Program Alumni

2020 Rush Summer Research Scholars Program Participants

Name	Background & Research
Image Atzel Albino Martinez	College/University: Dominican University Major: Neuroscience Year-in-school: Rising Junior Research Project Name: Characterizing the Meniscus Microvasculature in a Human Cadaver with Radiographic Techniques Faculty Mentor: Jorge Chahla, MD
Image Alia Alicea	College/University: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Major: Human Development and Family Studies Year-in-school: Rising Junior Research Project Name: Empowering Residents of West Garfield Park with an Understanding of Mental Health, and its Intersection with Exercise, Nutrition, Physical Wellness, and an Overall Sense of Well-Being Faculty Mentor: Sheila Dugan, MD
Image Nancy Cortez	College/University: Rush University Major: Health Sciences Year-in-school: Class of 2020 Research Project Name: Evaluation of Organ Transplant Program for Undocumented Patients in Illinois Faculty Mentor: Brittney Lange-Maia, PhD
Image Emilia Ferreira	College/University: Vanderbilt University Major: Neuroscience Year-in-school: Rising Junior Research Project Name: Analysis of Patient Compliance in Post-Surgical Spine Patients Faculty Mentor: Howard S. An, MD
Image Andrea Hernandez	College/University: Loyola University Major: Neuroscience Year-in-school: Rising Junior Research Project Name: Telemedicine Meets Parkinson’s Disease: Personalized Neuro-Teletherapy from Home Faculty Mentor: Mitra Afshari, MD, MPH
Image Chizelum Ikedi	College/University: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Major: Psychology Year-in-school: Rising Senior Research Project Name: Improving Knowledge, Attitudes, and Skills of Medical Trainees in Clinical Medical Ethics Faculty Mentor: Gina Piscitello, MD
Image Tigist Mersha	College/University: Loyola University Major: Neuroscience Year-in-school: Rising junior Research Project Name: Complication Rates and Mean Age of Patients with Crouzon and Apert Syndrome Who Underwent Monobloc Surgery Faculty Mentor: Amir Dorafshar, MD
Image Mary-Benedicta Obikili	College/University: University of Illinois at Chicago Major: Biology Year-in-school: Senior Research Project Name: Exploring Colorectal Cancer Genetics in African American and Caucasian Populations Faculty Mentor: Ashiq Masood, MD
Image Dulce Saenz	College/University: Beloit College Major: Biochemistry Year-in-school: Class of 2020 Research Project Name: Mood, Dietary Patterns, and Cognition of Cardiac Patients of Rush Systems Faculty Mentor: Annabelle S. Volgman, MD
Image Antonia Santos	College/University: University of Illinois at Chicago Major: Biological Sciences Year-in-school: Class of 2018 Research Project Name: Assessing Diet, Engaging Physical Activity, and Raising Stroke Awareness during COVID-19 Faculty Mentor: Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD

Name

Background & Research

Atzel Albino Martinez

College/University: Dominican University

Major: Neuroscience

Year-in-school: Rising Junior

Research Project Name: Characterizing the Meniscus Microvasculature in a Human Cadaver with Radiographic Techniques

Faculty Mentor: Jorge Chahla, MD

Alia Alicea

College/University: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Major: Human Development and Family Studies

Year-in-school: Rising Junior

Research Project Name: Empowering Residents of West Garfield Park with an Understanding of Mental Health, and its Intersection with Exercise, Nutrition, Physical Wellness, and an Overall Sense of Well-Being

Faculty Mentor: Sheila Dugan, MD

Nancy Cortez

College/University: Rush University

Major: Health Sciences

Year-in-school: Class of 2020

Research Project Name: Evaluation of Organ Transplant Program for Undocumented Patients in Illinois

Faculty Mentor: Brittney Lange-Maia, PhD

Emilia Ferreira

College/University: Vanderbilt University

Major: Neuroscience

Year-in-school: Rising Junior

Research Project Name: Analysis of Patient Compliance in Post-Surgical Spine Patients

Faculty Mentor: Howard S. An, MD

Andrea Hernandez

College/University: Loyola University

Major: Neuroscience

Year-in-school: Rising Junior

Research Project Name: Telemedicine Meets Parkinson’s Disease: Personalized Neuro-Teletherapy from Home

Faculty Mentor: Mitra Afshari, MD, MPH

Chizelum Ikedi

College/University: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Major: Psychology

Year-in-school: Rising Senior

Research Project Name: Improving Knowledge, Attitudes, and Skills of Medical Trainees in Clinical Medical Ethics

Faculty Mentor: Gina Piscitello, MD

Tigist Mersha

College/University: Loyola University

Major: Neuroscience

Year-in-school: Rising junior

Research Project Name: Complication Rates and Mean Age of Patients with Crouzon and Apert Syndrome Who Underwent Monobloc Surgery

Faculty Mentor: Amir Dorafshar, MD

Mary-Benedicta Obikili

College/University: University of Illinois at Chicago

Major: Biology

Year-in-school: Senior

Research Project Name: Exploring Colorectal Cancer Genetics in African American and Caucasian Populations

Faculty Mentor: Ashiq Masood, MD

Dulce Saenz

College/University: Beloit College

Major: Biochemistry

Year-in-school: Class of 2020

Research Project Name: Mood, Dietary Patterns, and Cognition of Cardiac Patients of Rush Systems

Faculty Mentor: Annabelle S. Volgman, MD

Antonia Santos

College/University: University of Illinois at Chicago

Major: Biological Sciences

Year-in-school: Class of 2018

Research Project Name: Assessing Diet, Engaging Physical Activity, and Raising Stroke Awareness during COVID-19

Faculty Mentor: Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD

2020 Rush Summer Research Scholars Program Peer Mentors

Image Ruthe Ali, M2	Image Eric Azua, M2	Image Derek Collins, M2	Image Joseph Dodson, M2
Image Yumiko Gely, M2	Image Daniel Gonzales, M2	Image Ikenna Ifearulundu, M2	Image Emmanuel Joseph, M2
Image Timothy Kuzel, M2	Image Jugyeong (Esther) Lee, M2	Image Yiqi (Anabelle) Lin, M2	Image Thomas McNally, M2
Image Andrew Michaelis, M2	Image Yvette Ramirez, M2	Image Tyler Rubeor, M2	Image Nicholas Waldvogel, M2