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Our People


Jillian Richmond, PhD: Dr. Richmond earned her undergraduate degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology from the Johns Hopkins University, and her doctoral degree in Pathology & Immunology from Boston University School of Medicine. She performed a postdoctoral fellowship in chemokine biology at Massachusetts General Hospital before moving to the Harris Lab at UMass to study chemokines in vitiligo, an autoimmune disease characterized by CD8+ T cell-mediated destruction of melanocytes. She has also studied formation of autoreactive resident memory T cells that make vitiligo refractory to treatment. Her laboratory now focuses on T cell migration and function in other autoimmune skin diseases and cancers including Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus, Morphea and T Cell Lymphoma.

Ummugulsum Yildiz Altay

Ummugulsum Yildiz Altay, MD: Gulsum graduated from Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey in 2012. She worked as a family medicine resident and occupational physician prior to joining to Dr. Richmond’s Lab. She is interested in autoimmune skin diseases especially lupus, alopecia and lichen planus. In her free time she likes traveling and spending time on the pottery wheel.

Mridushi Daga

Mridushi Daga, MS: Mridushi is a PhD student at UMass Chan. She graduated from Tufts University with a master's in molecular biology and then spent two years working at Rockefeller University on COVID-19. Mridushi is interested in all things autoimmunity and T cell self-tolerance/migration. Outside the lab, she enjoys travelling and reading. 

Abby McElroy, DVM, MS: Abby received her BA in neuroscience from Smith College in 2013 and her DVM from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in 2017. She went on to obtain a MS from Michigan State University in 2018 which focused on characterization of neurological abnormalities in an equine model of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. From 2018 to 2021, she worked as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Neurosurgery at Rhode Island Hospital where she studied tethered cord syndrome and myodural bridge dysfunction in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes. Abby’s work currently focuses on the development of a gene therapy for dermatosparaxis Ehlers-Danlos syndrome for her Millenium PhD thesis project. Outside of the lab Abby enjoys spending time with her human and animal family and enjoys playing polo. 

Saeed Shakiba

Saeed Shakiba, MD: Saeed completed his medical and public health degrees at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Throughout his career, he has focused on researching the neuropharmacology of itch sensation, as well as exploring alternative methods of immune modulation and immunosuppression for treating diseases associated with impaired immune system activation. Currently, Saeed's research is centered around investigating neuroinflammation in cutaneous lupus erythematosus and understanding the underlying mechanisms that respond to UV light exposure.

Dany Alkurdi

Dany Alkurdi: Dany is a rising MS1 at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Before medical school, he assisted in the development and study of a mobile application to monitor and manage the pain of advanced cancer patients at Dana-Farber, and developed a passion for dermatology, skin cancer, and autoimmune skin disorders as an assistant for dermatology, Mohs Surgery, and oculoplastic surgery. He studied the effects of war on the mental health of Syrian refugees to receive his BA from Princeton University in 2017. Dany is assisting in the Richmond Lab's study of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. He is also interested in applying technology to expand access to healthcare for underrepresented patients through crowd-sourced and remote research and care. In his free time, he likes to travel and read.

Warba Abdi

Warda Abdi: Warda is currently a third-year medical student at the Medical College of Georgia. She graduated from Georgia State University in 2019 with a degree in Philosophy. She is interested in autoimmune skin diseases such as alopecia and systemic lupus erythematosus. She also has interests in skin of color, health care disparities, and ethics. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, hot yoga, and reading.

Rutha Adhanom: Rutha is a first-year medical student at Charles R. Drew College of Medicine in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2021 with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences, with a specialization in Neurobiology and Physiology. Rutha is an aspiring dermatologist who is passionate about autoimmune dermatology, skin of color, and immune dysfunction and its effects on the skin. Specifically, she is interested in dermatological diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Rutha is dedicated to addressing health disparities through advocacy, biomedical research, and community service. Outside of her academic pursuits, she enjoys traveling, playing volleyball, and baking.

Elisa Bello

Elisa Bello, BA: An MS4 at the UMass Chan School of Medicine, Elisa is interested in the immunologic underpinnings of disease. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in biochemistry at Amherst College before spending two years studying immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer and melanoma at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. In the lab, Elisa is investigating the role of the immune system in Multiple Sclerosis, with a focus on characterizing smoldering disease.

