Editors in Chief
Edis Mesic ‘28
Edis is a junior in Saybrook College from San Jose, California. He is double majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Spanish and has been a part of YGHR since his first semester at Yale. Outside of YGHR, Edis captains the Men’s Club Volleyball Team and serves as one of the of the Interpreting and Diversity Department directors at the HAVEN Free Clinic. In his free time, he loves to play basketball, watch movies, and do creative writing in Spanish.
Nyla Marcott ‘27
Nyla is a senior in Morse, double majoring in Political Science and History. She is a Global Health Scholar and is focusing her studies on South Asia and national security with an emphasis on food production and water rights. She serves as the Director of Assignments for the Yale Student Association for Small Claims Assistance, which helps individuals access legal information and navigate the Connecticut small claims court system. In her free time, Nyla enjoys taking road trips, gardening, and photographing every new bird she can find.
Managing Editors
Kate Choi ‘29
Kate is a sophmore in Berkeley College, and is from McLean, Virginia. At Yale, she is majoring in History and plans to pursue studies in Global Health. With experience spanning research, artificial intelligence, and business, she is passionate about exploring the intersection of health equity and disruptive technologies through the lenses of policy, history, entrepreneurship, and innovation. She is so excited to bring this insight to shaping YGHR!
Mateo Ramirez-Valentini ‘29
Mateo is a sophomore in Berkeley College double majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Spanish. He is interested in pediatric oncology, health equity, and the ways language and access shape patients’ experiences with care. At Yale, he conducts pediatric cancer research in the Bindra Lab and co-directs Interpreting & Diversity at HAVEN Free Clinic. He has written for the Yale Global Health Review and translated its articles into Spanish. Outside of class, Mateo loves creative writing in Spanish, throwing pottery and sculpting with clay, discovering music in different languages, and learning new ones. He also cycles and plays club volleyball.
Sydney Kim ‘29
Sydney is a sophomore in Silliman College from Westfield, New Jersey. She is a prospective Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major with interests in public health and health equity. Outside of YGHR, she serves as a project lead for Yale Healthcare Consulting Collective, writes for the Yale Scientific Magazine, volunteers at HAVEN Free Clinic, and is a member of Mixed Martial Arts Club. In her free time, she loves filmmaking, playing tennis, cooking, and trying new restaurants with friends.
Full-Length Editors
Sharna Saha ‘27
Sharna is a senior at Yale majoring in Neuroscience & History of science, medicine & public health on the pre-med track. She is especially interested in how science and medicine can both heal and inspire hope. At Yale, she researches neuroplasticity and spinal cord injury in the Cafferty Lab, volunteers in the Oncology Department at Yale New Haven Hospital, and serves as a director at the HAVEN Free Clinic. Sharna is also involved in mentorship and outreach serving on the board of YNEURO. As an editor for The Yale Global Health Review, she looks forward to amplifying student voices—often while recharging with an iced caramel latte in hand.
Sam Yu ‘29
Sam is a sophomore in Berkeley College majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and Humanities. He is interested in exploring how global health initiatives can better interact with different approaches to well-being across cultures and societies. On campus, he volunteers with the Community Healthcare Van, does research on RNA and stem cells in the Van Wolfswinkel lab, and plays the bells in Harkness Tower as a member of the Yale University Guild of Carillonneurs. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, he loves spending time in the outdoors, trying his hand at amateur photography, and watching movies with friends.
Paige Mahoney ‘28
Paige is a junior in Benjamin Franklin College from Simsbury, CT majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology, with a certificate in French. She is also a part of the Global Health Scholars Program. Outside of YGHR, Paige is involved in arbovirus research in the Vogels Lab at the Yale School of Public Health and the Yale Prison Education Initiative. She is passionate about citizen science, One Health, and infectious diseases. In her free time, Paige enjoys crocheting, hiking, and finding cute dogs to pet around campus.
In-Depth Editor
Niraj Srivastava ‘28
Niraj is a junior in Pauli Murray, majoring in MCDB and pursuing the Global Health Certificate. Moved by witnessing staggering health inequities in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, he aspires to innovate healthcare delivery to better serve people facing challenging social determinants of health. He is also interested in the design of sustainable health systems in limited-resource settings, domestically and globally. In his free time, he loves to dance with the Yale Bhangra team, take long drives with music, and soak up any moment of New England sun.
Short-Take Editors
Neo Chen ‘27
Neo is a senior in Branford College from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. He is studying Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and Applied Mathematics on the pre-medical track. Neo is interested in the intersection of biomedical research, quantitative modeling, and clinical innovation, particularly how fundamental discoveries in molecular biology can translate into therapeutic and biotech applications. Outside of YGHR, he is an undergraduate researcher in Hochstrasser Lab, a clinical lab assistant in Koo Lab a writer for the Yale Scientific Magazine, a vaccine coordinator volunteer for HAVEN Free Clinic, and a violinist in DPOPS and BCO. In his free time, Neo loves to take trips to other cities, hang out with friends, and read about the latest scientific research.
Bo Xin Zhao ‘29
Bo is a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin College majoring in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Born in Beijing, he grew up in Calgary before moving to Shanghai for middle and high school. At Yale, he conducts immunobiology research on brain lymphatic pathways and their relevance to neurodegenerative disease. Outside the lab, Bo volunteers on the oncology infusion floor at Yale New Haven Hospital and with HAVEN Free Clinic, and is a member of the Yale Debate Association. In his free time, he enjoys fencing, playing and watching basketball, and cooking.
