Maxwell Akonde received his bachelor’s degree in medical lab technology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and Master of Philosophy in Hematology from the same institution. Mr. Akonde will earn a PhD in Epidemiology from the USC Arnold School of Public Health with a focus on cancer epidemiology and graduated as a fellow of the Grace Jordan McFadden Professors Program. His professional journey began in the trenches of community outreach programs, where he worked to improve access to healthcare services, particularly diagnostic services, to underserved populations. He also provided leadership to many student and professional-based organizations and remains a passionate advocate for health equity and social justice. His research focuses on understanding the etiology, early detection and factors influencing outcomes in women cancers. Mr. Akonde worked closely with other investigators on the NIH funded multisite African American Cancer Epidemiology Study (AACES) and contributed through research to understanding survival factors in Black women diagnosed ovarian cancer. Ultimately, he plans to pursue an academic career in a research-intensive institution.

Rajat Das Gupta is a trained physician who completed his MBBS from Dhaka Medical College under the University of Dhaka in 2014. He then completed a one-year rotatory internship program from Dhaka Medical College and Hospital by May 2015. In July 2015, he joined BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, as a research associate. He was involved in designing a health communication commodity jointly with the BRAC Health, Nutrition, and Population Program. He completed his MPH from BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, in January 2017, and was awarded the International Postgraduate Training Scheme supported by WHO-TDR to pursue the MPH. After that, he worked at BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health as a senior research associate. Dr. Gupta will be earning a PhD in Epidemiology from the USC Arnold School of Public Health. His field of interest is the epidemiology of non-communicable diseases. He has published extensively in The Lancet, BMJ Open, PLOS ONE, BioMed Central, and Elsevier journals. He plans to continue his endeavors in public health and epidemiology after his graduation.

Dakshu Jindal earned a PhD in Health Services Policy and Management from the USC Arnold School of Public Health. Dr. Jindal's interest in public health was driven by her upbringing in India, where she witnessed stark disparities in healthcare access. After graduating with a master’s in economics and gaining work experience in national and global healthcare settings, Dr. Jindal decided to advance her formal training by pursuing her doctorate studies, where she primarily focused on how different policies and laws impact health outcomes. Her research expertise lies in health services research and health economics. As she moves forward, her ultimate career goal is to become a faculty member at a university where she can collaborate across multiple disciplines, bringing an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to her research that aims to improve health using advanced methodological approaches.

Nadia Sabeh Ayon earned a bachelor's degree in speech and language pathology in 2019 from the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut, Lebanon. She then practiced as a certified Speech Pathologist in Lebanon for two years, where she worked across diverse settings, languages (Arabic, English, and French), and age groups. After that, Ms. Sabeh Ayon moved to the United States to pursue a master's degree in speech pathology at the University of South Carolina where her distinct background as an international student made her extra cognizant of cultural sensitivity in clinical practice. This is invaluable in public health as it allows the development of more inclusive health policies and programs that effectively address the needs of diverse populations. Throughout her master's program, Ms. Sabeh Ayon completed internships in various clinical settings, including nursing facilities, inpatient, and outpatient settings. These experiences have honed her skills in handling complex cases and fostered a keen interest in working with adult patients. After graduation, she plans to work in an adult acute care setting. Her long-term goal is to specialize in head and neck cancer, aligning her professional goals with her husband, who is aspiring to become a head and neck cancer surgeon. As a member of the Delta Omega Honor Society, she will be committed to embodying the core values essential for a successful public health professional in her practice as a speech pathologist. Ms. Sabeh Ayon aims to leverage these principles to effectively contribute to the Delta Omega policy and deliver exceptional care to her patients.

Nancy Uriegas is a dual graduate of the USC Arnold School of Public Health, where she completed a PhD in Exercise Science and a Masters in Advanced Athletic Training. During her tenure at USC she served as a doctoral research and teaching assistant primarily in the athletic training program and worked clinically as an athletic trainer with local high schools and the Carolina Band. Dr. Uriegas focuses her research on eating disorders, energy availability, mental health, and thermoregulation in physically active populations through a public health lens. While at USC, she was a member of the ASPH Dean’s Student Advisory Council, the ASPH Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, the Grace Jordan McFadden Professors Program, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health 2021 Student Leadership Institute Cohort. Additionally, Dr. Uriegas was a 2021 SEC Emerging Scholar, 2022 Rising Graduate Scholar through Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and 2023-2024 American Association of University Women American Dissertation Fellow. Dr. Uriegas accepted a position as an Assistant Professor in Athletic Training at Texas State University, where she will continue to teach and conduct research.

Rebecca Wiesehahn is the Director of Research for the Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee at the Senate of South Carolina. She also serves as the Chief of Staff for South Carolina State Senator Tom Davis of Beaufort and Jasper Counties where she has been in this position since 2015. Ms. Wiesehahn specializes in healthcare policy specifically regarding licensure and compacts, provider practice acts, and scope of practice provisions. She has further policy interests in access to health care and telehealth, as well as national and global health policy. Ms. Wiesehahn is graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health, and a graduate of the USC Arnold School of Public Health with a Master of Health Administration degree from the Department of Health Services Policy and Management.

Allison Williamson earned a MS in Speech-Language Pathology from the USC Arnold School of Public Health Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is working as a speech-language pathologist for a public school in South Carolina. Ms. Williamson is passionate about helping young individuals develop their communication skills and achieve their full potential. She specializes in creating tailored therapy plans that address each student’s unique needs, fostering both academic and social growth. Her professional interests focus on improving communication and swallowing disorders through evidence-based practices. She is dedicated to integrating public health principles into her work to enhance patient outcomes and promote community well-being.

