Current Health Care Interns
More than 280 SCU students have been through the Health Care Ethics Internship Program. The Internship gives students the chance to explore firsthand important ethical issues in health care. In addition, Interns meet to reflect on their experiences, discuss classic and emerging issues in bioethics, and offer commentary and reflection about current health care issues and events. Many interns go on to careers in public health, biotechnology, or as health care providers.
Meet the 2026-27 Health Care Ethics Interns
Michelle Adedeji '28
Michelle Adedeji is a junior from Nigeria, majoring in Biology with minors in Medical and Health Humanities and Public Health at Santa Clara University. She is pursuing an MD and aspires to become a physician-scientist. On campus, Michelle conducts research in Dr. Craig Stephens' lab, where she studies antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation in urinary tract pathogens. Outside of SCU, she works as a Medication Technician and as a Pathology Autopsy Assistant. She also serves as a tutor through Elevate Tutoring, supporting middle school students from historically underserved communities.
Growing up in Nigeria and gaining experience in research, patient care, and community service have given Michelle a deep appreciation for the ethical challenges that shape healthcare. Through the Health Care Ethics Internship, she hopes to broaden her understanding of ethical decision making, health equity, and patient advocacy while exploring ways to improve healthcare systems and expand access to quality care for underserved populations, both locally and in resource limited communities around the world.
Gabriella Gegel '27
Gabby Gegel is a senior from San Antonio, Texas, majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Biotechnology. She aspires to become a physician who serves underserved, minority populations, particularly those who face cultural and linguistic barriers within the healthcare system. Her passion for health equity has been shaped through both clinical and community experience, including volunteer work with the Latino community at University Hospital in San Antonio, and a role as a Spanish interpreter at Clinic by the Bay, a free clinic in San Francisco.
Outside of school, Gegel conducted research within the Division of Neonatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, where she worked on machine learning projects using clinical data to better understand and improve patient outcomes in neonatal populations. Through the Healthcare Ethics Internship, she is excited to deepen my understanding of how cultural language barriers affect marginalized populations and to explore how healthcare professionals and communities can work together to bring awareness to and overcome these inequities. Gegel is a 2026 Strauss Scholarship recipient. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and practicing yoga.
Emma Li '28
Emma Li is a junior from Los Gatos, California majoring in Biology with minors in Professional Writing and Public Health. She aspires to be a physician dedicated to empathy, health equity, and holistic healthcare. On campus, Emma is an EMT with SCU EMS, conducts molecular biology research in the Miller Lab, serves as an organic chemistry lab TA, and is the President of SCU Partners in Health Engage.
Off campus, she works as a barista and is a Friendly Visit volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital. Through conversations with diverse patient populations, Emma has developed a strong interest in the ethical challenges surrounding healthcare access, treatment, and discharge planning for homeless patients, as well as minor autonomy in healthcare decision-making.
Through the internship, Emma hopes to deepen her understanding of how physicians navigate complex ethical dilemmas in a compassionate and patient-centered manner. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting and spending time with her Labrador, Bilbo.
Amay Malhotra '28
Amay Malhotra is a Junior from San Ramon, California, majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Biology. On campus, Amay assists in conducting Behavioral Neuroscience research in Dr. Tanya Gupta’s lab, where he analyzes neural computations of decision-making and the temporal structure of behavior. Amay additionally provides service as a campus EMT for SCU EMS, and works as a Peer Health Educator at the Wellness Center. Amay is also involved with Health Professions Peer Advising.
Outside of SCU, he serves as a discharge/patient comfort volunteer at Sutter Health Eden Medical Center, and works part-time as an Optometry Technician. Amay’s long-term aspiration is to become a pediatrician, dedicated to providing compassionate healthcare to children throughout their developmental journey.
Through the Healthcare Ethics Internship, he aims to understand and utilize multiple perspectives when faced with ethical dilemmas within medicine to foster an inclusive and empathetic environment for patients.
In his personal life, Amay is currently working on a half-comic, half-chapter book series titled “Finesse Destiny.” He also enjoys graphic design and videography as hobbies.In his personal life, Amay is currently working on a half-comic, half-chapter book series titled “Finesse Destiny.” He also enjoys graphic design and videography.
Jacob Marchuk '28
Jacob, a junior from Sacramento, is majoring in Biochemistry, minoring in Public Health, and is part of the University Honors Program. He works as an Organic Chemistry teaching assistant and a Community Facilitator with the Office of Residence Life. Jacob is also a research assistant in Dr. Suljak's Analytical Chemistry lab, which is exploring the application of aptamers in the early detection of ovarian cancer.
