GHHS Inducted Class of 2021
The purpose of GHHS is to recognize those students who exemplify humanistic attributes within medicine. Each year up to 15% of the third-year class can be elected for this honor based on nomination by their peers.
Executive Board
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Read More about Grace NgGrace Ng
Co-President
Grace Ng
Co-President
Hi, I'm Grace (she/her)! I grew up in the Chicago area and went to Stanford, where I majored in Symbolic Systems (a program that combines computer science and neuroscience) and minored in Biology. I am interested in researching health disparities in neurosurgery and neurology and look forward to pursuing the MSHP (Master of Science in Health Policy Research) this year. -
Read More about Daniel ChaitDaniel Chait
Co-President
Daniel Chait
Co-President
My name is Dan Chait (he/him/his) and I’m a medical student at The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. I graduated from The Ohio State University Honors College with a degree in physics and, before heading to medical school, spent a decade working in New York City public schools as a teacher and tutor. I’m interested in mental health care, particularly for individuals with terminal diagnoses, and I plan to pursue a residency in psychiatry with additional training in palliative care. In the coming academic year, I intend to seek deeper connections with others - in the PSOM community, with my patients, and with my friends - and I hope to push myself further outside my comfort zone in my medical training. -
Read More about Rahael BorchersRahael Borchers
Chair of Community Engagement
Rahael Borchers
Chair of Community Engagement
Hi, I’m Rahael (she/her/hers) — RAH-hail as in “hailstorm” — although I grew up in California and would love four seasons of sunshine! I attended Davidson College, where I majored in Political Science and minored in International Studies. I took an indirect path to medicine, ultimately experiencing the beauty of patient care at SF General Hospital, and completing a post-bacc program. While at Penn, I’ve continued to enjoy time with immigrant communities through HIAS, Puentes de Salud, the Refugee Health Interest Group, and Global Oncology. I’m excited to apply into Internal Medicine, with the hope of supporting patients' complex medical and social needs. During my last year as a student, I intend to fully exercise my student ID and my zygomaticus major!
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Read More about David MillerDavid Miller
Chair of Student Wellness
David Miller
Chair of Student Wellness
Hi I'm David (he/him/his)! I'm originally from Tallahassee, Florida and attended Florida State University, where I majored in Religion. After graduating, I pursued an MSc in Medical Anthropology from the University of Oxford in the UK. Prior to medical school, I worked in Washington, D.C. as a predoctoral fellow in the National Institutes of Health Bioethics Department, where I worked on a clinical ethics consult service and conducted research on the ethical issues in end of life care. As a medical student, I have been involved with Penn Med Pride and the Academic Resilience Team. During the COVID pandemic, I also worked with the Medical Students Virtual Visitation Program, in which medical students acted as remote "patient navigators" for patients hospitalized at HUP, as well as their families. In the coming year, I hope to reconnect with my research interests in medical ethics and health policy, narrow down my clinical interests, and dive into passion projects as an MS4, including some new ones with GHHS! -
Read More about Sanjna SuryaSanjna Surya
Chair of Media
Sanjna Surya
Chair of Media
Hi, I'm Sanjna (she/her/hers)! I am an MS3 planning to apply into Med-Peds. I was born in upstate New York, lived in India, and my family is now split between New Jersey and India. I studied biology as an undergrad at Cornell. In medical school I worked with the harm reduction organization Project SAFE, Covenant House, Students Against Racism in Medicine, and the Penn Med Breast Health Initiative. I am passionate about global health and medical education, and my goal is to help develop training and educational infrastructure for community health workers and healthcare trainees in under-resourced areas. I love spending time with cats and trying out different tea flavors. My goal for the next year is to improve my Spanish and paint more.
