Previously Highlighted Alumni

Alicia Perry

Profiled April 2012

Alicia attended the Summer Medical Education Program (SMEP) in 2004 at Duke University prior to the program name change in 2006 to the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP).

In addition to attending SMEP, Alicia attended a summer internship program at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She also worked as a volunteer for the Black Educational AIDS Project in Baltimore, MD. Displaced by hurricane Katrina, Alicia attended Amherst College and was one out of seven students who received an honorary degree in 2006. Alicia has since graduated cum laude from Stanbridge College with a certification in vocational nursing and is now a licensed vocational nurse.

Today, Alicia is completing a Bachelor degree at Xavier University of Louisiana. She is currently seeking employment in an acute care or hospital setting. Although Alicia's ultimate goal is to become a family practitioner, she is currently focusing on a career in nursing.

Vanessa Maycumber

Profiled February 2012

Vanessa attended SMDEP at the University of Washington in 2007.

After completing SMDEP, Vanessa attended the Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program at Kansas State University in 2009. She is currently enrolled as a second year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Vanessa is a part of the Targeted Rural/Underserved Track (TRUST) program that connects Montana and Washington residents with a rural mentor and a clinical site in their home state. She is also a National Health Service Corps scholar.

In the future, Vanessa hopes to complete a residency in family practice and practice in rural Montana. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, reading, traveling, hiking, and cooking.

Daniel Valencia

Profiled January 2012

Daniel attended SMDEP at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2010. Today, he is a junior at California State University, East Bay. At CSUEB, from 2010 to 2011, Daniel was the President for the Peer Advocates and Wellness Club (PAW).

This past spring, Daniel attended SUMMA at Stanford University where he received in-depth information on the application process for medical school. This past summer, he attended Student Enrichment Program in Health Management and Policy (SEP) at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

You can read more about Daniel Valencia in an article written about him on The Pioneer Online.

Ngozi Okorafor

Profiled December 2011

Ngozi Okorafor attended SMDEP at Duke University in 2010. She is currently a junior with a concentration in biology, and a minor in chemistry at Howard University. After commencement, she plans to attend medical school and become a plastic surgeon. Ngozi wants to be a resource in helping to alleviate prejudices and discrimination for those with congenital disorders and those who suffer from deformities.

Since her summer at Duke, Ngozi has served on the Executive Board of the Honors Program at Howard University. She is also a science intern teacher at a local middle school in Washington, DC. This past summer she participated in Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Akron.

Amanda Mener

Profiled November 2011

Amanda attended SMDEP at Yale University School of Medicine in 2009. She is a senior at Stanford University, double majoring in Biology and Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity.

Amanda is currently working on her honors thesis on gastric cancer. She is a research assistant in a Hematology lab, and a clinical research assistant with the Department of Neurosurgery. Amanda is in the process of applying to MD/PhD programs and hopes to become an academic surgeon in the future.

In her spare time, Amanda volunteers at a free clinic and is a mentor with Science in Service, a community service group that teaches science lessons to local elementary school students.

Jennifer Flint

Profiled October 2011

Jennifer attended SMDEP at the University of Nebraska in 2008. Since attending SMDEP, she graduated from Buena Vista University with a degree in Biology where she was the first recipient of Buena Vista University's Undergraduate Rural Dentistry Internship (URDI).

During her undergraduate career, Jennifer was a three-year varsity tennis player, President of the Student Activities Board, and a three-year resident assistant.

Jennifer is now attending the College of Dental Medicine-Illinois at Midwestern University.

Debbie Marian Y. de Lara

Profiled September 2011

Debbie attended SMDEP at the University of Louisville in 2010. She is a junior at Loyola University of Chicago with a major in Biology and minors in Anthropology and Neuroscience. This past year, Debbie participated in the Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP) sponsored by the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Today, Debbie is in Rome, Italy because she was selected as one of six Loyola University of Chicago's 2011-2012 Ricci Scholars who during their junior year in school travel to Rome Italy, and Beijing, China to study and conduct cross-cultural research. During her study abroad, she hopes to propose possible solutions for curbing the incidence of childhood obesity in order to help thwart the onset of chronic medical conditions from befalling those who are still young yet disproportionately vulnerable.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Debbie plans to attend medical school. She wants to become a physician-anthropologist practicing Pediatric Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and/or Pediatrics.

Dr. Nathan Lott

Profiled August 2011

Nathan attended the Chicago Minority Medical Education Program (MMEP) in 1999 prior to the program's name change in 2006 to the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP).

Since completing the program, Nathan enrolled into medical school at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is pursuing a career in General Internal Medicine. Nathan finished his residency training in internal medicine this past June, and was named chief resident during his final year of residency training. He has been accepted into a Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship and will be training in that internal medicine subspecialty during the next three years with an ultimate goal of becoming an Intensivist.

Megan Lynn Swick

Profiled July 2011

Megan attended SMDEP at The University of Texas at Houston in 2006. In 2007, she attended the Summer Research Program at Houston, Texas. Megan is currently enrolled in medical school at Ross University School of Medicine and expects to graduate, June 2013. She is performing her core clinical rotations at Norwegian American Hospital in Chicago. She aspires to complete her residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Hematology/Oncology.

In her spare time, Megan is a volunteer at The University of Chicago's Emergency Department. In addition to her commitment to medicine, Megan is an avid runner. Megan believes that if you work hard and study, your education and career goals are achievable.

Nelvin Acevedo-Valle

Profiled May 2011

Nelvin attended SMDEP at Case Western Reserve in 2010. He is a rising junior at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus with a major in Chemistry. After graduation, he plans to attend Medical School. Nelvin wants to become a successful Neuron-Pediatric Surgeon where he can help people and help young minority students reach their goals in life.

Nelvin is the Vice President of the American Chemical Society where he enjoys doing community work and teaching other students about chemistry, the earth and health related issues. He is fluent in many languages; he speaks Spanish, English, and French, and is
currently learning Italian!