2011-2012 Campus Representatives

Arizona State University

Trent Bowen is a junior majoring in physics at Arizona State University. He volunteered with Unite For Sight in Accra, Ghana for three weeks in July of 2010. Working closely with glaucoma ophthalmologist Dr. Gyasi, he interviewed glaucoma patients at Emmanuel Eye Centre in order to research what barriers prevented them from seeking vision care initially. He has a passion to become an ophthalmologist and a leader in global health improvement, especially in preventative vision care. After his experience with Unite For Sight, he is interested in continuing to study how preventative medicine is being integrated into the developing health care system in Ghana. Trent enjoys running, photography, and basketball in his free time and works in an optometry office. 

Arizona State University

Tina Hakimi is a senior biomedical engineering student at Arizona State University. She served with Unite For Sight for one month during the Summer of 2011 in Accra, Ghana, and she says that she considers it to be one of the most enlightening and enriching experiences of her life. Tina says that she strongly believes in the mission and practices of Unite For Sight, and is very excited to represent the program at ASU. She says that her experience working with the ophthalmologists in Ghana inspired her to delve more deeply into the field of eye care, and she aspires to work with Unite For Sight as an ophthalmologist one day. In her free time, Tina enjoys cooking, Tae Kwon Do, and painting.

Boston University School of Medicine

Andrew Francis is a 4th year medical student at Boston University School of Medicine. He participated as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow and Global Impact Lab Participant in Ghana for 9 weeks during the summer of 2009, and is currently Chapter President and Campus Representative at Boston University School of Medicine. He was the first Global Impact Fellow to work with Dr. Michael Gyasi on a pilot glaucoma project in Accra, Ghana that has since been presented at the Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) and the Unite for Sight Annual Conference. His research is pending publication. For his work abroad and at home addressing the needs of the underserved, Andrew was awarded the 2010 Volunteer of the Year Service Award presented at the Unite For Sight Annual Conference. He plans to pursue a career in ophthalmology and continue to work closely with Unite For Sight on a variety of future projects and initiatives. Read Andrew Francis' reflection about his volunteer experience in Ghana.

Boston University School of Medicine

Rudy Wong is a second year medical student at Boston University School of Medicine. He worked as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Tamale and the northern region of Ghana for several weeks during July 2011. At Boston University, he is chair of the Ophthalmology Interest Group and maintains an active, growing interest in ophthalmology and global health. Rudy says that he passionately looks forward to continuing his work with Unite For Sight and sharing the invaluable lessons that he learned from his global health experience.

Brandeis University

Gregory Drozdow is an undergraduate student at Brandeis University in Boston, Massachusetts. Enrolled in his third year at Brandeis, he is a Health, Science, Society and Policy major and is also on the premedical track. He volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow at the Crystal Eye Clinic and Northwestern Eye Clinic in Accra, Ghana in June 2010. His experience has given him insight into the field of ophthalmology and has influenced him to continue volunteer work with Unite For Sight. He is currently working on a program to teach young children about Eye Health and disease in Ghana. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, he has volunteered with multiple hospitals in North Miami including Aventura Medical Hospital and Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. He plans on engaging his peers in the North Miami Area about the issues of preventable blindness and hopes to spread the message of Unite For Sight as well. Gregory enjoys playing piano and basketball and loves traveling.

Brandeis University

Samuel Icaza is a Junior at Brandeis University majoring in Health, Science, Society, and Policy. He volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow at the A.B Eye Institute in Patna, Bihar, India with the Sinha Family in June 2010, which was made possible by the Brandeis Hiatt Career Center World Of Work Social Justice Fellowship and Unite For Sight. His experience has sparked an interest in studying ophthalmology and exploring the diversity of issues that contribute to global health problems. A native of Panama, Sammy hopes to return to his country and address issues of preventable blindness there and in Latin America. He hopes to continue working with Unite For Sight in the future. Sammy loves cooking, trying exotic cuisines, traveling, and surfing. Read about Sammy Icaza's experience in Patna.

Brigham Young University

David Marsh is a premedical student at Brigham Young University where he is majoring in Psychology.  David volunteered with Unite For Sight in Patna, Bihar, India in August 2011.  He says that an especially emotional moment came while removing the gauze pads of post-operation patients as their loved ones crowded around, excited to see the sight restoration.  He says that he developed a greater appreciation for the hard work of selfless people like the Sinhas, and it is his greatest desire to return to places in need to serve.  He speaks French fluently and says that he hopes especially to use his language skills in future medical endeavors.  He and his wife Kimberly love to travel, perform and write music, and find new places to eat.

Brown University

Patricia Santos is a sophomore premed student at Brown University. While pursuing a double concentration in Neuroscience and History, she volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow for Unite For Sight in Ghana during the month of January 2011. During her time in the Global Impact Corps, she had the unique opportunity to divide her volunteer experience between the Charity Eye Clinic in Kumasi and the Crystal Eye Clinic in Accra. This dual experience allowed her to not only witness the sheer breadth of Ghana’s natural beauty, but also allowed her to interact with and extend a helping hand to Ghana’s many diverse peoples. Daily outreaches to some of the most obscure villages in the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, and Volta Regions of Ghana, and observing as many as 20 sight-saving cataract surgeries within a single day helped to broaden her understanding of the barriers to global health delivery. She says that her time in Ghana was one of the most memorable and poignant times in her life, leaving an imprint that continues to resonate as she plans to pursue medicine and global health in the future. By working with Unite For Sight as Brown University’s Campus Representative, she says that she hopes to continue the mission of global health delivery that she began in Ghana by encouraging fellow students to do the same. In her free time, she enjoys visual arts, musical theatre and pool. Read Patricia's reflection about her volunteer experience in Ghana.

