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Unc greensboro students

From Classroom to Clinic: Student-Driven Innovation in Healthcare

The 2024 Undergraduate Pre-Health Summit is an unique opportunity for career exploration and to network with health professionals and admission representatives from different graduate or professional schools.

This is not just a pre-health conference; it’s a platform where innovation meets inspiration, where conversations transcend boundaries and where the future of healthcare is shaped by the leaders of tomorrow. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this groundbreaking event!

Additional Services

Our Incredible Sponsors

Our Exhibitors

The Venue

The 2024 Undergraduate Pre-Health Summit will be held at the Elliott University Center located on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro campus.

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders

BUY TICKETS NOW

Whether you are enrolled in high school, undergraduate, graduate or an alumni (currently in gap year), we invite you to this incredible opportunity! From participating in innovative conversations to engaging with current leaders in medicine, there is something here for everyone despite where you are on your journey.

Tickets are required for all attendees (including partners and parents).

Schedule

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Navigating Pre-Health

Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) |

Ayah Azzam, Catalina Reyes, Valentina Reyes, Montse Robledo, Kelly Sharpless

Speakers

Kathryn Allen, MPAP, PA-C

primary & urgent care

Kathryn attended the PA Program at Campbell University in 2019 to complete her Masters in Physician Assistant Practice. Since the beginning, she has documented her journey through PA school on her social media platform (@pa_kathryn). As a three time applicant, she is particularly interested in encouraging re-applicants and works as a pre-PA coach with The PA Platform. Apart from being a PA, she loves Disney, photography and baking.

Christine Khandelwal, DO, MHPE, HMDC, FAAHPM

Professor of family medicine and director of geriatrics & palliative medicine, campbell university school of osteopathic medicine

Dr. Khandelwal obtained a professional degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed residency in Family Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She discovered her passion for complex, geriatric, and seriously ill populations, leading her to complete a Geriatric Fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill. Dr. Khandelwal has been developing programs, such as the Inpatient Palliative Care Consult Service at the WakeMed Hospital System and serving as an adjunct faculty member for Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Khandelwal was appointed to serve on the North Carolina Medicine Board, a position appointed by NC Governor Roy Cooper, and is currently still serving as the Board President. She is the first hospice and palliative medicine physician in the state to serve on the Board and only the second osteopathic female physician to serve as President in the 150-year history. Dr. Khandelwal engages in decisions on important issues and topics such as fair access to restricted medications and ensuring more access to care across the state.

Jacquetta Melvin, MPH, PA-C

medical instructor of family medicine & community health, duke university medical center

Jacquetta Melvin completed her Bachelors of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Howard University in 2008. Then pursured her Masters of Public Health in Maternal & Child Health from UNC Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health in 2011.

Melvin is an experienced physician assistant with 12+ years of service on clinical interdisciplinary teams providing high quality obstetrical and gynecological care. With expertise in surgical, ambulatory, and inpatient OB/GYN care, she possesses a unique blend of skills derived from her public health background. Her proficiency allows her to effectively translate public health and healthcare training into tangible patient and community care.

Committed to education and mentorship, Melvin brings over a decade of experience in guiding medical and PA student learners. Her instructional approach encompasses clinical and research preceptorship, small group facilitation, and lecturing. Before joining the Duke Faculty, she played a pivotal role at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, leading the Benign Gynecology Inpatient Service and serving as a clinical preceptor for both physician assistant and medical students at UNC.

Laura Pietrosimone, PT, DPT, PhD

assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, duke university school of medicine

Dr. Pietrosimone completed her Doctor in Physical Therapy degree at Duke University in 2010 and PhD in Human Movement Science at UNC Chapel Hill in 2018. Now, she holds the position of an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Division within the Department of Orthopeadic Surgery at Duke University and serves as a Clinical Research Scientist at Duke Sports Science Institute (DSSI).

Her research is dedicated to examining biomechanical and physical activity changes resulting from lower extremity injuries, with a goal of devising practical, multi-modal intervention approaches to enhance health and quality of life outcomes. Dr. Pietrosimone's focus is on athletic and active populations who experience sports-related traumatic and chronic overuse injury (e.g., ACL injury and lower extremeity tendinopathy).

Current Research Studies:

• Validation of an Evidence-Based Return to Sport Decision Tool after ACL Reconstruction
  
• Characterizing Changes in Knee Joint Loading with Wearable Sensor Technology following an Experimental Knee Joint Effusion
  
• Perseverance following ACLR: Changes Over Time and its Relationship to Clinical Measures
  

To check out Dr. Pietrosimone's Research in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, click here.

Antonella Henson-Vendrell

medical student (M1), wake forest university school of medicine

Ms. Henson-Vendrell recently started her medical school journey in Fall 2023 at Wake Forest School of Medicine. She is Puerto Rican, bilingual, has three sisters and grew up in Haymouth, Virginia.

