We invite students and postdoctoral scholars to get real-world work experience by forwarding career and professional development projects for biomedical trainees.
Career and Professional Development Leadership Program (PhD students and Postdoctoral Scholars)
The goal of the Career and Professional Development Leadership Program is to foster a cohort of PhD students and postdocs with deep knowledge and training in career and professional development. These leaders then serve as liaisons, facilitators, peer advisors, and an advisory body for the Office of Career and Professional Development’s programs and services. Participants lead quarterly peer mentoring groups on career/professional development topics; and develop new career and professional development initiatives, such as creating tailored resources/programs for BIPOC students/scholars; international students/scholars; and social and population scientists.
Applications take place in the late spring/early summer; the program runs from approximately August through June each year. See the 2022 application and register for our listserv to be informed when applications open. Please contact OCPD Program Manager David Blancha with any questions.
Current members of the Career and Professional Development Leadership Program
Trase Aguigam, UCSF Graduate Division
Hello! My name is Trase, and I am from Hanford, California, in the San Joaquin Central Valley. I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Gross and Narlikar labs in the Tetrad Graduate Program here at UCSF. My research involves using biochemistry and dynamic structural biology methods to address outstanding questions in the field of RNA processing. I graduated from UCLA in 2020 with a degree in Molecular Biology and African American Studies. Outside the lab, I serve on the Outreach Committee of the UCSF chapter of Black Excellence in STEM (BE-STEM) and enjoy teaching, reading, and playing basketball. As an OCPD intern, I look forward to helping people explore and work toward their career and professional goals!
Matt Arvedson, UCSF Graduate Division
Matt is a PhD Candidate in the Biomedical Sciences program at UCSF, and is a member of Dr. James Gardner's lab at the UCSF Diabetes Center. Matt's research is focused on immune tolerance in the context of transplant and autoimmunity. Matt is passionate about teaching and mentoring, and has mentored high school students through the UCSF Science and Health Education Partnership. He also serves on the BMS Curriculum Committee, where he works to improve the educational experience of BMS students at UCSF.
Matt is excited to be a part of the OCPD team, and is especially interested in improving resources to help first year students make important decision during graduate school.
Jaysón Davidson, UCSF Graduate Division
Jaysón Davidson is currently a PhD candidate in the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics program at University of California San Francisco (UCSF). At UCSF, he is a member of Dr. Atul Butte’s lab, where he intends to develop methods to effectively stratify the differences in disease and drug response outcomes between populations with different social determinants to improve overall healthcare quality and equity. Jaysón primarily studies treatment utilization, and health outcomes of Type 2 Diabetes patients that are treated within the UC-Health system. He recently published a perspective piece titled: “From Genes to Geography, from Cells to Community, from Biomolecules to Behaviors: The Importance of Social Determinants of Health,” which describes the impact of using Social determinants of health in real-world evidence studies. Jaysón’s main aspirations of scientific impact doesn’t just involve research, but it involves effective communication of science to communities of color in which his research affects the most. He believes that Science Communication is the bridge that will connect scientists to everyday people to translate important findings in a digestible and useful way.
While at UCSF, Jaysón has been selected as a UCSF-Stanford FDA CERSI Diversity scholar, NIGMS-IMSD program affiliate, and UCSF BE-STEM Co-president. Outside of UCSF, Jaysón is an E-Board Member of BlackinChem 501(c)3. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry at Hampton University, and was initiated into the Beta Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. while playing Division I football and leading the team as captain.
Check out Jaysón’s networking video guide!
Daniela de Sousa Moura, UCSF Department of Neurology
I'm a Postdoc in Neuroscience and an intern at OCPD. My project in the lab is to investigate adult neurogenesis regulation by the Serotonergic system. As an international scholar living in the US for over 3 years now, I`m exploring a new world of possibilities in my career. At OCPD I expect to direct this exploration in a supportive and collaborative environment while bringing my own background and improving the experience for other international students as well.
Exploring different views of the world (or different careers) is extremely exciting to me but can also be very challenging, I believe OCPD is the right place to do that. In my free time, I like trying new foods, traveling, camping, or just exploring the city.
Jocelyne Fadiga, UCSF Graduate Division
Salut! My name is Jocelyne and I grew up in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. I am a first-generation immigrant and scientist and very proud of it. I have now lived in the United States for over a decade and cherish the unique perspective on life being an immigrant and nonnative speaker (French is my first language) affords me. I enjoy cooking for others, solitude, poetry, music, going to the beach and deep conversations. Here, I have been fortunate to make plenty of friends, who have become family eventually, and tell me my food is delicious – part of what keeps me cooking and sharing. I am excited to join the OCPD team and hope to be a wonderful addition to an already amazing group of people-oriented folks, dedicated to helping others thrive professionally.
