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Matriculating 2019

  • Vincent N. Azzolino

    Vincent N. Azzolino

    Hometown: Acton, MA

    Undergraduate College: WPI, 2016

    Thesis Research Lab: Dr. Celia Schiffer

    Clinical Interests: Dermatology

    Hobbies: Pretty much everything


    Vincent.Azzolino@umassmed.edu

  • Jillian Belgrad

    Jillian Belgrad

    Originally from Weston, MA, Jillian graduated from Colgate University in 2017 with a B.A. in Cellular Neuroscience and a minor in Biology. After graduation, Jillian worked for two years as a post-baccalaureate research fellow at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. There, she researched the development of myelinating glial cells, in particular oligodendrocytes, in the lab of Dr. R. Douglas Fields.


    As a first-year student in the MD/PhD program, Jillian is now excited to continue in the field of neurobiology investigating the contributions of neuron-glia interactions in neurological disorders. During the summer of 2019, Jillian rotated in Dr. Paul Greer’s lab, inquiring how olfactory chemoreceptors expressed on the brain’s resident immune cells, or microglia, regulate the microglia’s ability to phagocytose synapses. She will select a thesis advisor after completing two additional lab rotations during the summer of 2020.


    In her free time, Jillian loves to run, bake cookies, and is excited to become involved in neurology and pediatric interest groups on campus. Jillian’s favorite aspect about UMassMed are the people, especially the incredibly warm, brilliant, and dedicated professors and the immense support and mentorship networks on campus.


    Jillian.Belgrad@umassmed.edu

  • Theodore Carrigan-Broda

    Theodore Carrigan-Broda

    A College of Charleston graduate, Theodore is an aspiring physician-researcher with a liberal-arts BS in biochemistry and chemistry. In addition to performing heterocyclic organometalloid synthesis and computation-based conformational analysis research under Dr. Gamil Guirgis during his undergraduate education, Theodore conducted investigations into antimalarial drug candidates derived from natural sponge products in the lab of Dr. Mark Hamann at the Medical University of South Carolina. Theodore is also a licensed Emergency Medical Technician.


    Theodore’s interdisciplinary research interests reside in the basic-science fields of biochemistry, pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry; he is particularly drawn to small-molecule therapeutics research. Theodore has completed a research rotation in the lab of Dr. Celia Schiffer, where he chemically synthesized putative inhibitors of flavivirus proteases and characterized their in vitro biological activity. Theodore will select his thesis advisor following the completion of his further research rotations in summer 2020.


    theodore.carrigan-broda@umassmed.edu

  • Jason Freedman

    Jason Freedman

    Hometown: Needham, MA

    Undergraduate College: Oberlin College, 2016

    Thesis Research Lab: Dr. Paul Greer

    Clinical Interests: Neurology, Internal Medicine, Autoimmunity, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Primary Care

    Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee, Soccer, Music (Drums/Guitar), Hiking/Camping, Cooking


    Jason.Freedman@umassmed.edu

  • Abigail J. Hiller

    Abigail J. Hiller

    Hometown: Arlington, MA

    Undergraduate College: Vassar College, 2017

    Thesis Research Lab: Drs. Paul Greer and Robert Brown

    Clinical Interests: Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry

    Hobbies: Cross-stitch, juggling, concerts, hiking, playing with my cats


    Abigail.Hiller@umassmed.edu

     

  • Ayush Kumar

    Ayush Kumar

    Hometown: Worcester, MA

    Undergraduate College: Washington University in St. Louis, 2019

    Thesis Research Lab: Dr. Arthur Mercurio

    Clinical Interests: Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology

    Hobbies: Basketball, Hiking, Swimming


    Ayush.Kumar@umassmed.edu

  • Eli Min

    Eli Min

    Eli Min graduated from Columbia University with a major in biology in 2016. He then conducted biological psychiatric research from 2016 to 2019 at Columbia University-New York State Psychiatric Institute Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Department. His research focused on genetic and epigenetic changes in Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder. In addition, he studied Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase mRNA and protein level changes in alcoholic post mortems using gender and aged-matched brain samples. Since matriculating into the MD/PhD program at UMassMed in 2019, he has rotated in the lab of Dr. Alexandra Bryne and plans to continue rotating and exploring his interests in Neuroregeneration and degeneration.


    Eli.Min@umassmed.edu

  • Laël Nethania Ngangmeni

    Laël Nethania Ngangmeni

    Hometown: Loum, Cameroon

    Undergraduate College: Bard College at Simon's Rock, 2020

    Thesis Research Lab: Dr. Kristin Mattocks

    Clinical Interests: OB/GYN

    Hobbies: traveling, singing, reading, eating, dancing, social media, workout classes

    Lael.Ngangmeni@umassmed.edu

  • Yen Anh H. Nguyen

    Yen Anh H. Nguyen

    Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Undergraduate College: Denison University, 2017

    Thesis Research Lab: Dr. Jonathan Watts

    Clinical Interests: Pediatrics, Geriatrics

    Hobbies: Knitting, crocheting, baking and eating desserts, tennis, swimming


    YenAnh.Nguyen@umassmed.edu