Daysha De La Cruz is a senior at Morgan State University majoring in chemistry with a concentration in public health. Her professional research interests are centered in equity and dental health among marginalized groups. Her interest in the STEM field began in 2019 when she took part in a summer research project as a pharmacist assistant at Howard University Hospital. This experience provided her with the opportunity to develop clinical skills in patient assessment and management and receive constructive feedback on the research progression. During her academic career, she has maintained a 3.3 GPA and is proud to be a part of organizations such as My Sister’s Keeper and the Caribbean Student Association. She plans to gain membership in the MSU Pre-Dental Society which will enhance her exposure to the dental health field and provide the necessary platform to advance her career. Beyond her professional and academic life, Daysha has a passion for oil painting and traveling
Bosola Jerry-Asooto is a senior pursuing a Biological Science major with a minor in Psychology at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Her interest in medicine and public health began while living in Owo, a southwestern town in Ondo state, Nigeria. The experience of traveling between Owo and the United States provided her with valuable insights into the significance of healthcare and the diverse ways in which health issues impact individuals from different backgrounds. Bosola volunteers with Best Buddies, spending time with older women with intellectual and developmental disabilities by helping to create an inclusive community where everyone feels valued. Bosola aspires to be a physician specializing in dermatology and aims to address the unmet needs in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases specific to diverse skin tones. During her leisure time, she enjoys trying new recipes, singing, and immersing herself in books, with a fondness for thrillers.
Ky’Asia Johnson is a senior psychology major, women and gender studies minor at Morgan State University. Her research interests focus on mental and maternity health awareness and disparities as well as increased cases of depression among parents of African descent. This interest developed during her freshman and sophomore years of high school, influenced by her mother’s unresolved mental health issues during pregnancy. Ms. Johnson is a second year USTAR scholar, where she strives to find definitive answers through focused research. Being a USTAR scholar has also qualified Ms. Johnson for a research ambassador position at Morgan State. Additionally, she is a member of Psi Chi Honor Society, Active Minds, and the Society of Future Educators. Beyond professional and academic duties, she enjoys sporadic adventures and spending as much time as possible with family.
Sanaa Jones is a senior biology major at Towson University. She is interested in racial disparities in healthcare and developing interventions to reduce mortality rates among Black women. Her interest began in 2018 when she attended the Boston Institute for Leadership and participated in a week-long program focusing on medicine and surgery. The program not only sparked her interest, but also solidified her plan to choose medicine as a career path. Sanaa aspires to become a medical doctor in hopes of closing the racial health disparity gap and to be able to provide quality care for groups in need. Once Sanaa finishes her education at Towson University, she plans to take a gap year to work and better prepare herself for medical school. In her leisure, Sanaa enjoys crochet projects and traveling.
Obehi Oniha is a senior at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a minor in Psychology. Her interests include clinical research and the epidemiology of childhood diseases and clinical research. In addition to being a USTAR scholar, she is also a U-RISE scholar at UMBC working in Dr. Weihong Lin’s Lab to understand the neurobiological aspects of chemical sensory systems in the nose, specifically, mechanisms of sensory detection and functional maintenance. As a second year USTAR fellow, she recently presented her research from the previous year on the implementation of the CACP in the primary care setting at the American Geriatrics Society Conference in May 2024. She is a Nigerian-American from Silver Spring, Maryland that enjoys serving at her church and creating social media content. She is also the third born in a quadruplet set of siblings.
Osezenoria Oniha is a senior at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, majoring in biological sciences. His desire to aid others, the profound impact that medical professionals have had on him and his love for sports is what led to his interest in medicine and physical therapy. In addition, he is a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, which he obtained in high school. His current areas of interest are probable dementia onset, racial disparities in healthcare, and pediatrics. Osezenoria is currently in the Johns Hopkins USTAR program, a research opportunity that will provide him the opportunity to obtain useful experience and advance his growth. In the future, Osezenoria hopes to establish his own clinic in both the US and Nigeria. Osezenoria loves watching sports and playing piano. He is a quadruplet and loves spending time with his siblings.
Raquel Stevenson is a junior Health Education major with a concentration in community health at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, with interests in dermatology. Dermatology has been Raquel’s area of interest since she was an adolescent and began researching the effectiveness of SPF sunscreens. Raquel was a part of the pharmacy program at Elizabeth Seton High School and graduated with her pharmacy technician’s license. She also interned at Walgreens as a pharmacy technician student. Raquel aspires to create her own skin-care line that is tailored specifically for the needs of melanated skin types and provides personalized and effective solutions. At her leisure, Raquel enjoys helping her community through food and clothing drives. Raquel also enjoys runway modeling and traveling.
Nathan Stiehl is a junior majoring in Honors Biomedical Sciences at the University of Houston - Main Campus. While working on a research proposal in 2022, Nathan gained a strong interest in Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. This interest increased as a member and Project Lead of the Bonner Leaders’ Food Insecurity Team at the University of Houston, where he learned about and witnessed healthcare disparities in Houston’s Third Ward community. These experiences, along with observing the effects of dementia in his own family, motivated Nathan to take part in the Houston Early Research Experience and Hopkins’ Undergraduate Summer Training and Research program in the summer of 2023. Having participated in sports for much of his life, Nathan intends to become a medical doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation and is exploring opportunities to earn a PhD in neurobiology. Outside of school, Nathan enjoys traveling and watching sports.
Lucy Viechnicki is a senior biochemistry major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is currently participating in the USTAR program at Johns Hopkins University, working under the direction of Dr. Neal Fedarko to explore molecular markers of aging. Her previous research experience includes an investigation into unrepresented patients in the healthcare system completed under Dr. Katherine Ornstein, as well as participation in the Summer Internship Program (SIP) at the National Institutes of Health under NIDDK. Ms. Viechnicki enjoys her lab science courses and research and is looking forward to combining her training with clinical patient care as a medical student after her undergraduate studies. Ms. Viechnicki grew to love patient care during her ongoing years of experience as an EMT running 911 calls with Kensington Volunteer Fire Department and hasrecently become certified to drive the ambulance! In her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland, Ms. Viechnicki enjoys playing tennis and frisbee with her siblings, reading Jane Austen, and attending Washington Nationals games.