Sarah Gallalee, MPH (she/her), UCSF Graduate Division
Sarah Gallalee is a PhD candidate at the UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences and a graduate student researcher at UCSF’s Malaria Elimination Initiative. Sarah’s research is focused on risk factors for malaria and interventions to interrupt malaria transmission among high-risk populations. Among her research interests are improving disease surveillance systems and using geospatial methods to assess disease burdens and target data-driven interventions.
Sarah is excited to be a part of the OCPD team and working to support students and postdocs at UCSF on career and professional development.
Sarah earned her MPH from Columbia University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Vermont.
Health Professional Career Peer Leadership Professional Development Program
The Career Peer Leadership Professional Development Program was created as a way to build Health Professional students' professional communication and leadership skills, while providing opportunities for interprofessional community collaboration and career development learning. The program mentors and trains participants on the foundations and nuances of professional communication, and best practices for developing competitive application materials for both residency and employment for each of our health professional populations.
Applications take place in the late spring/early summer; the program runs from approximately August through June each year. See our work-study job description and application instructions and register for our listserv to be informed when applications open. Please contact OCPD Assistant Director, Health Careers, Anna Reeves with any questions.
Current members of the Career Peer Leadership Professional Development Program
Jada Co, UCSF Department of Physical Therapy
Hello! My name is Jada (she/her), and I am delighted to serve as a Career Peer Advisor with the OCPD team! I look forward to expanding the resources available to my peers to better assist their professional and academic goals.
I am a first year Doctor of Physical Therapy student here at UCSF. I am from Sacramento, CA, and I attended UC Davis for my undergraduate education where I obtained a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. Prior to starting at UCSF, I was working as a physical therapy aide and personal trainer. I have experience with research, academic mentoring, and management/leadership positions, and I am excited to apply and share my skills with other health professional students to assist them along their professional development journey!
In my free time, I love to run, weightlift, read, and try out new vegan food around the city! I look forward to meeting you soon!
List of Jada's' Professional Development Resource Projects:
Amanda Leon, UCSF School of Medicine
Hi! My name is Amanda Leon. I'm a class of 2025 medical student from La Habra, CA who graduated from Pitzer College with a degree in Human Biology and Chemistry. I was the 2021 LMSA UIM Liaison and Mentorship Match Co-Chair and am the SMEC representative on the Career Launch Operations Committee, a member of PRIDE-MED, and a PRIME-US student. More recently, I completed the UCSF Yearlong Inquiry Program. My interests include health disparities research, health policy, anti-oppressive MedEd, and student advocacy. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, painting, and thrifting.
List of Amanda's Professional Development Resource Projects:
Alexander Chen, UCSF School of Medicine
Hello! My name is Alexander Junxiang Chen, and I am a first-year medical student at UCSF. I am originally from Pleasanton, California, and I completed my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Chemistry at Harvard University this past May. My primary academic interests include the brain and behavioral health sciences, epidemiological research, global health, and medical anthropology. In my free time, I love to backpack, read, garden, and ride horses.
List of Alexanders's Professional Development Resource Projects:
Luis Alvarez, UCSF School of Pharmacy
Hi! My name is Luis Alvarez (he/him/his), and I am a class of 2026 pharmacy student. I am from Houston, Texas, and I attended Carleton College where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and two minors in Biochemistry and Neuroscience. After graduating from college, I conducted research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia before starting my journey at the UCSF School of Pharmacy.
During my free time, I love aquascaping, swimming, reading, hiking, and trying out new boba shops around San Francisco. I have some previous experience working as a student career assistant, so I'm excited to apply my skills, connect graduate/health professions students with professional resources, and enhance the student learning experience. I look forward to seeing you at the Student Success Center!
List of Luis' Professional Development Resource Projects:
- OCPD Pharmacy Student Internship List
- Exploring General Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Youtube Playlist
- Lead Editor, September 2024 Career Peer SOP Newsletter
- Lead Editor, August 2024 Career Peer SOP Newsletter
- Lead Editor, May 2024 Career Peer SOP Newsletter
- Lead Editor, April 2024 Career Peer SOP Newsletter
Rothanne Herico, UCSF Department of Physical Therapy
Hello! My name is Rothanne Herico (she/her), and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work as a Career Peer Advisor for the OCPD team to promote career and professional development and assist my peers reach their professional goals.
I’m a first-generation Filipina-American who grew up living in the Daly City and San Francisco area with my parents and two younger sisters. During my undergrad, I worked as an Administrative Support Coordinator, Front Desk Coordinator, and Secretary to the Senior Program Coordinator at the Campus Academic Resource Program (CARP), the former student-run tutoring service at San Francisco State University (SFSU) which provided student support services with an emphasis on students from underrepresented and first-generation college students. In 2018, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Movement Science.