Brown University

Indu Voruganti is a senior at Brown University studying in Biology. Indu has been involved with Unite For Sight as a Global Impact Fellow in Ghana, a Global Health Leadership Intern, a Brown Campus Rep, and a moderator at the Global Health & Innovation Conference at Yale University. As a Unite For Sight Global Health Leadership Intern in New Haven, CT in 2010, Indu worked closely with CEO, Jennifer Staple-Clark, to develop academic resources for the Unite For Sight Global Health University. Indu produced a number of articles and courses on a variety of global health topics and designed visual patient education tools for describing cataract surgery procedures and post-cataract surgery complications to patients for a Unite for Sight study in India. In January 2011, Indu participated as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana. Indu had the pleasure and privilege of partaking in outreaches to rural villages near Accra and Jasikan, observing the dedicated local eye care staff, and learning about frontline global health delivery. During her internship and time in Ghana, Indu says that she acquired a tremendous amount of knowledge about eye care and global health delivery, and had the pleasure of working alongside other passionate Unite for Sight staff, interns and fellows. Indu hopes to combine her interest in research and passion for global health somehow in her future career. She is excited to continue her work as campus representative this semester. Read Indu Voruganti's narrative about her Global Health Leadership Internship experience.

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Bucknell University

Katie Golub is a junior at Bucknell University studying Psychology and French. She volunteered with Unite For Sight in the summer of 2011 in Accra, Ghana. She says that her favorite part of the experience was having the opportunity to work with such a great group of people. She said that the volunteers worked as a cohesive group, which made their work in the field very effective and fun. She explains that her time in Accra gave her a new appreciation for the challenges faced by global health workers. She was inspired by the dedication of the entire eye clinic staff:  “They were all so genuine, hard-working, enthusiastic and inspiring. The staff made us feel welcome from day one, and really made an effort to become our friends. I miss them dearly, and hope that I have the opportunity to spend some time with them again in the future.” Katie says that her trip to Ghana confirmed her interest in global health, as well as her desire to help patients in need of quality health care. In her free time, Katie enjoys exercising, doing jigsaw puzzles and spending time with her friends. 

Carnegie Mellon University

Vishnu Chandra is an undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a 2nd year Biological Sciences and Psychology major with a minor in Biomedical Engineering. He is currently pursuing a premedical program and hopes to matriculate into medical school. He volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow at the Kalinga Eye Hospital and Research Center in the Dhenkanal region of Orissa, India. He says that though he was not familiar with global health before his participation with Unite For Sight, he gained much insight from his Unite For Sight experience. He explains that he now understands the key barriers to health care and how to effectively and efficiently surpass these barriers. He hopes to serve as a Global Impact Fellow again in Ghana next year. In his free time, he likes to play basketball, read the economist, listen to music and play madden!

Carnegie Mellon University

Monalisa Ghose in a senior at Carnegie Mellon University majoring in Biology with a minor in Technical Writing. She volunteered at the Kalinga Eye Hospital and Research Center in Orissa, India for three weeks. She was primarily interested in Unite For Sight because, as a premedical student, she wanted to see how medicine was practiced in a developing country. She says that her three weeks in India, however, developed her interests in a wide variety of fields such as public policy, philosophy, and even photography. She explains that it was also a great cultural experience and taught her a lot about different models of healthcare. In her free time, Monalisa enjoys dancing, volunteering, and reading.

Colgate University

Nina Bianco is a senior at Colgate University, majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Biology. Nina volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow in Tamale, Ghana during the summer of 2011. She says that her experience with Unite For Sight sparked an interest in public health and reaffirmed her decision to pursue a career in medicine. She says that she “enjoyed spending time with patients in Ghana, and despite cultural and language barriers, learned a lot about their way of life.” Nina found it “incredibly rewarding to see the whole process of eye care delivery, from the initial visual acuity screenings to removing bandages off post-op cataract patients.” In addition to teaching her immensely about global health in developing countries and how to address social and financial barriers to healthcare, Nina says that she believes that the experience taught her more about herself as a person and as a future physician.

College of Wooster

Samuel Kitara is a sophomore at College of Wooster, currently majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He spent the summer of 2011 volunteering with the Unite For Sight program in Tamale and the Northern Region of Ghana, where he spent time working with Dr. Seth Wanye, an ophthalmologist at the Eye Clinic of Tamale Teaching Hospital. In addition to working at the mobile eye clinics across different villages and witnessing surgeries, Samuel spent time learning about the cultural barriers to eye care delivery, and he says that he also enjoyed learning about Dagomba traditions. He enjoys playing basketball and soccer, traveling, tracking savannah wildlife, and taking safaris.

Columbia University

Farhana Begum is a recent graduate of Columbia University, where she majored in Psychology.  She volunteered as an Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Tamale, Ghana during Summer 2008. She says that her experience with Unite For Sight offered her insight into the challenges faced by developing countries and their health care system. In the fall of 2008, Farhana founded the Unite For Sight chapter at Columbia. She currently continues her involvement with Unite For Sight as Campus Representative. Her goal is to become a Clinical Psychologist. Farhana enjoys cooking, fashion, photography, and the outdoors.

Columbia University School of Medicine

Huy Nguyen is a first year medical student at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He volunteered in Bihar, India with Unite For Sight in June 2008 and still believes that this experience "solidified [his] desire to become a physician" and made him aware of how much work still can be done to fight not only preventable blindness, but also poverty, lack of education, and access to general health care. On campus, he is involved with greater issues of community health, health disparities, and global health. Outside of his studies, he enjoys writing, photography, cooking, dancing, music, and tennis.

Columbia University School of Medicine

Joyce Khandji is a second year medical student at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.  She volunteered in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, with Unite For Sight in July 2011 and also in Accra, Ghana, three summers ago in June 2008.  Joyce says that she immensely enjoyed both experiences, and says that she enjoyed new cultures, countries, and made life-long friends from all over the globe with whom she still keeps in touch.  She says that she feels lucky to have been given the opportunity to participate in the Unite For Sight Global Impact Corps, and believes that the experiences in Ghana and Honduras have inspired her to specialize in ophthalmic surgery.  In the future, Joyce also hopes to work abroad a few months each year as a volunteer physician with Unite For Sight.  In her free time, she enjoys playing soccer (or any other sport), baking, and dancing.