Gary Chi: Gary is a MS1 at UMass Chan Medical School. He graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in Biochemistry. Prior to joining UMass Chan, Gary spent two gap years working in clinical research at MGH where he explored applications of circulating tumor DNA such as for monitoring recurrence, guiding targeted therapy, and studying treatment resistance on patients with GI cancer. He is interested in the design and mechanisms of targeted therapy and immunotherapy. He hopes to gain a deeper understanding of immune response and how it can be manipulated to change disease outcome. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games with friends and finding new music genres to try.

Hanna Englander: Hanna is a first-year medical student at UMass Chan. She graduated from the University of Connecticut and took two-gap years working at the National Institutes of Health before joining UMass Chan. During her time at the NIH, Hanna worked in the dermatology branch where her interest in the field of dermatology was sparked after contributing to a project aimed at studying the pathogenesis of alopecia areata in immunocompromised populations, as well as a natural history study of immune-mediated alopecia. Hanna is particularly interested in the interplay between autoimmunity and immunodeficiency that makes the study of immune dysfunction evident when such conditions manifest dermatologically. In her free time, Hanna loves to run, hike, and spend time with her family and friends! 

Shriya Kannan

Shriya Kannan: Shriya is currently a sophomore at Acton Boxborough Regional High School. She is interested in cutaneous biology and looks forward to a career in medicine. She is working with Dr. Richmond on immunophenotyping data from mouse models. By analyzing data from mouse models using various techniques, she hopes to learn more about how the characteristics of a cell influence the behavior and aspects of a disease. (Accepted to Dartmouth College)

Faradia Kernizan

Faradia Kernizan: Faradia is a first-year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine. She received a BA degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2012, and an MPH degree from Columbia University Mailman School of Medicine in 2018. Before attending medical school, she has been involved in public health projects that focus on health disparities in various fields of medicine. She is interested studying autoimmune skin diseases, especially those that disproportionately affect people of color. As a future physician, she hopes to able to bridge the gap between underserved populations and access to quality healthcare and treatment. In her free time, she likes to read, run, cook new recipes, and make kombucha. 

  • Lupus Research Alliance DRSA grant recipient - "Targeting CXCR6+ T cell recruitment and memory in cutaneous lupus"

Haley Neff: Haley is a first year medical student at UMass Chan. She graduated from Tulane University with degrees in Mathematics and Political Science and a minor in Cell and Molecular Biology, where she served community health needs and researched retrotransposons in aged cells. Haley is interested in the role of microbiota and nutrition in modulating the immune response and contributing to inflammatory disease. Her current work includes investigating steroid use in reactive skin conditions, characterizing the role of the microbiome in Alzheimer's progression, and finding the best pharmaceutical vehicle to restore a microbiome from dysbiosis. On any given day, you can find Haley listening to the Huberman Lab podcast, working hard in the gym, or trying out a new coffee shop.

Isabel Okinedo: Isabel is a current first-year medical student at UMass Chan. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2022, where earned a degree in Neuroscience and worked on research projects related to the neurophysiology of Prader-Willi syndrome, and sleep and delirium in ICU patients. During her gap year, she worked at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute reprogramming and gene editing cell lines using CRISPR technology. Isabel is interested in studying the neuroinflammatory markers that underlie skin diseases, as well as neuroimmunity as it relates to skin. Additionally, Isabel is interested in skin of color and narrowing the healthcare disparity gap. In her free time, Isabel enjoys cooking, yoga, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Kirthi Rao: Kirthi Rao is a current medical student at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). She earned her B.S. in International Affairs and a minor in Health and Medical Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and her M.S. from MSM. With an interest in becoming a dermatologist, Kirthi's focus lies in understanding skin health, particularly in populations with diverse skin tones. Her research interests include skin color, atopic dermatitis, and melanoma. Through leadership at Morehouse School of Medicine's Dermatology Interest Group, Kirthi channels her passion for dermatology into community outreach initiatives and engagement. In her free time, she enjoys reading novels, going down YouTube rabbit holes, and exploring new cafes!

(Alexandra) Kate Rookey: Kate is a medical student at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. She graduated in 2022 from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. She is interested in various aspects of dermatology and immunology. Kate will be working on the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma project.

