National Pre-Health Community Presents

Research Symposium 2023

Sunday, October 22nd, 2023

Join us for an immersive and knowledge-packed research symposium that is virtual and completely free! Engage with leading experts in our Keynotes and connect with like-minded individuals from around the globe. Exchange ideas and be part of an enriching intellectual experience, all from the comfort of your home. Don't miss this unique opportunity to expand your horizons and learn the latest research findings.

Meet Our Keynote Speakers

Christopher Rea, PhD
Professor of Modern Chinese Literature

Tom Mullaney, PhD
Professor of History

Christopher Rea is Professor of Asian Studies and former Director of the Centre for Chinese Research at the University of British Columbia. A native of Berkeley, California, he earned a BA from Dartmouth College and a PhD from Columbia University, and has been a visiting fellow at Harvard University and at universities in Taiwan and Australia. His books include Where Research Begins (University of Chicago Press, 2022, with Tom Mullaney), Chinese Film Classics, 1922-1949 (2021), The Book of Swindles: Selections from a Late Ming Collection (2017, with Bruce Rusk), and The Age of Irreverence: A New History of Laughter in China (2015). He was awarded UBC’s Killam Research Prize in 2023.

Tom Mullaney is Professor of Chinese History at Stanford University, a Guggenheim Fellow, and the recipient of Stanford’s highest award for excellence in teaching, the Gores Award. He is the co-author of Where Research Begins (University of Chicago Press, 2022, with Christopher Rea), The Chinese Typewriter: A History (MIT Press 2017), and Coming to Terms with the Nation: Ethnic Classification in Modern China (UC Press, 2010), among other works. His writings have appeared in Fast Company, MIT Technology Review, Quartz, the South China Morning Post, TechCrunch, the Journal of Asian Studies, Technology & Culture, Foreign Affairs, and Foreign Policy. His work has been featured in RadioLab, The Atlantic, the BBC, and in invited lectures at Google, Microsoft, Adobe, and more. He earned his BA and MA from the Johns Hopkins University and his PhD from Columbia University.

Medical Student Panel

  • Cece Chen

    Chen.Xindi@mayo.edu

    Cece Chen is an M2 at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine on the Arizona/Florida track. She is originally from Cincinnati, OH and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania. There, she majored in biochemistry and minored in chemistry, neuroscience, and healthcare management, all of which helped reaffirm her desire to pursue a career in medicine. During undergrad and during her gap year, she worked in wet-lab research investigating various liver diseases. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis, reading, jogging, and perfecting her craft of cooking Top Ramen. Her current plan is to pursue cardiothoracic surgery as her specialty.

  • Sumedha Attanti

    attanti.sumedha@mayo.edu

    Sumedha is a current M2 at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Scottsdale, AZ. She is originally from Oak Park, CA and graduated from the University of Southern California in 2021 with a degree in Health and the Human Sciences. Prior to starting medical school, she worked as a research assistant at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. In her free time, she enjoys surfing (though not so much in Arizona), basketball, yoga, and spending time with her friends and family.

  • Camryn Payne

    payne.camryn@mayo.edu

    Camryn Payne is a first-year medical student at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Arizona. She is originally from Tucson, Arizona and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Meet Our Judges

Christopher Rea, PhD
Professor of Modern Chinese Literature

Christopher Rea is Professor of Asian Studies and former Director of the Centre for Chinese Research at the University of British Columbia. A native of Berkeley, California, he earned a BA from Dartmouth College and a PhD from Columbia University, and has been a visiting fellow at Harvard University and at universities in Taiwan and Australia. His books include Where Research Begins (University of Chicago Press, 2022, with Tom Mullaney), Chinese Film Classics, 1922-1949 (2021), The Book of Swindles: Selections from a Late Ming Collection (2017, with Bruce Rusk), and The Age of Irreverence: A New History of Laughter in China (2015). He was awarded UBC’s Killam Research Prize in 2023.

Aditi Galande
Chief Development Officer, NPHC

Jonathan Sussman
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, MD-PhD student


As the first in her family to pursue medicine, Aditi is a strong advocate for making resources and tools more accessible to all. She spends her time providing preventative screening at a mobile health unit and works as a medical scribe at an Emergency Department. She recently graduated in Biological Sciences and Global Health with Barrett, The Honor’s College at Arizona State University. A New American University scholar, Dean's List Award recipient, Danielle Aronson Memorial Award recipient for plant biology research and John F. Schmidt Life Sciences scholarship recipient, Aditi plans to matriculate into medical school to fulfill her passion of becoming a physician. She is excited to be the Chief Development Officer for the conference and make every conference better than the last! In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing, trying new restaurants and watching thriller movies.

Jonathan is a rising 4th year MD/PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, studying genomics and computational biology in the context of brain tumor biology. He previously studied biomedical engineering, and music (dual degrees) at the University of Southern California, and then spent a year conducting molecular biology research at the Scripps Interest. When he is not in the lab or playing the flute, he enjoys cycling and trying the plethora of restaurants around Philadelphia.

Alexia Childress
Chief Executive Officer, NPHC

Alexia graduated from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University with a B.S. in medical microbiology and a minor in Spanish. She received the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, Moeur Award, and Student of the Year in Medical Microbiology. Alexia has been a medical scribe, Mayo Clinic Pre-Medical Scholar, EuroScholar, SOLUR Researcher, Scholar and Fellow, Sun Devils at Work Scholar, and ISA Study Abroad Planning Scholar. She worked in research labs at ASU and the University of Geneva conducting tuberculosis and ovarian cancer research, respectively, and was an author in publications from both labs. Alexia is Co-founder & CEO of the National Pre-Health Community, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free resources and guidance to thousands of pre-health students worldwide. Outside of work and academics, she loves to glow cycle and bake.