MAA_ScholarshipProfiles2024_D

Announcing the 2023 Medical 

Alumni Association Scholar 

Emily Gainor is a fourth generation Pitt Med student from 

San Diego, California. Emily came to Pitt Med to pursue a 

career in pediatrics and to continue her work with vulnerable 

underserved patients. 

Her intentions to help serve the Pittsburgh community 

are clear, as she has hit the ground running and is already 

involved in multiple community-based programs. In fall 2022, 

Emily volunteered at UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics 

to give out influenza vaccines, Allies for Health + Wellbeing 

administering monkey pox vaccines to at-risk members of 

Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community and a women’s clinic where 

she did clinic intake interviews for women experiencing 

intimate partner violence who were seeking medical 

attention. 

At Pitt Med, Emily is also involved with the Pediatric and 

Adolescent Interest Group, the Medical Student Learning 

Environment at Pitt Med Committee, the Pitt Med Wellness 

Committee and the patient-centered Longitudinal Alliance 

Program. 

Emily Gainor 

HOMETOWN: 

San Diego, California 

CLASS YEAR: 

2026 

FIELD OF STUDY: 

Medicine 

WORDS FROM THE SCHOLAR 

“I have grown to understand some of the unique issues facing Pittsburgh residents, and 

serving the needs of patients in Pittsburgh and greater Western Pennsylvania is truly a dream 

come true.”

Announcing the 2023 Medical 

Alumni Association Scholar 

Lauren Rebel is a Pittsburgh native and involved community 

member. As a lifelong Pittsburgh resident, she dreamed of 

attending Pitt Med and is now the first member of her family 

to go to medical school. 

Lauren is determined to make a positive impact on the lives of 

children and their families as a pediatrician. Compassionate 

patient care, innovative research and advocacy at the 

community level are areas of high importance for Lauren. 

She also works to increase access to medical education 

by participating in the Giving a Boost program, where she 

conducts free application reviews and practice interviews 

for pre-medical students in the Pittsburgh region. This year, 

she volunteered with the Birmingham Free Clinic and with 

the Oncology Pals and Booksburgh programs at UPMC 

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Additionally, she is the new 

coordinator for the Pediatric and Adolescent Interest Group 

at Pitt Med. 

Lauren Rebel 

HOMETOWN: 

Pittsburgh, 

Pennsylvania 

CLASS YEAR: 

2026 


Medicine 

WORDS FROM THE SCHOLAR 

“My family has lived here for generations. They truly laid the foundation for me, with my mom 

serving as a nurse and transplant coordinator at UPMC Presbyterian and my grandfather operating 

the very crane that built the new Children’s Hospital in 2009. No matter what happens in 

the future, I will always be a proud Yinzer at heart, and I will work every single day to improve 

health outcomes in this city, whether that be through direct patient care, research or working 

to dismantle health disparities among vulnerable members of our community.”

Scholar Profile 

Choosing Pitt: 

I grew up in a single-parent household with me and my sister 

in a small city right outside of Washington, D.C. My mom 

would always encourage me with the mantra “fear is not a 

factor,” and that statement constantly paced my mind more 

often specifically once she was diagnosed with diabetes. 

It was difficult to see her struggle due to the lack of health 

education and the strain of social determinants, and that 

allowed me to realize that science meant nothing if it could 

not be applicable to make a difference in the lives of people 

who needed it most. This began my journey to merge 

scientific discovery and medical advancements. 

I sought out a university where I could foster my academic 

studies and edify my identity as a Black woman and have the 

skills to advocate beyond the hospital walls. Attending the 

nation’s first degree-granting HBCU—Lincoln University of 

PA—allowed me numerous experiences to do just that. 

Brianna Blake 

HOMETOWN: 

Prince George’s 

County, Maryland 

CLASS YEAR: 

2025 


Medicine 

Being accepted into the Summer Pre-medical Academic 

Enrichment Program at Pitt began my longstanding 

relationship with UPSOM DEI staff, physicians and 

administration and ultimately allowed me to make the 

decision of trusting that this was the university where I could 

be supported in all of my long-term goals. 