Isabelle Wolchek ‘29
Isabelle is a sophomore in Pauli Murray College from Huntsville, Utah, majoring in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. She is interested in pharmaceutical research to identify new drug targets and therapies for chronic health issues. Outside of YGHR, she is a copy editor for the Yale Scientific Magazine and writes articles for upcoming issues. She is also involved with Synapse, helping with STEM outreach efforts, and is a member of the Lab Safety Staff in the Chemistry Department. In her free time, she enjoys swimming with Yale Club Swim, listening to music, and spending time with friends.
Events Coverage Editors
Anya Mahajan ‘29
Anya is majoring in the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health, with intents of pursuing a Global Health certificate. She is from Woodbridge, CT, but spent most of her growing-up in the town of New Haven. She is deeply passionate about solving socioeconomic inequities when it comes to access to healthcare, especially in regards to her hometown of New Haven. She has been currently working with IRIS to ensure that refugee families in New Haven that recently lost insurance are equipped with the resources they need to sign up for healthcare. She also volunteers with HAVEN Free Clinic, last semester as a longitudinal care coordinator and this semester as a medical debt and insurance counselor for local underinsured residents. In her free time, she loves to read (currently: Circe), spend time outside while New England weather still permits it, and asking her friends heinous would-you-rather questions.
Grace Udoh ‘28
Grace Udoh is an editor for the Yale Global Health Review and a junior studying the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. She is passionate about exploring how health systems shape communities and hopes to contribute to more equitable approaches to global health. Beyond the classroom and editorial work, Grace enjoys playing basketball, dancing to Just Dance, or performing with Yale’s Step team. She is excited by her work with YGHR, where she is eager to help share diverse perspectives on health and medicine.
Production and Design Team
Sonja Xie ‘30
Sonja is a first-year in Pierson College from Westchester, New York, majoring in Neuroscience on the pre-med track and looking to pursue the Global Health certificate. Her passion for global health centers on neurological health equity and understanding how socioeconomic factors impact treatment access, a focus inspired by her previous research on schizophrenia treatment disparities and community work leading brain health education and advocacy projects. As YGHR’s Production and Design Chair, she hopes to use visual design to communicate pressing health topics. In her free time, you’ll find her diving into anything arts & crafts-related, whether painting, drawing, graphic design, or origami, as well as exploring new cafés and spending time with her loved ones and cats.
Mira Lehman ‘29
Mira is a freshman at Yale in Berkeley College, studying the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health, and pursuing an Advanced Language Certificate in Spanish. Her passion for speech and debate connects her interests in education, language, and public advocacy. Mira founded youth programs in both debate and foreign language, and her commitment to advocacy extends to social justice efforts as well. At Yale, she is a member of the Debate Association and Mock Trial Association.
Paige Mahoney ‘28
Paige is a sophomore in Benjamin Franklin from Simsbury, Connecticut, majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a certificate in French. Paige is a research assistant in the Vogels Lab at the School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, where she works on Wolbachia-mediated inhibition of dengue fever virus transmission. Paige is also a member of the research request network for the Yale Prison Education Initiative and can be found frequenting ballroom dance events. She is passionate about infectious disease, crochet, and funny-looking dogs.
Jayden Gonzalez ‘28
Jayden Gonzalez is a prospective Global Affairs major from New York City with a strong interest in global economic development and global health. At Yale, he is a member of the Yale Record’s graphic design team, 17o1’s Production and Design Team, serves on the Berkeley College Council, and works as a Berkeley College Aide. Beyond academics and campus involvement, Jayden enjoys sketching, songwriting, photography, and biking. He is passionate about exploring the intersection of creative expression and global engagement, and he looks forward to continuing to develop his skills and perspectives in ways that contribute to meaningful international impact.
Bia Pereira ‘29
Bia is a first-year in Benjamin-Franklin College from Porto, Portugal. She plans to double major in Art and Neuroscience, hoping to use art and science interchangeably to tackle the paradoxes of the brain and other intriguing ideas. In her free time, Bia loves to paint, debate, travel, and spend time with loved ones. Having grown to value both the comforting rationale of science and the freeing experimentation of art, Bia looks forward to merging these two essential parts of her identity at YGHR.
Ishmeet Dhillon ‘28
Ishmeet Dhillon is a second-year student in Ezra Stiles College from California. She is studying Political Science and History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health (HSHM). Her academic interests revolve around exploring political science’s intersectionality with public health, especially how policymaking improves community health outcomes in disproportionately targeted communities. She has engaged in advocacy at the local, state, and national levels, gaining experience in adolescent health policy, substance use prevention, and civic engagement. Ishmeet aims to attend law school following her undergraduate education.
Social Media Chair
Sarah Bandilli ‘29
Sarah is a second-year student studying Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health. She is passionate about the intersection of medicine, biotechnology, and health policy, particularly how socioeconomic factors shape access to care and health outcomes. At Yale, she is involved in neurology research, Nourish at Yale, and the Yale Albanian Student Society, and has studied public health systems in London and Amsterdam. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, photography, graphic design, and trying out new cafés. As YGHR’s Social Media Chair, she is excited to use creative communication and design to bring global health topics to life and make them more engaging and accessible to a wider audience.
Website Lead
Claire Zhao ‘30
Claire is a freshman in Benjamin Franklin from Seattle, WA. She is majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and hopes to pursue the Global Health certificate. Drawing on her own background and experience advocating for educational equity among immigrant communities, Claire brings that same commitment to health challenges affecting these communities. Outside of YGHR, you can find Claire running mobile planetarium shows with the Yale Astronomical and Space Student Society and attending speaker events with the Alexander Hamilton Society. In her free time, she loves going on runs, binge-watching movies with friends, and exploring new spots around campus.