Cornell University

Pallavi Basu is a sophomore at Cornell University, majoring in Biology & Society and minoring in Global Health and Music. Pallavi was a Unite For Sight volunteer at Kalinga Eye Hospital in Dhenkanal, India during the summer of 2010. She assisted primarily on improving the system of healthcare management and organization of medical records. Additionally, she helped communicate with patients and assisted doctors in screenings during outreaches in the Dhenkanal district. Pallavi hopes to enter the field of medicine and also work toward a constructing sustainable, efficient healthcare infrastructure in developing regions. Aside from international health and public service, she enjoys composing music, singing, dancing, and teaching in the Cornell Prison Education Program. Read about Pallavi's Global Impact Corps experience in Dhenkanal, Orissa, India.

Dalhousie University

Maggie Lovett is entering her final year at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada studying biology. She was a Global Impact Fellow in Tamale, Ghana for three weeks during the summer of 2010 and is excited to share the experience with others. This was her first hands on experience in global health and she found it to be invaluable as it really drove home the importance of accessible quality health care. When she is not in class or the lab she can be found walking her canine companion Dexter, doing things related to the Dalhousie Student Union and the environmental society SustainDal, and learning as much as she can outside of the classroom with volunteer work. Read about Maggie's Global Impact Corps experience in Tamale, Ghana.

Duke University

Malini Veerappan is a junior at Duke University. She has designed her own major which is entitled Global Health Disparities and Development Strategies. She was a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow at the Kalinga Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Dhenkanal, Orissa, India in December of 2010, where she studied Kalinga Eye Hospital’s existing structure for school-based health interventions, researched effective models for school health interventions, and presented to the Kalinga administration about how to improve the existing intervention protocol. She also attended several rural eye camps, where she helped the paramedics conduct eye screenings and organize patients to be taken back to the hospital for surgery. She says that she learned about a model for eye care delivery in rural, underprivileged settings, and foresees this influencing her senior honors thesis research and summer project. She hopes to continue to address the global health issue of blindness from a policy, medical, and service-oriented standpoint.

George Washington University

Lydia Trupe is a junior at George Washington University, where she is studying public health and political science. After college, she plans to enter an MD/MPH program and pursue a career in global health. She volunteered with Unite For Sight in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, during June 2011. She says that she was "incredibly lucky to work with the talented optometrists and ophthalmologists at ZOE Eye Clinic, and the experience amplified my passion for social justice and solidified my interest in public health work." Prior to participating with Unite For Sight in Honduras, Lydia previously traveled to Ecuador and Colombia, and she says that she hopes to continue to travel around the world. During Spring 2012, she will spend six months in Samoa at the Oceania University of Medicine, where she will work on a project to eradicate rheumatic heart fever in children. She grew up on a working horse farm in northern Maryland, and she enjoys riding horses, running, hiking, and traveling.

Harvard University School of Medicine

Rosh Sethi is a first year medical student at Harvard Medical School. He graduated from Yale University with a B.S. in Biology.  Along with his twin brother, he volunteered in New Delhi, India with Unite For Sight in December, 2006. While in India, he helped film and produce a documentary video about Dr. Schroff's Charity Eye Hospital.  It is now being used by the hospital to raise funds for its outreach work.  Rosh was also co-president of the Yale chapter for Unite For Sight, and was also awarded the Unite For Sight Volunteer of the Year Award in 2008. Rosh enjoys creating 3D animations and hopes to pursue a career in surgery.

Harvard University School of Medicine

Roshan Sethi is also a first year medical student at Harvard Medical School. He graduated from Yale University with a B.S. in Biology.  Roshan volunteered in New Delhi, India with Unite For Sight in December, 2006. He was the co-president of the Yale chapter for Unite For Sight and was awarded the Unite For Sight Volunteer of the Year Award in 2008. Roshan enjoys writing fiction and poetry, global health and health policy.

Johns Hopkins University

Danielle Himelfarb is a junior at Johns Hopkins University majoring in Behavioral Biology. She volunteered with Unite For Sight in Accra, Ghana in June 2010. She says that her experience in Ghana confirmed and strengthened her desire to pursue a career as a physician and become involved in global health. For the past four summers, Danielle has worked in the Human Immunology Section of the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institutes of Health doing HIV/AIDS research. In her free time, Danielle enjoys running, cooking, and playing the piano.

Johns Hopkins University

Eli Levitt is a sophomore majoring in public health at Johns Hopkins University. He participated as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana. His experience has confirmed his goal of a career in medicine. Also, after working with Unite for Sight, he says that he would now like to become an ophthalmologist and be able to return to Ghana as a surgeon. He is on the varsity water polo team and enjoys boating and snowboarding.

McMaster University

Bonita Tsai is currently a senior at McMaster University where she is majoring in Biology. In May 2010, she participated with Unite For Sight as a Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana. She feels that it was the “most eye-opening and life changing experience that [she] has ever had.” In addition to participating in outreaches, she also participated in the Global Impact Lab, working on a project about patient compliance to glaucoma medication with Dr. Michael Gyasi at the Emmanuel Eye Clinic. During the outreaches, she says that she felt "happy that [she] was able to see exactly how her donation was able to change someone’s life.” She hopes to continue to spread awareness of Unite For Sight to her peers and help eliminate preventable blindness. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, badminton and playing piano.

McMaster University

Lauren Wallace is a Master’s student in the Anthropology of Health Program at McMaster University in Ontario. Lauren completed the Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellowship in Tamale in 2010. She designed and implemented an interview-based study investigating the factors involved in individuals’ choice of couching for cataract treatment. She says that this led her to understand the power of an anthropological perspective and reaffirmed her commitment to pursue a career in medical anthropology. She plans to mobilize her education in medical anthropology to build bridges between anthropology and biomedicine and create more effective global health programs.

