research training program. Clare aims to minimize the barriers for students pursuing a scientific pathway. She is passionate about encouraging and supporting students in breaking traditional boundaries to establish innovative solutions in academia and all other areas of life. For the past three years she has worked as an undergraduate research assistant for Dr. Eric Mankowski in his GVIR (Gendered Violence Interventions Research team), where her research focused on examining the impacts of traditional power dynamics through the lenses of intersectionality, particularly as it relates to both gender and race, to therefore better investigate how different concepts (e.g., white privilege, white threat, masculinity threat) influence society on a social level. 

Clare looks forward to working with and supporting scholars throughout the summer and encourages them to reach out clare7@pdx.edu

Major: Molecular Biology on a Pre-Medicine Track

Minor: Chemistry

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Dierdre McKay (she/her) is a collegiate student-athlete who earned her bachelor's degree at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, OR. She competed on the EOU’s cross country and track team for five years. Dierdre has worked under two research teams. One who worked on the identification and quantitative analysis of compounds in plant species potentially toxic for grazing animals. The other research team worked with next-generation genome sequencing techniques to identify sampled insect species, reported to Oregon and Washington Fish and Wildlife. She is a member of the Richland Section of the American Chemical Society, the EOU’s Chem Club, and was the President of EOU’s Pre-Professional Health Club for two years. Dierdre is graduating Cum Laude and was honored with the Outstanding Student of Biology - Cellular & Molecular Award. She is currently interested in pursuing a career as a doctor of internal medicine. Dierdre McKay is excited to spend the summer with the scholars and mentor them throughout their research placements.

Bio: Joe Russo is a recent graduate of Oregon State University. He graduated with Bachelors of Science majoring in Biology with a Pre-Med Focus. Joe is also working as a scribe in the Emergency Department at his local hospital back home in Central Oregon. He enjoys fishing, being outdoors, and hanging out with his friends. He is also a proud lifelong member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. This is Joe's second year mentoring in the Knight Scholars program and he is very excited to continue supporting the next generation of scientists!

If you have any questions feel free to reach out at russojos88@gmail.com!

Major: BSN RN

Minor: Coaching

Expected Graduation Date: 2025

Bio: Janae Rhen is currently enrolled in the OHSU RN BSN program on the Klamath Falls campus. Janae has a passion for helping youth as she enjoys coaching volleyball as well as mentoring for the Knight Scholars Program. She currently works for Pace Medical Staffing and Flex Force Staffing, and enjoys rodeo in her free time. She is excited to guide scholars as they figure out their path in the medical field. 

Reach out to Rhen@ohsu.edu if you have any questions!

Major: Biology on a Pre-Medicine Track 

Minor: Chemistry

Expected Graduation Date: June 2024

Bio: Anthony Phan (he/him/his) is a first-generation college student who is currently a third year undergraduate student at Portland State University Honors College. He is currently an undergraduate trauma clinical research assistant at the Donald D. Trunkey Center for Civilian and Combat Casualty Care at OHSU. He also spends his time volunteering at the VirtuOHSU Simulation & Surgical Training Center at OHSU. He is currently involved with the EMPOWER Program (upcoming lead mentor), Hong Kong Student Association (upcoming Co-President), and Pre-Medicine Student Association (returning Co-President). He is excited to be a part of the Knight Scholar Program Team and support scholars on their research journey! Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at anphan@pdx.edu

Major: Economics

Expected Graduation Date: May 2025

Bio: Anthony is a rising junior at Boston College. He is a part of the Zhang lab at the Knight Cancer Research Institute researching how tumor suppressor genes predispose to leukemia development. Beyond research, he enjoys being involved in sports and spending time with his family. Anthony is excited to support fellow students who are beginning their scientific research careers.

Bio: Bridget Bugle is a research assistant at The Dyadic Health Lab which researches Alcohol Use Disorder and Interpersonal Relationships. They have recently received a grant from The Department of Defense to examine the intersection of loneliness and alcohol use among military couples. Bridget intends to work as a research assistant for a year while she prepares for and applies to a PHD program, which includes moving forward on with a personal research project. Her goal is to get a PHD in Applied Psychology and to use community based participatory research to bring access to healing to underrepresented communities. Her personal work focuses on examining the relationship between inspiraton and trauma and how that impacts health and quality of life. Trauma is a part of life that everyone experiences, and Bridget's goal is to remove barriers in underrepresented communities in order to provide access to knowledge and treatments. She believes her research will allow the development of such accessible therapies and interventions.

