At RUSH, excellence is for everyone. Our goal is to build a learning community where students, faculty and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome and supported and have the opportunity to share their own experiences. Here are a few of the diverse students, faculty, residents and fellows who are part of our educational community.
Medical Students
Yumiko Gely
After serving in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, Gely started medical school and now coordinates her fellow students at the Community Health Clinic, a free clinic on the West Side of Chicago. Learn more
Marissa Pharel
Raised in Puerto Rico, the Haitian-American Pharel earned her masters in nutrition and worked in research at Johns Hopkins before pursuing her MD. She is passionate about improving medical pipeline programs for underrepresented minorities, increasing healthy literacy, and addressing health inequities in low-income, marginalized communities. Learn more
Residents and Fellows
Ashanta Patricia Brady, MD
A second-year resident in Combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Brady practiced as a licensed pharmacist for four years. Then she discovered that her calling in life was working toward the coordination of medical care in underserved communities and the elimination of health disparities. Learn more.
Boss Povieng, MD
The intersectionality we each hold is a powerful tool that makes us a unique force of change for our community. My intersectionality draws in large part from my immigrant roots. As with many immigrants, my family held a deep respect for physicians and the selfless nature of our profession. Since I was young, my parents have encouraged me to pursue the field of medicine. Learn more
Daniel Reyes, MD
Once a high school science teacher, Reyes transitioned to medical school and became active in the student-run clinic exclusively for uninsured, primarily Spanish-speaking immigrant patients. Today he continues that mission in Chicago, working to dismantle barriers to health care. Learn more.
Faculty and Staff
Cynthia E. Boyd, MD, MBA
A professional strategist, leader, role model, speaker, mentor, colleague, motivator, wife, mother and friend, Cynthia E. Boyd weaves together ideas to inspire people to become more inclusive leaders. Learn more.
Crystal M. Glover, PhD
Social psychologist, mixed-methodologist, and health equity researcher Crystal Glover focuses on collaborating with and including members of African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino communities that have been inequitably included and traditionally understudied in aging research. Learn more.
Victoria Poole, PhD
Neuroimaging specialist Victoria Poole led Rush's implementation of a national career development program for postdocs and junior faculty who are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. Learn more.
Connections: People You Should Know
We are dedicated to creating a more prosperous healing and working environment through the advocacy of the diverse communities we service. Our focus on quality education and patient care, as well as community service and research, drives our students, trainees, faculty and staff to facilitate a more diverse, equitable and inclusive learning culture at RUSH. Meet some of our current medical students, residents and fellows who are historically underrepresented in medicine.
View previous Diversity & Inclusion Spotlights