The Health Career Peer Advisors are current students who are part of Brown’s Health Careers Advising team and are particularly helpful for first and second year students.
They can provide the perspective of a Brown undergraduate with experience as a health careers student. We encourage you to meet with an HCPA during their drop-in hours throughout the semester. Feel free to come with questions or just to chat with them. If you have a quick question, feel free to email them anytime at HCPAs@brown.edu. Be sure to follow their Instagram page to see what they are up to throughout the school year!
Please note that HCPA hours will end for the Spring Semester on Thursday May 1, 2025. We would like to say a big THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK to our graduating seniors; Pooja, Akshay, Samira, Mya and Leanna… we will miss you all!
HCPA Drop In Hours Spring 2025
Leanna Bai '25
Drop in Hours/Location: Monday 10:30 am - 12:30 am ERC Hometown: Lexington, MA Concentration: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Activities: Ambulance EMT at Brown EMS, Triage Coordinator at Connect for Health, Storytelling Fellow at Swearer Center, Co-Choreography Chair of Moli Dance Co, Hospital/Clinic Volunteer, (Prev.)
Fun Fact: I have a matcha subscription service, which sends me matcha powders every 60 days! Highly recommend.
Julianna Chang '26
Drop in Hours/Location:Monday 3:00 pm -5:00 pm Stephen Robert Hall Lobby Hometown: Palo Alto, CA Concentrations: Biology and Political Science (A.B.)
Activities: Brown Daily Herald University News Editor, Medical Scribe at Sunshine Pediatrics, Project Healthcare (an Emergency Department patient advocacy program) 2024 Alum, Brown Alumni Magazine Writing Intern, Meiklejohn Peer Advisor, Connect for Health Advocate
Fun Fact: I have sectoral heterochromia in my right eye! It's one-third green and two-thirds brown.
Makaya Fofana '26
Drop in Hours/Location: Tuesdays 8:00 am - 10:00 am ERC (Engineering Resource Center) Hometown: Atlanta, GA Concentration: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Activities: Varsity Track and Field Jumper/Hurdler, Ink@Brown Community Outreach Chair, Volunteer at Rhode Island Hospital, Sheridan Center APMA and CHEM Group Tutor, Research Assistant
Fun Fact: I have an extra bone!
Mmesoma Nwokolo '26
Drop in Hours/Location:Tuesdays 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm UFli Center Hometown: Jackson, TN Concentrations: Neuroscience
Activities: Community Engagement Chair of Students of Caribbean Ancestry, Events and Publicity team of Nigeria Student Association, Treasurer of American Medical Women's Association, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator of Women's Health Advocacy Group, Volunteer at Miriam Hospital
Fun Fact: When I was a child, my dream job was painting houses.
Akshay Malhotra '25
Drop in Hours/Location:Wednesdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm UHall 305 Hometown: Long Island, NY Concentrations: Ethnic Studies and Portuguese and Brazilian Studies (A.B.)
Activities: Medical Scribe at Brown Emergency Medicine, Badmaash Dance Company, Meiklejohn Peer Advisor, Cape Verde Brown Health Initiative, Diamondback Terrapin Survey, Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment (BRYTE) Program
A piece of advice you would give to a pre-health student: Take a minute to step back, breathe, and relax. It is easy to get caught up in small details, so always try to remember the bigger picture. Take care of yourself and spend time doing the things you love, and know that everyone’s path to a career in health and medicine is different.
Mya Collins '25
Drop in Hours/Location: Wednesdays 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Blue Room Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Concentrations: Neuroscience (Sc.B.) and Engineering (A.B)
Activities: Brown Varsity Track and Field Hurdler, Vice President of the Black Student Union, EMT on Brown EMS, Brown Center of Students of Color (BCSC) Black Heritage Coordinator 22-23, PR Chair of National Society of Black Engineers, Ronald McDonald House Charity In-House Manager, BCSC Multimedia Specialist 23-24
A piece of advice you would give to a pre-health student: Never sacrifice your health and wellbeing for an activity that doesn’t bring joy and/or value to your life. You are only an undergraduate student for a period of time, make sure you spend it doing things you genuinely care about. You never want to have regrets that you didn’t get to truly explore and use Brown’s resources to your advantage.
Pooja Kalyan '25
Drop in Hours/Location: Thursday 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Blue Room Hometown: Fayetteville, AR Concentration: Neuroscience (Sc.B.)
Activities: Figure Skating Club: Co-Captain, US Figure Skating Board of Directors: Singles Athlete Director, Doctors and Engineers without Borders: Project Manager, Rhode Island Free Clinic: Volunteer Medical Assistant , Ronald McDonald House of Providence: Activities Volunteer, Brown Group Fitness: Yoga Instructor, Partnership for Adult Learning: Volunteer Tutor, BIOL 0200:TA
A piece of advice you would give to a pre-health student: Try new things, follow your passions, and enjoy your time at Brown! The best thing about being pre-med at Brown is you have so much freedom to explore classes and extracurriculars in many different areas, so take advantage of that. Be sure to make room for self-care: Whatever it may be– meditating, journaling, going on a run– start and end your day with things that uplift you and help you destress!
Samira Lakhiani '25
Drop in Hours/Location: Thursday 12:00pm - 2:00 pm SciLi Lobby Hometown: Cumberland, RI Concentration: Neuroscience
Activities: NeuroDUG leader, Campus tour guide, Medical scribe at Sunshine Pediatrics, NEUR 10 TA, post- Magazine staff writer, Women in Science/Engineering mentor (WiSE)
Fun Fact: I love solving and creating crossword puzzles!