Through the Healthcare Ethics Internship, Jacob wants to develop an intuition for clinical ethics that allows for quick decision making while holding patient care and well-being at the forefront. He is also interested in investigating structural barriers to healthcare access, and exploring practical ways to reform the healthcare system. Jacob plans to pursue internal medicine or cardiology, and is interested in healthcare administration.
Bradley Andrei Martin '27
Bradley Andrei Martin is a first‑generation college student and Senior from Hawaiʻi majoring in Public Health Sciences and Biology. His interest in healthcare ethics is grounded in addressing data aggregation and its impact on Filipino, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian communities. He directs a colorectal cancer screening study at the University of Hawaiʻi’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, where he examines how aggregated datasets can obscure disparities and shape who receives timely and culturally responsive care. His experience as a Certified Nurse Aide also exposed him to ethical boundaries of caregiving, further reinforcing his commitment to patient dignity and responsible practice.
At Santa Clara University, Bradley conducts research in the REACH Lab under Dr. Vanessa Errisuriz, leading statistical analysis focused on equity, access, and community health. He also serves as a Public Health Peer Advisor and as President of Delta Epsilon Mu, where his leadership has reinforced his belief that ethical and compassionate guidance is essential to shaping the kind of healthcare professional he hopes to become. Bradley is a VG‑PHLP Fellow placed at AACI, supporting community‑based health equity initiatives. These experiences have strengthened his commitment to pursuing medicine as a way to pair scientific training with ethical decision making, with emphasis on community health. As a Healthcare Ethics Intern, he looks forward to learning how professionals navigate real world dilemmas and hopes to contribute his lived experience and commitment to equity to the cohort.
Paul Montville '28
Paul Montville, is a Neuroscience and Philosophy double major. He is interested in all things 'the brain,' but has a special interest in identity and personhood issues like those found in Alzheimer's, ethical questions surrounding brain-computer interfaces, and consciousness. Montville is excited to learn more about healthcare careers and discern his own career path. Outside of class, you can find him at SCU's Philosophy Society and as an Innovation Fellow at the Ciocca Center. He plans to join a lab in the fall. In his free time, Paul enjoys reading, fly fishing, running, and hiking.
Gabrielle Nakamatsu '28
Gabbie Nakamatsu is a junior from Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, majoring in Biology and minoring in Japanese Studies. At SCU, she is involved with Rho Psi Eta Pre-Health Sorority where she is the President, the Health Professions Peer Advising program where she is the PR chair, the University Honors Program where she serves as the mentorship chair, and does computational chemistry research in Dr. Robin Grotjahnʻs lab where she uses a High-Performance Computer (HPC) to research the ability of light-absorbing molecules to be used for clean energy. She is also a part of Kā Manaʻo O Hawaiʻi cultural club and Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society.
Outside of school, Gabbie has worked on a population outreach project for patients who are overdue for primary care appointments as well as individuals unable to seek medical care as a result of socioeconomic status. As a Healthcare Ethics Intern, Gabbie is excited to engage in difficult discussions on the complex nature of ethics in healthcare both with her peers and with healthcare professionals. She is particularly passionate about advocacy for racial minorities, namely Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander groups. After graduation, she hopes to attend medical school in order to return to Hawaiʻi as a physician and serve the Native Hawaiian community.
Emily Olson '27
Emily Olson is a senior from Seattle, Washington, majoring in Bioengineering on the biomolecular track with a minor in Chemistry. On campus, she is a SoE Bioengineering peer advisor, a SoE tour guide, and has served as a chemistry peer educator. She also has held leadership positions as the Risk Management and Engineering Outreach chairs of Theta Tau - SCU’s professional engineering fraternity.
Outside of SCU, Emily has spent several years working one-on-one with kids with special needs through Providence Regional Medical Center. She hopes to pursue a career in pharmacology or research and development. Through this internship, Emily hopes to explore ethical dilemmas like accessibility and equity surrounding the drug development industry, as well as engage in discourse surrounding disability ethics. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, traveling, cooking, and going to concerts.
Deborah Onwuasoanya '27
Deborah Onwuasoanya is a senior majoring in Biochemistry at Santa Clara University. Onwuasoanya is from Lynwood, California and was raised in Lagos, Nigeria. She aspires to become an academic physician who treats patients through empathetic, holistic and empowering knowledge and service. Deborah also desires to teach and mentor future medical professionals. On campus, she works as a Teaching Assistant for the General Chemistry labs, assisting other undergraduates with navigating entry-level chemistry lab techniques and procedures.