Emily Barros, from Charleston, South Carolina, earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the USC Arnold School of Public Health. For the first two and a half years of her college experience, she worked as a research assistant for the College of Pharmacy aiding in the distribution of COVID-19 tests to the USC population. This was her first taste of working in the public health field and she absolutely loved it. Within her sorority, Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc., she had the privilege to serve as the Service Officer. In this role, she ensured that the sisters each obtained 25 hours of service by providing them with various service opportunities such as Adopt-a-Highway, Oliver Gospel, and Service Saturday. As a part of her Senior Capstone, Ms. Barros worked as a medical Spanish interpreter at the Good Samaritan Clinic. She spent over 50 hours interpreting in primary care and gynecology clinics ensuring patients were able to have effective communication with their healthcare providers. After graduation, she will be taking a gap year before attending medical school. Ms. Barros will be participating as a research fellow for the Diversity in Addiction Research Training program at the Medical University of South Carolina. She also hopes to gain a medical Spanish interpreters license during this time. She plans to become a physician in pediatrics with a focus in either emergency medicine or oncology. Education is a huge passion of hers and she co-taught 3 courses at USC with a total of 59 students. What she loves about working in the medical field is that it goes hand in hand with education. There will always be opportunities to learn new things as research is always being done to improve treatment and outcomes. Physicians also have the opportunity to educate their patients about the disease as well as various treatment options. Additionally, if she were to work in an academic hospital, she would have the opportunity to train residents and fellows. Ms. Barros is excited to continue to grow within the public health and the medical fields.

Riley O'Neal always had a passion for understanding health at a community level, which led to her pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health from the USC Arnold School of Public Health. After working in a tobacco cessation lab the summer after her Sophomore year, she was inspired to continue public health research during her time at USC. Ms. O'Neal has worked as an assistant in multiple studies for smoking intervention efficacy and youth tobacco product use, and she presented her Honors thesis project investigating US youth e-cigarette ad exposure and vaping susceptibility at numerous international and local conferences. After graduating, she will pursue her MPH in Community Health Research at Northwestern University, with plans to apply to MD/PhD programs and achieve her goal of becoming a physician-scientist in translational research.

Jaimeen Shah, from Simpsonville, SC, graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the USC Honors College majoring in Public Health with a minor in Medical Humanities and Culture. Mr. Shah is driven by a keen interest in healthcare improvement and health policy. He currently serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Youth for Youth Health, hoping to increase health literacy for youth in South Carolina, and as the host/creator of The Health Link Podcast. Mr. Shah previously served as a Global Health Intern for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As a student, Mr. Shah served as an Executive Officer for the Honors College Student Ambassadors, Marketing Chair for PhiDE Pre-Medical Fraternity, Clinical Research Assistant in the Pediatric Concussion Clinic, and volunteer at the Columbia Free Medical Clinic. He was awarded the 2024 Outstanding Public Health Student Award and the Outstanding College Student Award at the Upstate Diversity Leadership Award in the past year for his contributions. In his free time, Mr. Shah enjoys hiking, playing basketball, and choreographing Bollywood dance. As he starts medical school in the fall, Mr. Shah ultimately aspires to become a policy-focused physician contributing to infrastructural progress in healthcare.

Titilayomi Abiodun earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health with a minor in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Ms. Abiodun actively engaged in various public health initiatives, including vector-borne and infectious disease research, community outreach programs, and mentorship roles. Her academic and extracurricular experiences have fostered a passion for promoting health equity versus equality, addressing societal disparities, and improving population health outcomes. As she transitions to graduate studies at Emory University- Rollins School of Public Health, Ms. Abiodun’s professional interests lie in leveraging research, advocacy, and policy development to address complex health challenges. She is particularly interested in exploring the intersection of epidemiology, social determinants of health, and health equity, as well as bridging the gap between research and implementation Ultimately, she aspires to pursue a career in public health research and practice, where she can contribute to advancing health equity and advocating for evidence-based interventions to improve population health outcomes.

Kasey Drayton, earned a Master of Public Health degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis on physical activity in 2023. She currently works in clinical trial cancer research at Moffitt Cancer Center. Ms. Drayton hopes to one day increase accessibility to cancer care and education through basketball.

Peyton Mosher is currently the Program Coordinator for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Leadership, Education, and Advancement in Undergraduate Pathways (LEAP) Training program and the MCH Catalyst Training program at the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health. Both programs are supported by the MCH Bureau of the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). Peyton completed her Master of Science in Epidemiology at the USC Arnold School of Public Health in 2023 and previously received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a minor in Public Policy Studies from the University of Alabama in 2021. Ms. Mosher’s passion for MCH began with her Policy, System, and Environment Graduate Assistantship through Healthy Campus Initiatives with Student Health Services at USC where she managed the lactation rooms for the university and advocated for improved lactation support at the South Carolina Breastfeeding Coalition conference. Ms. Mosher has also been a contributing author on multiple publications and professional conference presentations through her work as a Research Assistant at the Arnold Childhood Obesity Initiative.

Melinda Merrell is currently serving as Senior Director of Grantmaking at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. At the time of induction, Dr. Merrell was a Clinical Assistant Professor and MHA Program Director in the Department of Health Services Policy and Management in the USC Arnold School of Public Health. She was also Core Faculty with the Rural and Minority Health Research Center in the Arnold School. Prior to joining USC, she served as Senior Program Director with the South Carolina Office of Rural Health. Dr. Merrell earned her doctorate in Health Services Policy and Management from USC and also holds Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dr. Merrell taught health care management and public health courses at the undergraduate and graduate level in the Arnold School and mentored students at all levels in support of their career and research interests. Her research interests include the detection of health disparities especially with regards to health care access. Her work also seeks to highlight the modifiable social determinants of, and innovative solutions that will result in, elimination of these disparities.