Currently, I’m a class of 2025 Doctor of Physical Therapy student at UCSF/SFSU. I’m also a member of the LGBTQIA+ Student Advisory Council, as one of the 2 liaisons representing the School of Physical Therapy. In my free time, I love to hike, go to the gym, and to spend time with my loved ones eating good food. I look forward to working together.
List of Rothanne's Professional Development Resource Projects:
Dylan Holder, UCSF School of Dentistry
Hi! My name is Dylan Holder (he/him), and I am a class of 2027 dental student. I am from San Jose, CA, and I attended Chapman University as a first-generation student, earning a degree in Applied Human Physiology and a minor in Law and Justice. While I came straight into dental school after graduating at Chapman, I worked as an after-school program instructor, resident advisor, and peer advisor for my major while in school.
In my free time, I like to try out new coffee shops in the area, read, and make memories with my friends. I am excited to be in this role as a Career Peer Advisor and offer support and guidance to UCSF students to help people achieve their professional aspirations. I look forward to working with everyone!
List of Dylan's Professional Development Resource Projects:
Zunaira Iftikhar, UCSF School of Pharmacy
Hi! My name is Zunaira and I am a class of 2025 first-generation pharmacy student. I was raised in Santa Clara, CA, and always wanted to live in SF, funny how life just works out! I obtained my B.S. in Biology and minored in Chemistry and Political Science from San José State University. After graduating, I gained experience in women's health by working at a fertility clinic, where I helped patients fulfill their reproductive goals.
I am an advocate for giving back to my community and volunteering with people experiencing homelessness in SF. In my spare time, I enjoy working out, painting, spending quality time with my kitten, and exploring local cafes. I am excited to work at the OCPD and am eager to help illuminate the pathway to a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry.
List of Zunaira's Professional Development Resource Projects:
- Pharmaceutical Industry Beginners Guide
- Lead Editor, January 2024 Career Peer SOP Newsletter
- Lead Editor, March 2024 Career Peer SOP Newsletter
- Lead Editor, May 2024 Career Peer SOP Newsletter
Abha Patkar, UCSF School of Dentistry
Hi! My name is Abha Patkar (she/her), and I am a dental student in the Class of 2026. I am from San Jose, CA, and I attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton for undergrad as a first-generation student, earning a degree in Biology and a minor in Philosophy. Prior to beginning dental school, I worked as a dental assistant and research mentor at Stanford.
In my free time, I love to read, spend time with friends, and explore new places to eat. I am really excited to work with students as a Career Peer Advisor—I found great success with my undergrad career center and look forward to the opportunity to provide the same help and guidance to the UCSF community.
List of Abha's Professional Development Resource Projects:
Oscar Peng, UCSF School of Dentistry
Hello! My name is Oscar (he/him), and I am a part of the class of 2028 at UCSF School of Dentistry. I am from Arcadia, CA, and I graduated from the University of Southern California (USC), earning a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with honors and minors in both Health Care Studies and Public Health.
During my time at USC, I worked and volunteered in several mentorship and peer roles, including working as a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for organic chemistry, and volunteering as a camp counselor and Unit Leader for children affected by a parent's cancer through Kesem at USC. In my free time, I love meeting new people, going to the gym, bouldering, hiking, and trying new things! Overall, I am excited to be in this role as a Career Outreach Peer, and I look forward to advancing our community together!
List of Oscars's Professional Development Resource Projects:
Khuzaima Rangwalla, UCSF School of Medicine
Hi there! My name is Khuzaima and I'm a class of 2025 medical student who's excited to make a positive impact on my community. I'm the oldest of four children, was born and raised in Southern California (which is the better part of the state, of course), and come from a Bioengineering background. In my free time, I love exploring the city, trying out the most unique and delicious foods, and spending time with my closest friends.
I'm excited to work with you as an OCPD Career Advisor! I want to see all my peers succeed, and I will do everything in my power to help you land the career of your dreams. Doesn't matter if you want to be a dentist, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or any other healthcare professional. With my insight and your ambition, I know that together we'll find a path to your success.
List of Khuzaima's Professional Development Resource Projects:
- Lead Editor, September 2022 Career Peer SOM Newsletter
- Lead Editor, November 2022 Career Peer SOM Newsletter
- Lead Editor, April 2023 Career Peer SOM Newsletter
- Lead Editor, August 2023 Career Peer SOM Newsletter
- Lead Editor, October 2023 Career Peer SOM Newsletter
- Program Contributor and Mentor Panelist, What I Wish I Had Known As An M1/2 Virtual Mentor Panel
Meiyi Yu, UCSF School of Medicine
Hi! My name is Meiyi, and I'm a class of 2028 medical student. I grew up in the East Bay and graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Chemistry and Sociology. In my free time, I love trying new restaurants and writing Yelp reviews, crafting, and going on walks. I am very excited to support everyone on their educational and career development journeys. I can't wait to learn about your career goals and seek resources that will guide you along the way!
List of Meiyi's Professional Development Resource Projects:
