Contributors

Spencer Brooks and his team of mission-driven technology experts have provided Close Concerns with online technology consulting through his company, Brooks Digital, since 2011. After studying Computer Science at Boise State University, Spencer worked with the State of Idaho as a web development specialist and interim webmaster before venturing out to start his own digital agency for mission-driven organizations. In his free time, he moonlights as a professional drummer, recording on albums in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, as well as filling in on tour for the occasional band.

Michael Dougan is Gastroenterology Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and a postdoctoral associate in Hidde Ploegh's lab at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. He received his MD and PhD from Harvard Medical School in 2011. Michael has had a longstanding interest in the interaction between the immune system and cancer. He conducted his dissertation research in Dr. Glenn Dranoff's lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he studied novel approaches to enhancing anti-tumor immunity. In addition to his research, Michael has been a teaching fellow for several graduate and undergraduate courses; his teaching was recognized in 2008 by Harvard's Levenson Award. Michael received his BA from Amherst College in 2002, where he majored in Chemistry and English, graduating summa cum laude (both majors) and Phi Beta Kappa. Michael has worked with Close Concerns part-time since 2006, primarily on Closer Look publications and also serving as an advisor to countless Close Concerns full-time associates.

Robert A. Gabbay, MD, PhD, FACP is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Joslin Diabetes Center. He is also the former Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). At the ADA, Dr. Gabbay led many transformational initiatives, including guiding the ADA to a deeper focus on primary care through the establishment of the Primary Care Council, comprised of leading primary care organizations in the US, and the ADA Primary Care Alliance of over 2000 primary care practices committed to transform diabetes care. Throughout his vibrant career, he has had many accomplishments as a basic science researcher, developer of patient communication tools, creator of the first broad-scale diabetes registry, designer of care management training programs, digital health innovations, and leader of one of the largest primary care transformation efforts in the US around the Patient Centered Medical Home. Along with an extensive peer-reviewed publication record, he has appeared in and is frequently quoted by the popular press, including the New York Times, CNN, the Washington Post, and NPR.

James S. Hirsch, a former reporter for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, is a best-selling author whose most recent book is "WILLIE MAYS: The Life, the Legend", the first biography of Mays written with his cooperation. Hirsch has also written "CHEATING DESTINY: Living With Diabetes", "HURRICANE: The Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter", "RIOT AND REMEMBRANCE: America's Worst Race Riot and Its Legacy," and "TWO SOULS INDIVISIBLE: The Friendship That Saved Two POWs in Vietnam." Jim has an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and a graduate degree from the LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas. He lives in the Boston area with his wife, Sheryl, and their children, Amanda and Garrett. Jim has worked as an editor and contributor to Close Concerns since 2004

Elaine Young joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in Fall 2020 and returned as a full-time Associate after graduating from Dartmouth College in June 2022 with degrees in Neuroscience and Hispanic Studies. She was promoted to Director of Strategy in June 2024. At Dartmouth, Elaine conducted obesity research investigating the effects of exercise on diet choice. She also spent a summer at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles volunteering and learning about clinical trials in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes. Outside of school, Elaine played cello in the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra and taught cello and piano as president of Musical Empowerment, a national nonprofit club that provides students in school districts in New Hampshire and Vermont with free instruments and one-on-one music lessons. In her free time, Elaine enjoys snowboarding, skating on frozen ponds, and listening to film scores and songs from Broadway musicals.

Aarun Devgan joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in January 2022. He studied Neuroscience and plans on going to medical school. He is an Executive in the global nonprofit Medicine in Motion and is passionate about wellness through physical activity. At Dartmouth, he is a Learning Fellow, Presidential Research Scholar, a member of the Greek organization Phi Delta Alpha, and a player for the club tennis team. In his free time, he loves playing ping pong and trying new restaurants with his friends.

Anahita Kodali joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in January 2022. She was on the pre-health track double majoring in Biology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Outside of the classroom, Anahita is the President of the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science, a Student Director of Dartmouth Cancer Scholars, a War and Peace Fellow, and a Global Health Fellow. She also conducts research related to obesity in Dartmouth’s Department of Economics and the Geisel School of Medicine’s Department of Epidemiology. In her free time, Anahita enjoys going to the gym and exploring new restaurants.

Annaliese OuYang joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in September 2021. She studied Neuroscience, English, and Biology on the pre-health track. Outside of the classroom, Annaliese coordinates programming for the Nathan Smith Society (Dartmouth’s Pre-Health society), researches the impact of autism-related mutations of the Pten gene on neuronal form and function in a biomedical lab at Geisel, and tutors General Chemistry and Physics. She also works as a substitute special education teacher in her hometown of Syracuse, NY between terms. In her spare time, Annaliese enjoys learning about sustainability and food systems at the Dartmouth Organic Farm, ice skating on Occom Pond, and running.