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Nandita Anand is a first year medical student at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. She graduated from Michgan State University with a degree in Human Biology and a specialization in Bioethics, Humanities and Sciences. She says that her time as a volunteer with Unite For Sight in Chennai, India, was "the most rewarding experience of [her] life", and that she was inspired by "witnessing the incredible joy that sight-restoring surgery can bring to a patient."  Both her experiences with Unite for Sight- in Chennai and at the Global Health and Innovation Conference - have strengthed Nandita's desire to pursue global health and become part of a team reduces barriers patients face to quality care. In her free time, Nandita likes running, cooking and spending time with family and friends.

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Nicole Gallagher is a second year medical student at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.  She previously graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelors of Science in Human Biology.  Nicole volunteered with Unite For Sight as a Global Impact Fellow in Honduras, where she says that she learned a great deal about global health as well as the cultural differences between countries.  Nicole says that she feels that the experience has furthered her desire to work to increase access to global health, specifically eye care.  In her free time, she enjoys swimming and traveling.  Nicole hopes to inspire others about the need for health services throughout much of the world.

Northeastern University

Kirti Kewalramani is a third year honors student at Northeastern University studying health sciences and ultimately plans to go on to medical school to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. As a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow, Kirti went to Patna, India in the summer of 2010 to work with Drs. Sinha and the A.B. Eye Institute's Staff. She says that the experience was very rewarding in numerous ways. She says that it helped her confirm her decision to become a doctor, and it inspired her to pursue a Masters in Public Health so that she can learn more about healthcare barriers and pursue additional research. She explains that her experience has "truly inspired" her to make an impact in patients' lives and the rest of the world. She is eager to start a Unite For Sight Chapter at Northeastern University and is excited to be presenting her first research project at the upcoming Global Health & Innovation Conference. In her free time, Kirti loves to watch Bollywood/Hindi movies and hanging out with her friends. Read Kirti's reflection about her experience in India.

Nova Southeastern University

Vu Tran is a second year medical student at Nova Southeastern University. He is originally from Los Angeles, California, and he graduated from UCLA in 2009 with a Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry. He participated as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana in June 2011, where he researched patient perspectives on the current National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana. Vu says that he "had a wonderful experience in my short time in Ghana and have made global colleagues." He says that he has a "true interest in ophthalmology and even greater interest on the impact that ophthalmologists can make globally." He plans to return to Ghana for medical rotations within the next few years and hopefully as a doctor throughout his professional career. He also researches glaucoma at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami.

Oberlin College

Jacob Panka is a 4th year majoring in neuroscience at Oberlin College. In January 2011, he participated as a Unite for Sight Global Impact Fellow in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana.  He says that his most influential memory is the unyielding dedication of the staff to serving the patients. He recalls the doctors and staff working tirelessly, and not eating or resting, until all those who sought care received it in full. He says that his experience in Ghana has further inspired him to pursue a medical career and to remain active in global health. At Oberlin, Jacob continues to recruit the next generation of Global Impact Fellows. His other interests include nature and golf. He is currently participating in his fourth year as a member of the Oberlin Varsity Golf team

Pennsylvania State University

Erik Auker is a senior majoring in Vertebrate Physiology at Penn State University. He volunteered with Unite For Sight in Tamale, Ghana for three weeks in July and August 2010. While in Ghana he helped perform eye care screenings and observed surgeries under the direction of Dr. Seth Wanye. One highlight of his trip was that he was made “The Chief of Friendship” of the Janjori Kuku village near Tamale. Erik learned a lot about global health through this experience and is now intrigued by healthcare issues worldwide. In the future, he hopes to attend a medical school to pursue a dual MD/Ph.D degree program. In his spare time, Erik enjoys doing cardio interval training (Insanity), cooking, reading, and enjoying life in Happy Valley! Read about Erik's Global Impact Corps experience in Tamale, Ghana.

Queen's University

Kayla Dmytruk is a senior at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Majoring in Health Sciences, she hopes to attend medical school in the near future. She had the opportunity to volunteer with Unite For Sight in Accra, Ghana in August 2011. She says that “experiencing the local community during the outreaches humbled me. They were so happy and friendly, regardless of the fact that they didn’t have access to many resources.”  Kayla says that she is excited to become the Campus Representative at Queen’s so that she can get more Canadians involved in Unite For Sight. Outside of school activities, she enjoys working out, traveling, cooking, and relaxing with friends and family.

Queen's University

Sharifah Issaka is in her final year of an undergraduate degree in Health and Global Development Studies at Queen's University. As a Ghanaian-Canadian and a student of Health and Global Development, Sharifah says that she was "impressed by the fact that the Unite For Sight program partners volunteers from abroad with local Ghanaian health professionals—a model that encourages sustainability, cultural sensitivity, and knowledge-sharing, while recognizing the agency and dedication of the Ghanaian health care providers." She says that she was able to experience this model firsthand when she volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow in Accra in August 2011. Sharifah was also given the opportunity to use her familiarity with film and photography to capture global health delivery on the ground. With this footage, she was able to create a video to raise awareness about the Unite For Sight program and encourage others to get involved—something that she hopes to continue doing in her role as a Unite For Sight Campus Representative at Queen’s. She says that her volunteer experience with Unite For Sight has shown her the relevance photography and film with regards to global health and development advocacy and has inspired her to pursue a career in Health Communication and Social Marketing. Having lived in Ghana, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, Sharifah loves to travel and, in her free time, enjoys film, photography, soccer, and social networking.

Saint Louis University

Samyuktha Balabhadra is currently a sophomore at Saint Louis University pursuing a degree in biology and a certificate in medical humanities. Samyuktha spent 10 days with Unite for Sight in Dhenkanal, India in December 2010. Along with the outreach programs and outpatient clinics, she was involved with global health-related research projects. Samyuktha’s experience in India has strengthened her interest in global health and she hopes to go on more health service oriented trips in the future. In her free time, she enjoys reading, working out, watching Hindi movies, and cooking. Read Samyuktha's reflection about her volunteer experience.