Off campus, Onwuasoanya volunteers in the Trauma and Telemetry Department at St. Francis Medical Center, Lynwood, California, where she works alongside health professionals to give patients and their loved ones a safe and comfortable clinical experience. She's also a writer, and owns a pre-medical Substack publication where she shares her journey as a pre-medical student, hoping to mentor and encourage other pre-medical students and people. In her free time, she enjoy reading, learning about eating healthy, and making and editing videos. Deborah is looking forward to be immersed in the Health Care Ethics Internship to better understand how to serve her community and future patients better by understanding the value of human life and respecting it.
Richard Smith '27
Richard Smith is a junior from Redondo Beach, California, majoring in Neuroscience and part of the University Honors Program. He aspires to become a physician-scientist and is particularly interested in the ethical questions surrounding rare disease genetics, patient disclosure, and the responsibilities clinicians and researchers have when genetic findings may affect families. Through the Healthcare Ethics Internship, Richard hopes to explore how principles such as autonomy, justice, confidentiality, and beneficence apply to emerging areas of genetic medicine and translational research.
Outside of the classroom, Richard conducts research at Stanford School of Medicine in pediatric cardiology, where he studies pulmonary arterial hypertension. At Santa Clara, he serves as President of the Neuroscience Club and class representative for the University Honors Program. He also DJs on KSCU 103.3 FM under the name “Brainwave.” Outside of school, Richard volunteers at pop-up clinics in the Bay Area, volunteers in hospice care, and enjoys playing tennis with friends. These experiences have shaped his interest in how medicine can balance scientific progress with compassionate, ethically responsible care for patients and families facing complex diagnoses.
Will Stroh '27
Will Stroh, is a Senior from Issaquah Washington, majoring in Biology and minoring in Public Health and Religious Studies. He aims to pursue a career in medicine, and is interested in surgery, neurology, and chronic disease, as well as would like to earn a masters in public health. On campus, Stroh is involved in neuroscience research in the lab of Dr. Cocas, studying the process of brain myelination. He also serves as a student advisor in the Healthcare Professions Peer Advising program. Stroh volunteers through SCCAP in the CORAL afterschool program at Bachrodt elementary, and with Special Olympics NorCal. His goal as a physician and public health worker is to combine scientific knowledge and ethics to advocate for a healthcare landscape where all people are provided with the care they need to lead happy, healthy, meaningful lives.
Liana Tsou '27
Parsa F. Valdez '28
Parsa F. Valdez is a Junior from Reno, Nevada, majoring in Biology on the Pre-Med track at Santa Clara University. He aspires to pursue a career in medicine and is passionate about advocating for underserved communities and improving patient-centered care. On campus, Parsa serves as an EMT with SCU EMS, Chapter President of SCU MEDLIFE, Director of Internal Affairs for Delta Epsilon Mu, a member of Dr. Bayless’ research lab studying motile cilia using Tetrahymena thermophila, and is involved in both the Honors Program and as a Mindset Scholar. He is also involved in community-centered care through volunteering at Hearts & Minds, supporting patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and as a hospice volunteer.
Coming from a family with roots in the Middle East and having close family members diagnosed with serious medical conditions, Parsa’s passion for healthcare stems from a desire to be an advocate, a voice, and a support system for underserved patients and families. These experiences have also inspired his interest in helping bridge the gap in supportive and palliative care to ensure patients receive compassionate, holistic care alongside medical treatment. Through this internship, he hopes to broaden his understanding of healthcare ethics, learn how to thoughtfully navigate ethical dilemmas, and better understand how healthcare professionals and students work to create meaningful change through advocacy, awareness, and action.
Madison Williams '28
Sylvana Domokos, 2026-27 Honzel Fellow
Sylvana Domokos is a senior from Mountain View, California, and is majoring in Neuroscience. On campus, she has worked as a Chemistry TA, as director of outreach for the Pre-Health Club, and enjoyed her time in Dr. Sabatier’s lab studying C. elegans. Sylvana’s favorite class so far has been Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, and she is excited to explore its connections to healthcare ethics, as AI ethics is deeply rooted in the principles of bioethics.
Outside of school, Sylvana works as an on-call events EMT for CrowdRx in San Francisco. In high school, Sylvana experienced a year-long recovery from a concussion that caused aphasia. After fully recovering, she became deeply interested in neuroscience and its potential to transform patients’ quality of life. Her academic interests include disability studies, the impact of socioeconomic status on healthcare quality, and the autonomy of patients with complex psychiatric conditions and various forms of dementia. After graduation, Sylvana is driven to build a career focusing on neurodegenerative diseases, and will continue at Santa Clara to pursue an M.S. in Bioengineering to actualize this goal.
Learn more about Sylvana Domokos, and the Honzel Fellowship.