Learn more about EMSAP Alumni who are now UAB Faculty!
Congratulations to Daniel Elston on his Fulbright Award!
Harshita Challa
Hello! My name is Harshita Challa, and I am from Alpharetta, Georgia. I attended Milton High School where I was actively involved in HOSA, science fair, and other Honor societies. Outside of school, I spent much of my time shadowing at local medical clinics and actively serving as the Georgia Legislative Coordinator for the human rights organization Amnesty International. I was drawn to EMSAP because of the community of like-minded students it fosters and the interdisciplinary education it encourages. At UAB, I plan to major in Neuroscience and complete an MPH, with a double minor in Chemistry and Spanish. I’m looking forward to exploring and experiencing all the wonderful opportunities UAB has to offer, both within medicine and outside it. Go Blazers!
Mihit Garlanka
Howdy, my name is Mihit Sai Garlanka! I attended Independence High School, and I am from McKinney, Texas. In High School, I served as the founder of Kids Within the Reach (a nonprofit organization addressing malnutrition in children), the President of my school's HOSA chapter, and a member of the Robotics Club. Outside of the classroom, I am an avid outdoor explorer as an Eagle Scout, an origami enthusiast, and a major Lebron James and Lakers fan. The EMSAP program here at UAB grants me the opportunity to explore my distinctive interests to develop into a well-rounded physician. The diverse offerings allow me to explore my fascinations while discovering new ways to relieve suffering as a future medical professional. While being a part of this program, I plan to major in Neuroscience through the Personalized Honors Pathway. Surrounded by a group of curious and compassionate students, I can’t wait for our adventures together as Blazers, inspiring each other to challenge the norm and explore the unknown.
Abigail Haider
My name is Abigail Haider and I’m from Huntsville, Alabama where I attended New Century Technology High School in the Biomedical Strand! Throughout high school, I was a member of several clubs including HOSA, Math Team, Key Club, and was the Treasurer of the SGA. I was also active in my community: tutoring elementary school students, shadowing at my local hospital, and playing both violin and piano for my community at churches and nursing homes. My experiences in shadowing, being a research intern, and giving back to my community have all brought me to the pathway of being a physician. At UAB, EMSAP will allow me to have a great family with similar interests and the mentorship that will allow me to become the best physician I can be! I’m looking forward to my next years at UAB and the amazing experiences that will come along with it. Go Blazers!
Paresh Jampala
My name is Paresh Jampala and I am from Huntsville, Alabama. I went to high school at Randolph, where I played basketball and tennis, along with playing hockey for the house league team in my city. I was also the president of the Investment Club, and I was the class president for all four years of high school. Outside of school I participated in many volunteering opportunities in my city as well as shadowing doctors and working with the online HEAL clinic to explore medicine as much as I could. EMSAP at UAB was a great fit for me as it is close to home, and it allows you to choose whatever major you want to pursue while still preparing you for medical school. At UAB I plan on majoring in Neuroscience on the Personalized Pathway in the Honors College. I am very excited to be in the EMSAP class of 2026 and I can’t wait to get started in Birmingham.
Faraaz Kassam
My name is Faraaz Kassam, and I am from Lawrenceville, GA. I attended Grayson High School. Outside of school, I am involved in various different service organizations within my community. I thoroughly enjoy my time working in a local Early Childhood Development Center as well as the Religious Education Center, where I am able to interact with younger kids as a mentor and teacher. I love these experiences in particular because they made me interested in the brain and the idea of neuroplasticity. I also run a ping-pong club in my school, which I really enjoy. I found EMSAP to be appealing as it will allow me to continue pursuing my interests as well as develop new ones, as we are able to major in any subject we choose. During my time in this program, I plan on majoring in Cancer Biology and possibly minoring in Spanish, as well as completing a Master’s in Public Health during my time in medical school. I am hopeful I’ll be able to volunteer at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama since I plan on pursuing Pediatrics. I would also like to participate in clinical research at UAB, especially that surrounding Alzheimer’s. I am super excited to become a Blazer and I’m ready for everything to come at UAB!