Simpson College

Nicole Mulder is a senior at Simpson College with a major in biology and a minor in Chemistry. She volunteered for three weeks in Tamale, Ghana, during July 2011. During her time in Ghana, Nicole performed vision screenings, observed surgery, and helped with post-operative exams. She says that her most memorable moment of volunteering in Ghana was seeing the excitement of the post-operative patients after their vision was restored. She says that spending time abroad as a Unite For Sight volunteer allowed her to understand the barriers to care in developing countries and has inspired her to continue making an impact in global health. In the future, Nicole plans to attend medical school. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Texas A&M Health Science Center

Stephanie Reinhold is a student in the MD/MPH program at Texas A&M Health Science Center. She volunteered for Unite For Sight in Orissa, India for a month during the summer of 2010. She says that her favorite part of the experience was getting to interview post-operative cataract patients for case studies. While in India, Stephanie says that she learned the difficulties of providing healthcare to a rural population firsthand, and she enjoyed witnessing the way a sustainable hospital such as the one in Orissa operates to make eye care more accessible.  Her experience as a Global Impact Fellow influenced what path she would like to take once becoming a physician. In her free time Stephanie enjoys playing tennis, reading, and spending time with her friends.Read about Stephanie's Global Impact Corps experience in Dhenkanal, Orissa, India.

Texas State University

Katherine Beale is a senior at Texas State University where she is double majoring in Microbiology and Geography. She is currently applying to various Texas medical schools, and hopes to work in epidemiology or join Doctors Without Borders. Participating with Unite For Sight in Accra, Ghana this summer has greatly strengthened her passion for global health. Katherine is the first Campus Representative from Texas State University, and hopes to educate her peers and encourage them to get involved. In her free time she enjoys distance running, cooking, and playing video games.

Tufts University School of Medicine

Kale Whalen is a second year medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine and is interested in emergency medicine, pediatric oncology and family medicine. He grew up outside of Boston and graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Biology in 2010, where he assisted a clinical research team at the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging and also worked in the Quality and Brewing department at the Boston Beer Company as a lab analyst. During the summer prior to his second year at Tufts, Kale traveled to the Accra and Kumasi region of Ghana to volunteer as a Global Impact Fellow for Unite For Sight, where he says that he developed close bonds with the local staff and fellow volunteers as they worked together on daily outreach. Kale says htat he greatly valued his time with Unite For Sight and would love to return to Ghana at some point in his career. Outside of medicine and global health, Kale is an avid Red Sox fan, enjoys traveling, and loves to entertain visitors on tours at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston.

Tufts University School of Medicine

Kinza Sentissi is a second year medical student at Tufts School of Medicine and is interested in surgery, pediatrics and neurology. Following her first year, she spent six weeks as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana and had what she described as "an incredible experience." She grew up outside Boston and graduated in 2009 from Georgetown University in Washington, DC where she majored in English and pre-Medical science. In her undergraduate years, she participated in a global health experience in Costa Rica, worked in a pathology laboratory and did breast cancer research. Her extracurricular interests include cooking, leisure reading and international travel.

University of British Columbia

Azita Soltani is a fourth year undergraduate student at University of British Columbia Okanagan. She is majoring in microbiology and minoring in psychology. She spent one month during Summer 2011 as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Ghana, and she sayd that "it was a wonderful and life changing experience, personally and academically. I had the pleasure to experience a new culture and meet wonderful people who are kind, selfless, dedicated, and passionate in bringing eye health resources to communities and making a difference. Becoming involved with Unite For Sight has brought me closer to my family, friends, local community, and has taught me the importance of unity in accomplishing a goal for the advancement of a global community." She says that she is excited to remain involved with Unite For Sight as a Campus Representative, and she is dedicated to contributing part of her future career to assisting developing countries gain access to effective and accessible healthcare. Besides her studies, she enjoys Bikram Yoga, reading, hiking, and being an active member of the community by volunteering at various health care organizations in Kelowna and Vancouver, British Columbia.

University of Buffalo

Matthew Jackson is a junior at the University at Buffalo majoring in Clinical Laboratory Science and hopes to one day attend medical school. Currently, he works in the Emergency Department of Mercy Hospital of Buffalo as a medical scribe. In June and July of 2010 he volunteered in Chennai, India with Unite For Sight and pursued a research project that focused on patient barriers to cataract care. As a Global Impact Fellow, he was immersed in an extraordinary educational experience, but also had the opportunity to assist in giving individuals the gift of sight. He says that he believes that the restoration of vision is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Read about Matthew's Global Impact Corps experience in India.

University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)

Jamen Rose Garcia is a third year Chicana/o Studies major at UCLA. She aspires to become a pediatrician, and she says that her experiences as a Unite for Sight Global Impact Fellow inspired her to plan to work full time in Ghana. Jamen volunteered in July 2011 for a total of three weeks in Tamale, Ghana and states that her experiences in "Ghana will not only make me a better doctor in the future, but also a better human being." She says that Dr. Seth Wayne and the whole Unite For Sight team were "some of the most selfless and inspiring people to work with and are truly on their way to creating positive and sustainable change." Jamen intends to continue working with Unite For Sight "so that other students can see how life-changing this program can be." She is currently the Vice-President of Alpha Delta Chi, the only Christian Sorority at UCLA, and in her free time she loves going to Disneyland, traveling and above all spending time with her family and friends.

University of California at San Francisco Medical School

Larry Cai is a first year medical student in the M.D./Ph.D. program at the University of California, San Francisco, having recently graduated from UC Berkeley. Larry participated as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in December 2009 at Kalinga Eye Hospital in Orissa, India. He says that this experience helped to solidify his understanding of medicine and public health. He hopes to continue his involvement with Unite For Sight and spread awareness about global health and eye care issues at both UCSF and UC Berkeley. In his free time, he enjoys playing various musical instruments and Ultimate (Frisbee). Read about the course that Larry was inspired to teach at UC Berkeley.