Nuha Salam: Nuha is currently a dedicated student at Shrewsbury High School, who is interested in medical research, particularly in the fields of genetics and pathology. Nuha hopes to further her knowledge in these sciences through lab experience and collaborative projects that study these topics. In her free time, Nuha loves baking, painting, or spending time with family and friends.

Shakeria Stewart, MS: Shakeria is a MS2 at Morehouse School of Medicine from Atlanta, Ga. She earned her MS in Medical Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine. She aspires to be a dermatologist, and has an interest in inflammatory skin diseases. She looks forward to treating skin of color patients, and hopes to one day provide specialty care for medically underserved patients. In her free time, Shakeria enjoys baking and shopping.

  • Dermatology Foundation DRSA grant recipient - "Identifying Potential FDA-approved Therapies that Could be Repurposed for the Treatment of Morphea"

Yu Wang, Ph.D.: A rising MD2 student at the Morehouse School of Medicine, Yu earned her BS in Biological science from China. She moved to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Auburn University, AL where she studied bifunctional enzyme KatG catalysis and mechanism of action. After obtaining her Ph.D., she did two years of post-doctoral training at Virginia Tech and became the first person to discover the methanofuran biosynthesis pathway. In Fall 2015, Yu started a tenure-track faculty position at the University of North Georgia. In 2021, Yu began her medical journey to pursue a career as a dermatologist. She is the mother of a four-year-old who has been suffering from Atopic Dermatitis. In the lab, Yu's project is to perform comparative immunology and transcriptomics of Atopic Dermatitis, with the ultimate goal of informing effective treatment. Yu enjoys playing music and reading books with her daughter.

  • Can plants harm your skin? Frontiers for Young Minds

Lauren You: Lauren is a current junior at Bergen County Academies. She is interested in molecular biology and skin research, and is eager to explore dermatology, particularly inflammatory diseases. Lauren hopes to further her knowledge and experience at the lab and hopes to follow a career path in medicine. In her free time, she enjoys photography and nail art.

Yuying Zhang: I graduated in 2020 with a BS degree in chemistry. During my undergraduate, I engaged in four years of research in analytic chemical to develop a test kit method to be distributed to Bangladesh to measure inorganic arsenic in rice. This was the first time I got to use research to make a difference in underserved communities. I later did a gap year program at a dermatology clinic before medical school, where I became very interested in dermatology. I hope to continue my research journey in dermatology to target prevalent disorders such as atopic dermatitis, Lupus, T-cell lymphoma, alopecia, etc. I am very excited to join many like-minded students in Dr. Richmond's lab to incorporate science and clinical care to improve the treatment of our patients.

Alumni:

Hamza Malick: Hamza is a 3rd year MD candidate at Texas A&M School of Medicine. Raised in Dallas, Texas, he developed an interest in healthcare through his work with under-resourced populations and memory care centers. He has a strong interest in complex dermatological conditions and the disparities of care in geriatric and skin of color patients. In the lab, he plans to continue studying the use of natural compounds for fibrosing skin conditions, as well as the representation of African American patients in CTCL. In between classes he likes to teach calligraphy at a local memory care center, and do all things aquatic (kayaking, fishing, wakeboarding)! 


Matthew Olivera: Matthew Olivera is currently a rising junior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Human Biology with concentrations in Pre-Health Professions and Spanish for Medical Professionals. Matthew is part of the 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at UMass Chan Medical School, where he joined the Richmond Lab. Matthew is interested in musculoskeletal health, diseases, and performance optimization and aims to advance our understanding of injury prevention, rehabilitation techniques, and innovative treatments. Matthew’s goal is to collaborate with field experts to enhance patient outcomes and elevate athletic performance as an aspiring Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine. In his free time, Matthew enjoys playing basketball, working out, traveling, listening to music, and spending time with friends & family!

Christopher Liu: I am currently a sophomore at Framingham State University working towards my undergraduate degree in Biology. One of my interests is genetics, specifically the human genome. My goal for this experience is to help further my knowledge in the field of Biology. The skills that I learn in this lab will prepare me for my own journey as a scientist after I graduate college. In my spare time, I enjoy working out, training Muay Thai, and reading. 

