2019 Jose's Hands Ambassadors
David Kim
My name is David Kim, and I have just finished my first year at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. At the moment, I am hoping to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine, because of the commitment of this particular field to provide the best care to anyone who walks through the doors, regardless of race, religion, or any other factor.
Amy Waldner
I am a proud native of southern Minnesota where I was born and raised. I am also a proud Gustie, graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2008 with a degree in Biology. Before starting medical school, I participated in a biomedical research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, and worked for an NGO in southern India. My current endeavors include running, yoga, playing violin, and enjoying the thrills of being a medical student at George Washington University.
Rachel Nash
I’m Rachel Nash, and excited for my first medical mission trip! I hale from the “City of Brotherly Love,” Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I headed north for college and graduated from Brown University in 2009 with an ScB in Evolutionary Biology. After college, I stuck around in Providence, RI to work with a pediatrician specializing in sleep medicine and ADHD. I am currently a proud member of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and a participant in the Health Policy track program. In my free time, I enjoy running, yoga, and trying to cook.
Jinny Gunn
I am currently a second year medical student studying at FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami, FL. I am a veteran of the United States Navy and I completed my undergraduate degree at University of California, San Diego. My seven year old son and I live in Miami, where we enjoy riding horses, fishing and kayaking. I feel very fortunate and am extremely excited about going with Jose’s Hands Foundation on this meaningful mission.
Heather Miller
I am currently a medical student at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami, Florida. I graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and Spanish. This past spring I traveled with fellow students to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to help run primary care clinics for local Haitian children and adults. I believe global health is critically important in the field of medicine and hope to broaden my horizons through Jose’s Hand’s mission to the Dominican Republic.
Joe Marcotte
I am an upcoming second year student at the George Washington University School of Medicine with an interest in Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Emergency Medicine. After completing an undergraduate degree in microbiology at the University of Rhode Island, I worked at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD for two years. There, I helped design lentivectors for the development of gene therapies for children with X-SCID and Chronic Granlumatous Disease. During my first year of medical school, I helped to implement a series of classes to educate patients about their chronic illnesses. This summer, I am working in the GW Emergency Room on a project to test a rapid diagnostic kit for patients with upper abdominal pain for H. Pylori. In my free time, I am a big Boston sports fan and enjoy playing tennis, basketball and hockey.
Sarah Mohajeri
My name is Sarah Mohajeri. I was born and grew up in Iran. My family immigrated to the United States when I was 12, and after a few years in Texas, we finally made a permanent residence in Southern California. I attended college at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where I majored in physiology. I went on to get my degree in public health epidemiology from Columbia University. Currently, I am a rising second year medical student at The George Washington University School of Medicine. I hope to enter the field of pediatrics, and continue to participate in community-based public health initiatives throughout my career.
Ayhan Yoruk
My name is Ayhan Yoruk. I am from Rochester, NY, and my family originates from Turkey. I attended college Cornell University, where I studied biological sciences. Following college, I obtained my masters of public health degree from Columbia University, focusing on sociomedical sciences and aging. Currently, I am a rising 2nd year medical student at The George Washington University School of Medicine. I am very interested in community health, and aging in particular, and aim to incorporate these interests in my future career as a physician.
Chenara Johnson
Chenara Johnson is a 6th year MD/PhD student in bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She was born and raised in Little Rock, AR, and received her bachelors in bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, and went on to receive her masters in bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Johnson is passionate about people, whole body health/fitness and preventative medicine. She spends her free time volunteering at local free clinics, working out and mentoring.
Robert Bilbao
My name is Robert Bilbao and I am currently a 2nd year medical student at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. I am originally from Venezuela but I was raised and attended school in Miami, FL. Prior to attending medical school I was a public high school science teacher for 3 years. I am honored and excited to be part of this mission trip to the Dominican Republic with fellow medical students from around the country.