VADTAD Marketing and Recruitment

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Nivitha Periyapatna is a second year medical student at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She studied biology and public health at the University of Pittsburgh, where she found an interest in health policy. As a member of VADTAD, she hopes to encourage more medical students and healthcare professionals to get involved in health policy and advocacy. Through her time in VADTAD and throughout her future career, Nivitha hopes to work to increase accessibility to healthcare. In addition to VADTAD, Nivitha serves on the AMA-MSS Committee of Gender and Sexual Health, and leads the Premed Mentorship Program at her school. When she is not studying, Nivitha enjoys pageantry, fashion, and travel.

VADTAD Marketing and Recruitment

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Yagmur Bingul is a second-year MD/PhD candidate at VCU School of Medicine. She was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. She graduated with honors from the University of Richmond in 2024, earning a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, along with minors in Integrated Sciences and Health Sciences. At VCU, she is a member of the Dermatology Student Interest Group and serves as Vice President of Internal Affairs for the Medical Society of Virginia/American Medical Association (MSV/AMA). She also volunteers at the VCU Dermatology Free Clinic and the Refugee Clinics in her free time. She is conducting research with the Heme/Onc Department at VCU School of Medicine, focusing on bioinformatics, computational biology for skin cancer. Passionate about healthcare accessibility and physician advocacy, Yagmur is excited to be returning for her second year with VADTAD, where she serves in Marketing and Recruitment. Outside of academics and research, she enjoys baking, Pilates, and fashion.

VADTAD Co-Chair

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Darya Mirebrahimi is a fourth-year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (VCUSOM) in Richmond, VA. She wants advocacy to be at the forefront of her medical career because she wants to increase healthcare accessibility and education to people from all walks of life. She honors the privilege to be able to work with vulnerable populations as a future physician and aims to create a safe and comfortable space for all patients. In addition to VADTAD, Darya was the Vice President of Internal Affairs at her American Medical Association (AMA) / Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) school chapter and Programming Chair on the AMA-MSS Women in Medicine Standing Committee. She is also co-founder of Skin You’re In, an organization dedicated to creating dermatology education sessions for the Girl Scouts of Virginia, and is the Virginia Dermatology Society Student Board Member. In her free time, Darya enjoys traveling, dancing, singing, and playing songs on the guitar.

VADTAD Co-Chair

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University

Iain Encarnacion is a fourth-year medical student at EVMS whose work is grounded in advocacy and health equity. He is especially passionate about delivering excellent dermatologic care that is culturally responsive and empowering for patients from historically marginalized communities. He has held national leadership roles with the Asian and Pacific American Medical Student Association and the American Medical Association LGBTQ Standing Committee, focusing on the health needs of Asian American and LGBTQ+ populations. He currently serves on the Student Advisory Board for VisualDx. Iain also completed a year-long Skin of Color Dermatology Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, where he conducted clinical and health-equity focused research on disorders that disproportionately affect patients with skin of color and established community outreach initiatives aimed at providing atopic dermatitis education to communities of color in Philadelphia. Outside of work, Iain enjoys cooking, golfing, and watching Broadway shows.

VADTAD Topic Lead

University of Virginia School of Medicine

Meg Mercante is a third-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She earned her BA from Vanderbilt University in Medicine, Health, and Society with a minor in Art History. At UVA, she serves as Treasurer of the Dermatology Interest Group and is actively involved in community outreach, including roles with the Sun Bus dermatology mobile clinic, Sun Protection Outreach Teaching by Students (SPOTS), the Virginia Wellness Initiative, and the Homeless Consult Service. She is also Vice President of the Association of Women’s Surgeons at UVA. Meg is involved in dermatology research focused on skin cancer and other dermatologic conditions and is passionate about global health and community advocacy. She is excited to continue her third year with the Virginia Dermatology Advocacy Trainee Day as a Topic Lead and to learn from leaders in the field of dermatology.