University of Iowa

Page Crew is is in her second year of pharmacy school at the University of Iowa.  She is also concurrently pursuing her Master of Public Health degree with an interest in global health.  Page participated as a Global Impact Fellow in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana for seven weeks during the summer of 2011.  While in Ghana, she worked closely with the staff at Crystal Eye Clinic and Charity Eye Clinic to document the health education strategies used by these practitioners to target populations in rural villages throughout southern Ghana.  Upon graduation, Page hopes pursue a hospital pharmacy practice residency in pediatrics.

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Parvathi Rayudu is a final year medical student in the 6 year B.A./M.D. program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is planning to pursue a career in ophthalmology and will be applying to residency programs this year. She spent twenty days in the Accra, Ghana region in December of 2010. Parvathi says that "Unite For Sight was an incredible, eye-opening learning experience for me. Before going, I thought that I knew a lot about health discrepencies that exist betwen where we live and developing countries. During my experience, I was amazed at how a limited number of resources can go such a long way to affect people's vision and thus their quality of life. I was inspired by the hard work and dedication of Dr. Clarke, Ernest, Bismark, and the rest of the team. My experience there solidified my desire to pursue ophthalmology in hopes of one day returning to continue to serve the wonderful and friendly people of Ghana." In her free time, Parvathi enjoys playing with her dog Ellie, karaoke, local volunteering, BBQ, and travel.

University of Noth Texas

Emlynn Chazhikat is a junior Pre-Medical student majoring in Speech Pathology and Audiology with a double minor in Psychology and Medical Anthropology at the University of North Texas. She was a Global Impact Fellow in Dhenkanal, Orissa in July of 2011. During her time there, she says that she was able to learn more about global health and barriers to health care. She says that her time spent getting to know the local paramedics and hospital staff made it a very meaningful experience for her. She also says taht her experience in Orissa increased her interest in global health, and she hopes to continue working to eliminate barriers to global health care in the future.  She is currently working on a research project which focuses on global health and perceptions of Aphasia and Aphasia rehabilitation in India. During her free time, she enjoys listening to music, reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

University of Oklahoma

Alim Ramji is a senior Chemistry and Biochemistry student at the University of Oklahoma and joined Unite For Sight as a Global Impact Fellow in the spring of 2011. Over three months, he volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow in Ghana, Honduras, and India, while also investigating physical and cultural barriers to cataract surgeries in those communities. His overwhelming interest in Unite For Sight was rooted in wanting to simultaneously explore both his interest in international medicine and his fascination with culture and language, an interest that arises from his interesting cultural background. “The entire experience was incredible,” he says, “and has confirmed to me how vital it is that modern medicine be culturally aware and receptive; there is an overwhelming strength in diversity.” His hobbies include photography, mountain biking, literature, music, and even rollerblading!

University of Pittsburgh

Jim Baraldi is a Neuroscience student at the University of Pittsburgh. He graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Spanish. In January of 2009 he volunteered with Unite For Sight in its inaugural Honduras program. Between Temple and Pitt he taught Spanish to pre-school and elementary school students in the School District of Philadelphia and wrote a column for The Philadelphia Inquirer. During this same time he served as Temple's Unite For Sight Campus Representative. His efforts earned him the Unite For Sight Volunteer of the Year Award in 2010. In addition to his present role as Campus Representative at Pitt, he is the Vice President of Fundraising Outreach for Pitt's campus chapter. Jim also is leading the production of an ambitious documentary film project about cataract surgery, orthopaedic surgery, international medical volunteering, social entrepreneurship, Honduran politics, American healthcare, aging, and how young people choose to spend their time. Read about Jim's Global Impact Corps experience in Honduras.

University of Pittsburgh

Sarah Bonaffini is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh and is majoring in neuroscience with a double minor in chemistry and classical civilization. Sarah's participation as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana during the Summer of 2009 has inspired her to pursue a career in medicine with an eventual goal of making an impact in developing countries as an ophthalmologist. Sarah says that her experience with the Accra program has also ignited a newfound passion for global health, motivating her to participate in helping the underprivileged in the surrounding Pittsburgh area with the Guerrilla Eye Service, as well as becoming the first student to start a Unite For Sight chapter at the University of Pittsburgh. Sarah's other passions include participating in Pitt’s African Drumming Club, volunteering at the Magee Women’s Hospital, and DJ-ing at her local radio station! In what little free time she has, Sarah also enjoys hiking, kayaking, and live music!

University of South Carolina

Arch Martin is a senior Biology major in the Honors College at the University of South Carolina. He is applying to medical school this year and plans to work and volunteer during his year off. Currently employed in a leading U.S. clinical research Endoscopy center, Arch is working to improve endoscopy efficiency and to evaluate more successful screening measures. He is also finishing research through USC’s Environmental Health Sciences department on the binding affinity and activation rates of xenoestrogens (estrogen-like industrial chemicals) with human and fish estrogen receptors. In June 2010, Arch volunteered in Tamale, Ghana, and worked closely with Dr. Wanye, who is a doctor that Arch says "has changed his life." He worked at the Tamale Teaching Hospital’s eye clinic, helping and observing Dr. Wanye and his staff. He says that he saw the immense value of the synergism of local health workers and international NGOs like Unite For Sight. In his free time, Arch enjoys performing and writing music, reading about Austrian economics, and footballing.

University of Southern California

Alice Kim is a junior at the University of Southern California, where she is majoring in Human Development and Aging (Gerontology) and minoring in Spanish. She volunteered through Unite For Sight as a Global Impact Fellow at the ZOE Eye Clinic in Honduras for two months in the Summer of 2010. There, she also conducted a research study on the efficacy of survey-based eye disease prevalence studies, and had the pleasure and privilege of interviewing over 60 Honduran patients about their ocular and medical histories. Alice says that working in the clinic has not only reaffirmed, but also gave new meaning and purpose to her goal of becoming a medical doctor to continue helping underserved populations, locally and globally. In her free time, Alice enjoys golfing, eating new foods, speaking Spanish, and drinking Honduran coffee.

