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2018 Program Students

Anthea Bartlett

Anthea Bartlett
Institution: University of Washington, Seattle
Faculty Mentor: Emily Law, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Anthea is a rising junior at the University of Washington studying psychology and human centered design and engineering. For the past year, she worked with Dr. Jennifer Rabbitts at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute to evaluate the success of an online cognitive-behavioral therapy for children undergoing major surgery. This summer, Anthea is working with Dr. Emily Law on a project which aims to better understand the relationship between the child’s family history of headaches and their headache symptoms. She is excited to gain more research experience in the field of pain psychology, for she would like to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology in the future. In her spare time, she likes to read, explore the city, travel, and spend time with family and friends.


Lucas Chen

Lucas Chen
Institution: University of Washington, Seattle
Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Rabbitts, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Lucas is a rising junior at the University of Washington, on the pre-science track. He has spent the last academic year investigating the potential effects of pulsed focused ultrasound on EEG capabilities and pFU as a novel noninvasive therapy for AD in mice models under the guidance of Dr. Pierre Mourad and Dr. Michael Bobola. This summer Lucas is working under the guidance of Dr. Jennifer Rabbitts at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Outside the lab, Lucas enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, watching movies, and eating. Lucas’s future goals include attending medical school or graduate school.


Angela Christman

Angela Christman
Institution: University of Washington, Seattle
Faculty Mentor: Ajay Dhaka, Biological Structure

Angela is a rising senior at the University of Washington studying molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. Before attending UW, she attended South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia where she worked as a certified writing tutor and helped teach pre-college English and adult basic education classes. In addition, she was the teaching assistant for major’s biology, tutored chemistry, and presented at a national conference on tutoring students with traumatic brain injury. This past year, Angela was a peer-facilitator for BIOL 355 and worked as an undergraduate researcher at Palmiter Lab which researches the effects of psychological stressors on appetite and thirst regulation in mice. This summer, Angela is working in Dhaka Lab investigating the role of PLC in pain sensation by inhibiting PLC activity through pharmacological and genetic methods (CRISPR) in a Zebrafish model. Outside of the lab, she enjoys dog-walking in the beautiful parks of Seattle, especially with her chihuahua, Buddy. Ultimately, Angela plans to pursue an MD/PhD program and would like to become a pediatric oncologist that researches individual-focused treatments for cancers.


Elise Hoffman

Elise Hoffman
Institution: University of Washington,Seattle
Faculty Mentor: Sean Rundell, Rehabilitation Medicine

Elise is a rising senior at the University of Washington studying Public Health. For the last year and a half, she worked in the Promislow Lab studying oxidative stress in fruit flies. This summer she will be working with Dr. Sean Rundell in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine to understand how to better treat older adults with low back pain. She is particularly interested in how social factors influence the treatment of patients. In her free time, Elise enjoys running, biking, and spending time by the water with friends.


Dana Kamenz

Institution: University of Washington, Seattle
Faculty Mentor: Ajay Dhaka, Biological Structure

Dana is a rising junior at the University of Washington. She is pursuing a degree in bioengineering. This summer, Dana is continuing her research in Dr. Ajay Dhaka’s lab in the Department of Biological Structure. This research aims to unravel the role of different neurons in nociception in the hopes of identifying a possible target for more specific analgesics. Beyond lab, Dana enjoys embroidery and hiking. She hopes to earn a Phd or MD in the future.


Nick Magill

Nick Magill
Institution: University of Washington, Seattle
Faculty Mentor: Kushang Patel, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Nick is a rising senior at the University of Washington majoring in bioengineering. He is working with Dr. Kushang Patel this summer in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine to comparatively examine correlations between daily activity and conditioned pain modulation using accelerometer measurements against self-reported activity levels in patients with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. During the school year, Nick worked on a project in conjunction with Phillips to develop a bioelectrical impedance simulating CPR manikin for use with AEDs. Nick also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters Seattle, which aims to provide mentorship for underprivileged youth in the Seattle area. In his free time, he enjoys photography, hiking, and mountaineering. In the future, Nick hopes to pursue a medical degree in orthopedics.


Sacha Moufarrej

Sacha Moufarrej
Institution: University of Washington, Seattle
Faculty Mentor: Tonya Palermo, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Sacha is a rising junior in the Honors Program at the University of Washington, pursuing a degree in neurobiology with a minor in music. For the past year, Sacha has been working at the Kleinhans Lab at UW, which studies the mechanisms of sensory processing in children with autism. This summer, she is working with Dr. Tonya Palermo in her lab at Seattle Children’s, which focuses on the assessment and treatment of chronic pain in children and adolescents. Sacha is working on a meta-analysis of the prevalence of chronic pain in young adults. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing music, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends. She plans on pursuing an MD in pediatrics or a surgical specialty.


Jolie Phan

Jolie Phan
Institution: University of Washington, Seattle
Faculty Mentor: Ardith Doorenbos, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems

Jolie Phan is a rising junior at the University of Washington majoring in bioengineering. During the school year, Jolie works at the Woodrow Lab, studying the applications of engineered biomaterials to mucosal immunity. This summer, she is working with Dr. Doorenbos on a study to improve chronic pain management via a telehealth intervention program, UW TelePain, designed to increase the accessibility to pain specialists for providers across widespread areas. She is analyzing patient and provider outcomes for TelePain to understand the impact that this program has on the treatment and management of chronic pain, as well as the wellbeing of the patients themselves. Outside of school, Jolie enjoys tutoring K-12 students, volunteering, hiking, and playing tennis. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine and focus on overcoming barriers in healthcare in underserved populations.