Michael Calcagni
Michael joins Gastro Health after spending a year at the National Institutes of Health working on Neurological diseases and their treatment. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a B.S. in Computer Science. At Notre Dame, he was elected to the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. Michael trained and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician during the COVID pandemic his freshman year. He then joined Notre Dame’s First Aid Services Team and served as president his senior year, working with the fire department to provide rapid medical response at campus events. He also volunteered as a citizenship class instructor for Spanish-speaking residents and tutored Notre Dame students in computer science.
Michael brings his experience with patient care and curiosity about the digestive tract. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, chess, and watching and playing sports.
Ellia Chiang
Ellia graduated from Williams College in Spring 2025 where she majored in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience. During her time at Williams, she conducted research in the emerging field of synthetic biology and completed a thesis investigating the effects of different pharmaceutical compounds derived from plants. She also continued neuroscience research at Boston Children’s Hospital and Mass General Hospital, focusing on optic nerve regeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease. Additionally, Ellia played on the Women’s Varsity Hockey Team and coxed for the Men’s Varsity Rowing Team, co-founded the Williams Science Journal and Design Club, volunteered in free clinics, and worked as a patient-visitor liaison in the Pittsfield ED.
Currently, Ellia works at Gastro Health as both a Clinical Research Coordinator and a Medical Assistant, and she looks forward to integrating her commitment to both research and clinical care. She is excited to learn more about gastroenterology, be mentored by Gastro Health physicians, and learn the back and front end of healthcare. Ellia is applying to medical school and in her free time, she enjoys going on long walks, spending time with her friends and family, writing poetry, and being in her home city of Boston.
Zelia Egan
Zelia graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bowdoin College in 2025, where she majored in biochemistry and minored in computer science. While at Bowdoin, she volunteered at Oasis Free Clinics to serve the medical and dental needs of low-income community members. To support students on campus, she also worked for Bowdoin’s community-building residential life program and raised awareness about women’s stories through an annual storytelling event. Through newspaper writing and research in chemistry, she found a passion for accessible and effective science communication — a passion she hopes to continue as a physician someday.
Given how Celiac disease has impacted people close to her, Zelia is eager to learn more about diseases and treatments of the gut while at Gastro Health. She also looks forward to making connections with patients and making their care experiences comfortable. In her spare time, she can be found running, hiking, or reading.
Lauren Hamamoto
Originally from Los Angeles, Lauren graduated from Lehigh University with honors and majored in Population Health with a minor in Biology. At Lehigh, Lauren was a research assistant for two professors on campus, one studying bone regeneration and one on ambulatory care in urban America. Lauren also worked on a team that created a wearable reminder device for underserved patients in Sierra Leone. Aside from research, she enjoyed volunteering at the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic, playing on Lehigh’s club volleyball team, and being a part of her campus ministry. In her free time, Lauren likes to watch movies, play piano, hang out with friends, and hopefully by the end of this year, become an experienced hiker.
During her gap year, Lauren is eager to learn more about gastroenterology from the providers and team at Gastro Health, engage with patients, and understand the administrative aspect of medicine while applying to medical school.
Matthew Marino
Originally from Atlanta, Matthew graduated with Highest Honors from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience with a minor in Spanish. While at Vanderbilt, Matthew was a research assistant in Neurology, leading a drug discovery project. Outside of the lab, Matthew worked as a Spanish Front Desk Medical Interpreter at Shade Tree Clinic, a Vanderbilt School of Medicine program providing low-cost care to the uninsured. He was also a team leader for Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science, bringing teams of students to local underserved schools in the Nashville area. After graduation, Matthew served as a research fellow at the National Institutes of Health studying fibromyalgia. His work is now under review for publication. In his free time, Matthew enjoys exploring new cities and restaurants, playing tennis, and following his Atlanta sports teams.
While at Gastro Health, he is excited to expand his clinical experience and learn about all that goes into running a medical practice. He is delighted about the opportunity to learn from providers to prepare for a career in medicine.
Isabella Midura
Originally from Wellesley, MA, Ella joined Gastro Health after graduating from Princeton University in Spring 2025. At Princeton, she majored in Molecular Biology and minored in Classical Studies. During undergrad, Ella conducted research focusing her senior thesis on intracellular trafficking. Additionally, she was a member of the Princeton Women's Soccer Team, a Health Professions advisor, and a co-founder of the Princeton Varsity Athlete Premedical Society.
During her time at Gastro Health, Ella is especially looking forward to gaining patient-centered clinical experience and learning more about GI autoimmune diseases/treatments. She plans to apply to medical school next year. In her free time, Ella enjoys running, reading, and playing tennis.
Porter Petruzziello
Originally from Tarboro, North Carolina, Porter graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duke University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. At Duke, she conducted research in the Derbyshire Lab, where she completed a thesis on the parasite that causes malaria. She gained hands-on experience in patient care through volunteer work in a rural wound care clinic and with hospice and later served as a teaching assistant in a class leading focused on the complex decisions physicians and families face in hospice care.
At Gastro Health, Porter looks forward to gaining clinical experience in gastroenterology, interacting directly with patients, and learning from providers while applying to medical school. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and spending time with friends and family.
Alicia Ross
Originally from Atlanta, Alicia graduated Cum Laude from Bowdoin College where she majored in Neuroscience and minored in Sociology. During her time at Bowdoin, Alicia spent two summers in a neurobiology lab investigating the role of protein-protein interactions on the developing nervous system. She also spent part of her senior year contributing to a pediatric epilepsy research project at Boston Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Alicia led a mental health advocacy club and worked for Bowdoin’s Wellness Office, connecting students to various resources on campus and cultivating a welcoming, positive community.
At Gastro Health, Alicia is excited to learn from the providers as well as engage with patients and gain clinical experience as she applies to medical school. In her free time, Alicia enjoys running, yoga, and reading, and she is excited to explore all that Boston has to offer.
Ruchik Trivedi
Originally from Boston, Ruchik graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a major in molecular and cellular biology and a minor in the history of science, medicine, and technology. Throughout his undergraduate career he was a research assistant in two labs, investigating asthma and immunology and lung cancer respectively. During his senior year he completed an independent research project investigating the impacts of chronic vape use on the lungs. Outside of research Ruchik also tutored other students and volunteered at the Johns Hopkins hospital and local homeless shelters.
Ruchik is excited to gain more experience working with patients and learning more about gastroenterology from the providers while applying to medical school. In his free time Ruchik enjoys working out, cooking, traveling, and reading.
Deborah Wittlin
Deb graduated magna cum laude from UMass Amherst with a Bachelor of Science in neuropsychology. Throughout her time in undergraduate years, Deb participated in basic science research on bacteria. Additionally, Deb was a part of her sorority’s executive board, serving as the VP of Academic Development, where she provided members with educational support and helped them overcome their academic challenges.
During her gap year at Gastro Health, Deb looks forward to interacting with patients, gaining clinical experience, and learning from the providers and staff. After her gap year she hopes to pursue a patient-centered career in clinical psychology, focusing on behavioral health. In her free time, Deb likes to exercise, read, and spend time with her family, friends, and two cats.