The Medical Alumni Association scholarship has been such a tremendous help in my life 

overall. Being able to have funds for food on days that are long and exhausting and even 

having the funds to ensure my car has gas and oil so I can make it to community service 

projects. This has definitely helped improve my mental well-being as well as helped my family 

know that I am being financially supported at my university. I am so extremely thankful for 

every single person who was able to contribute and make this dream a reality!

Enjoying My Time Here: 

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Racism in Medicine course, 

which allowed every student to understand the foundational 

travesties of medicine and uncover the underlying divide and 

hesitancy of patients to trust physicians. 

I participated in the UPSOM Dean’s Summer Research 

Program in a lab conducting research that I was very 

interested in: estrogen effects on cardiac health. I have been 

doing a lot of work with the social medicine fellows in our 

advocacy work with the CATCH program and developing 

a surgical workshop for middle school students in the 

Homewood area. 

Lastly, being the president of the Student National Medical 

Association has been such a joy, networking with minority 

physicians and planning and coordinating events for our 

students to get a greater sense of community. 

My post-graduation plans are not fully planned out, but I am dedicated to becoming a 

surgeon-scientist, utilizing research innovations to promote and advocate for women’s health 

and equity for racial minorities in whichever field I choose. I am consistently exploring and 

trying to understand the most critical parts of my life that I would like to prioritize in my 

career. I am ultimately hoping that my third year will allow me to fully explore the various 

fields and make a decision between cardiothoracic surgery or gynecologic surgery. 

Accomplishments and Activities: 

Thus far in my journey, I was able to present my research 

on estrogen pathways for cardioprotection, where I worked 

in Dr. Iain Scott’s lab at the Vascular Medicine Institute 

conducting basic science. 

I produced a short film documenting the lived experiences 

of women in Pittsburgh and their experiences dealing with 

health disparities and being at risk for cardiovascular disease 

with Dr. Esa Davis. 

I was recently the first author and presenter at the University 

Med Ed Day, where I was able to present the outcomes and 

experience from my team’s work in the CATCH program. 

Outside of that, I have been able to continue volunteering at 

the Light of Life Rescue Mission and working with Dr. Thuy Bui 

in Homewood home visits and at the Birmingham Free Clinic.



I am from the South Hills of Pittsburgh and completed 

undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh. I attended Pitt 

because of the positive experiences I had with health care 

here while growing up. 

I have wanted to become a physician from a young age 

and felt that Pittsburgh was a great place to receive this 

education. Medicine combines helping others with rigorous 

scientific learning, which is what I am seeking in a career. 

I chose Pitt Med because of its strong reputation, excellence 

in clinical care and my positive experiences with faculty. I am 

excited to be in my final year of medical school and in the 

process of applying to residencies in emergency medicine. 

Erin Gramm 

HOMETOWN: 

Jefferson Hills, 

Pennsylvania 

CLASS YEAR: 

2023 


Medicine 

Thank you so much for your generosity and for supporting my education. I truly appreciate 

it. As a first-generation student, medical education is uncharted territory and overwhelming 

in many ways, including financially. With your generous support, the financial strain is eased 

significantly. Without this award throughout medical school, I would have felt much greater 

financial pressure and anxiety. I am very thankful and look forward to being able to donate to 

help other med students in need in the future.


I enjoyed my final year of medical school, spending time on 

emergency medicine electives. I did emergency medicine 

rotations at Pitt and Cincinnati and a toxicology rotation at 

Pitt. I really enjoyed all these rotations; they confirmed that I 

should pursue an emergency medicine residency. It is exciting 

to be achieving my goal of becoming a physician after this 

long journey. 

