Social Medicine Fellows Class of 2029
Eniola Ayo-Gbenjo
Eniola “Enny” Ayo-Gbenjo is from Laurel, Maryland. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pittsburgh and is interested in pursuing a career in medicine with a focus on community engagement and health equity. As a Social Medicine fellow, she is excited to immerse herself in the Hill District neighborhood, serve residents and develop the skills necessary to become a community-centered physician.
Mariah Dimalaluan
Mariah Dimalaluan is from Pasadena, California. After graduating from college, she spent several years exploring the health care space, from business to clinical research, while living in New York City. As a Social Medicine fellow, she works with the Braddock Youth Project and the Human Rights Clinic. When not at school, you can find her traveling, developing new hobbies or searching for the best restaurants in town.
Poliana Hartung
Poliana Hartung is a medical student committed to health equity with a particular interest in women’s health. She has volunteered extensively with underserved communities, where she developed a strong appreciation for the social factors that shape access to care and health outcomes. These experiences have fueled her passion for compassionate, patient-centered medicine and advocacy. Through the fellowship, she hopes to further integrate her interests in women’s health and social medicine to better serve diverse patient populations.
Sebastian Hymson
Sebastian Hymson is an MD/PhD student and is a Social Medicine fellow working with the Human Rights Clinic and community partners in Pittsburgh’s Greater Hazelwood neighborhood. His work focuses on advancing health equity through medical-legal advocacy, community partnership and translating biomedical research into more accessible care for underserved populations.
Soo Kang
Soo Kang is a first-year medical student from New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Boston College in 2019 and spent five years as a nurse working in women’s health and neonatal care at Massachusetts General Hospital. Kang is passionate about advancing health equity for underserved women. She is excited to partner with the Black Birthing Bridges project and serve the South Hills neighborhood.
Mina Kim
Mina Kim believes that health equity is not separate from good medicine but central to it. Originally from Texas, she carried this conviction to the south side of Chicago as an AmeriCorps member and now to Pittsburgh for medical school. These experiences across different communities continue to shape her understanding of what it means to be a thoughtful and effective physician.
Rebecca Liu
Rebecca Liu grew up in South Carolina and went to college at Duke University. As a Social Medicine fellow, she is part of the CATCH Project and is a Braddock neighborhood community partner. Her fellowship experience has provided a wonderful opportunity to learn more about social medicine while making meaningful connections with the Pittsburgh community. She is excited to continue learning from community members and exploring ways that medicine can better support Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
Kelsey Lyons
Kelsey Lyons is from San Diego and attended Georgetown University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in health care management and policy. She is passionate about contributing to a more equitable and innovative health care system and hopes to advance interdisciplinary work between medicine and health policy. In the Social Medicine Fellows Program, she partners with the Braddock neighborhood and participates in the advocacy project group.
Carly Marble
Carly Marble partners with community organizations in the Homewood neighborhood and with the Black Birthing Bridges project. She has worked with vulnerable populations for many years in Philadelphia, Chicago and Alabama, and she is passionate about continuing this work throughout her career.
Catherine Medina
Catherine Medina is part of the Medical Education Committee and is a South Hills neighborhood community partner. She is passionate about advancing health equity and giving back to the Latino community in Pittsburgh, working closely with Casa San José and serving as president of the School of Medicine’s Latino Medical Student Association. Through her advocacy and community partnerships, she strives to improve access to care and representation in medicine.
Joseph Obiagwu
Joseph Obiagwu is from Jacksonville, Florida, and graduated from the University of South Florida, majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in general public health. His interests include health equity, preventive medicine and medical education.
Aishwarya Rajagopalan
Aishwarya Rajagopalan, originally from Boston, is working as a community partner in Pittsburgh’s South Hills neighborhood and contributing to the Human Rights Clinic Project. She is passionate about the intersections of immigrant and refugee health with children’s and women’s health care access. In her free time, she enjoys photography, thrifting and trying new hobbies.
Brina Ratangee
Brina Ratangee earned a BA and MA in medicine, health and society from Vanderbilt University and is interested in understanding how individuals’ social and physical environments shape their health. Within the Social Medicine Fellows Program, she partners with Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood and the advocacy working group.
Palak Shah
Palak Shah is a first-year medical student passionate about civic engagement and improving the health of neighbors through community-driven initiatives. She has previously worked with community members and the City of Evanston to fund mental health first aid training for all residents and is now bringing that experience to Greater Hazelwood as a Social Medicine fellow. As a fellow, she also works with the CATCH Program to bridge gaps in pediatric care via coordination with a mobile care vehicle, women’s shelter clinic and Oakland Primary Pediatric Care.
Sarah Siddiqui
Sarah Siddiqui has a Master of Public Health in health policy and management and is passionate about blending her interests in health policy with clinical service. As a part of the Social Medicine Fellows Program, she is a member of the Hill District committee and the Medical Education committee.
Thomas Tanner
Thomas Tanner is a first-year medical student with a passion for social medicine and health equity. He is interested in understanding how social determinants of health influence patient outcomes and how community-centered care can improve access and reduce disparities.
Ningberi Tchontchoko
Ningberi Tchontchoko is originally from Togo, West Africa. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Seton Hall University in New Jersey. As a Social Medicine fellow community partner at Homewood, Ningberi works closely with the community, dedicating her efforts to meaningful engagement and service. She is deeply committed not only to making a tangible impact but also to equipping herself with the skills essential to practicing community-centered medicine. Tchontchoko believes that being a physician extends beyond mastering medical knowledge; it requires understanding the communities one serves and learning from them to provide truly compassionate and effective care.