Abha Athawale
Abha graduated Magna cum Laude from Wake Forest University where she received a BS in Health and Exercise Science. During her time at Wake Forest University, Abha worked at the Behavioral Medicine Lab where she served as a behavioral coach and research assistant for a study focused on decreasing chronic pain in older adults by means of physical activity. Abha also volunteered at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital as a cancer strategist, acting as a liaison between patient and provider. Invested in children’s health, Abha hopes to be a pediatrician one day.
During her gap year at Gastro Health, Abha is excited to interact with patients, learn new skills, and be mentored by the Gastro Health physicians. In her free time Abha enjoys music, traveling, good food, gardening, and spending time with friends and family.
Alexa Betjemann
Alexa graduated Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University in Spring 2024 and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society as a junior. She completed a double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Health, and Society, along with a minor in Anthropology. Her academic journey included both basic and translational research. She explored the role of weight cycling in mast cells, and she contributed to research on sepsis-induced kidney failure. Additionally, Alexa was a dedicated STEM peer tutor, meeting weekly with students to support their academic success, and she was actively involved with the Doctors Without Borders chapter at Vanderbilt. In college, she also worked as a Patient Care Technician at her local hospital, which reinforced her commitment to patient-centered care.
Currently, Alexa works at Gastro Health as both a Clinical Research Coordinator and a Medical Assistant, where she enjoys the balance of managing clinical studies while interacting directly with patients in a clinical setting. She aims to integrate her passion for research with patient care in her future career as an internal medicine physician. In her free time, Alexa enjoys spending quality moments with friends and family, taking her dog on walks, and going for long runs. Since moving to Boston, she has loved exploring the city and is excited about joining the local running clubs.
Leyla Ewald
Originally from Boston, Leyla joined Gastro Health after graduating Cum Laude from Harvard University in Spring 2023. At Harvard, she studied Biology with a secondary concentration in Global Health and Health Policy. Throughout her four undergraduate years, she conducted research in the Giribet Lab, focusing on population genomics in coral reefs. She also continued research in genetics at the Mount Sinai Precision Immunology Institute. Additionally, Leyla worked as a teaching assistant in Introductory Life Sciences, volunteered in a food lab, led group fitness classes, and was a backpacking leader of the First-Year Outdoor Program.
During her time at Gastro Health, Leyla is especially looking forward to gaining patient-centered experience and learning more about the gut-mind connection. She plans to apply to medical school next year. In her free time, Leyla particularly enjoys baking, running, and hiking with her dog, Toby.
Emely Loscalzo
Emely graduated from Johns Hopkins University with multiple academic honors. She majored in Behavioral Biology and the History of Science and Technology. Throughout her undergraduate career, Emely engaged in two distinct research projects. One project focused on signal processing in the basic sciences, while the other examined the complications associated with corticosteroid use in patients with muscular dystrophy. Her work on corticosteroid use was presented at multiple national and international conferences.
Emely's fascination with nutrition and the gut microbiome led her to Gastro Health, where she intends to spend two years shadowing doctors, interacting with patients, and deepening her understanding of GI health, nutrition, and the microbiome. Fluent in Spanish, she also aims to enhance her medical Spanish skills during her time at the practice. Consistent with her Argentine roots, Emely enjoys watching soccer games supporting her favorite teams: the Argentina National team and Boca Juniors. She also enjoys working out and exploring the city.
Liliana Root
Originally from Chicago, Lily recently graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Psychology and Chemistry. At Duke, she was a research assistant in two labs on campus. In one lab she examined cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment; the other lab studied gene editing. During her senior year, she completed an independent study on gene expression after radiation therapy. Outside of research, Lily played on the Duke women’s club lacrosse team and volunteered at Charles House, an elderly center in the Durham area, and at Duke Children’s Hospital.
While at Gastro Health, she is looking forward to learning from the providers and gaining more patient-centered experiences while applying to medical school. In her free time, she enjoys running, knitting, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Matthew Sigel
Originally from Cleveland, Matt recently graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN with a Bachelor of Arts in Medicine, Health, and Society with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. At Vanderbilt, he was a volunteer research assistant for the VUMC's Department of Plastic Surgery's research lab where he engaged in biomedical and quality improvement studies. He helped author five manuscripts accepted for publication, contributed to two podium presentations, and individually delivered a poster presentation at the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Fair. During his sophomore year, Matt also founded an organization on campus, with now over 75 members, which carries out acts of service to students, faculty and the great Nashville community. For his community service, Matt received the Rob Roy Purdy Award for Leadership and Excellence. Additionally, Matt was the Outreach Chair for Vanderbilt Students Volunteer for Science, which taught science lessons to underserved middle schools throughout Nashville. In his free time, Matt continues to expand his photography business, watch and play sports, and travel to new cities.
While at Gastro Health, he is excited to learn from the different providers, gain valuable clinical experience, and learn more about the administrative side of medicine while applying to medical school.
Michelle Tetro
Originally from Buffalo, NY, Michelle recently graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and minors in Chemistry and Theater Studies. Michelle worked as a clinical research assistant in the Duke University Emergency Department, engaging and enrolling a diverse group of ER patients into various clinical studies. During her 4 years at Duke, she researched mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) in youth athletes, utilizing eye tracking assessments to evaluate the impact of playing contact sports. Additionally, Michelle interned for Garwood Medical Devices, studying orthopedic implant infections in a microbiology lab. Outside of research, Michelle was the president of a theater club advocating for female-identifying stories on campus, presenting anonymously submitted monologues to the community. She further engaged with the Durham community through volunteering at an elementary STEM afterschool program and at the Durham Center for Senior Life Day Health Program. She hopes to one day become a physician in a pediatric specialty. At Gastro Health,
Michelle is excited to gain invaluable experience engaging with patients and learning from the providers. Finally, in her free time, Michelle loves spending time with her friends, family, and her dog Tucker.
Eliza Valente
Eliza graduated from UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors College with a B.S in Disease Prevention. During her undergraduate career, she conducted research and completed a thesis studying health disparities in chronic disease care. Additionally, Eliza worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a Dementia Care Center.
During her gap year, Eliza is excited to learn from the providers and staff at Gastro Health and to gain clinical experience in gastroenterology. Eliza plans to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant, concentrating on public health and working to provide equitable healthcare for all. In her free time, she likes to read, exercise, cook, and spend time with family and friends.
Kiana Vallo
Originally from Guilford, CT, Kiana recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Tufts University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Food Systems and Nutrition. Kiana was involved in both molecular and environmental research at Tufts University. While at Tufts, Kiana was a member of the MARCH, Maternal Advocacy and Research for Community Health, a group focused on combatting and educating the community on maternal health issues. She further developed a focus on social determinants of health while interning at Northern Counties Health Care, executing a project to understand communication barriers within a network of community health organizations in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. She was also involved with community tutoring and led the photography division of Tufts' student newspaper. Kiana’s experience learning about the extended care needs of patients drives her interest in pursuing medicine.
Kiana plans to bring her experiences with ecology, nutrition, and the social determinants of health to her role Gastro Health. She hopes to eventually practice using a holistic approach to patient care and using a systems-based approach to healthcare innovation. In her free time, Kiana enjoys gardening, nature photography, and spending time with friends and family.