Where are you originally from?
I’m originally from Phoenix, Arizona. The past 3 years, I have been living in Washington, D.C. for Medical School (living in DC has had a huge impact on my personal and professional development, I have to mention it!)
Undergraduate College:
I graduated from Arizona State University & Barrett, The Honors College in 2016, where I got my degrees in Biological Sciences with an emphasis on Genetics and Cellular Biology, along with Spanish. Through Barrett, I was able to defend an undergraduate thesis: The Immune Blockade Therapy in Metastatic Osteosarcoma, under the excellent guidance of the Blattman Laboratory.
Where did you attend Medical School?
I attended A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona for medical school. 1 year was spent in Arizona, with the subsequent 3 years spent in D.C. working with Unity Health Care.
Why did you choose PTHA?
PTHA was the natural next step for my growth as a Physician committed to caring for our most vulnerable populations. In medical school, I had the opportunity to work long-term in underserved communities of Washington D.C. (wards 1, 7 & 8, consisting of primarily Black, Immigrant and Homeless communities), which profoundly altered the way I would see and choose to practice medicine. PTHA appealed to my desire to combine my values in life, with my career; namely, to learn about and serve minority populations and People of Color in the United States, along with working on advocacy & community/preventative health for these populations. I am thrilled to work with the Puyallup tribe of Washington state, learn about both their unique culture and barriers to care, and to receive rigorous training in a setting that balances in-patient and outpatient services. Similarly, I am excited to work alongside individuals who share similar values to me.
What are your interests?
My interests include Mutual Aid, advocacy work, equity (racial, gender, LGBTQ+) in medicine and reading all the books (current book list: The Selected Works of Audre Lorde, Pleasure Activism and From Beirut to Jerusalem). I also love gardening and propagating plants, third-gen coffee, bouldering and creating (in whatever way possible). I am very invested in my spirituality and community. I’m also trying to learn more languages - Portuguese and Arabic!
What are some fun facts about you?
I am fluent in Spanish, first-generation Lebanese-American, and while in DC, was very involved in the art scene, making album art and music videos for local rappers. I’ve also made art for social change (selling works for donations to different NGOs)