VADTAD Topic Lead

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University

Alayne Hawthorne is a third-year medical student at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She earned her  Bachelor’s in Biology and Sociology and Chemistry Minor from the University of Virginia, as well as completed a post-baccalaureate program in Pre-Health Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. Alayne is very interested in providing education about dermatological topics to the community, as well as increasing access to dermatologic services for the general population, especially the underserved patients. Her interest in advocacy comes from understanding that there are differences in health equity that affect the quality of care of many patients within the community. Unfortunately, some of these changes are harder to change at the smaller level in the office, and require adjustments at the government/institutional level. At EVMS, She is a member of the Dermatology Interest Group as well as the Student National Medical Association, where she previously held leadership positions working with attendings and residents on bringing educational materials to medical students actively pursuing a career in dermatology. As a future physician and Hampton Roads native, she plans to open a private practice within the Hampton Roads area in order to give back to the population who helped her achieve success in this field. Outside of medicine, Alayne enjoys dancing, trying new exercises, eating at different restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

VADTAD Logistics Coordinator

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University

Vipusha Chandrapu is a first-year medical student at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). She graduated from the University of Richmond with a Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies and a minor in Biology, where she discovered a passion for health advocacy and health policy. Vipusha is especially interested in increasing access to care for historically marginalized communities and expanding dermatologic education for patients with skin of color. She is also deeply interested in the intersection of mental health and dermatology, recognizing the significant impact skin conditions can have on psychological well-being and overall quality of life. In medical school, she is a member of the Dermatology Interest Group and holds leadership positions in the Psychiatry Interest Group and the Mental Health Free Clinic. As a future physician, she hopes to center advocacy, equity, and holistic care in her clinical practice. Outside of school, Vipusha enjoys traveling, cooking, and exploring art.

VADTAD Topic Lead

University of Virginia School of Medicine

Bhoomi Shah is a second-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Public Health. Her interest in advocacy and health equity is shaped by both personal experiences with healthcare access and hands-on work with underserved communities. At UVA, she serves as President of the American Medical Association chapter and is actively involved with iSERVE, UVA’s free clinic, where she works directly with patients navigating barriers to care. She is particularly interested in dermatology, with a focus on improving access to dermatologic care and education, as well as the mental health impact of chronic skin disease. Outside of school, Bhoomi enjoys reading, cooking, and working out.

VADTAD Logistics Coordinator

University of Virginia School of Medicine

Ahana Sinharoy is a first-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, she graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Statistics and Global Public Health. She is passionate about using data to reveal patterns in populations and translate research into actionable, patient-centered public health interventions. In addition to VADTAD, Ahana serves as the Preclerkship Group for Research in Medical Education (GRIME) Representative at UVA, where she safeguards the interests of medical students in research projects that involve them. She is also involved with community-facing roles as part of iSERVE, UVA’s free clinic. These experiences have shaped her commitment to addressing disparities in care delivery, especially as they relate to access and outcomes in dermatologic disease. In her free time, Ahana enjoys traveling, reading, and is a Netflix enthusiast. 

VADTAD Co-Fundraising Chair

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University

Renee Brown is a second-year medical student at EVMS. Prior to medical school, she attended the University of Rochester, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health and developed a passion for health advocacy for underserved communities and health policy. At EVMS, she serves as Co-President of the Dermatology Interest Group and as Co-Lead Food Insecurity Clinic Coordinator at HOPES Free Clinic, where she works to provide uninsured and underinsured patients with access to food, transportation, and other essential resources. She also serves as an educator for Teen Health 360, a curriculum designed to provide middle and high school students with sexual education, relationship-building skills, and reproductive anatomy knowledge, as well as Good Skin Knowledge, a program designed to teach middle and high school students about common skin, hair, and nail conditions. She is particularly interested in pediatric dermatology, skin of color, mental health within dermatology, and inflammatory dermatologic diseases. Outside of school, Renee enjoys Pilates, cooking, baking, chess, pickleball, and psychological thrillers.

VADTAD Co-Chair

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Kayla Tran is a fourth-year medical student at VCU School of Medicine and is currently completing a research year with the VCU Department of Dermatology. Her interests focus on expanding dermatologic access through volunteer efforts such as Spa Days for mothers in recovery from substance abuse, leading dermatology education sessions for community Girl Scouts with Darya, organizing care packages for the unhoused population, and co-leading the CrossOver Derm Free Clinic in Richmond. Through her work, her passion for advocacy aims towards learning how to amplify the voices of those who have gone unheard and unseen. She has served as President of the Students Fighting Human Trafficking SIG since her first year of medical school, implementing human trafficking lectures into the longitudinal curriculum, collaborating on a quality improvement project to improve services and outcomes at a mother-child recovery home, and is helping to create a student-run HT clinic. She has previously served as president of the VCU Dermatology SIG. She was Fundraising co-chair for three years before transitioning into her current role for VADTAD. In her free time, she loves reading, baking sweet goodies for her friends, and exploring yummy food near and far. 