Sreekiran Nataraj
Hi! My name is Sreekiran Nataraj, and I am from Hoover, AL. I attended Hoover High School as a student working towards both the AP Capstone and the IB courses certificate. Aside from school, I enjoy helping other students become more involved in STEM as my school’s STEM Team captain. I have also volunteered at the VA Medical Center, and I am particularly excited for the clinical exposure with EMSAP. I plan to major in Biomedical Engineering and minor in Neuro-engineering. I have been helping to research Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UAB, and I hope to continue this research throughout my time at UAB. Go Blazers!
Hudson O’Neill
My name is Hudson O'Neill and I am from Huntsville, Alabama. I have been homeschooled for the majority of my life but found a lot of the joys of high school through debate team, high school swim and soccer, and my involvement in TeenPact. I also enjoy serving the community through disability and homeless outreach, especially by working at Camp Barnabas and the Downtown Rescue Mission. I chose EMSAP because it will help my development in a field that, working as a lab tech and becoming an EMT, have taught me to love, medicine. My hope is to come out of the program with the determination and ability to begin serving in the medical field, bringing care to those who most need it. I am excited for the freedom to pursue my interests, that the program offers, and I cannot wait to grow closer with my Blazer community!!!
James Shi
My name is James Shi and I am from Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Since the 8th grade, I have attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts in the math and science department. At school, I have served as the president and captain of the Mu Alpha Theta honor society and science bowl team, respectively. In the community, I serve as a leader, both locally and nationally, of the Alliance of Youth Leaders in the US, teach at the Birmingham Math Academy, and volunteer at the UAB Hospital. To me, medicine represents an opportunity to learn and innovate, a way of serving people, and academic collaboration. I look forward to exploring the medical field at UAB, whether in a class, hospital, or lab setting. I plan to major in neuroscience and earn a master’s in public health. If there isn’t another pandemic, I hope to study abroad as well. I’m looking forward to having unique experiences at UAB. Go Blazers!
Dhrithi Tummala
Hi! My name is Dhrithi Tummala, and I am from Cumming, Georgia. I graduated from South Forsyth High School and plan on majoring in Neuroscience while pursuing a Masters in Public Health. Throughout high school, I have been involved in community service and have volunteered at various hospitals and organizations, including the Grady Memorial Hospital and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. I am the co-founder of GOALden Guide, a non-profit tutoring organization, and have also served as the Regional Executive Director of Break the OutBreak. At the Center for Molecular & Translational Medicine (GSU), I have had the opportunity to conduct diabetes research and be the co-author of a research paper. I hope to carry forward that research as I am guided by the esteemed medical faculty at UAB. I am beyond excited to be a part of EMSAP, through which I will be able to hone new skills and gain meaningful experiences equipping me to embrace a lifelong career in medicine!
Jaya Vadapalli
Hi! My name is Jayamallika Vadapalli, and I am from Madison, Alabama. I will be majoring in Neuroscience through the Personalized Honors Program, and I am looking to complete my MBA as well. I attended James Clemens High School, where I competed in the HOSA Dental Science event, served as NHS vice president, played on the girls’ soccer team, and was involved in other Honor Societies. Outside of school, I enjoyed volunteering with the United Way’s Youth Leaders’ Council, playing club soccer, going to the gym, and creating polymer clay art. Most importantly, I loved spending time at my shadowing internship at Madison Dental Care, as this was where I developed my love for dentistry. At my internship, I shadowed multiple dental professionals, allowing me to experience several dental procedures and patient-dentist interactions, ultimately enabling me to delve deeper into the dental field. One of my favorite things about EDSAP is that it provides me with many academic opportunities while still allowing me to explore other interests outside of dentistry, which a normal pre-dental student does not have the freedom to pursue. Under Dr. Pence’s mentorship, I am excited to thrive on UAB’s campus, develop relationships with like-minded peers, and grow into the dentist I have forever dreamt to be! I am so excited to be part of the UAB family. Go Blazers!