Valentina Fernandez joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in July 2021. She was on the Pre-Med track, immersed in biology, French, and art history classes. On campus, you will often find her at triathlon team practice or work at the front desk as a building manager of the Collis Student Center. She’s also working in a lab that studies Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. In her free time, Valentina enjoys watching comedy movies, cooking, baking, and playing the piano.

Ali Dickstein joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow for the summer 2021. She majored in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Spanish. On campus, she works as a research assistant in on social perception in a Neuroscience lab. She is passionate about dancing, and on campus is the director of SHEBA Dance Troupe. She is also a tertiary first-responder with Dartmouth EMS and a volunteer for ASPIRE, spending time with kids that have autism. She also volunteers at Seattle Children's Stanley Stamm Camp, an overnight camp for medically fragile children. In her free time, Ali enjoys yoga, hiking, and spending time outdoors. After graduation, Ali hopes to pursue a career in medicine, working to help children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Helen Horan joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow for Summer 2021. She majored in Neuroscience and minoring in Art History and Chemistry with hopes to attend medical school. Helen is involved in neuroscience research on campus with the Computational Social Affective Laboratory and with the Osher Center at Harvard Medical School. She is interested in the efficacy of mindfulness, nutrition, and physical activity to improve patient outcomes and currently holds a degree from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. On campus, she is involved with coordinating events at the Hood Museum of Art, writing for the newspaper, and tutoring in Neuroscience. For fun, she loves to run and spend time outdoors.

Lucy Fu joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth fellow in March 2021. She majored in biology with a focus in cell biology and minoring in neuroscience, though she enjoys classes in a wide range of topics including education and studio art. At Dartmouth, she is the student director of the mentoring program SIBS, co-director of the dance group Fusion, and serves as a Learning Fellow. She is also conducting research on the impact of COVID-19 on rural healthcare. In her free time, you can find Lucy painting, baking, or hanging out with her cat Sunny.

Jay Kang joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in March 2021. He majored in Anthropology modified with Global Health and Biology while on the pre-medical track. He is passionate about applying principles of medical humanities, narrative medicine, health equity, and social justice to empower patient-centered care. He has engaged in research with immunology through the Geisel School of medicine as well as impacts of COVID-19 on rural infrastructure and public health with the Dartmouth center for Health Equity. On campus, he is an undergraduate advisor, member of Dartmouth's EMS, Eric Eichler Fellow, and leader in Dartmouth Generations. In his free time, he enjoys running and taking in the great outdoors.

Reva Dixit joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in January 2021. She double majored in Biology and English while on the pre-health track. She has conducted research on the secretory pathway of Candida albicans and co-authored a paper on its role in virulence. She is also fascinated by the intersection of genetic research and epidemiology/public health. On campus, she is involved with the Thought Project, i2 and Spare Rib Magazine, Club Swim, and SAPA. In her free time, Reva loves creative writing, playing the guitar, and going to the beach with her dog, Lucy.

Lydia Davis joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in 2021. She double majored in Biology and Art History while also on the pre-health track. She is interested in the physiology of disease (both communicative and non-communicative) and disease treatment methods. When on campus she has worked at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center with the New Hampshire Birth Cohort. Recently she has also helped Prof. Karl Griswold from Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering complete remote research about antimicrobial interactions between antimicrobial peptides and human lysozyme. In her free time, she enjoys art and drawing (mainly using colored pencil) and listening to all forms of music.

Chris Cardillo joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in January 2021. He was double majoring in Neuroscience and Economics with a focus on international economics and finance. He is especially interested in the economics of the healthcare industry, focusing on innovative solutions to make healthcare affordable for everyone. From Buffalo, NY, Chris has worked at Wegmans Food Markets for over four years, most recently as a Customer Service Representative during the pandemic. At Dartmouth, he is a member of the club hockey team, an executive of his fraternity, and an orientation leader through the Collis Center for Student Involvement. In his free time, he loves getting outdoors, traveling, skiing, and journaling.

Gabrielle (Gabby) Mitchell joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in January 2021. She double majored in Biology and African and African American Studies while on the pre-health track. After attending a series of public health seminars hosted by Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Gabby became fascinated with public health, specifically the healthcare accessibility in diverse communities. On campus, she has joined the executive board of the Minority Association for Pre-Med Students and Dartmouth Alliance for Children of Color. In her free time, Gabby loves working and building sets for the Mainstage Productions at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, giving prospective students tours of campus for the Admissions Office, and planning events with Dartmouth’s Programming Board.

Mary joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in January 2021. She was a Government major and minors in Psychology and Biology and is on the pre-med track. She has worked in Geisel’s Medical School’s Microbiology department to research the involvement of specific genes and gene mutations in cystic fibrosis. She is also an Eric Eichler Fellow, which works to develop a new method of training future leaders in healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, learning new skills, and being around her dog.