I hope to practice emergency medicine at an academic center in an urban area. I would like 

to work in a hospital associated with a medical school so that I can teach medical students. I 

feel that my education at Pitt in both undergrad and medical school will prepare me well for 

residency, and I’m excited to continue to build my skills in residency. 


I recently had a journal article published, which was exciting 

for me. This publication was the first time I have been the 

first author. It was a study I performed about treatment and 

outcome differences between males and females with out-ofhospital 

cardiac arrests. 

I served as president of the Pitt Med Advisory Council, 

and I mentored Pitt undergraduate students interested in 

medicine. As a first-generation undergraduate and graduate 

student, I found it very rewarding to help students as they 

applied to medical school. I was also inducted into the Gold 

Humanism Honor Society by my peers.



I received my degree in biochemistry with a minor in medical 

sociology on the pre-medical track in 2017 from Case Western 

Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Between the 2017-18 academic year, I worked at the National 

Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases as a National 

Institutes of Health Intramural Research Training Award 

fellow. 

I chose to attend the University of Pittsburgh School 

of Medicine because of its strong clinical and research 

background. 

Chinweoke 

Osigwe 

HOMETOWN: 

Austin, Texas 

CLASS YEAR: 

2023 


Medicine 

I received scholarship support from the University of Pittsburgh for four years. I am so 

grateful for all the donors who have contributed to my scholarship fund. The scholarship 

support has enhanced my academic experience by allowing me to explore my clinical interest 

without being influenced by my debt burden.


What I have enjoyed most about being a medical student at 

the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is having the 

opportunity to pursue my medical training at UPMC. I have 

been able to work with many attending physicians who are 

at the top of their respective fields and feel well prepared to 

become an emergency medicine resident. 

My interest in emergency medicine actually started during my first year of medical school and 

has grown since then. My long-term goal is to become a medical director of a large county/ 

community emergency department while also working with the public health department. 


Here is a list of awards/honors I have received while as a 

student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine: 

the Gold Humanism Honor Society, UPSOM Community 

Service Award, Students Who Rocked Public Health 2020, 

the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional 

Scholarship Program, AMBOSS Access Scholarship, Dolores 

Zohrab Liebmann Fund campus nominee, UPSOM Dean’s 

Summer Research Program scholar and UPSOM Medical 

Alumni Association Scholarship. 

I have also been the recipient of the Paul Ambrose Scholars 

Program and the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship, which have 

allowed me to conduct community health projects. 

I have held leadership roles as a student health 

representative and as the emergency medicine and critical 

care interest group coordinator.



I am originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and I completed 

my undergraduate degree in theology at Fordham University. 

I then went on to earn graduate degrees in biotechnology and 

epidemiology before attending medical school. 

I chose to study these subjects because I have always been 

interested in the intersection of science and humanities, 

and I wanted to understand how these fields can inform and 

complement each other. 

I decided to attend the University of Pittsburgh because of its 

strong reputation in the medical field and the opportunities it 

offers for clinical and research experiences. 

Sebastian 

Rodriguez- 

Torres 

HOMETOWN: 

San Juan, Puerto Rico 

CLASS YEAR: 

2023 


Medicine 

Thank you so much for your generous support through the Medical Alumni Association 

Scholarship Fund. Your donation has been instrumental in helping me focus on my studies 

and research here at the University of Pittsburgh. I am grateful for the opportunities and 

support that this award has provided, and it means a great deal to me. Thank you again for 

your belief in me and for investing in my future.


One of the things I am enjoying most about this year at Pitt is 

the opportunity to participate in research projects and apply 

for residencies. 

I have been able to publish seven peer-reviewed articles and I 

have been involved in many research projects during medical 

school. These experiences have prepared me for a career in 

academic medicine and have been incredibly enriching. 

I am thankful for the clinical and academic resources that 

Pitt has provided me, which have made it possible for me to 

pursue my goals in medicine. 

