Medical Student Leadership

Cara Cipriano, MD, MSc

LLOS Faculty Advisor
cara.cipriano@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Cara Cipriano, MD, MSc Website

LLOS is lucky to have Dr. Cipriano as our faculty advisor. Her guidance is integral for student leadership in delivering meaningful programs to the Perelman School of Medicine student body. Dr. Cipriano serves as the Chief of Orthopaedic Oncology and as an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Sarthak Mohanty

MS4 Co-Chair
sarthak.mohanty@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Sarthak Mohanty is an MS4 from Edison, New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at The College of New Jersey and completed a post-graduate research year at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Sarthak cultivated a passion for orthopedics while actively participating in USTA tennis tournaments for fifteen years. He continues to remain active and enjoys participating in half marathons and marathons. Academically, Sarthak is interested in musculoskeletal development and how foundational developmental mechanisms can inform regenerative therapies. Clinically, he is most interested in Spine surgery and Sports Medicine. During his leisure time, Sarthak enjoys experimenting with crafting artisanal pizzas in his home pizza oven and also enjoys exploring the vibrant restaurant scene in Philadelphia. Through LLOS, Sarthak aims to share his passion for orthopedic scholarship with others.

Lori Jia

MS4 Co-Chair
lori.jia@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Lori is an MS4 from Dallas, TX and graduated from Yale University with a B.S. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry. She grew up playing field hockey and remains an avid runner, skier, and swimmer. Lori is drawn to orthopaedic surgery for its collaborative work, innovative technologies, and transformative outcome on patients’ lives. She is excited to share her passion for orthopaedic surgery with the Penn Med community!

Will Huffman

MS4 Co-Chair
william.huffman@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Will is an MS4 from Dayton, Ohio, and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2020. He is interested in orthopaedic surgery for the opportunities to meaningfully impact the lives of others through restored mobility and function. In his limited spare time, he fits in running, seeing family, and trying to plan his wedding.

Hannah Lee

MS4 Co-Chair
hannah.lee7@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Hannah is an MS4 from Central Jersey who graduated from Penn in 2020 with a degree in Biology. She is interested in orthopedic surgery because after growing up playing sports, she’d love to help injured athletes and kids with developmental disorders get up and running, throwing, kicking, and playing. Outside of medical school, Hannah enjoys discovering running trails, leading fitness classes, and playing with Penn’s club soccer team. She’s excited to expand orthopedic knowledge and health with her classmates and Penn community.

Ibikari Legg-Jack

MS4 Co-Chair
ibikari.legg-jack@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Ibikari is an MS4 from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BS in Biochemistry in 2020. Ibikari is drawn to the field of orthopaedic surgery because of its ability to restore movement, functionality, and independence to a patient’s life. In his free time, he enjoys running, weightlifting, playing soccer, and supporting his favorite sports teams. He is looking forward to collaborating with other Penn Med students volunteering with the orthopaedic division at the Center for Surgical Health.

Kelly Zochowski

MS4 Co-Chair
Kelly.Zochowski@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Originally from Chatham, New Jersey, Kelly is an MS4 who graduated from Georgetown University in 2017 with a B.S. in Biology and was a member of Georgetown’s varsity sailing team. Before matriculating to Penn Med, Kelly worked as a research assistant at Hospital for Special Surgery where her interest in orthopaedics began. Kelly’s specific interests include the use of MR imaging in orthopaedics, female ACL injury, biomechanics, and technology and device development. At Penn Med, Kelly is part of the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee, is a board member for the Sports Medicine Interest Group, and is involved with the Association of Women Surgeons and Caritas. Outside of school, Kelly enjoys skiing, rooting for the Hoyas and NY Giants, and spending time with friends and family. Kelly is thrilled to be a part of the LLOS board this year and looks forward to helping other students discover their interest in the field of orthopaedics.

Manasa Kadiyala

MS4 Co-Chair
manasa.kadiyala@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Manasa Kadiyala is an MS4 from Johns Creek, Georgia and attended the University of Georgia, where she majored in biochemistry and molecular biology and minored in Spanish. She has been a classical Indian dancer since the age of five and is interested in orthopedic surgery for its ability to restore the art of movement and quality of life for patients who are often at the most vulnerable point in their lives. She is interested in a career in academic medicine where she can continue researching ways to improve patient care and outcomes while also teaching future generations of healthcare professionals. In her free time, Manasa loves dancing, spending time with friends and family, reading, (trying to) sing karaoke, and meeting new people!

Ryan Lopez

CDYO Co-Chair
ryan.lopez@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Ryan is a CDYO from Miami, FL who graduated from University of North Florida in 2020 with a BS in Biochemistry. He is passionate about orthopedic surgery because of the field’s ability to restore an individual’s independence and quality of life. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, working out, and exploring all that Philly has to offer.