University of Texas at Dallas

Tharun Paruchuri is currently a sophomore at the University of Texas at Dallas majoring in Biochemistry. He first heard of Unite For Sight last year and since then has been working with a local chapter that was recently created on his campus. He says "the travel abroad experience was awesome as it enabled me to meet and interact with others in real-life medical settings." The experience showed him the importance of providing care to individuals who lack enough resources to receive adequate care. He is looking forward to continuing his involvement with Unite For Sight locally and helping to cure worldwide blindness one person at a time!

University of Toronto

Kuhan Puvanenthiranathan is an undergraduate student majoring in Human Biology and Psychology at the University of Toronto. He participated as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Patna, India in May 2011. He volunteered at the A.B. Eye Institute under the guidance of the Sinha family. His outstanding experience has inspired him to pursue higher education in global health and medicine. He says that he strongly feels that the Unite For Sight program has opened his eyes to the complexity of global health. He hopes to continue working with Unite for Sight in the future. During his free time, Kuhan enjoys playing the piano, listening to music, and traveling.

University of Vermont

Rob Rudy, a sophomore at the University of Vermont majoring in microbiology, volunteered with Unite For Sight during the summer of 2010 in Accra, Ghana. During his time in Ghana, Rob says that he was greatly moved and inspired by the positive outcomes achieved through Unite For Sight’s work. He says that "Unite For Sight finds an effective role for college and graduate students which both offers an incredible learning experience for the student and, more importantly, serves a vital role in identifying and diagnosing eye diseases." Upon returning to school, Rob says that he hopes to share and promote this experience to other students at UVM. Along with introducing him to an amazing array of people from both North America and Ghana, the experience supported Rob’s interest in medical school and global health. Read Rob's narrative about his experience in Ghana.

University of Virginia

Matt Mason is a senior at the University of Virginia studying English and Anthropology. His interest in researching the intersection of biomedicine and traditional healing techniques drew him to Unite For Sight in Tamale, Ghana, where he volunteered in the Summer of 2011 with Dr. Seth Wanye. Matt says that he plans to continue volunteerism post-grad and enter medical school some time in the future.

Vanderbilt University

Premal Patel is a sophomore majoring in Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University. He participated as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana during the summer of 2010. He says that he firmly believes that his experience “has fortified [his] decision to continue to medical school.” Premal looks forward to staying involved with Unite For Sight as a Campus Representative.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Brandon Baartman is currently a 3rd year medical student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He says that volunteering with Unite For Sight during the summer of 2010 was an obvious choice for Brandon, as it allowed him the chance to explore his early career interests in ophthalmology and global medicine while participating in a high-impact volunteer program. He says that the 3 weeks he spent with Unite For Sight in Accra, Ghana was one of the most rewarding experiences of his life, stating that “the positive impact that proper health care can have on people in need, whether it’s access to surgery or simple methods of disease prevention, is a truly powerful thing.” Brandon says that he is grateful to have had such an opportunity, acknowledging it as a time of personal and professional growth, and he looks forward to his continued involvement with Unite For Sight. Read about Brandon's Global Impact Corps experience in Ghana.

Washington University in St. Louis

Brooke Cheatham is a premed student majoring in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. She spent the summer of 2010 in Patna, Bihar, India living with the Sinha family of ophthalmologists. She says that her experience in India strengthened her passion for medicine and increased her awareness of the need of medical care in developing countries. She says that not only did the staff teach her about medical practices in ophthalmology, but also the Sinha family provided an experience that was only possible by being integrated into their lives and learning about Indian culture. Now back at Washington University, she says that she hopes to spread awareness about Unite For Sight and encourage others to embark on such an eye-opening experience.

Wellesley College

Hailing from Reno, NV, Kate McConnell is a sophomore at Wellesley College where she is a premed student majoring in Spanish. After graduating from high school and before starting at Wellesley, she took a year to travel and volunteer in South America, Europe, and Africa. Her most memorable and formative experience during this year was with Unite For Sight when she volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana with Save the Nation’s Sight Clinic in May of 2009. Her activities in Ghana solidified her desire to study medicine, especially with an international focus, and taught her the value of responsible and sustainable global outreach. Kate also enjoys music, international travel, local volunteerism, photography, backpacking, and other outdoor activities.

Western Carolina University

Nicole Levi is a senior at Western Carolina University, seeking a B.S with a concentration in Nutrition and Dietetics.  She plans to begin training in 2013 to become a Physician’s Assistant after successful completion of prerequisite courses and required clinical experience.  Nicole says that she is grateful to the private donors of her Honors College for granting her the experience to volunteer in Ghana as a Global Impact Fellow.  In Ghana, Nicole realized her passion for the surgical field under the mentorship of Dr. James Clarke, and she says that she believes that her training as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow has given her the confidence to incorporate global medicine into her future.

Western Kentucky University

Kacy Wilson is an undergraduate student at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is a 3rd year Biology major with a minor in Chemistry and a concentration in Pre Medicine.  Kacy volunteered as a Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana during the summer of 2011. Her experiences in Ghana helped to confirm her desire to pursue a career in medicine and really got her interested in ophthalmology. Traveling abroad allowed her to get a better understanding of Global Health and to truly serve others.  Kacy can’t wait to share her experiences with students at her university.  In her free time she enjoys relaxing by the pool, going to concerts, watching movies and hanging out with friends and family.

Williams College

Chelsey Barrios is a Junior at Williams College, where she is majoring in Psychology and American Studies. Chelsey became immersed in the global health world as a Summer 2010 Global Health Leadership Intern at Unite For Sight, where she learned a tremendous amount from CEO Jennifer Staple-Clark and from working alongside other passionate, knowledgeable Fellows and Interns. Through this experience, Chelsey’s understanding of public medicine and its many obstacles grew exponentially as she created materials for Unite For Sight’s Global Health University, including the Metrics and Impact Course, Community-Level Challenges to Global Health Delivery Course, Social Marketing and Mobilization Course, article on Cataract Surgery Across Time, and several installments of the Eye Care Delivery Newswire created for Unite For Sight’s partner eye clinics. The internship fueled Chelsey’s passion for global health, learning about other cultures, and helping those in need, and confirmed her desire to pursue work in the non-profit healthcare sector. Chelsey is excited to continue active involvement with Unite For Sight. She will be starting a Williams College Chapter this spring, and hopes to participate abroad with Unite For Sight in Ghana within the next two years. Outside of her studies, Chelsey enjoys running, music, traveling, painting, cooking, and spending time with the people she loves. Read Chelsey Barrios' narrative about her Global Health Leadership Internship experience.