Wilson Murane joined Close Concerns with the January 2021 Dartmouth Fellow cohort. He studies Biology with a minor in Music and is on the pre-med track. Wilson is the Co-President of Hear Your Song Dartmouth - a non-profit organization that empowers children and teens with serious illnesses and complex health needs to make their voices heard through collaborative songwriting. Throughout 2020, he helped lead a national COVID-relief fundraiser for healthcare professionals and also serves as a member of the Dartmouth Cancer Scholars. Wilson is passionate about pediatrics, oncology, and the background healthcare policymaking that structures both of these fields. In his free time, Wilson can be found reading science fiction and history books, watching a movie, or skiing and fly- fishing around the Rocky Mountains.

Ida Claude joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in September 2020. She is majoring in Music modified with Medieval & Renaissance Studies and has taken classes in chemistry and biology. Although she is originally from Chicago, Ida moved to a remote island in Wisconsin to work in fast food during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she developed an interest in rural public health. At Dartmouth, Ida is very involved with the Hopkins Center for the Arts as a violinist and manager of the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra and a Hop Fellow. Ida also serves on the Inter-Sorority Council, and in her free time can be found playing chamber music with friends, drinking coffee, or getting outdoors.

June joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in September 2020. She was a pre-med majoring in Quantitative Social Science with a focus in development economics and a minor in English. June loves learning about the intersection of economics and healthcare in its delivery and policymaking, which has also prompted her interest in global health. On campus, she competes for The Dartmouth Figure Skating Team, conducts anti-aging drug research at DHMC, and serves as a Learning Fellow for biology courses. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, solving crossword puzzles, and is currently training for a half-marathon.

Sara Fragione joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow for the fall of 2020. She majored in anthropology on a pre-medical track. She is contributing to a research project at Geisel Medical School that focusses on advancements in immunotherapies for lung cancer. Sara has also worked in the epidemiology department at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical center as an administrative research assistant for the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. As a member of the track and field team at Dartmouth, Sara enjoys running in her free time, along with exploring nature and spending time with friends.

Kamren Khan joined Close Concerns as Dartmouth Fellow in the fall of 2020. He plans to major in neuroscience and English and worked as a research assistant in a psychology lab studying social interaction during his freshman year. He is now a student researcher at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center where he studies the applications of music within the medical sphere. On campus he writes for The Dartmouth newspaper and leads the Dartmouth Outing Club’s diversity and inclusivity newsletter. Recently, Kamren has acted as a Senior Orientation Peer Leader to introduce the Class of 2024 to Dartmouth. Kamren is also a Great Issues Scholar, participating in seminars on global issues. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, rock climbing, and reading.

Leeza Petrov joined Close Concerns with the September 2020 Dartmouth Fellow cohort. She studied Biology with a minor in Art History and is on the pre-med track. Leeza has researched the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, first at Massachusetts General Hospital in an ALS laboratory, and later at Dartmouth. Her current project involves understanding oligodendrocyte life cycles and myelin networks in the brain as they relate to multiple sclerosis. She is passionate about healthcare equity and the intersection between health and social justice. In her free time, Leeza is a leader in the Dartmouth Outing Club and enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and open-water swimming. You can find her at a local concert, at her favorite coffee shop, or reading in a hammock near the Connecticut River.

Reshma joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in September of 2020. She was a pre-med student pursuing a major in Neuroscience and minors in both English and Chemistry. She also enjoys taking classes in the computer science department. Having grown up in a family of scientists, she is very passionate about doing research. On campus, she has participated in research with both the mathematics and psychology departments. Reshma is also extremely passionate about education. She is an active instructor at Mathnasium where she works with K-12 students on developing good math habits. She also tutors students on campus in chemistry and neuroscience. She has a strong interest in global health that stems from her connection to India. She was born in the southern part of the subcontinent and moved to the United States at a young age, but much of her family still resides in India. Due to this, she has been exposed to the large global health disparities which drives her enthusiasm to pursue a career in health. In her free time, Reshma enjoys reading, running, baking, learning new languages, and traveling.

Jess joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth fellow in September 2020. She is majored in Biology with a concentration in genetics and a minor in Anthropology. She is originally from New Hampshire, but currently lives in Scarborough, Maine. She is interested in drug discovery and development and has participated in research both at Dartmouth and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for the past three years. At Dartmouth, she is the president of the Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program, an Anthropology TA, and works the front desk at Baker-Berry Library. In her free time she enjoys biking, hiking, and being around animals.

