Fourth Year Medical Students
Shawna Benard
MPH, Chronic Disease Epidemiology – Yale University; BS, Psychobiology, University of California Los Angeles
Manhattan Beach, CA
As an undergraduate at UCLA, Shawna participated in research looking at purine-cytokine interactions and behavioral depression in rats. She also worked as a medical assistant. Shawna was an executive member of the Bruin Belles Service Association, and volunteered as a camp counselor. While at Yale, Shawna participated in an internship in Uganda, exploring the relationship between HIV/AIDS and psychiatric disorders. She also traveled to Isla de Mendez, a fishing village in El Salvador, to implement a variety of public health programs. During medical school, Shawna has worked as a research assistant with the National Neurological AIDS Bank. She also served as an executive member of Physicians for Human Rights and Student Council. Shawna currently volunteers with the Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Saginaw. She enjoys running, skiing, poetry, museums, music, theater, and dancing. Shawna also loves to travel and learn about other cultures.
Claire Chavez
BS, Human Physiology, University of Oregon
Ashland, OR
Claire volunteered for three years at Volunteers in Medicine, a free clinic for people without health insurance. She also volunteered with Adaptive Rehabilitation Services, which teaches people with disabilities how to live richer, fuller lives by becoming positive contributors to their community through various classes and workshops. At U of O, Claire served as a lab assistant on a fungal endophyte species interaction research project, tutored students in biomechanics and calculus, worked as a resident assistant, and served as a volunteer athletic trainer. She enjoys traveling, running, dancing, and hiking. Claire, her sister Maddy, her partner Garrett, and Homie the Gnomie spent six months living in New Zealand. Cheers, peace and love.
Alisan (the “l” is silent) Fathalizadeh
BS, Biochemistry – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Raleigh, NC
Alisan spent two years doing research at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center as part of the Prostate Cancer Team. She volunteered for two years as an EMT-Basic, and was also a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. As an undergraduate, Alisan worked largely with the Middle East student Forum, organizing events to promote discussion and awareness about the Middle East. She also worked with the North Carolina Fellows Program, a leadership development program, and the APPLES Service Learning Program, which allowed her to organize and implement alternative break trips. Alison loves to travel; some of her most developmental experiences have been abroad. She also loves to be outdoors hiking, climbing, or playing any game of pick up.
Erik Hemingway
BS, Human Biology – Michigan State University
Lansing, MI
Erik worked as a supplemental Chemistry instructor at Lansing Community College, and as a teaching assistant for an undergraduate biology class at MSU. He also helped residents at one of Lansing’s hospitals perform clinical research. Erik volunteered in the Ingham Regional Medical Center emergency department and at a homeless shelter. He traveled to Mexico to build a family house, and to Costa Rica to distribute food and meet other needs. Erik has taken eight trips to Pennsylvania to help restore an old school building for a small rural school. He also organized three teams of your adults to help in the reconstruction project. Erik enjoys helping out in his church, traveling, hiking, visiting new beaches, sports and reading.
Patricia Lorenzo
BS, Physiology – Michigan State University
Midland, MI
Patricia worked in two different medical offices during her undergraduate years, a family practice office and a neurosurgeon’s office. She has volunteered with Care Free Medical Inc. in Mason, MI, a clinic which provides free health care to the underserved. Patricia also volunteered for the Ingham Regional Medical Care Facility in Okemos, MI and Independence Village Retirement Home in East Lansing, MI. Her favorite sport is soccer – she loves playing it and watching it. Patricia also likes running, fishing, snowboarding, and being outdoors (when it’s warm). She loves the Spanish language and traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where her extended family still lives. Patricia hopes to travel to Barcelona someday, to see where her grandmother was born.
Christine Medaugh
BS, Medical Technology - Michigan State University
Royal Oak, MI
Prior to starting medical school, Christine worked for 6 years as a pesticide chemist for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and was a member of the Michigan Air National Guard for 7 years. She worked in Dr. Houria Hassouna’s Special Coagulation lab for many years both before and during medical school. Christine is finishing her Master’s Degree in Epidemiology. She enjoys being an active member of her community. She volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and at Care Free Medical, a clinic for the un/underinsured. She is moving to Midland with her husband, Kyle, who is a Mechanical Engineer at Hemlock Semiconductor.
Sorapat “Pat” Vijitakula
MPH, Epidemiology – University of Michigan; BA, Economics and BS, Physiology – University of Californian-Davis
Citrus Heights, CA
Pat served as an intern for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Zambia, studying HIV incidence among migrant and non-migrant farm workers. As a member of AmeriCorps, he worked as a home visitor for Birth and Beyond, an organization that works with families at risk for child abuse. During graduate school, Pat helped establish the first student government at the U of M School of Public Health. Between the first and second year of medical school he interned at the U.S. Navy Medical Research Unit-3 (NAMRU-3) in Cairo, Egypt and assisted in designing a research project examining social stigma for people in Egypt living with HIV. He is an only child and a first generation Thai-American. Pat enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and tennis and watching college football. He has been swing dancing since 1997, including performing at halftime of Sacramento Kings games. He currently volunteers at the Shelter House and is looking forward to learning more about the Midland community!
Resource Library