Robert Dinglun Luo: Robert is a rising 3rd-year student at UC Berkeley with a major in Molecular Cell Biology and potentially a minor in Toxicology. He is open to exploring a wide variety of topics within clinical/biological research. In his free time, you can find Robert playing the piano, working out in the gym, and getting destroyed on the basketball court.

Akanksha Nagarkar: Akanksha is a rising MS2 at UMass Chan Medical School. She graduated from UMass Amherst with a dual degree in Biology and Anthropology. Akanksha is interested in the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying autoimmune disease. She is also incredibly passionate about ameliorating health disparities through equitable research practices and community initiatives. In her free time, Akanksha loves to sing and you can often find her performing at various locales in the area! (Current research year fellow @ NIH)

Andrew Romasco: Drew is a rising MS2 at T.H. Chan School of Medicine. He graduated from UMass Amherst with degrees in Informatics and Biology. Drew is interested in the overlap and interplay between auto-immune diseases and cancer and is looking forward to exploring them more with our lab. In his free time, you can find Drew swimming, reading web serials, or spending time with his two dogs (Elected to Gold Humanism Society).

Sean Tao: Sean is currently a junior at Westwood High School. He is interested in biology research and hopes to gain lab experience. He looks forward to learning more about Fibrosis, along with other skin conditions. Sean is learning how to perform qPCR and analyze associated data. In his free time, you can find him practicing Karate or playing frisbee with friends (Accepted to Cornell University).

Robert Li: Robert is currently an M1 student at UMass Chan Medical School. He is interested in the intersection of immunology and dermatology, and aims to gain a deeper understanding of cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus. In the future, Robert hopes to use this knowledge to bridge the gap between new developments in the research and administration of treatment to the patient population.

Saurabh Kumar

Saurabh Kumar, BS: Saurabh is a rising MS2 at the UMass Chan Medical School with interests in neurology. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Molecular & Cell Biology and Statistics from the University of Connecticut. Through the Clinical and Translational Research Pathway (CTRP) at UMass Chan, he is working on analyzing treatment paradigms for Multiple Sclerosis based on a patient’s unique immune phenotype. As a future physician-scientist, Saurabh aspires to integrate his clinical, laboratory, and statistical skills to better treat his patients. In his free time, Saurabh is an avid clarinetist and enjoys hiking. (Matched at Northwell Northshore/Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Hofstra Medical School for Neurology)

Andy Huang

Andy Huang: Andy Huang is currently a rising senior at the Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington. He is interested in Molecular and Cellular Biology and is hoping to follow an education and career path in medicine. He is interested in learning more about infectious and autoimmune diseases while working in the lab, as well as computational analysis outside of the experimental setting. In his free time, Andy enjoy skiing, working out, spending time with friends, and playing video games (Current undergraduate at Wash U St. Louis).

Zechuan Rao: Rao is a first-year undergrad at the University of California Los Angeles majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. He is interested in aging and immunology and how the two topics may be closely related. One of his personal hobbies is keeping and observing ant colonies in test tubes.

Ezdean Alkurdi

Ezdean Alkurdi, BS: Ezdean is a first-year medical student at the UMass Chan T.H. Chan School of Medicine. He graduated from Boston College in 2020 with a degree in Biology. At Boston College, he spent two years studying contact-dependent inhibition in E. Coli in the Momeni lab. After his undergraduate education, he worked for two years at the Lahey Clinic as a medical scribe, where he also helped to digitize collections of kodachromes containing rare dermatological conditions into a digital library. Ezdean is interested in characterizing blistering skin conditions including bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris. He also has an interest in the treatment of vitiligo refractory to traditional therapies, as well as melanocyte-keratinocyte transplantation. In the lab, Ezdean will work to characterize the immunologic underpinnings of bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus, with the ultimate goal of identifying alternative therapies for refractory disease. In his free time, he enjoys weight-lifting, hiking, traveling, volunteering, and listening to electronic dance music.

Jenny Wang: Jenny is currently a rising junior at Liberty high school in Frisco Texas. She’s interested in medical research and topics such as molecular genetics and organic chemistry. At the lab, Jenny hopes to further her knowledge in these sciences, as well as gain lab experience to pursue a future in medical science. In her free time she enjoys going fishing with her family, as well as teaching tricks to her parakeet. 