Major: Biology

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: James is a senior at Portland State University studying biology. He has engaged in various research projects, exploring the role of epigenetics in cancer development and investigating the impact of environmental factors on cancer progression. He is particularly interested in cell work, focusing on pathology and treatment of diseases. He plans to apply to MD/Ph.D. programs to further his studies and research efforts. He will be taking a gap year to gain more clinical experience and study for the MCAT. Outside of academics, James enjoys hiking and playing sports.

Bio: Kaisa Holt (she/hers) is a third year student at the OHSU PSU School of Public Health in the Community Health program.   As a McNair Scholar she is researching cultural homogeneity and implicit bias recognition through in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings. As a Build EXITO scholar she conducts social surveys for the “Water Justice” lab of Dr. Melissa Haeffner.  For two years Kaisa was apart of the Feminist Leadership Cohort at the Women’s Resource Center, learning mediation and nuances of social issues through a anti-white supremacist and intersectional feminist lens.  Helping others, giving them the support, encouragement and tools for navigating research and opportunities is something that drives Kaisa. She is so excited to work with the Knight Scholars and Knight Peer Mentors this Summer.

B.S. Biotechnology, minor in Chemistry

Bio: Bryan Ramirez Reyes (he/they) is a first-generation college student who is currently part of OHSU's Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). Bryan obtained their B.S. in Biotechnology (minor in chemistry) from Cal Poly Pomona in 2022. Currently as a PREP scholar, Bryan does immunological research in the Tim Nice lab and is the events co-chair for the SACNAS chapter at OHSU. Alongside research, Bryan also hopes to aid efforts in increasing diversity in research and academia, as well as addressing disparities in health and health care in the United States. They are excited to be a peer mentor and looks forward to supporting and guiding the scholars towards obtaining their scholarly and research endeavors.

Major: Biology and General Science

Minor: Chemistry

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023 (more specifically, June 18, 2023)

Bio: Tiffany Bui (she/her) is a second-generation immigrant who is currently enrolled at Portland State University. She is currently an undergrad researcher at PSU's physics department, examining laboratory education and curriculum. She also participates in many extracurriculars, such as the Women's Collaboration for Pre-Health Students Association, Neuroscience Club, the American Medical Women's Association Peer Mentor Program, and classical piano. She is excited to meet all the scholars and to support them on their journey!

Feel free to reach out to tiffabui@pdx.edu if you have any questions or would like to chat!

MPH Candidate in Health Management & Policy - OHSU PSU School of Public Health 

Spring 2023

Bio: Motutama Nogotau Sipelii (he/him) is from the village of Utulei in American Samoa. He transferred to PSU in the Fall of 2017 from the American Samoa Community College and graduated in the Spring of 2021 with a BS in Public Health Studies: Pre-clinical Health Science. He is currently a Masters of Public Health Candidate in Health Management & Policy at the OHSU PSU School of Public Health. He's an active student leader at PSU and was even the first Asian Pacific Islander-identifying student body president for the Associated Students of Portland State University. He aspires to be a physician-politician currently preparing to apply for medical school. In his spare time, he enjoys working on community projects, especially those tailored to helping younger students find their confidence and passion for STEM. Motu enjoys gardening, cosplaying, and binge-watching anime shows! 

Reach out to him if you have any questions or want to connect at sipelii@ohsu.edu or add him on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/motutama-sipelii-092b75165 

Major: Public Health Studies: Pre-Clinical Health Science & Pre-Medicine

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2023

Bio: Alex Vazquez-Cortes (he/him) is a first-generation college student studying at Portland State University. He is majoring in Public Health Studies: Pre-Clinical Health Science and following the Pre-Medicine track. Alex is currently a BUILD EXITO scholar and placed in the Trauma Research Lab at OHSU. His research experience background surrounds emergency medicine and trauma-related injuries. Alex hopes to use his previous clinical and research experiences to help students understand the responsibilities and discipline of working in a research setting. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions at vaz4@pdx.edu!

