Students and Alumni of the Youth Neurology Education & Research Program

During the summer of 2020, the MGH Youth Neurology Education and Research Program employed 31 brilliant and talented students interns from across the Greater Boston Area in remote, paid mentored research. The 2020 cohort identified as 68% female, 68% Black or Latino, 39% immigrant, and 61% first-generation students, representing communities disproportionately affected by neurologic disease and underrepresented in the neurology workforce. These undergraduate and high school students engaged in collaborative teams across 11 neurology labs spanning basic, translational, clinical, and health services research across neurologic conditions.

The cohort was able to develop their critical thinking abilities while exploring complex scientific questions and work towards novel discoveries in the field of Neurology. At the conclusion of the program, filled with literature reviews, data analyses and teamwork, students shared their research findings with the broader scientific community through professional presentations. Amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, this cohort remained resilient and persevered towards accomplishing their goals. We look forward to supporting them in their future accomplishments and witnessing their continued contributions to healthcare and Neurology.

Undergraduate Students

Amy Ly
Mentor: Dr. Shibani Mukerji
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Junior at Tufts University

Alisha Shrestha
Mentor: Dr. Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Junior at Suffolk University

Alivin Morales-Giron
Mentor: Dr. Isabel Arrillaga-Romany
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Sophomore at Dartmouth College

Daniel Joseph Jr.
Mentor: Dr. Marcello Matiello
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Junior at Rochester Institute of Technology

Daniela Brea-Baez
Mentor: Dr. Lidia Moura
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at University of Massachusetts Amherst

Janiel Lewis
Mentor: Dr. Altaf Saadi
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Junior at Worcester State University

Juan Antonia Brea-Baez
Mentor: Dr. Yakeel Quiroz
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Sophomore at Salem State University

Juleen Lewis
Mentor: Dr. Andrea Harriott
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at University of Texas at Arlington

Luqman Shariff
Mentor: Dr. Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Mariana Quintero-Tapasco
Mentor: Dr. Eric Klawiter
Plans for the 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at Boston College

Patrick Adolphus
Mentor: Denitza Raitcheva
Plans for the 2020-2021 Academic Year: Junior at Harvard College

Talal Hamza
Mentor: Dr. Florian Eichler
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: First semester in the M.S. of Medical Sciences program at the Boston University School of Medicine.

High School Students

Adrianna Fusco
Mentor: Dr. Yakeel Quiroz
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at Revere High School

Alisa Regassa
Mentor: Dr. Yakeel Quiroz
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at Harvard College

Aliyah Rodriguez
Mentor: Dr. Shibani Mukerji
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at Community Charter School of Cambridge

Angel Lugo
Mentor: Dr. Eric Klawiter
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Carlos Mendoza
Mentor: Dr. Lidia Moura
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at East Boston High School

Cynthia Hydes
Mentor: Dr. Marcello Matiello
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at Florida Institute of Technology

Dania Hallak
Mentor: Dr. Altaf Saadi
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at Amherst College

Emily Santos
Mentor: Dr. Altaf Saadi
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at St. Mary’s High School

Frehiwot Tachebele
Mentor: Dr. Eric Klawiter
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at Chelsea High School

Ishivita Bali
Mentor: Dr. Lidia Moura
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at Boston University

Jason Acosta
Mentor: Dr. Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at Dartmouth College

Jenipher Silva
Mentor: Dr. Florian Eichler
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at Revere High School

Jessica Feng
Mentor: Dr. Marcello Matiello
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at Revere High School

Mahmoud Hallak
Mentor: Dr. Isabel Arrillaga-Romany
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at Revere High School

Mariana Crisanto
Mentor: Dr. Andrea Harriott
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at Mount Holyoke College

Maya Jean Mary
Mentor: Dr. Florian Eichler
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at Howard University

Salma Hazimeh
Mentor: Dr. Isabel Arrillaga-Romany
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Freshman at Cornell University

Sarah Reyes
Mentor: Dr. Shibani Mukerji
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at Revere High School

Stefania Yee
Mentor: Dr. Andrea Harriott
Plans for 2020-2021 Academic Year: Senior at New Mission High School