Margaret Tamburro

MD/PhD Co-Chair
Margaret.Tamburro@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Maggie is an MD/PhD student completing her PhD in the Soslowsky Laboratory. She studied biomedical engineering at NC State University where she was also a gymnast. Maggie is drawn to orthopedics because of the overlap between medicine and engineering in injury biomechanics. As a future physician-scientist, she is very interested in closing the gap between the lab and the operating room to improve patient care. Outside of school and the lab, Maggie enjoys watching gymnastics, going to concerts, and exploring Philly. She is excited to be a part of the LLOS board to share her enthusiasm for orthopedics and orthopedic research with her peers.

Ellie Bernstein

MD-PhD Co-Chair
elizabeth.bernstein@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Ellie is an MD/PhD student in the first year of her PhD. She is originally from Seattle, WA and attended Harvard University where she studied neuroscience and was a varsity lightweight rower. Within orthopedics, Ellie hopes to pursue sports surgery. She is getting her PhD in bioengineering and plans to study meniscus healing and tissue engineering. Ellie has been a part of the Elizabeth Blackwell Society, the Sports Medicine Interest Group and the Association of Women Surgeons. As an LLOS board member, Ellie is particularly excited to work on projects aimed at increasing gender diversity and student exposure to basic science research within orthopedics.

Yixuan Amy Pei

MS3 Co-Chair
yixuan.pei@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Amy is an MS3 from Morgantown, WV. After graduating from Johns Hopkins with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a year at Oxford University studying Biochemistry, Amy subsequently spent her gap year researching cartilage stem cell regeneration. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, skiing, painting, and exploring Philly’s restaurant scene. Amy’s drawn to orthopaedic surgery for its emphasis on teamwork and hands-on approach to improving patient independence and quality of life. She is excited to be a part of the LLOS board to help others find their passions within the field!

Pranav Kodali

MS3 Co-Chair
pranav.kodali@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Pranav Kodali is an MS3 from Roseville, California. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with a degree in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology and a minor in Scientific Computing. He is specifically interested in medical device innovation in orthopedics and using lessons from the OR to guide the development of existing and new technology. At Penn, he has been involved in PennHealthX as the treasurer, SAMoSA as a co-president, and TA’ed for the Wharton MBA class on Medical Devices. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, home improvement projects, and religiously following Formula 1.

Avi Dravid

MS3 Co-Chair
avi.dravid@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Avi Dravid is an MS3 from Glenview, Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern University in 2019 with a degree in biology and political science. Prior to starting medical school, he was a Fulbright scholar at the London School of Economics, where he earned a master’s in International Development & Humanitarian Emergencies. His dissertation focused on Taliban-NGO relations, examining the provision of humanitarian aid in Taliban-controlled areas. He is especially interested in global surgery and health service delivery in complex humanitarian environments – settings where there is a significant orthopaedic surgical burden. At Penn, he has been involved in the Center for Surgical Health as a lead PPN for the orthopaedic division, the Penn Global Surgery Group, and the Philadelphia Human Rights Clinic among other organizations. In his free time, he enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, and playing his electric guitar.

Trent Levy

MS2 Co-Chair
trent.levy@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Trent is an MS2 who graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. Before matriculating to Perelman School of Medicine, Trent worked as a federal health consultant for the DHA with Deloitte in Washington DC. At Penn Med, he has continued his interests in medical devices and entrepreneurship in medicine serving as an executive member of PennHealthX. His specific interests in orthopedics include MRI imaging, biomechanics, materials science, and translational research. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys painting, drawing, soccer, and running.

Jessica Rosenblum

MS2 Co-Chair
jessica.rosenblum@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Jessica is an MS2 from Westchester, NY and graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 2019. Before deciding that she wanted to pursue a degree in medicine, she worked for 2 years as a manufacturing engineer at a medical device company. She is drawn to the field of orthopedic surgery because of her interest in the mechanics of the human body and the field’s ability to make an immediate, positive and lasting impact on patients' lives. In her free time, Jessica loves playing soccer with friends, working out, trying new restaurants in Philly, and cheering on the Michigan Wolverines (Go Blue!).

Julio Ojea Quintana

MS2 Co-Chair
julio.ojeaquintana@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Julio is an MS2 from Connecticut who graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2021 with a B.A. in Natural Sciences, where he played on the varsity soccer team. He loves the teamwork approach and technological innovation in orthopedics and is drawn to how these are used to tremendously improve patients' quality of life. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, exploring Philly’s food scene, and spending time with friends and family.

Faculty Leadership