Student Members
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Read More about Adjoa ManteAdjoa Mante
Adjoa Mante
I'm Adjoa (she/her), a fourth-year medical student born in Villanova, PA. While in college at Princeton I majored in Spanish, studying global health with a focus on Black communities in Latin America. After graduating, I worked as a program manager at a hospital-based social service agency on Chicago’s west side. During medical school, I've enjoyed getting to know my neighbors while co-coordinating community health programs like Dance for Health and Cut Hypertension. It's also been encouraging to advocate for justice in health with fellow members of Students Opposing Racism in Medicine (StORM) and connect with the local faith community while here at Penn. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, eating, reading fiction, and wandering through the city on my bike. -
Read More about Anitra PersaudAnitra Persaud
Anitra Persaud
Hi there! My name is Anitra (she/her) and I am a rising MS4 interested in primary care. I graduated from Cornell in 2016 and then spent two years at NIH where I worked primarily on health equity projects aimed at addressing some of the burdens experienced by patients living with sickle cell disease. At Penn, I have enjoyed working with the Human Rights Clinic and HIAS to support refugees and asylum seekers, and have also been involved in advocating for FGLI students through LIFT US UP and a podcast I co-host with two of my classmates. In my free time, I enjoy teaching Zumba classes, rock-climbing, traveling to different places, reading a good book in one of my favorite coffee shops, and testing out new recipes! This year, I hope to develop a community art project to help individuals feel less alone in their struggles (especially with failure) and engage more with my West Philly neighborhood/community! -
Read More about Austin BorjaAustin Borja
Austin Borja
Hey there, I'm Austin Borja! Born and raised in Southern California, I moved to Philadelphia for undergrad at Penn, where studied Neuroscience and Healthcare Management before applying straight through to medical school. Here at PSOM, I've had the opportunity to represent my class on the Medical Student Government Leadership Team, serve the South Philly community as the Administrative Coordinator for Unity Clinic, and mentor students eager to explore neuroscientific and surgical fields. Professionally, I hope to translate new technologies into novel insights in neuropathophysiology, innovative quality improvement efforts, and exciting therapies. Outside of the clinic, you can catch me making gains at the gym and eating my way through Philly's stellar food scene. -
Read More about Canada MontgomeryCanada Montgomery
Canada Montgomery
Hi, I'm Canada! I'm originally from Pittsburgh, PA. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 were I majored in Biology and Neuroscience and minored in Chemistry and Gender/Sexuality/Women's Studies. Before coming to Penn, I worked as a nursing assistant in the Neuro ICU at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. As a medical student, I became heavily involved in community outreach and student life. I volunteered at Covenant House and Cut Hypertension and participated in several student groups including Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Students Opposing Racism in Medicine (StORM), Langfitt Neurosurgical Society, and House Council. Over the years and during my time at Penn, I have gained an interest in community engagement efforts and health advocacy with a particular research interest surrounding health equity. I will be pursuing the Masters of Science in Health Policy (MSHP) degree during a year out to further explore these interests. Currently, I plan to pursue a career in neurosurgery once I finish the MD/MSHP program. Outside of medicine, I love watching reality TV shows, watching sports (Go Steelers!), and spending as much time with friends and family as possible. Over the next year, I hope to get back into other hobbies I used to enjoy like kickboxing and sewing and take more adventures around Philly! -
Read More about Christina AmutahChristina Amutah
Christina Amutah
Hello! My name is Christina and I use she/her pronouns. I am a native Philadelphian and a graduate of Howard University where I studied Political Science. I have a variety of interests including reproductive health, racism in medicine, and global health equity. This upcoming year, I will be completing an MPH. I intend to fully awaken the social science side of my brain and travel internationally at least once (if the pandemic allows!). -
Read More about Clara WardenClara Warden
Clara Warden
Hi, I’m Clara (she/her/hers)! I was born in Buenos Aires and grew up in northern California, where I spent most of my childhood running around with my twin brother (we were homeschooled). For college, I headed to Stanford where I studied psychology and found my passion for working at the intersection of health and human rights. After graduating, I conducted research on immigrant and refugee health at CHOP and began volunteering at Puentes de Salud. At Penn, I have deeply enjoyed getting to know my amazing peers, continuing to serve the Latinx community through Puentes, and conducting research on topics related to health equity. I will be applying into Internal Medicine with the goal of pursuing a career focused on partnering with immigrant communities to improve access to care and address health disparities. This year, I am looking forward to reconnecting with loved ones and taking every opportunity to bike, hike, and soak in the beauty of nature. -
Read More about Claudia LovellClaudia Lovell
Claudia Lovell
Hello! My name is Claudia (she/her). I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2014, then worked as a research technician at NYU. I am an MD-PhD student pursuing my thesis work in Dr. Montserrat Anguera's lab, where we study how the X chromosome contributes to the female bias in autoimmune disease. I am planning to specialize in rheumatology, and I hope to run a basic science research lab in parallel with my role as a clinician to improve the lives of individuals suffering from chronic autoimmune diseases. In the upcoming academic year I am excited to reconnect with my MD classmates before they graduate and move on to the next phase of their careers!