Major: Speech and Hearing Sciences

Minor: Spanish and Youth Family Studies

Expected Graduation Date: May 2023

Bio: Cielo is currently a Junior at Portland State University pursuing a major in Speech And Language Sciences. She is a first-generation college student as well. Her goal is to become a speech and language pathologist and work with bilingual individuals. Cielo is currently in BUILD EXITO and also has been placed in a research lab that is related to her major; during her research at her current lab, she has learned many new skills from coding to also writing research proposals. Cielo looks forward to meeting and assisting the scholars on their college journey.

Reach out for any questions or advice at cielo2@pdx.edu!

MPH Candidate - OHSU PSU School of Public Health

Spring 2024

Bio: Dalton Wesemann(he/him) is a first-generation college student from Salem, OR. He spent three years at Portland State University where he dual majored in Community Health Promotion and Urban & Public Affairs and graduated in the Spring of 2022. He is currently a Masters of Public Health Candidate in Health Management & Policy at the OHSU PSU School of Public Health. During his time at Portland State University, he was an NIH-funded Build EXITO Scholar and the Chair of The Judicial Review Board (21-22) on the Associated Students of Portland State University. During my time in EXITO, I worked in the Department of Pediatrics working in labs focusing on negative parenting, pediatric intensive care unit pain studies, and adolescent and adult survivors of childhood cancer.

Major: Microbiology

Minor: Chemistry

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Dierdre Mckay is a senior at Eastern Oregon University, majoring in Microbiology. Her goal is to become a doctor focusing on cardiovascular diseases. She is on the EOU track team and has been the Pre-Professional Health Club’s president for two years. She has been researching under her professor. Her work included extracting alkaloids in different species and identifying their structure and present composition. Dierdre became a peer mentor because she greatly appreciated the help she got from upper-level students as a freshman and is excited to do the same for the students in this program. Reach out to her if you have any questions at dmckay1@eou.edu!

Major: Public Health Studies: Pre-Clinical Health Studies 

Minor: Psychology and Neuroscience

Expected Graduation Date: June 2024

Bio: Amy Lin is currently a Sophomore with Junior standings at Portland State University, on the Pre-Physician Assistant Track, and hoping to work in Pediatrics. She was a CNA at a nursing home for two years and recently transitioned to a Medical Scribe position in the Emergency Department. Amy is also a BUILD EXITO Scholar who will be working in the Child Language Learning Center with Dr. Carolyn Quam, an EMPOWER mentor for AAPI First Generation students, and President of the Pre-Physician Assistant Student Association. Her research includes working with eye-tracking technology to determine word recognition in Mandarin-English-speaking bilinguals and to learn about how experience with English for native speakers of Mandarin Chinese affects their sound processing in their native language. Please feel free to reach out to amlin@pdx.edu if there are any questions or would just like to connect!

Major: Biology & Pre-Medicine

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Joseph Russo (or Joe) is a Junior at Oregon State University pursuing his dreams of becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon. He is a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity at OSU where he serves on the fraternity executive board as the Membership Educator. He is also a member of the OSU Pre-Med Society. During his time in Corvallis, he has served his community by creating multiple successful philanthropic fundraisers to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. He has also learned and sharpened many personable and leadership skills that he plans to use as a peer mentor to be the best mentor he can be. Being a graduate of Culver High School, he hopes to take the skills he has learned to be successful, going from a rural area to a big city, and teach others from rural areas these skills in hopes they are able to use them to become successful as well. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out at russojos@oregonstate.edu!

Major: Biology on a Pre-Medicine Track

Minor: Neuroscience and Psychology

Expected Graduation Date: June 2024

Bio: Connie Tran is currently a sophomore at Portland State University on the Pre-Medicine Track with a passion to work in neurosurgery. She volunteered at Mt. Hood Legacy Hospital for almost three years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Connie is now focusing on a more research experience through the BUILD EXITO program where she will be working with an assigned Research Learning Committee starting this August. She is also a Peer Mentor for the FRINQ University Studies at PSU and she is the current Public Relations Director for the Hong Kong Student Association. Connie is excited to help support students through this program and even throughout everyone’s college journey. Please reach out to cotran@pdx.edu for any questions.