VADTAD Co-Fundraising Chair 

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Stefany Orellana is a first-year medical student at LUCOM. She graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s in Cell and Molecular Biology with minors in Psychology and Global Studies. Following her undergraduate training, she completed an MBA at Liberty University and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Physiology from Georgetown University. Prior to medical school, she worked as a dermatology medical assistant and clinical research assistant in Rosslyn, VA, where she gained first-hand experience in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also an active volunteer at the Arlington Free Clinic, supporting underserved populations through bilingual patient intake and care coordination. At LUCOM, she is a member of the Dermatology Interest Group and is passionate about service, leadership, and advancing equitable healthcare. In her free time, she loves taking walks with her dog, reading, and painting. 

VADTAD Topic Lead

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Stephanie Lee is a first-year medical student at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM). She earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from New York University, with minors in Chemistry and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies, and subsequently completed a Master of Science at Boston University. She is deeply interested in clinical research and advocacy aimed at improving access to care for underserved populations in both urban and rural settings. She has participated in clinical research focused on bridging gaps in primary care access for underserved communities in New York City and hopes to continue this work through VADTAD. At LUCOM, Stephanie serves as the Public Relations Officer for the Anesthesiology Interest Group and is an active member of the Dermatology Interest Group. Her dermatologic interests include inflammatory skin conditions, use of procedural dermatology for pain-related conditions, and addressing disparities in skin health through teledermatology and community-based care models. Her broader research background includes work in hearing health and cochlear implant outcomes at NYU Langone Health and Cornell Weill as well as research in head and neck radiation oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which has further shaped her interest in multidisciplinary, patient-centered care for medically underserved populations. Outside of medicine, Stephanie enjoys Pilates, photography, and exploring new restaurants.

VADTAD Topic Lead

University of Virginia School of Medicine

Dema Abul-Enin is a second-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from The Ohio State University. Her interests include dermatology, health equity, and advocacy to improve access to care for disparaged and diverse populations. At UVA, she serves as Co-Founder and Vice President of MENAmed and as Fundraising Chair for the Class of 2028. Through her involvement with the Latino Health Initiative and Discover Medicine, she works to expand health education and mentorship in the community. As a Certified Medical Interpreter in Spanish, she is passionate about advancing culturally competent, equitable care. Outside of medicine, Dema is an avid reader, loves taking care of her cats, and enjoys learning about linguistics.

VADTAD Topic Lead

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Isabelle Tchoungang is a first year medical student at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences at Texas Tech University, and subsequently worked as a Medical Lab Scientist at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas TX. She equally founded a nonprofit organization called Operation Maveun aimed at educating young women on women’s health in underdeveloped countries. She has a strong interest in dermatology, with particular focus on skin of color, health disparities, and equitable access to dermatologic care. At LUCOM, she is an active member of the Dermatology Interest Group, Student National Medical Association, and National Osteopathic Women Physicians Association. In her free time, Isabelle loves to sleep, sing, workout, and try new restaurants and foods.

VADTAD Legislative Lead

Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University

Naomi Matsuno is a second year medical student at EVMS. She was born and raised on Guam. She attended George Washington University in Washington, DC and graduated in 2022 with a major in Cellular/Molecular Biological Sciences and a minor in teaching. After graduating in 2022, she returned to Guam and worked as lead medical assistant at a dermatology clinic for two years. At this time, her passion is to become a physician and return to practice not only on Guam, but on the other Mariana islands as well. She also has a profound passion for dermatological education and awareness which she expresses through her work through the AAD initiative, Good Skin Knowledge. In her free time, she enjoys calisthenics, playing volleyball, rock climbing, cooking and baking, and spending time with her boyfriend and two dogs- Maui and Kuma. Naomi is passionate about advocating for medically underserved areas lacking essential medical resources. She is excited to be rejoining VADTAD this year.

VADTAD Legislative Lead

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Isabelle DiGiulio is a first-year medical student at LUCOM with a strong interest in dermatology and an active member of her school’s Dermatology Interest Group Association (DIGA). During her time at the University of Florida, she served as President of GEMS (Girls Empowered by Mathematics and Science), leading STEM outreach presentations for elementary school girls, and worked as a mobile optometric assistant, gaining clinical experience throughout 40+ nursing homes in South Florida. She also conducted research in the University of Florida College of Medicine Department of Physiology and Aging, investigating 6PPD, an environmentally derived toxic pollutant, and its impacts on human and environmental health—an experience that strengthened her commitment to dermatology advocacy through prevention, education, and equitable care. Through shadowing dermatologists, Isabelle became especially drawn to the specialty’s blend of diagnostic problem-solving and procedural care. In her free time, she loves to watch TV shows, try new recipes, bake, travel, and snorkel.