Nia James

Nia James: Nia is a medical student at Howard University College of Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College in anthropology while completing the pre-medical track. Nia is now an aspiring dermatologist with a clinical and research interest in complex medical dermatology, especially skin cancer. She also has special interests in skin of color, health disparities, and the intersectionality between art and medicine. In her spare time, Nia enjoys dancing, playing basketball, photography, and spending time with friends and family. (Matched at Howard Dermatology)

Nina C. Nwade: Nina is currently an MD candidate at Howard University College of Medicine. From New York, she has seen patients from a multitude of diverse backgrounds and seeks to practice medicine in underserved areas. She has a special interest in complex dermatological conditions which impact patients of color such as Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL), Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), and Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA). In the lab, she is studying health disparities in CTCL with a focus on Mycosis Fungoides and aspires to work on developing inclusive treatment options and better health outcomes. In her free time, Nina enjoys murder mysteries novels, cooking, and traveling.

Michelle Wu: Michelle is an MS1 at the UMass Chan T.H. Chan School of Medicine participating in the 2022 Summer Research and Curriculum Exploration (RCE) Program. She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Applied Economics and Management where she also worked in a research lab with a focus on melanoma and adult stem cell biology. Michelle is interested in learning more about autoimmune diseases affecting the skin, inflammation, and skin cancer.

Marisa Walsh, BS: Marisa is a second year medical student at Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine striving to become a dermatologist. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2018. Her interests in dermatology are expansive but particularly focus around improving patient education accessibility for marginalized communities. She is completing a capstone research project with Dr. Richmond and Dr. Rashighi concentrating on creating patient education documents for the UMass Chan Dermatology Department that are inclusive. She is also analyzing online resources for inclusivity. (Matched at Boston Medical Center for Psychiatry)

David Pilson: David is currently a rising Junior at Morehouse College majoring in Biology. Participating in the 2023 UMass Chan Summer Undergraduate Research Program, his research interests include melanoma, atopic dermatitis, and genetic vulnerability to keloids, specifically in individuals of color. Outside the lab, David enjoys oil painting, drawing, baking, and leg day at the gym. 

Renee Joyce

Renee Joyce, BS: Renee is an MS1 at UMass Chan Medical School pursuing a career in dermatology and is participating in the 2022 Summer Research & Curriculum Exploration (RCE) Program investigating Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE). Renee was exposed to dermatology at a young age when she was diagnosed with psoriasis; her journey with psoriasis sparked her interest in autoimmune skin disease and her desire to help those with chronic skin disease feel confident and in control of their condition. 

Christine Li

Christine Li: Christine is an MS1 at UMass Chan aspiring to become a dermatologist, and she is participating in the 2022 Summer Research & Curriculum Exploration (RCE) Program. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Management from MIT in 2018. She spent several years working in management consulting, where she first became interested in dermatology after working with a pharmaceutical company on psoriasis treatments. Her interests include infectious and autoimmune diseases within dermatology, pediatric dermatology, and skin of color dermatology.

Nicole Loranger, BS: Nicole is an aspiring dermatologist currently in her second year of school at UMass Chan. She first fell in love with dermatology as a medical assistant, and has since had the opportunity to explore a few different topics within the field including epidermolysis bullosa, alopecia, and melanoma. During her participation in the 2021 RCE Program, Nicole started a project focused on racial disparities in melanoma outcomes and, by implementing a patient survey, hopes to elucidate the barriers to care specifically impacting melanoma patients with skin of color. She will continue this project for her capstone research in our lab. In her free time, Nicole enjoys running, dancing, trying new restaurants, and spending time outdoors with friends and family.

Kurren Parida, BS: Kurren is a current MS2 at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Pennsylvania State University in 2020. After that, he spent a year doing research at the NIH, studying alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder. In his free time, he loves playing tennis, ping pong, biking, and swimming.