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Read More about Cody GoldsmithCody Goldsmith
Cody Goldsmith
Hi, my name is Cody and I’m currently an MS3. I graduated from Cornell University in 2017 with a major in Nutritional Sciences and a minor in Development Sociology. I’m interested in wellness and prevention. I’ve witnessed seniors surprise themselves in the gym as well as on the dance floor and I’ve seen children better cope with affliction through painting and singing. This year, I will focus on identifying and building upon opportunities to integrate medicine with the social determinants of health, the arts, nutrition, and fitness. -
Read More about Debanjan HaldarDebanjan Haldar
Debanjan Haldar
Hi, I am Debanjan! I was born and raised in Edison, NJ, and lived in Jersey through my undergrad at NJIT, where I studied biomedical engineering before coming to Penn for medical school. I have always had an interest in neuroscience and medical innovation and am constantly looking for opportunities to learn more about the ways new technology can help us elucidate the mysteries of the brain and create new therapeutic interventions. Professionally, I look forward to a career as an academic surgeon, splitting my time between research, device development, and surgery. Outside of academics, I am a self-trained barber and love to cut hair for friends, colleagues, and anyone adventurous enough to sit down for a snip. I also love hitting the gym and volunteering my time to mentor undergrads interested in health science fields. This year, I am looking forward to completing my Master's degree in Translational Research and hope to learn about and contribute to the field of pediatric neurooncology. -
Read More about Edward GomesEdward Gomes
Edward Gomes
Hello! My name is Ed. I am honored to be a GHHS inductee. I grew up outside of Philly (close to Linvilla Orchards) and went to Penn for college, where I majored in Biochemistry and Biophysics. I took a year off to work as a lab tech before coming to medical school. In medical school, I have been involved with Cut Hypertension, Rhoads House Council, and SAMoSA and recently started working on a project to better understand the burden of cardiac arrhythmias in post-Covid patients. I am hoping to apply into Internal Medicine. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my cat, Niko, exploring the West Philly food scene, and learning tango. In the upcoming year, I hope to be more intentional about supporting local businesses, especially in the West Philly area. -
Read More about Ethan SametEthan Samet
Ethan Samet
I'm Ethan (he/his/him). I grew up in Massachusetts and studied History and Literature at Harvard - my thesis discussed the intersection of piracy and the slave trade in the 1660s-1720s. I taught sixth grade science in Springfield, Massachusetts and earned my Master's of Education from Boston University before applying to medical school. While at Penn I co-founded the Geriatrics student interest group (GrANDMAS) and organized the Alianza Cuba program. This year I hope to do some traveling and hiking as the world (hopefully) continues to open up! -
Read More about Jaleh NajmiJaleh Najmi
Jaleh Najmi
Hi my name is Jaleh! I come from California and have spent most of my life in San Diego, but I consider West Philadelphia home now. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Public Health and am very interested in family medicine, community health, and social determinants of health. Ultimately, I decided to become a doctor to support and accompany individuals and communities of color in their efforts to pursue health and well-being. I love traveling, dancing, and playing old school RnB from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. One of my goals this year is to maintain a joyful spirit and to strive to bring joy to at least one person everyday. -
Read More about Jonathan BaronJonathan Baron
Jonathan Baron
Hello everyone! I'm Johny and I was born and raised in Hidalgo, Mexico, but moved to the United States when I was 13. I went to high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and then attended Princeton University where I majored in molecular biology. At Penn, I have served in the LMSA board as co-chair and student government liaison and have also gotten involved with radiation oncology research. Outside of school, I like to play soccer and hang out at the dog park. This year I am looking forward to continuing to build mentorship programs both within and outside of Penn Med. -
Read More about EB MessineoEB Messineo
EB Messineo
Hihi! I’m EB Messineo (she/her), and I grew up in Westwood, MA. Before coming to Penn, I studied biology and Spanish at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Professionally, I am interested in pediatrics and public health, and I hope to be a primary care pediatrician when I grow up! Personally, I love jogging, time by the ocean, and movie nights with my roommates! This year, I hope to give as many hugs as I safely can and remind family and friends that they are still so loved after a distanced year! -
Read More about Natalia RodriguezNatalia Rodriguez
Natalia Rodriguez
Hi, my name is Natalia (she/her)! My family is from the Dominican Republic, but I grew up in NJ (right outside of NYC). I went to Penn for undergrad where I studied Biological Basis of Behavior. After graduation, I spent two years working with the Bronx Health Opportunities Partnership at Einstein (Bronx-HOPE) where I coordinated pipeline programs promoting the educational advancement of underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in health professions. During medical school, I've been a part of diversity recruitment via LMSA, SNMA, and other community programs dedicated to supporting students through higher education. Outside the hospital, I'm usually going on long walks around the city, experimenting with new recipes, or Facetiming my family! -
Read More about Patrick GouldPatrick Gould
Patrick Gould
Hi, I’m Patrick! I grew up in Arlington, VA, majored in economics and mathematics at Dartmouth, and worked in strategy consulting for a few years before making the switch into medicine. At Penn, I’ve volunteered with the Heart Health Bridge to Care clinic, helped to lead the Penn Votes project, and have acted as a course representative and wellness committee chair. I’m also working towards Penn’s Master of Bioethics degree. Long term, I want to work in academic medicine, pursuing some combination of clinical care, teaching, and research. In the coming year, I’m hoping to spend more time reading books for fun and making music with my classmates. -
Read More about Seiji SudaSeiji Suda
Seiji Suda
My name is Seiji (He/Him), an MS3 planning to apply into emergency medicine. I grew up in Honolulu, HI and attended Washington University in St. Louis for undergrad. Along with medicine, I’m passionate about the role of spirituality in health and justice. This upcoming year I’m beyond excited to go to seminary and engage in community building work in St. Louis. -
Read More about Tristan LimTristan Lim
Tristan Lim
Hi, I'm Tristan (he/him/his)! I was born and raised in Houston, Texas but often dream of food back home in Thailand. I went to Princeton for undergrad, where I majored in Chemical and Biological Engineering and minored in Global Health and Health Policy. At Penn, I've been involved with APAMSA, StORM, Global Oncology, and Pan-Asian Dance Troupe while I've continued to navigate my interests at the intersection of cancer technologies and global health. When I'm not busy with school, I enjoy dancing, doing martial arts, hanging out, and watching all sorts of TV. In the coming year, I'm really looking forward to connecting more deeply with friends, family, and the Philadelphia community at large.
