CIGBS Student Ambassadors

Karina is pursuing her Pharm.D. and M.S. in Clinical and Translational Therapeutics at the‬ ‭University at Buffalo. After her first year of pharmacy school, Karina was awarded an‬ ‭NIH-funded T35 summer fellowship to research novel ART therapies in underserved global‬ ‭communities. In the Fall of 2024, she presented her research at the annual meeting of the‬ ‭American College of Clinical Pharmacy, where she became the first to receive a student award‬ ‭from the Global Health Practice and Research Network. Recognizing Buffalo’s potential to make‬ ‭a global impact, Karina joined the Buffalo Global Shapers Hub as a founding member. Her‬ ‭career goal is to integrate innovative leadership and research, ultimately becoming a‬ ‭clinician-scientist.‬ ‭ Karina has also served as the co-chair for Operation Substance Use Disorders at the pharmacy‬ ‭school for three years. She is currently collaborating with the Erie County Department of Health‬ ‭to increase the accessibility of naloxone on campus. In 2024, she organized the pharmacy‬ ‭school’s first Narcan Train-the-Trainer program, certifying pharmacy, nursing, and‬ ‭undergraduate students to advance their own community training initiatives. Additionally, she‬ ‭has successfully launched a pilot study to install Narcan emergency boxes at the pharmacy‬ ‭school. She looks forward to expanding this initiative across all three UB campuses. Her‬ ‭involvement in researching substance use dependency stems from her B.S. in Biomedical‬ ‭Sciences from the University of New Hampshire. For her undergraduate honors thesis, she‬ ‭investigated the results of inactivating the corticostriatal pathway after establishing associative‬ ‭learning connections with a nicotine stimulus.‬ ‭In the spring of 2025, Karina’s focus on innovation in pharmacy was further acknowledged when‬ ‭she was awarded as this year’s New York State Council of Health-System‬ ‭Pharmacists essay competition winner. This year's contest focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in‬ ‭transforming hospital pharmacy practices and healthcare delivery. Drawing from her internship‬ ‭experience at a local hospital, Karina discussed evidence-based applications of AI in clinical‬ ‭decision-making, medication reconciliation, and personalized medicine.‬ ‭ Karina’s leadership style emphasizes inclusivity and mentorship. She especially supports‬ ‭underclassmen in their academic and extracurricular pursuits. Currently, she demonstrates this‬ ‭by serving as the CIGBS liaison for students interested in getting involved with research. These‬ ‭qualities, along with her leadership experience, earned her induction into the Phi Lambda Sigma‬ ‭Pharmacy Leadership Society, where she served as vice-president for the 2025-2026 year.‬

Terron Brown is a M2 at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a Bachelors and Masters in Biology. He currently has interests in pediatrics and psychiatry, and is the Vice President of the Dr. Jonathan Daniels Chapter of Black Men in White Coats. He also enjoys creating music, and is currently on a research project examining mindfulness and music with Dr. Jamal Williams. He previously worked as an adjunct instructor at Daemen University and as a medical assistant at Primary Care of Western New York.

Ivy is a freshman at the University at Buffalo studying to get a BS in neuroscience with a minor in history. She is currently doing research on the endocannabinoid system, role in neurologic regulation, and relevance to drug development and research for cannabinoids. She is passionate about scientific advisement and hopes to use science to advance human health and development.

Simon Ekere is pursuing his doctoral degree in Chemistry at the University at Buffalo. His primary research focus is the development of bioanalytical methods for the quantification of small molecules and proteomics. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry Education (First Class) and a Master of Science in Analytical Chemistry (Distinction) from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Before beginning his doctoral program, Simon worked as a chemistry instructor at Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, Nigeria. He is passionate about mentoring young scholars and nurturing patriotic citizens of Nigeria who are committed to making the world a better place. He advances this vision through Royal Star Mission, a non-governmental organization he founded. Simon’s guiding principle is captured in his personal slogan: “Train the mind, change the world.”

Kyron Green, is an undergraduate student of the University of Buffalo. Driven by a deep commitment to service, he devotes his time to volunteering and supporting those in need. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies he intends to become a physician who can provide refugees and immigrants who face inequities, access to medicine. Kyron is focusing on non-communicable diseases and their causal nexuses that are often overlooked.