Ms. Henson-Vendrell was an inaugural member of Puerto Rico’s U19 and Senior National Women’s Lacrosse teams and played in the World Lacrosse Women’s Championships in 2019 and 2022. Her passion for lacrosse continued in college, at Monmouth University, and was on the D1 Women's Lacrosse team. Ms. Henson-Vendrell founded the Morgan's Message Chapter at MU after battling her own ACL injury in Spring of 2021.

Based on her experiences as a student athlete, it sparked her passion for advocating mental health in student athletes (as well as in the medical community) and to pursue the profession of an Orthopedic Surgeon. In addition to using her social media platform (@nellyslife.med) to improve accessibility of helpful resources for pre-medical students during their journey and remaining transparent about her lifestyle in medical school.

Kristen Hagarty-Waite, MS, RDN, LDN, CNSC

Doctoral Student, University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Kristen received her Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition from Appalachian State University in 2013. Then continued her education by completing her MS in Nutrition from East Carolina University in 2019. Now, she is a 3rd-year PhD student in the Nutrition Department at UNC Greensboro.

Kristen has been a Registered Dietitian for 6 years, specializing in Nutrition Support from the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

After completing her Doctorate, she plans to continue her career in nutrition research. Her research interests include factors that impact trace element metabolism in the brain and neurodegenerative diseases.

Montse Robledo

Masters Student, Wake forest university School of Medicine

Montse was born and raised in Mexico. Since 2012, she’s lived in Greensboro, North Carolina. Montse completed her Bachelors of Science in Biology at the UNC Greensboro in 2022 and is currently enrolled as a Masters student in the Biomedical Graduate Program through Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Apart from being a student, she is actively involved in several student organizations such as the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter at Wake Forest School of Medicine and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & NativeAmericans in Science (SACNAS). In addition to being the class president for Fall 2023 Cohort and conducting research on autism in Spanish-speaking populations.

Once Montse completes her Masters degree, she will attend medical school.

Tracey Thurnes, EdD, MPAS, PA-C

Associate Professor of Physician ASsistant Students & Director of Accelerated Pathways Program, Elon University

Dr. Thurnes completed her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies at James Madison University in 2009, where she then worked in Cardiology providing direct patient care (inpatient and outpatient settings) as a PA-C. In 2019 she attended Gardner-Webb University to pursue a Doctorate in Education in Organizational Leadership. Since 2012, she has been a part of Elon University Department of Physician Assistant Studies.

Dr. Thurnes teaches students on professional issues, clinical medicine, surgery, and clinical reasoning. She is passionate about mentoring, advising and educating students, encouraging a holistic approach in healthcare. In addition to conducting research focused on improving critical thinking, design thinking, and leadership development in students in the health sciences. Dr. Thurnes has had the opportunity to speak at a variety of conferences, ranging from local to global audiences, surrounding health education.

Wassamon (Mod) Viriyakitja, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP

Clinical Pharmacist, Critical Care

Dr. Viriyakitja recieved her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at Samford University in 2016 and continued her residency at Huntsville Hospital to become a Critical Care Pharmacist. After completing her residency, she attended Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center to become an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. Currently, Dr. Viriyakitja is a Clinical Pharmacist in Critical Care at Duke University Hospital.

When Dr. Viriyakitja was completing her Bachelors in Biomechanics Engineering, she was a pre-medical student. Later she realized that medical school was not what she was interested and began shadowing her local pharmacist. In addition to working as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens for 5 years. She is passionate about sharing her journey as a pharmacist and bringing awareness to this health profession.

Meet the Team

Haley Bond

FOUNDER

Vice President, Prepping Advancement to Careers in Healthcare (PATCH)

hgbond@uncg.edu

Robin Maxwell, MA

FACULTY ADVISOR

Chair, Health Careers Advisory Committee

Director, Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program

Jeremy Ingraham, PhD

FACULTY ADVISOR

Assistant Chair, Health Careers Advisory Committee

Affiliated Student Groups

Prepping Advancement to Careers in Healthcare (PATCH)

Aaron Keat

President

Gabriella Wilson

Treasurer

Kristen

McCartney

Event Coordinator

Samiah Young

Secretary

Alan Sobalvarro-

Villalta

Service Coordinator

Karla Arroyo-

Rumbo

Social Media

Nutrition Club

Briley Kaminski

President

Chloe Mattern

Vice President

Maddie

Bohannon

Treasurer

Ann Marie

Csucsai

Public Relations

KIN Club

uncgkinclub

Stephanie

Esquilin-Ortiz

President

Hayley Smith

Vice President

Payton

Browning

Secretary

Stephanie

Alcazar

Event Coordinator

Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS)

Ayah Azzam

President

Catalina Reyes

Vice President

Valentina Reyes

Treasurer & Secretary

Dental Club

Michelle Semaan

President

Alexis Avila-

Ponce

Treasurer