Staff Directory

Vanessa Lee (Barnard ‘28) is a pre-medical student majoring in Math with a strong interest in applying computational approaches to medicine, particularly in building quantitative models to better understand complex biological systems. As the Engineering Lead, she is excited to collaborate with AYS’s volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds to design and build custom medical devices that improve the daily lives of residents at TCC. Through this role, she hopes to combine engineering, creativity, and compassion to develop thoughtful, personalized solutions that address residents’ unique needs. Outside of AYS, Vanessa conducts systems neuroscience and neural representational geometry research at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute. In her free time, she enjoys running, trying new coffee shops, and exploring New York City with friends.

Theodore (CC'24) is a computer science major, on the premedical track. His major research interests involve transcriptomics, a high-throughput set of methodologies to understand critical disease pathologies. He is an instructor at the Columbia University Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center, teaching a course, bridging the gap between bioinformatics and wet lab science, providing novel research opportunities for underserved students. He is certified in outdoor emergency care and as an emergency medical technician. He serves as the treasurer for the Terence Cardinal Cooke At Your Service Volunteer Program, supporting the enthusiasm and reflection of undergraduate volunteers interested in working with the TCC’s patient populations.  

Publication(s): Nelson, T.M.; Ghosh, S.; Postler, T.S. L-RAPiT: A Cloud-Based Computing Pipeline for the Analysis of Long-Read RNA Sequencing Data. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 15851. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415851

Simon (CC'24) studied Neuroscience and Behavior. As a past co-president (outreach lead), current advisory board member, and frequent volunteer in the Huntington's unit of the TCC, he is interested in the intertwining of neurodegeneration and communication, and the therapeutic implications of communication of any kind for treating neurological diseases. In his free time, he loves playing the piano and saxophone, and spending time outside!

Rohin (SEAS’24) studies Biomedical Engineering and is interested in the application of synthetic biology, design, and medicine. 

He started volunteering at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Healthcare Center in the summer of 2023 serving Huntington disease residents. His research at the Danino Lab focuses on engineering bacterial therapies for tuberculosis and cancers. Helping Huntington residents brings up questions about the role of medicinal therapy in end-of-life care and the balance between medicinal and nontraditional hands-on therapy. 

He is a part of the new At Your Service team, working to lead new Columbia volunteers. In his free time he enjoys tennis, watches TV shows, and explores the city. 

Rohin was the former Co-President during his time at Columbia.

Michele (BC ’24 MPH ’25) is concurrently a senior at Barnard studying biology and an MPH candidate at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management. She is a clinical researcher at the Neurorehabilitation Research Laboratory, collaborating with health professionals on studying assessments to improve the lives of individuals with neurological conditions, including Huntington disease. She is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized groups through initiatives such as creating a storybook sharing the narratives of African Americans and Black individuals living with Parkinson disease.

Additionally, Michele possesses healthcare administration experience, gained through her work on a performance improvement project at a New York City hospital. Her dedication to serving the community extends further as she serves as Secretary for the Terence Cardinal Cooke At Your Service Volunteer Program, aligning with her commitment to making a positive local impact.

Beyond her academic and extracurricular commitments, she is a total foodie and animal (dog) lover – you can find her trying new recipes or puppy sitting :)

Michele was the former Secretary during her time as an Undergraduate at Columbia.

Mei Echigoya (CC '28) is a pre-medical student planning to study Medical Humanities with a focus on public health or neuroscience. She looks forward to spending time and building deeper connections with patients at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center, while planning fun events across multiple disciplines. She loves the AYS community too, and can't wait for the year to get started! In her free time, she enjoys having foodie trips with her friends, cycling along the riverside, watching sunsets, and exploring pretty book stores/cafes!

Lina (CC ’26) studies Biology and Medical Humanities and is on the premedical track. She has previously volunteered at her local internal medicine clinic, and hopes to connect with and help the residents at TCC. As the AYS co-president leading reflection sessions, she invites guest speakers and bridges “At Your Service” with the Research Cluster on Science and Subjectivity, which provides support to run the program. She also helps with the Intergenerational Narrative Medicine Workshops at RCSS, which fosters conversations between older adults with undergraduate students through a narrative medicine framework.

Lina was a former co-president at her time at AYS.

Lily Coral (CC'28) studies psychology and music. Last year, she performed on violin at the first TCC concert with her fellow club members. As the performing arts interdisciplinary lead, she is passionate about making participation in music activities and performance accessible to a population with a diverse range of motor abilities. Currently, she's working with the technology branch of the club to make instruments that support the needs of the residents of TCC. Outside of TCC, Lily is passionate about her interdisciplinary research in the psychology department. In her free time she enjoys visiting art museums, reading poetry, and hosting tea parties.

Kate Jang (CC’27) is a prospective Neuroscience and Computer Science major on the premedical track.

Joseph (CC ‘29) is a student who has been interested in the state of chronic and terminal disease care since his own diagnosis with Crohn’s disease in high school.
He is passionate about advocating for changes to our healthcare system. Joseph aims to help improve and tailor palliative care to each patient's unique needs and desires. Aside from volunteering at the center his role at AYS is to improve the visibility of chronic and terminal disease patients to the wider Columbia community so that the complexities of end of life and continuing care is not only a burden to be understood by patients and their families.
Outside of classes and volunteering, Joseph enjoys reading, going to museums, hikes, and rock climbing.

Humaira Chowdhury (CC '28) is a pre-medical student majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior. As the Fashion Interdisciplinary Lead, she is excited to create engaging events that allow TCC residents to relive joyful moments from their youth, from spa days to makeup sessions and other fun activities. Through this role, she hopes to blend creativity with care, building meaningful connections while exploring how fashion and wellness can enhance the lives of residents. Outside of TCC, Humaira is a certified nursing assistant and conducts neuroscience research at Columbia Medical Center focused on spatial working memory. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with friends, exploring nature, trying new foods, and binge watching shows!

