Watch this video recap of the Peru trip.
2012 Jose's Hands Ambassadors
Jennifer Pernas
I am Jennifer Pernas, a medical student at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in Miami, Florida. I graduated from the University of Miami with a BS in Microbiology and Immunology. I am very excited to participate in Jose’s Hands, my first mission trip abroad. I’m interested in family and community medicine because I believe that fostering positive long term relationships with patients can and will make the difference in improving their overall quality of life.
Kefu Li
My name is Kefu Li. I am a rising second year medical student at the State University of New York Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from China, I came to the US the age of 4. Since then, I proudly call ed California my home before I made my journey east to study Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University. After college, I served as a volunteer in AmeriCorps VISTA for a year at a community health center in NYC. There, I learned the importance of cultural competence in the care of underprivileged minority populations. I hope to incorporate this understanding as the groundwork for my future medical career.
Orlando Gomez
My name is Orlando Gomez, and I am a first year student at LECOM Bradenton College of Medicine. I graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering in Dec. 2003. In 2009, I decided to return to school to complete a Post. Baccalaureate program in Pre-Medicine. I completed the program in the fall of 2010, and began my first year of medical school in August 2011. I intend on using this summer to give back to the community, and I am grateful to be given the opportunity to join Jose’s Hands medical mission trip to Peru.
Sarah Zader
I’m Sarah Zader and am looking forward to participating in my first medical mission trip and my first trip to Peru! I was born and raised in Bel Air, Maryland and graduated from University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Psychology. I am finishing my first year at George Washington University School of Medicine and am a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. During my time as an undergrad, I spent a significant amount of time working at a pediatric hospital as a Child Life Assistant helping many children adapt to living in the hospital. My passion is working with and helping people and I am thrilled to be able to participate in Jose’s Hands.
Ted Segarra
My name is Ted Segarra, and I am finishing up my first year at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. I am a native New Yorker and graduated from Cornell University in 2008 with a ScB in Human Development. After college, I spent three years doing research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where I studied the interaction between HIV and HSV and developed preclinical models to examine microbicides targeted at preventing the transmission of these pathogens. I’m currently volunteering at the Brooklyn Free Clinic where we provide free health care services and counseling to patients without medical insurance. I love music, and in my downtime I like to play trumpet with a group of fellow musicians from school.
Veronika Volkov
My name is Veronika Volkov and I am a rising 2nd year medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine. I was born in Chelyabinsk, Russia and came to the United States when I was 3 years old. I have lived in Baltimore, MD my whole life, but I love traveling to different places, especially with family and friends. Coming from Baltimore, I love the Ravens football team and I was lucky enough to have season tickets this past year, which was a gift from my older brother. I went to the University of Maryland, College Park (Go Terps!) and majored in Psychology. I am so excited for this trip to Peru this summer and am so thankful for this opportunity! My hobbies are playing sports (football, basketball, running, etc.), dancing, eating ice cream and sweets, writing poetry, and hanging out with friends, family, and my boyfriend of 9 years!