Aisha Jamison, BS, CertMedPhysiol: Aisha is from Fort Myers Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she majored in Microbiology in Cell Science and minored in African American studies. She is a third-year medical student at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (WSUBSOM). Aisha is currently interested in cutaneous lupus erythematosus. She is unsure about what field she will pursue in medicine, but her ultimate goal is to use her role as a physician to improve access to healthcare to the medically underserved. Aisha enjoys baking and biking. (Matched for Dermatology at University of Washington)

Sachi Desse, AA, BS: Sachi earned her Associates in Biology from Miami Dade College and her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Miami. She is currently an MD candidate at Morehouse School of Medicine and is performing a research rotation in our lab studying health disparities in Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma with a focus on Mycosis Fungoides. Sachi enjoys dancing, singing, playing basketball and interior design. (Matched for Dermatology at Yale University)

Junyue Ma: Junyue is a current sophomore at Miss Porter’s School. She is interested in biology and medical science. She hopes to learn more about tumor biology and data analysis in our lab. She will be working with Jadé on the cutaneous T cell lymphoma project and Haya on the pemphigus project. (Current undergraduate at Brown University)

Janet Lubov, BSN, RN, PCCN: Janet earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Maryland School of Nursing and is a medical student at Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine. In addition to her MD candidacy, Janet is also working towards an MS in Pharmacology & Toxicology, focusing on clinical investigation. Her research year focus with our lab will be on cutaneous lupus erythematosus and explorations of circadian rhythm genes implication on lupus pathogenesis. Janet is interested in infectious and autoimmune diseases within dermatology, particularly in underserved and under-resourced populations. (Research year student in Global Health Dermatology, MGH; Matched for Dermatology at University of Iowa)

Neil Wong: Neil is a rising junior at Shrewsbury High School. He is very interested in the application of computer programs to biomedical research. He is currently working with Ista & Jadé on the canine comparative immunology studies. (Current undergraduate at the University of Connecticut)

Fatima Qutab: Fatima is a senior at Clark University majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Health, Science, and Society. She is interested in learning more about neuroscience and autoimmune diseases. Fatima joined the lab in 2020 and is working on the Multiple Sclerosis immunophenotyping project. (Currently in the Post Bac program at NIH)

Danny Kwong: Danny is a rising senior at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) University on the Boston Campus. He will be participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). Danny is interested in autoimmune diseases and hopes to learn more about them through our lab. In his free time, Danny enjoys practicing yoga, shopping and spending time with friends and family. (Currently at Stanford University PA program)


Nazgol Haddadi, MD-MPH: Nazgol earned her medical and public health degrees from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2017. She has been worked on the neuropharmacology of itch sensation and alternative immune modulation and immunosuppression in treating diseases occur due to impaired immune system activation. Nazgol is studying cutaneous lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune skin disorders and their response to the UV light. (co-mentored with Dr. Mehdi Rashighi)

Khashayar Afshari, MD-MPH: Khashayar Afshari MD-MPH is a physician and researcher graduated from Tehran University of Medical sciences. He is interested in inflammation, autoimmunity and neuroscience. He has been studying neuroinflammation in pruritus, spinal cord injury, seizure and social isolation syndrome and has worked on models for increasing skin flap survival. He is currently studying immune system phenotypes and transcriptomics in autoimmune disorders. (co-mentored with Dr. Mehdi Rashighi)

Sebastian Nieves-Lozano: Sebastian is a medical microbiology undergraduate & rising senior student-athlete at the University of Puerto Rico. He is also part of the 2022 Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at UMass Chan Medical School, where he joined the lab. Sebastian has aspirations of entering medical school in the near future with interests in cardiology and orthopedics. He has previous research experience with thermo-resistant fungi found in caves in Puerto Rico. His projects focus on canine diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (cDLBCL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). In his free time, he enjoys working out, playing basketball, doing yoga, trying new restaurants, and cooking. (Current medical student at Autonomous University of Guadalajara)

Alice Amudzi, MD: Alice is an aspiring dermatologist from Ghana, West Africa. She completed her bachelor's in Medical science from the University of Ghana and obtained her medical degree at the University of Ghana Medical School. Alice has interests in cutaneous oncology, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases. She is performing a year of research in our lab studying Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. Alice is passionate about the diagnosis and therapeutic management of skin diseases in people of African descent. (Matched for intern year at the Berkshires)

Ayodeji Ajayi, MPH: Ayo is a fourth year medical student at Georgetown University who aspires to become a dermatologist. Previously, she worked as a clinical trial monitor and has conducted research in hidradenitis suppurativa. Her research focus in our lab is wound healing and erythema multiforme. Ayo is interested in improving access to dermatology services within under-resourced communities, tropical and pediatric dermatology. In her time of rest and relaxation, she likes to travel, experience new cultures and spend time with loved ones. (Matched for Dermatology at Mayo Clinic, FL)