Harjaisal Brar (SEAS '28) is a Biomedical Engineering student with experience building medical devices. In the last year, he developed a gesture controller and recognition system for use as an accessible input device for residents at Terence Cardinal Cooke HCC. He hopes to continue to refine this device, as well as to develop a novel wearable eyetracker/display system for use as another input device with other members of AYS this year. In his free time, he enjoys working on mechatronics projects, reading, and trying dining hall food with his friends! 

Gina Liu (CC ‘27) intends on majoring in Medical Humanities and is on the premedical track. She is interested in how life’s big questions – that of human narratives of connection and loss – arise in medical settings. 

After speaking to Dr. Blinderman during one of AYS’s speaker events, Gina realized that the aspects of medicine she was interested in revolved around the person, and that philosophy, spirituality, and social sciences had more of a role in medicine than she had realized. Now, as the Literary Interdisciplinary Projects Lead, she hopes to explore the nature of a human narrative. How it comes about, how it influences others, and the sheer power behind it – human stories have always had an important role to play in our society, and that is no different in medical settings. As Website Manager, Gina also aids in cataloging AYS’s past and future events on our website. She hopes to continue volunteering at TCC to help provide whatever support and help she can!

Gina was the former literary interdisciplinary projects leader, RCSS Liaison, and Website Designer. 
 

Emily Liu (CC ‘27) intends to study Neuroscience and Behavior on the premed track.

Emily was a former co-president at her time at AYS.

Dennis (CC'24) was a former co-president during his time at Columbia as an undergraduate. 

In the summer of 2022, he had the opportunity to volunteer at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Healthcare Center and serve as a companion to residents with Huntington's disease. Learning about the At Your Service program, which had become inactive for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the program's revival.

Dr. Craig D. Blinderman is the Chief of the Supportive Care Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He previously served as Director of the Adult Palliative Care Service at Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for 13 years and was the Course Director for Life at the End of Life: Palliative Care and Service, which was developed through collaboration with RCSS.

His academic interests include creating system-wide interventions to provide more timely supportive care to people with serious illness; enhancing pain and symptom management in cancer care; bringing the arts and narrative interventions into clinical practice; collaborative research in psychedelic-assisted therapy; and integrating contemplative care and meditation in patient care. In addition, he has a strong interest in teaching and developing programs to improve clinicians’ skills in communication about serious illness.

Claire Zhu (CC ‘27) intends to major in Neuroscience and Behavior on the premedical track. She joined TCC AYS last year and is passionate about serving the Huntington’s unit and getting to know the residents on a personal level. With a deep curiosity in all things brain-related, Claire is currently conducting Alzheimer’s disease research at Columbia Medical Center, is involved with various organizations around campus, and volunteers with patients with various neurological conditions. As the director of community outreach, Claire is responsible for establishing connections with different student groups, initiating collaborative projects, and expanding the impact and reach of AYS across campus.

Claire was a co-president during her time at AYS.

Christina Staudt, Ph.D. (Art History, CU 2001) is Co-Chair, Columbia University Seminar on Death and past Presidential Scholar, Concordia College – NY. She has supervised students in the Masters program, Sustainability in the Urban Environment at CCNY (CUNY) on green burial. A community educator and organizer, Staudt is the co-founder and past President of Westchester End-of-Life Coalition (2003-2019), an organization offering guidance and support to individuals living with serious illness and at the end of life. She is a trained death doula and since 1998, she has been a hospice volunteer, sitting vigil with the actively dying and their families. Her Advisory Board positions include CU GSAPP’s DeathLAB, Jansen Hospice & Palliative Care, and Cancer Support Team. She has co-edited and contributed chapters to several publications that integrate academic research and contemporary concerns about mortality, the care of the dying, and sustainable disposal, most recently The Future of the Corpse: Changing Ecologies in Death and Disposition (ABC/CLIO, 2021).

Dr. Staudt is an advisor to At Your Service and is affiliated with the Research Cluster on Science & Subjectivity, from which At Your Service traces its origins and has partnered with for over a decade.

Chante Nguyen (CC’27) is a pre-medical student interested in majoring in Medical Humanities. With a passion for medicine and patient care, she spends her free time volunteering at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center. Inspired by the patients in the Huntington’s unit, Chante is committed to making a difference in the lives of those affected. Through her volunteer work, she gains invaluable clinical experience and deepens her understanding of neurological disorders, preparing herself for a future career in medicine and learning the complexities of caring for the terminally and chronically ill.

Chante was a co-president at her time at AYS.
 

Dr. Lechich was the Medical Director at the 609-bed Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center in Manhattan, NY and the Sr. V.P. for Clinical Strategy at ArchCare. As physician, teacher, administrator and writer, Dr. Lechich has focused on defining issues in quality of life for the institutionalized elderly and persons with late-stage Huntington’s disease. This message has been carried to the staff of local hospitals, medical students, fellows-in-training, families, and the care teams within the home Center. Empowerment of family, bedside caregivers and improving the formulation of highly individualized comprehensive approaches to care has been his passion for many years.

Dr. Lechich is an advisor to At Your Service and is affiliated with the Research Cluster on Science & Subjectivity, from which At Your Service traces its origins and has partnered with for over a decade.

Angie Mingo (CC '28) is a premedical student majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior. She joined AYS in her freshman year and is excited to support the club's mission. Through AYS, she has learned more about neurological disorders and the importance of treating patients with care. In her free time, she enjoys playing Roblox with friends, discovering new music to add to her playlists, and late-night trips to JJ's with her friends.