Williams College

Sophie Brigstocke is a sophomore at Williams College studying French and Biology. She volunteered with Unite For Sight in the summer of 2010 in Tamale, Ghana. She says that she greatly valued being able to learn from not only the amazing Unite For Sight staff and the incredible Dr. Wanye, but also her fellow volunteers. As someone who loves to travel and meet people with cultures and languages different from her own, Sophie says that she cherished the opportunity to live in the Northern Region. Her experience as a Global Impact Fellow sparked her interest in global health and also confirmed her belief that she would like to pursue a career in medicine. Sophie hopes to continue learning about global health and the challenges faced by developing countries in providing medical care while she is still at school and in future trips abroad. In her free time, Sophie enjoys traveling, swimming and baking. Read Sophie's narrative about her experience in Ghana.

Yale University

Rachel Bian is a junior at Yale University, majoring in biology and chemistry. She volunteered as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in summer of 2010 in Ghana, working with the clinics in Accra and Kumasi. She says that her experience there confirmed her goal of pursuing medicine and sparked her interest in global health. Inspired by her experience, she hopes to become more involved in nonprofit healthcare work, both at home and abroad. Her dream is to someday return to Ghana, to “give back to the people there as much as I have received.”

Yale University

Julia Goldberg is a junior at Yale University majoring in anthropology. She volunteered with Unite For Sight in Accra, Ghana during the summer of 2010, which solidified her interests in public health and global health care. Julia is interested in effective ways that local clinics can extend care to large populations of people, especially in underdeveloped areas. She is also interested in how culture influences local perceptions of health and medicine. Julia is involved with health publications and groups on campus and plans to attend medical school. Read about Julia's Global Impact Corps experience in Accra, Ghana.

Yale University

Lauren Lisann is a Junior at Yale University majoring in psychology. Lauren volunteered for Unite For Sight in Patna, Bihar, India at the A.B. Institute and at associated charity clinics. She says that her experience in Bihar confirmed her interest in opthalmology, and she plans to become a pediatric ophthalmologist. Volunteering in Bihar also motivated Lauren to pursue future international outreach efforts and to continue her involvement with Unite For Sight. In New Haven, she volunteers for an Art Therapy group at a local mental health clinic and also at Yale-New Haven Hospital. Read Lauren's reflection about her volunteering experience in Patna.

Yale University

Naima Ross is a junior at Yale University majoring in the neuroscience track of psychology. She volunteered with Unite For Sight during the Summer of 2011 in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. She says that she found her experience inspiring and rewarding, and she remains in close contact with the staff at the clinics in Ghana. Naima says taht volunteering confirmed her interests in public health, health education, and health promotion in minority and underserved populations. Naima is involved with mentoring programs and global health advocacy groups on campus, and she plans to obtain her Masters in Public Health and attend medical school.

Yale University

Tony Su is a senior at Yale University majoring in physics and biology. Tony volunteered for 7 weeks in Chennai, India as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Summer 2009. While in Chennai, Tony produced a documentary film and conducted a research study on the prevalence of visual impairment and barriers to patient uptake of eye care services, with Bing Wang (University of Toronto) a fellow Global Impact Fellow. Originally from Toronto, Tony has a strong interest in medicine, and his experience with Unite For Sight confirmed his desire to pursue medicine. After what he calls "a life-changing experience in India," Tony has continued to work with Unite For Sight. In New Haven, he is the President of Unite For Sight’s Chapter at Yale and is actively pursuing two ophthalmology-related global health research projects to study barriers to delivery of health care. Tony has written articles in preparing for global health research and publishing and is willing to consult with Global Impact Fellows who are developing new research projects. Read about Tony's Global Impact Corps experience in India.

Yale University

Sonia Taneja is a sophomore at Yale University majoring in psychology and pursuing premedical studies. Her volunteer experience with Unite for Sight in Chennai, India during the Summer of 2010 allowed her to learn more about and expand her interests in global healthcare. Sonia is particularly interested in understanding health disparities in developing and developed countries and the influence of culture on health administration. On campus, Sonia is involved with development organizations that concern the region of South Asia, health outreach, and cultural performance groups. She hopes to continue to combine and pursue her passions for healthcare, international development, and culture in her career in the future.

Yale University

Vera Wünsche is a senior at Yale University majoring in Biology. She spent 2 months during the summer of 2010 in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana where she says that she worked "with some of the most dedicated and inspiring people I have ever met so far in my life." Vera says that her experiences in Ghana affirmed her wish to pursue a career in medicine. She is very excited about the opportunity to stay involved with Unite For Sight as a Campus Representative. Read Vera's reflection about her experience in Ghana.

York College of the City University of New York

Daryl Ramai is a senior at York College of the City University of New York pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry. He is an avid researcher who has published materials in enzyme inhibition, structural biology, and protein biochemistry, where he places special emphasis on the utility of biological mass spectrometry in the study of macro-molecules. He also conducted work in the field of food microbiology, is the recipient of several awards, including the Kelsey Award in Regulatory Sciences, awarded by the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. He participated for seven weeks as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow in Accra, Ghana, where he implemented a research study which focused on the perceptions of parents to childhood eyecare. Daryl says that “one of the many complexities in childhood eye care lies in the attempt to avert simple eye ailments from developing into more serious matters, and this stems from the barriers faced by developing countries.” Daryl says that he hopes to continue pursuing research and gain a better understanding of infectious diseases as he endeavors to study in the field of medicine.