Marwa Hussain is an undergraduate student at the University at Buffalo, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Public Health. She has a strong interest in translational research and health equity, and her experiences span both laboratory and clinical settings. Marwa works as a medical assistant at a diabetes clinic, where she helps care for patients and is learning a lot about what it takes to manage this disease. Additionally, she is involved in research that explores how the cellular environment shapes cell behavior and proliferation. In addition to her academic pursuits, Marwa is actively involved in mentorship and community outreach, including leading cultural programming on campus to encourage diversity and inclusion. She plans to pursue a career in medicine, focusing on integrating research and patient care to address health disparities across the United States.

Kevin Jiang is a third-year pharmacy student with developing interests in clinical pharmacy, health equity, and interdisciplinary patient care. Through his pharmacy education, he has become increasingly aware of how deeply social and structural factors shape patient outcomes, particularly among underserved communities. He recognizes that diabetes is a complex, lifelong condition that often requires continuous education, lifestyle modification, and coordinated care, which requires building trust and accessibility that resonate with each patient’s individual circumstances. Kevin is particularly drawn to this research project on increasing health equity in diabetes education because the opportunity to contribute to a project that aims to link diabetes education with healthcare providers serving underserved populations feels like a natural extension of his experiences and his long-term goal of improving patient care through both clinical and educational initiatives. He is eager to apply my clinical knowledge while learning how evidence-based interventions can be implemented at the community level to reduce disparities in chronic disease management. He has recently pursued experiences that allow him to integrate classroom learning with real-world applications, particularly in patient care settings. Participating in this project would allow him to deepen his understanding of how pharmacists and other healthcare professionals can collaborate to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations. Looking ahead, he hopes to pursue a pharmacy residency focused on internal medicine and academia where he can continue integrating clinical expertise with teaching and research aimed at advancing equitable healthcare practices.

My name is Tanmayi Kapalli, and I am currently a third year undergraduate student studying Biochemistry at the University at Buffalo. I have a strong interest in pharmaceuticals, public health, and immunology, with a particular focus on disease spread and prevention. I am currently seeking opportunities to gain hands-on experience beyond the traditional classroom setting. I’m especially interested in working in a laboratory environment where I can observe the real-world applications and outcomes of research and studies. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in healthcare and public health, applying the knowledge and skills I’ve developed through both academic and practical experiences

Edison is a third-year PharmD student dedicated to advancing global health equity by applying therapeutics and translational research to enhance infectious disease care in underserved communities. He aims to bridge clinical practice and research to develop sustainable, accessible healthcare solutions. In his free time, he builds and customizes mechanical keyboards to craft the perfect typing experience.

Ava Ruebenacker is a pharmacy student studying under the pharmD curriculum at the University at Buffalo. She has a Fascination to improve the lives of individuals with diabetes from her experiences with relatives and other community members. She has previously formulated a research project on the removal of non-pharmacological cognitive enhancements on military soldiers while attending an internship at Georgetown University. She is currently working on the experiential learning project focusing on linking diabetes to health providers in underserved communities to improve the lives of those living with diabetes.

Noah Williams is a molecular and cellular biology graduate student who values learning, collaboration, and steady growth in the life sciences. Currently pursuing his Master’s degree at Brandeis University, he has been fortunate to explore a wide range of research topics — from studying circadian rhythm genes in Drosophila to gaining hands-on experience with CRISPR/Cas9 cancer cell editing and plant physiology studies. Along the way, he has built skills in oligonucleotide synthesis, GMP-compliant CAR T cell manufacturing, and applying emerging tools like 3D printing for medical education. Just as important to Noah as the technical work is the opportunity to serve and connect with others. His involvement with the University at Buffalo’s Global Health Institute–Wadsworth Center collaboration has allowed him to contribute to scientific writing, event planning, and health-focused initiatives. Through roles as a mentor, tutor, and student leader, he has learned that impactful science is as much about teamwork and communication as it is about data and discovery. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue growing as both a researcher and collaborator, contributing to biomedical work that directly benefits patients and communities.