Past Research Fellows

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Will Lieber is a senior at Duke University studying Health & Incarceration. Will is deeply interested in improving healthcare delivery for people who are incarcerated. His interest in global health stems from a desire to reimagine the US prison system, which has the highest incarceration rate in the world, through comparative studies of correctional and healthcare models in other countries. Additionally, he is concerned with the impact of global crises on access to healthcare for immigrants and refugees, and he is committed to exploring innovative approaches to preserving critical care for displaced and vulnerable populations.

William Lieber

  • Lieber W, Rahim FO, Lartey H, et al. Capacity Building for Infectious Disease Control in sub-Saharan Africa (Pathogens & Global Health2023).

    Lieber W, Rahim FO, Jain B, et al. Navigating Public Health in the Israel-Palestine Conflict: Charting a Path Forward (Health and Human Rights2023). 

    Rahim FO, Lieber W, Hertz JT, et al. Post-Election Responsibilities for Public Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Nature Medicine 2024). 

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Grace is a current undergraduate student at Duke University interested in investigating the impacts on human health from a community perspective, considering factors such as nutrition, race, and culture. The recent conversations about the regulation of Ozempic and other GLP-1 Agonists have also particularly interested her. She is currently investigating food security within the DurhamCommunity after the recent Medicaid expansion programs and will be conducting rural healthcare fieldwork in Pamlico County this summer.

Grace Wang

FRANKLIN REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Humna Anzaar is a high school student, global health researcher, and nonprofit founder dedicated to advancing healthcare equity. As the founder and CEO of Blessings Beyond Borders, Humna directs initiatives supporting hospitalized children in under-resourced countries, primarily Pakistan. Her research efforts have led to publications on culturally-tailored diabetes care and rural obesity policy, as well as recognition as the two-time state champion and third-place international winner of National History Day for her research papers on South Asian geopolitics.

Humna Anzar

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Huda Haque is a student at Duke University studying English, chemistry, and health policy. She is passionate about health literacy and addressing health inequities among underserved communities. As a student researcher, she has worked on public health research projects focused on the social determinants of health surrounding heart disease and cancer. 

Huda Haque

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Victoria Ayodele is a Duke University undergraduate and Laidlaw Scholar dedicated to advancing neurological health and addressing public health disparities through research and community engagement. A global health advocate, Victoria has researched sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the intersection of nutrition and neurodevelopment, including a project in Bauchi, Nigeria, designing culturally sensitive interventions to combat anemia in young mothers. Passionate about addressing public health, Victoria is interested in taking her research to Accra, Ghana, to explore the impact of lead and zinc contamination on food security and public health.

Victoria Ayodele

  • [Accepted for Publication]: Anand S, Ayodele V, Rahim FO, et al. Expanding healthcare access in rural sub-Saharan Africa (Perspectives in Public Health 2024).

DUKE UNIVERSITY

Sofia DiFulvio is a current undergraduate at Duke University studying Neuroscience. Having earned her Emergency Medical Technician license at 16, Sofia has had a passion for Emergency Medicine ever since. She has gained clinical experience volunteering in Virginia and working part time in North Carolina and will serve as the Director of Duke University EMS her senior year. Additionally, she has conducted Emergency Medicine research on a wide variety of topics at the Duke University Emergency Department, with a focus on chronic and acute pain management. Her research interests are primarily prehospital care and EMS systems management, in addition to pain. 

Sofia DiFulvio

BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Pooja Lalwani is currently a research assistant at the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. She graduated from Duke University in 2022 with a B.S. in biology, a minor in music, and a certificate in sustainability engagement. She will be attending medical school in 2025.

Pooja Lalwani

Duke University

Meghna Katyal is a Duke undergraduate student studying Biology and Global Health on the pre-med track. She joined the GHSEN last year and has contributed to several research papers focusing on global health in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, Meghna serves as the Health Policy Week Director at Duke, where she spearheads initiatives to foster dialogue and collaboration on pressing health policy issues. Meghna’s work focuses on strengthening health systems and addressing global health inequities, combining student-driven research and policy advocacy.

Meghna Katyal

  • Lalwani P, Rahim FO, Katyal M, et al. Ending Female Genital Mutilation: A New Ruling in the Gambia Can Reignite Progress Towards SDG Target 5.3 (Journal of Women’s Health 2024).

Boston University’s Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine

Afreen Ashraf is a first-year medical student at Boston University’s Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, dedicated to developing evidence-based, contextually relevant solutions that bridge gaps in healthcare and create more equitable systems for underserved communities. Afreen works to design sustainable, culturally tailored solutions that can be effectively integrated within local social and cultural contexts. Her research experience is diverse and community-centered. Afreen has led studies on sickle cell disease in Uganda, explored e-waste recycling in China, and worked to strengthen afterschool programs aimed at increasing mental health equity in rural North Carolina. In addition to these projects, she has contributed to various clinical and basic science research initiatives, equipping her with a broad understanding of both the challenges and opportunities in global and domestic healthcare. Currently, Afreen is focused on examining the impact of Value-Based Care (VBC) and Fee-for-Service models on vulnerable populations in the United States.

