2023-24 Honors Students
Charu Balamurugan
Charu is a junior majoring in Biological Sciences and Medicine, Health, & Society. On campus, she is a Head Resident at Warren College, Co-President of Active Minds, Co-President/Founder of Agni, and Vice President of Katie’s Art Project. She also works as a research assistant at the Rokas Lab in the department of Biological Sciences and the Jordan Lab at VUMC. While in the honors program, Charu will be working with Dr. Kirsty Clark to explore racial and sexual identity in mental health to inform youth reentry.
Lohitha Basa
Lohitha is a senior majoring in Neuroscience and Medicine, Health, and Society with a concentration in Health Behaviors and Health Sciences. On campus, she is an active member of Vanderbilt Students Volunteer for Science, American Medical Students Association , and the South Asian Cultural Exchange. She also is an undergraduate research assistant in the Language Neuroscience Laboratory and the Reproductive Politics Laboratory. Outside of school, she is an intern at the Sexual Assault Center. After completing her undergraduate degree, Lohitha plans to pursue medical school. Her research will analyze racial minority status, healthcare access, and reporting of sexual violence in adolescents. While in the honors program, Lohitha will work with Dr. Gilbert Gonzales.
Anna Chang
Anna Chang (she/her) is a senior double majoring in Human and Organizational Development and Medicine, Health, and Society with a minor in Child Development. On campus, she serves as the President of the Asian American Student Association (AASA) and Co-President of Pre-Nursing Society. She is also involved in Vandy Sex Ed and Confidance. While in the honors program, Anna will be working with Dr. Sophie Bjork-James through the Reproductive Politics Lab to explore how religion impacts young adults’ perspectives on abortion in Nashville.
Omotayo Fasan
Omotayo is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society with a concentration in inequality, intersectionality, and health justice and minoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies. On campus, she is a Women’s Center Ambassadore and an undergraduate research assistant in the HOPE Lab. After completing her undergraduate degree, Omotayo plans to attend medical school. In the honors program, Omotayo will be working with Dr. Sophie Bjork-James to study comprehensive sexual health curriculums and their inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people, in the hopes of creating one.
Minoli Fernando
Minoli is a senior double majoring in Environmental Sociology and Medicine, Health, and
Society. On campus, she is a resident advisor in Branscomb and a learning assistant in
Physics for the Life Sciences. She is also an active member of the Vanderbilt Swim
Club, SPEAR, and Studio V. Minoli is an aspiring physician who hopes to help better
connect environmental health research with clinical care. While in the MHS honors
program, Minoli will work with Dr. Yolanda J. McDonald and Dr. JuLeigh Petty to conduct
geospatial analysis to determine where sensitive subpopulations are at greatest risk to
exposure of regulated drinking water contaminants per the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Samantha Josephson
Samantha is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society with minors in Spanish and Child Development. On campus, she works as a physics learning assistant, serves as the Marketing and Content Director for WRVU Nashville and on the ZTA programming council, and is also involved with Rub Club and Camp Kesem. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to go to medical school to pursue a career in pediatric medicine. While in the honors program, Samantha will be working with Dr. Jaime Bruce and Dr. Jessika Boles to explore the impact of parental healthcare encounters on children.
Nitya Kari
Nitya is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society and minoring in Data Science and South Asian Language and Culture. At Vanderbilt, Nitya is involved with the Vanderbilt International Relations Association (VIRA), KEFI Art Collective, and also works as an undergraduate research assistant in the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab. While in the Honors Program, Nitya will be working with Dr. Tara McKay to explore the impact of HIV criminalization laws on normative behavior practices among people living with HIV (PLWH).
Chaewon Kim
Chaewon is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, & Society with a concentration in Global health, and minoring in Data Science. On campus, she serves as a co-chair on the MHS Student Advisory Board and is a TA for MHS 3120. She is also the co-chair for the Vanderbilt Institute of Global Health Student Advisory Council (VIGH SAC) and involved with AACF, AASA, and KUSA. While in the MHS honors program, Chaewon will be working with Dr. Heidi Bludau to assess the extent of malnutrition in Brazil among children through the analysis of social and environmental determinants exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justin Luckner
Justin is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, & Society and Economics, while minoring in Spanish and Cinema & Media Arts. On campus, he co-leads the Vanderbilt Programming Board Speaker’s Committee, which helps to bring interesting and new perspectives to Vanderbilt’s campus through speaking engagements. Upon graduation from Vanderbilt, Justin hopes to work in government to help alleviate barriers in access to healthcare. While in the honors program, he will work with Dr. Celina Callahan-Kapoor to investigate health disparities for Latin Americans immigrating to the United States.
Anika Mahajan
Anika is a senior double majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society and Spanish. On campus, she is the president of Doctors Without Borders and is involved in the South Asian Cultural Exchange and the Student Center for Social Justice and Identity. She is also a part of the Bonami Lab at VUMC and conducts research on the role of B cells in Type I diabetes. After completing her undergraduate degree, Anika plans to attend medical school. While in the honors program, Anika will be working with Dr. Celina Callahan-Kapoor to investigate Type II diabetes care and treatment for Hispanic populations in Nashville.
Elisa Park
Elisa is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society and Political Science and minoring in Data Science and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. On campus, she is involved in the Asian American Student Association, the Undergraduate Political Science Association, and Vanderbilt’s independent student-run radio station WRVU Nashville. She is also a grader for DS 1000, a teaching assistant for MHS 2260, and an undergraduate research assistant in the Clark Lab as part of the LGBTQ+ Policy Lab. While in the honors program, Elisa will be working with Dr. Kirsty Clark to explore the disparities in academic outcomes among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth in different educational settings (specifically, public schools and alternative learning centers).
Angela Qian
Angela is a senior majoring in Cognitive Studies and Medicine, Health, and Society with a minor in Neuroscience. Outside of class, she is involved in iLEAD, AASA, Vanderbilt Gymnastics Club, and Alpha Phi Omega. She is also a research assistant in the Learning and NeuroDevelopment Lab. While in the honors program, Angela will be working with Dr. Meg Saylor to explore children’s question-asking behaviors and their relation to mental wellbeing.
Brina Ratangee
Brina is a junior double majoring in Medicine, Health & Society and Neuroscience with a minor in History. On campus, she serves as News Editor of The Vanderbilt Hustler and President of InterAxon, as well as is involved in oSTEM, Alzheimer’s Buddies, Quiz Bowl, and Vanderbilt Student Government. She is also a Learning Assistant for BSCI 1510 and a researcher at the Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Center. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine that also draws upon her interests in public health, research, and journalism. While in the honors program, Brina will be working with Dr. Lucie Kalousová to investigate the caregiver burden for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenia Virgo
Kenia Virgo is a senior majoring in Medicine, Health, and Society with a minor in Chemistry and Biology. On campus, she serves as co-President of the Caribbean Students Association and as an EDI Chair for the National Eating Disorders Association. She also serves as a mentor and tutor within Nashville and her home community. While in the honors program, she will work with Dr. Lauren Mitchell to explore the public health implications and impacts of medical mistrust within historically marginalized communities.
Past Honors Students and Theses