Meigan Bryant: Meigan is a MS4 at Georgetown School of Medicine from Los Angeles, CA. Her interest include skin of color specifically pigmentary disorders, health literacy, and diversity in medicine. When she’s not studying, you can find her playing at the park with her son and husband. She hopes to encourage other women to believe that you do not have to choose between having a family and having a career. It is possible to have both! (Matched for Family Medicine in TN)

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Haya Raef, MS: Haya majored in Biology at New York University Abu Dhabi and earned her MS in Biomedical Sciences at Tufts School of Medicine. She is currently a medical student at Tufts, and is performing a year of research in our lab during the 2020-2021 academic year studying cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Haya is also actively involved in community outreach efforts, and has been creating COVID care packages for the homeless at Preble Street in Portland, ME and Boston Health Care for the Homeless in Boston, MA. (Matched for Dermatology at Emory)

Jadesola (Jadé) Temitope Olayinka, BSc: Jadé is a medical student at State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences Center aspiring to become a dermatologist. She earned her Bachelor of Sciences in Natural Sciences from the University of Calgary, with concentrations in biology and chemistry. She is performing a year of research in our lab during the 2020-2021 academic year studying cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Jadé is committed to improving health disparities in marginalized communities, with a particular focus on advocacy for skin of color representation and education. She works to address the skin cancer prognosis disparity by facilitating free community skin screenings and educational sessions. Jadé enjoys playing basketball, hiking, and graphic design. (Matched for Dermatology at NYU)

Jenna (Cornwall) Mulhearn, RN: Jenna is an MS1 at UMass, and will be participating in the 2021 Summer Research & Curriculum Exploration (RCE) Program. She is interested in dermatology, specifically in treating patients with skin cancer. Her project will focus on comparing keratinocytes in basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous lupus erythematosus. (Matched for Family Medicine at UMass Memorial)

Mark Tawadrous: Mark is an MS1 at UMass, and he is participating in the 2021 Summer Research & Curriculum Exploration (RCE) program. His project will focus on ways of improving skin-of-color dermatology. Specifically, he will be working to enhance the racial inclusivity of clinical photographs of skin diseases across the residents’ curriculum. In his free time, Mark enjoys traveling to new places, trying out new restaurants and spending time with friends and family.

Colton Garelli, BS: Colton majored in Biochemistry and minored in Computer Science at Ithica College. He performed research on disordered protein constructs that have functional consequences on transcription factor activity in Dr. Jamie Ellis' lab. His independent project in the Richmond lab focuses on gene expression analysis on skin from autoimmune patients and model organisms.

Ista A Egbeto, BS: Ista graduated from Stony Brook University with a major in Cell Biology and a minor in Business Administration. She is currently a 4th-year medical student who aspires to become a dermatologist. She has research experience in oncology and worked on various oncology research projects at Dana Farber and MGH during her second and third of year of medical school. In the Richmond lab, she is studying vitiligo and Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. She is performing remote data analysis for our gene expression and flow cytometry studies. (Matched for Dermatology at Johns Hopkins)

Morgan Groover: Morgan is a rising MS2 at UMass, and she is participating in the 2020 Summer Research & Curriculum Exploration (RCE) Program. Morgan is interested in dermatology as a specialty. Her project in the lab focuses on links between inflammation and fibrosis as they pertain to morphea/localized scleroderma. She is performing remote data analysis for our gene expression and flow cytometry studies. (Matched at Hackensack Meridian Health for Dermatology)

Grace Ryan: Grace is a rising MS2 at UMass, and she is participating in the 2020 Summer Research & Curriculum Exploration (RCE) Program. Grace is interested in immunology, as the immune system interacts with all of our body's other tissues to keep us healthy. Her project in the lab focuses on how the immune system goes awry in cutaneous lupus erythematosus. She is performing remote data analysis for our gene expression and flow cytometry studies. (Matched at Boston Medical Center for Internal Medicine)

Lance Wong - former research intern, currently an undergraduate at Columbia University

Dhrumil Patel - former medical student researcher, capstone project, currently a Dermatology Resident at Dartmouth

Senegal Carty - former Master's student researcher, currently a PhD student at Boston University School of Medicine