Sophie Skallerud joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in September 2020. Sophie is a pre-med student majoring in Biology with a minor in Religion. Prior to remote learning Sophie was a research assistant in a plant lab studying light stress. More recently, she joined an epidemiology lab where she studies and creates fact sheets about perfluoroalkyl contamination in NH. Additionally, Sophie has been working at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Emergency Department as an access screener to help minimize COVID-19 transmission within the hospital and make patients as well as visitors feel comfortable. She is passionate about her mentorship roles in the Pre-Health Peer Mentor Corps and one-on-one SIBS program. In her free time you will find Sophie on the lacrosse field, paddle boarding on the river, reading Harry Potter or walking dogs through Rover.

Cindy majored in Biology with a concentration in Biochemistry. She joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in June 2020. Cindy is passionate about the research process and learning how clinicians, researchers, and policy makers can improve the patient experience. Her interest in medicine was sparked during her freshman summer, when she interned at a non-profit clinic assisting patients with applications for subsidized healthcare coverage. On campus, she volunteers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, conducts cancer research with the Geisel School of Medicine, and serves as the co-director of Camp Kesem, a national non-profit that serves families who have been impacted by a parent’s cancer. To get fresh air, she loves to go on long runs and is training for the 2021 LA marathon.

Bradley joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in March 2020. He majored in Applied Mathematics and Biology, with a concentration in Cancer Biology and Dynamics. Bradley enjoys the research process; he appreciates its potential to challenge “status quo” treatments and inform patients and providers alike. Just last term, he fell in love with mathematical biology research during a 10-week Dartmouth Study program at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL, where he created models to simulate and minimize the in-vitro evolution of major cancer cell lines. On campus, Bradley has the pleasure of serving as an EMT and CPR instructor for Dartmouth Emergency Medical Services, a captain for the Dartmouth Running Team, and a mentor for the Dartmouth SIBS program. Off campus, he loves long trail-runs, TV nights with his family, and cats.

Sahaj Shah joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in January 2020. He majored in Computer Science and Biology. Sahaj is passionate about the intersection of technology and healthcare and his academic interests include machine learning and its applications in precision medicine. On campus, he is involved with Health Access for All, a non-profit organization dedicated to tackling health care disparities around the Hanover area, and volunteers with Memory Café. He performs cancer research at Norris Cotton Cancer Center and serves as a study group leader for courses in computer science and chemistry. He is also an undergraduate resident advisor for the Thought Project, a living-learning community on campus. In his free time, Sahaj loves hiking, traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Becky joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in September 2019. She is majoring in Anthropology modified with Global Health with a minor in French. Becky loves learning about how health and wellness are experiences by different communities and is especially interested in ways that the healthcare system can best support and treat diverse populations. On campus, she mentors low-income children from the surrounding area as a part of the DREAM program, gets outside with Women in the Wilderness, and is a member of Dartmouth College Hillel. She enjoys hiking, paddleboarding and trying new breakfast foods.

Meghna joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in March 2019. She is a pre-med and majoring in Quantitative Social Science with a focus in global health and sustainable development. Meghna’s interest in global health stems from her many moves; she was born in India, moved to England at a young age, and immigrated to the United States in middle school. Seeing the inequality in healthcare inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. Her strong interest in global health has led her to work closely with the Healthy Heart Initiative, a non-profit focused on cardiovascular health awareness and early detection of risk factors. She has published and presented her findings at the American Heart Association and Indian Heart Journal. On campus, Meghna is involved with Dartmouth EMS, the Political Violence Lab, Global Health Fellows, and the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.

Peninah joined Close Concerns in 2019 as a Dartmouth Fellow. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2020 with a major in Economics and Design, and a minor in Spanish. Diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes at the age of seven, Peninah has always been passionate about health, helping others, and raising awareness for diabetes. Her strong interest in global health led her to spend five summers setting up camps for children and adults in the Dominican Republic with AYUDA (American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad). On campus, she was on the Varsity Sailing Team, the Triathlon Team, and involved with the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and Hillel. Come October, she will be working in Boston at Putnam Associates, a healthcare consulting firm. In her free time, she loves being outdoors, hiking, cooking, and traveling.

Sarah Kolk joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in September of 2018. She is a junior at Dartmouth College, majoring in anthropology modified with biology with a focus in public health. Sarah loves learning about the way illness impacts communities differently across the country and world. Her studies have focused on emerging disease and cross-cultural differences in healthcare, as well as the intersection of geography and public health. Sarah is passionate about the outdoors and loves kayaking, hiking, and skiing. She spends her free time on campus leading trips for the Dartmouth Outing Club and volunteering as a National Ski Patroller.

Kenneth (Ken) Zhu joined Close Concerns as a Dartmouth Fellow in the spring of 2018. Outside of the sciences, he is interested in Japanese language and culture and studied abroad in Japan his freshman summer. Around campus, Ken volunteers with VCP (Volunteers for Cancer Patients) and Art Cart at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC). Also at DHMC, he is involved in research that synthesizes and purifies peptides that display potential anti-pancreatic cancer activity. In his free time, Ken enjoys running (especially outside), cooking/eating, traveling, and discovering new music.