Major: Psychology

Minor: Spanish

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Madeline is a junior at Portland State University pursuing a Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology and a Minor in Spanish. She is currently a research assistant at PSU in the Speech & Hearing Science department. There, she has learned more about what research is and what it can look like. Being a first-generation college student has motivated her to pursue higher education. She hopes to attend graduate school after graduating from PSU to obtain a Doctorate of Psychology degree in Counseling Psychology. Her goal is to bring mental health awareness to the Latinx community and eliminate the language barrier by providing counseling services in English and Spanish. Reach out with any questions at mamezcu2@pdx.edu!

Major: Psychology

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Natalie is a first-generation student with a junior status at Portland State University in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. As a scholar of BUILD EXITO, she is an undergraduate research assistant at the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH) lab at Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU). There she contributes to various research studies examining effective interventions for families managing a child’s chronic illness. Her passion is mental health and how to mediate the impacts of trauma and adverse childhood experiences. Her future career goals include working with youth and adolescents to promote positive and healthy development into adulthood and finding ways to provide access to mental health care to those with the least resources. When Natalie isn’t learning she is hanging out with her Ragdoll kitty, Boojee, and traveling with her partner. She is so excited about this opportunity to mentor and learn from the scholars! If you need anything or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact her at napa2@pdx.edu!

OHSU School of Nursing

Expected Graduation Date: June 2025

Bio: Janae Rhen is a sophomore at Oregon Tech and was recently accepted to OHSU School of Nursing at Oregon Tech. She will be starting Fall of 2022, and plans to pursue her dreams of trauma nursing after completing the program. Janae has worked for the past three years for Pace Medical Staffing at elder and memory care facilities.  As a graduate from Culver High School she has learned many nuances for the  transition from rural communities to larger Universities for school and plans to share these experiences when working as a peer mentor. Janae enjoys coaching club volleyball, the outdoors, spending time with and riding her horse “Diamond.” If you have any questions please feel free to reach out at Janaerhen132@gmail.com!

Major: Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Japanese

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Sebastian Benitez is a student at Portland State University (PSU) majoring in Biology following the Pre-Medicine track. He is currently a BUILD EXITO scholar and a mentor for the Knight Scholars program. Sebastian is pursuing a career in research, specifically in the field of life longevity through the lens of genetic engineering. His overall goal is to cure all age-related diseases and end biological aging. He plans to earn his PhD in Biology, then attend medical school.

Major: Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Chemistry

Graduation Date: June 2021

Bio: Toni Brooks is a first-generation college student and recent graduate of Portland State University. Toni is on the Pre-Medicine track with hopes of going into pediatric neurosurgery. She is currently taking a gap year to travel, work, and apply to medical school. She was formally a BUILD EXITO scholar and is currently an EXITO PLUS scholar in addition to being a peer-mentor in the Knight Scholars Program. Toni's EXITO experience included work in Dr. Mankowski’s research lab studying men and masculinity and is currently leading her own project examining the media’s portrayal of victims of intimate partner homicides. 

Major: Bachelor of Science in Public Health Studies

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Alex Vazquez-Cortes is a first-generation college student studying at Portland State University. He is majoring in Public Health Studies and following the Pre-Medicine track. Alex is currently a BUILD EXITO scholar and aspires to get involved in research within the biomedical/clinical/community health fields. He graduated from Gresham High School and soon thereafter became a medical scribe at a pediatrics clinic. Alex hopes to use that experience to help students understand the responsibilities and discipline that come with working in a clinical setting.

Major: Bachelor of Science in Speech and Language Services, minor in Spanish

Expected Graduation Date: June 2023

Bio: Cielo is currently a sophomore at Portland State University, majoring in speech and language sciences with a minor in Spanish. She is a first-generation college student focused on helping others from her community and from diverse backgrounds. As part of her BUILD EXITO experience, Cielo will be in a lab related to bilingual deficiencies in speech. She looks forward to continuing her research in health, speech and science. Cielo plans to become a speech and language therapist with a focus on working with bilingual kids.