Sarah Vaughan
Hi, my name is Sarah Vaughan, and I attended James Clemens High School in Madison, Alabama. At UAB, I will be pursuing a degree in Neuroscience in the Personalized Honors Pathway program. I enjoy sports and being outdoors. In high school, I was a varsity cross country runner and captain of the tennis team. Aside from sports, I was highly involved in a volunteer program for tutoring elementary students in mathematics. I was President of the Spanish Honor Society and hope to continue my study of the Spanish language and culture at UAB. I also hope to find undergraduate research opportunities and study abroad, possibly in Spain, to expand my world perspective and one day become a well-balanced physician. I believe EMSAP offers an incredible opportunity for students to pursue their interests beyond STEM and find a solid community— two ideals I am incredibly excited about and grateful for. I truly cannot wait to join the UAB family. Go Blazers!
Samanvi Vootukuri
Hello! My name is Samanvi Vootukuri, and I am from Madison, Alabama. I graduated from Bob Jones High School. After high school, I will be pursuing my undergraduate degree at UAB, and I plan on majoring in Neuroscience while also being part of the University Honors Program! I played on my high school tennis team for the past four years, and I was co-captain my senior year. I was able to serve and represent my class as senior class president, which was an amazing experience. Throughout high school, I was in various honors societies, was a member of HOSA, and taught elementary students advanced math concepts, which allowed me to contribute to the betterment of my community. I also served as the Bob Jones School Chair for the United Way Youth Leadership Council where I was able to volunteer and further give back to my community. I had the opportunity to shadow numerous healthcare professionals as well as participate in research at Hudson Alpha’s Biotechnology summer program, and it allowed me to grow my passion for the field of science. All of these experiences have truly shaped me into the person I am today. I am very passionate about the field of medicine because it greatly emphasizes communication and giving back to others. As a physician, I hope to bring a more holistic approach to the way patients are treated, which is an intriguing aspect of medicine to me. I am very grateful to be a member of the EMSAP group, and I am looking forward to the opportunities the future holds. I hope to join various clubs to better connect with the university and its students as well as the community. I also want to take part in research projects to further continue my interests in the sciences. I am excited to be a part of the close-knit and diverse community of UAB. I simply cannot wait to continue growing my passion for the field of medicine through all that UAB has to offer. Go Blazers!
Ellie Walls
My name is Ellie Walls and I am from New Hope, Alabama located south of Huntsville, Alabama. I attended New Hope High School where I was involved in the Student Government Association, Superintendent’s Student Council, being the Community Liaison for my School’s National Honor Society, and math tutoring at my elementary school. In my free time, I was a member of a competitive baton twirling team for twelve years. I also attended the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists’ annual conference through which I received the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Badge of Honor. I was initially drawn to UAB’s EMSAP because of how highly regarded UAB’s medical program is throughout the southeast and the endless opportunities that the school has to offer. During my time in this program, I plan to pursue a personalized degree in a combination of neuroscience and women’s health. I have known from a young age that my passion lies within medicine, and I am looking forward to exploring that interest further during my time here at UAB. I am so excited and grateful to be a part of this program, go blazers!
EJ Weyrauch
Hello, my name is EJ Weyrauch, and I'm from a small community West of Austin, TX, where I attended Dripping Springs High School. I am an Eagle Scout, and I actively volunteer in my community with the Special Olympics, homeless shelters, and food banks. I recently passed the CCMA and EKG exams and am looking to use my certifications at the VA or Children's Hospital. I chose to pursue UAB’s EMSAP because of the concentration of medical facilities in Birmingham, and the school's reputation. I intend to major in Biology, and I am very excited to be a Blazer!
Jeffrey Yuan
My name is Jeffrey Yuan, and I’m from Hoover, Alabama, where I went to Hoover High School as an International Baccalaureate (IB) student. Outside of academics, I was a class representative on the IB student council, a Hoover Ambassador, and volunteered at UAB and Children’s Hospitals. Having grown up in the Birmingham area, I’ve always wanted to go to college here, and the EMSAP program seemed to hit all the checkboxes. Along with being a part of the UHP honors program, I plan on majoring in Genetics and Genomic Sciences. I look forward to exploring different medicine-related fields through EMSAP and beyond. Go Blazers!