2020 Grand Prize Winner

Benjamin Curnett

Benjamin Curnett is a student in the accelerated BSN program at Regis University in Denver Colorado, Class of 2021. He has been an EMT, a river guide, a kayak instructor, a NOLS instructor, and a ski patroller. Though leaning toward work in the ED or ICU, Ben is excited by all the career possibilities available in the world of nursing. His first degree was in creative writing, and he leaves a career in advertising to pursue nursing with the goal of helping people, families, and communities in need. When not with his family, he spends an inordinate amount of time at the dog park with his exercise-dependent puppy, Sunflower.

Mirah-Aizza Galuego

Mirah-Aizza Galuego is a second year Physician Assistant student at Oregon Health and Science University located in Portland, Oregon. Mirah-Aizza is interested in Family Medicine, Otology, Pediatrics, and Women’s Health and is looking forward to the different sites she will be placed at for rotations during her clinical year. Prior to PA school she worked as a medical scribe in an otology clinic where she grew to love ears! She really enjoys boxing and spending time with her family and friends and hopes that by telling her story she can help others turn their dreams into a reality.

Dalton LaBarge

Dalton LaBarge (Rohsennase) is from the Akwesasne Mohawk nation. They are an MD Candidate in the Class of 2023 at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry. Their clinical interests are diverse: Pediatrics, Surgery and Neurology. Outside of medicine, Dalton’s hobbies include exploring the woods, eating all of the delicious foods, and hanging out with their two akitas. A fun fact about them is that their first degree was in Creative Writing!

Ashly Okoli

Ashly Okoli is a fourth-year dental student at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry, where she is also enrolled in a Master’s in Education for Healthcare Professionals. She will begin residency in pediatric dentistry next year, and looks forward to being challenged, building relationships with families and listening to all the funny things the kids have to say. In her free time, Ashly loves lifting weights at the gym and being on FaceTime with her friends. Rumor has it her name is spelled “Ashly” instead of “Ashley” because her brother (who was 6 at the time) named her, and that is how he spelled it. 

Victor Pereira

Víctor Mauricio Pereira studies at the Wake Forest School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. Powering through the first 6 months of school during a global pandemic has had its ups and downs. Thankfully, he has incredible classmates, friends, and family to support him along the way. Victor cannot wait to explore psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, and palliative care next year during clinical rotations. For fun, he loves traveling, spending time outdoors, and exploring music. Fun fact: San Francisco is his favorite city!

Sarah Phan

Sarah Phan is a first-year DNP student at Columbia University School of Nursing in the city of New York, where she will specialize in pediatric primary care. Sarah is passionate about community health and bringing access to care in medically underserved areas. Before NP school, she obtained clinical experience in multiple entry-level positions such as EMT, medical scribe, medical assistant, and clinical research assistant. Her hobbies include camping, reading, drawing, stress-baking, and petting other people’s dogs. Fun fact: Sarah taught herself how to cut her own hair, which became an extremely useful skill during quarantine!

2019 Grand Prize Winner

Tyler Thorne

Tyler Thorne is a 2nd year medical student at John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He is originally from Waimea, Hawai'i. He is interested in specializing in surgery. When Tyler isn't studying, he spends his time hiking, scuba diving, and traveling.

Nat Jones

Nat is a second-year medical student at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Nat is interested in improving health care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, particularly in the field of oncology. Nat’s favorite pastimes include power-lifting with friends, using their art history degree to paint scenes around them, and studying the Japanese language.

Viktoriya Kislyak

Viktoriya is a Family Nurse Practitioner student at Walsh University. A first-generation immigrant from Ukraine, she loves traveling, cooking, spending time with family, as well as serving the community and her heavenly father. She states, “Without the support of my husband, our son, family, friends, and God, I would never have made it this far in my life. I am beyond blessed with some of the most amazing people in this world.”

Grace Benmhend

Grace is a second-year medical student at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. She is originally from Gainesville, FL. She wants to specialize in family medicine with a fellowship in integrative medicine. When Grace is not studying, she is traveling, reading British classics, and playing with her dog, Frodo.

Shqiponja Kuka

Shqiponja Kuka is a second-year Physician Assistant student at Yale University's Online PA Program. She is originally from Albania, but has lived in Derby, Connecticut for most of her life. Shqiponja is interested in working with underserved populations and has a special interest in public health. She loves to spend time reading, running, and having long and fun conversations with her four-year-old daughter.

Dilan Shah

Dilan Shah is a first-year medical student at the new Texas Christian University & University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas. This program hosts a holistic, patient-centered curriculum with early clinical exposure, formal empathy training, and integrated research. Dilan will soon begin research examining biomarkers of depression, and is interested in specializing in psychiatry or neurology. Dilan enjoys the outdoors, meditating, or working on community development projects.