Afreen Ashraf

  • Ashraf A, Rahim F, Wang V, et al. “Countering Big Tobacco’s Influence in Kenya to Protect Young Africans” (BMJ Global Health Blogs 2024).

Duke University

Sanjana Anand is an undergraduate student at Duke University studying biology, chemistry, and global health. She has a demonstrated interest in understanding the complex intersections of science and healthcare. At GHSEN, she has contributed significantly to policy projects focused on expanding healthcare access in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sanjana Anand

Duke University

Perisa is a sophomore Robertson Scholar pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering and Biology on the premedical track. She is also involved with the Big Ideas Lab, where she researches the implementation and improvement of multimodal sensing wearable devices in cardiorespiratory fitness. Perisa has also worked to develop low-cost, portable teaching models of postpartum hemorrhage uteri for health care professionals to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, which have been tested locally and in Kenya. As a premed student, she aspires to use knowledge gained in engineering and healthcare policy (especially in health disparities) to deliver optimal patient care as a future physician.

Perisa Ashar

  • Ashar P, Rahim FO, Haque H, et al. Leveraging Health Policy Solutions to Address Obesity in Rural America (Journal of General Internal Medicine 2024).

    Rahim FO, Ashar P, Garofalo R, et al. Navigating Stigma Against At-Risk Sexual and Gender Minority Populations to End the HIV Epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa (LGBT Health 2024).

Duke University

Shivam is an undergraduate at Duke University majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Math. He is an EMT - volunteering for Duke University EMS and working in Person County's (NC) 911 agency. His research interests involve neuroengineering and stochastic modeling, and he is interested in exploring the social determinants of healthcare. Specifically, he hopes to understand how healthcare can be improved in rural and otherwise underserved populations.

Shivam Singh

  • Lalwani P, Rahim F, Singh S, et al. “Preparing for Climate Disasters in East Africa” (Think Global Health 2024).

Mohamed Shilleh

University of La Verne

Mohamed Shilleh is a Biology major at the University of La Verne, working toward his goal of becoming a physician. Motivated by a strong interest in understanding the human body and a desire to make a positive impact through medicine, Mohamed is dedicated to his academic and professional growth. Outside of his studies, he enjoys staying active by playing sports, spending time with friends, and cherishing moments with his family. He values personal development and building meaningful connections in all areas of his life.

Duke University

Velda Wang is an undergraduate student at Duke University passionate about health equity, with a focus on improving healthcare and public health outcomes for immigrant and refugee populations. Her work emphasizes destigmatizing reproductive rights and menstrual health while striving to increase access to vital resources that address the social determinants of health for marginalized communities. Velda is committed to fostering inclusive and supportive healthcare environments, ensuring that underrepresented voices are heard and prioritized. Her dedication and forward-thinking approach make her an influential figure in the ongoing efforts to create a more equitable health system for all.

Velda Wang

  • Ashraf A, Rahim F, Wang V, et al. “Countering Big Tobacco’s Influence in Kenya to Protect Young Africans” (BMJ Global Health Blogs 2024).

Duke University

Devesh Shah is a senior at Duke University studying neuroscience and public health. He is a researcher, educator, and advocate dedicated to advancing brain health and promoting equity at the intersection of science, public health, and human rights. His work investigates how social and environmental factors shape brain development and cognitive health, while examining disparities and improving systemic access to care on a broader scale. Beyond research, Devesh has led non-profit and University-wide initiatives to enhance healthcare access, raise money for critical resources, and mentor undergraduates in science and public health.

Devesh Shah

  • Lieber WC, Rahim FO, Lartey HSQ, Shah D, Mmbaga BT, Thielman NM, Hertz JT. Capacity building for infectious disease control in Sub-Saharan Africa (Pathog Glob Health 2024).

Kalipa Median, MD, MSc

Duke Global Health Institute

Born and raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Kalipa Gedion is a clinical researcher at the Duke Global Health Institute. His interests lie in implementation science across the fields of infectious diseases, cardiology, oncology, and the intersection of climate and health. Currently, he is working to expand access to PrEP for adolescent girls and young women, as well as HPV vaccination for people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, he is investigating the occurrence of suicide among cancer patients in the US to improve mental health services.

  • Lalwani P, Rahim F, Singh S, et al. “Preparing for Climate Disasters in East Africa” (Think Global Health 2024).