I am passionate about research and teaching, and I believe that a Pitt education has prepared 

me well for these endeavors. I am grateful for the clinical and academic resources that Pitt 

has provided me, and I am confident that I will be able to achieve my long-term goals with the 

support and guidance of the faculty and staff here. I am determined to make the most of this 

opportunity and to continue striving for excellence in my field. 


In recent years, I have been fortunate enough to accomplish a 

number of things academically and professionally, in addition 

to publishing seven peer-reviewed articles (with four of these 

being during medical school). 

I am also involved in several volunteer and extracurricular 

activities, including mentoring students in research. These 

experiences have been incredibly enriching and have allowed 

me to make the most of my time at Pitt. 

I am grateful for the opportunities and support that Pitt has 

provided me, and I am determined to continue striving for 

excellence.



I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020, 

where I studied biological sciences and studio arts. As an 

undergraduate, I was drawn to Pitt for its multitude of 

resources and opportunities to explore the sciences. Not 

only did I love the academic atmosphere, but I also enjoyed 

exploring the museums and diverse neighborhoods in 

Pittsburgh. 

During that time, I got involved in biology research, 

volunteered at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 

continued my passion for art and tutored refugee students. 

After such a rich experience at Pitt during my undergraduate 

studies, I knew I wanted to stay at Pitt for medical school and 

continue building connections with the community. 

I was drawn to the cutting-edge research facilities at Pitt and 

the world- class teaching hospitals. I also chose Pitt Med 

because of the integrated curriculum that focuses on patientfocused 

medicine and clinical experiences. Overall, I felt that 

Pitt provided a strong supportive environment and a sense of 

camaraderie among students. 

Casey Zhang 

HOMETOWN: 

Doylestown, 

Pennsylvania 

CLASS YEAR: 

2024 


Medicine 

I am very grateful for the generous support from the Medical Alumni Association (MAA). 

Over the past three years, this award has had a really positive effect on me by allowing me 

to direct my focus toward exploring my medical interests through research and shadowing 

as well as continuing extracurricular hobbies and volunteering that help maintain balance. 

This award has helped me travel to research conferences and connect with others across the 

country. Having this support network and being a part of such a close community of students 

and alumni continue to exemplify why I chose Pitt. With the MAA’s generous support, I’ve 

been able to form long-lasting connections with mentors and Pitt alumni and am eager to 

continue the spirit of giving back in my future career.


As I reflect on my third year at Pitt, each clinical rotation has 

been uniquely enjoyable. Pitt has world-class educators and 

physicians who are committed to teaching and fostering our 

professional development. 

It has been fun and exciting to spend month-long rotations 

at different teaching sites all across Western PA with 

opportunities to engage with patients and their families. 

In particular, during my family medicine rotation, I was able 

to travel locally to conduct home visits in the Hill District, 

which helped me connect with our patients on a deeper level 

and learn more about the rich history of lifelong Pittsburgh 

natives. 

My Pitt education has given me the opportunity to learn from and engage with physicians 

who are leaders in their fields and who are always open to mentoring and providing a 

supportive environment for our learning and curiosity. Post graduation, I hope to be pursuing 

the specialty I’m most passionate about and incorporate life-long learning and research in my 

practice to help improve the lives of my future patients. 


This year, I have continued to pursue my research interests in 

reconstructive surgery and was able to present my research 

at regional and national conferences. 

I also designed and created a sculpture for the annual Breast 

Reconstruction Awareness Day event to raise awareness 

and promote education about breast reconstruction. This 

event highlighted the inspiring stories of women who have 

undergone breast reconstruction after breast cancer. 

I continue to serve on the board of the Pitt Med Human Rights 

Clinic, helping organize asylum evaluations for those seeking 

refuge in Pittsburgh. 

I have also stayed involved with the Asian Pacific American 

Medical Student Association, after serving as the vice 

president of education in 2022. We were able to continue 

the annual tradition of hosting the Organization of Chinese 

Americans clinic, which provides free general and specialty 

medical care to the uninsured community in Pittsburgh.

MAA_ScholarshipProfiles2024_D

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