Major: Bachelor of Science in Science and minor in Chemistry

Expected Graduation Date: June 2022

Bio:  Randa is a senior at Portland State University majoring in science on the Pre-Medicine track. Randa is an NIH BUILD EXITO scholar and is currently working in the SCAN (stress, cognition, affect, and neuroimaging) lab at OHSU with Dr. Mackiewicz-Seghete. Recently, she started working on a project that is looking at pregnancy and pandemic-related stress. Randa’s goals include being the first in her family to graduate college as well as earn a doctoral degree, an MD or MD/PhD. She wants to further her education and help everyone, especially those in underserved communities, receive quality care. 

Major: Bachelor of Science in Public Health Studies

Graduation date: June 2021

Bio: Harold Omotoy is an Asian-Pacific Islander who grew up in the Philippines. He majored in Public Health Studies with a concentration in Community Health Promotion. He was a senior undergraduate student and a BUILD EXITO scholar at Portland State University. Before PSU, he spent two years studying computer engineering at Mapua University in the Philippines. He then moved to Saipan to obtain his associate's degree in computer applications at Northern Marianas College. Following that, he had an internship as a systems specialist and junior programmer. He was a research assistant at the Agile and Adaptive Robotics Lab where he worked on muscle placements for bipedal robots and characterizing braided pneumatic actuators.  Harold is currently working in Dr. Marriott’s lab and interning with the Knight Scholars Program.  He aims to be in the field of public health informatics to contribute his skills in information technology to public health practice, research, and learning. He is currently working with OHSU's Information Technology Group.

Major: Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

Expected Graduation Date: June 2021

Bio: Judit Marquez is a first generation college student at Portland State University majoring in Public Health: Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology. She is on the pre-nursing track and pursuing a career as a nurse practitioner with a pediatric psychiatry focus. Judit is a BUILD EXITO scholar, peer mentor for first generation college students, and previous orientation leader at Portland State University. She worked as a certified nurse assistant (CNA) in Beaverton, OR and as a research assistant at the Oregon Health and Science University studying social determinants of health and the challenges that caregivers faced during pediatric hospitalization. Judit is now a research assistant in Dr. Marriott’s Lab interning with the Knight Scholars Program.  Judit would like to use her experience as a CNA and aspiring Nurse Practitioner (NP) to help young students expand their knowledge on the roles and responsibilities that nurses/nurse practitioners have in cancer research, treatment, and prevention. 

Major: Health Studies, Pre-clinical Sciences

Expected Graduation Date: June 2021

Bio:  My name is Kelsey P. and I am a senior at Portland State. I am majoring in health sciences with a pre-clinical studies focus and minor in Biology. I am pursuing the pre-Physician Assistant track at Portland State University following the prerequisites for the Physician Assistant program at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and Pacific University. I am fortunate to be a part of the NIH-funded BUILD EXITO Research Pathway program that allowed me to be an undergraduate researcher in the Epilepsy and Seizure lab at OHSU for the past two years. I have started a new research position in Dr. Marriott’s lab with a public health studies focus partnered with OHSU. My research interests stem from the experiences and knowledge I have obtained with a special interest in neurological diseases as well as public health advocacy. In connection from the career pathway of a physician assistant to cancer research, the need for a provider with medical education within different specialties that forms a bridge of connection between primary care and other medical specialties (such as medical research) would be of great benefit to the community. As a physician assistant, it would allow preventative medicine to be connected with a specialty practice for the community.

Major: Psychology 

Expected Graduation Date: June 2021

Bio:  Favio Estrada-Sanchez is a first-generation college student at Portland State University (PSU) majoring in Psychology with a minor in Chicano/Latino Studies. He is a BUILD EXITO scholar and a McNair scholar. His first research project was at the Developmental Cognition and Neuroimaging Lab at the Oregon Health & Science University. Favio was born and raised in Southeast Portland and is very proud of his hometown. He graduated from David Douglas High School in 2017.  His goals are to further his education through research or clinical practice to help the Latinx community in Oregon. Favio is active on campus with many organizations and enjoys building a community with his peers. He serves as a lead mentor for first-generation college students in the GANAS program at PSU. In the future, he would like to obtain a Ph.D. or PsyD to continue his educational journey and be the first one in his family to receive a doctoral degree. Favio is now a research assistant in Dr. Marriott’s Lab interning with the Knight Scholars Program.