Simrun Bal is a chief resident physician in internal medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire. Originally from Virginia, Simrun studied biology and anthropology at the University of Richmond and worked in rural community health prior to attending medical school. She earned her medical degree from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in 2019 and stayed at Dartmouth for her residency in primary care – internal medicine and has deeply enjoyed serving rural communities of northern New England.  She is passionate about health equity, medical education, and global health, and is pursuing a career in primary care.

Isabella Colocci grew up in London, England, and attended Harvard College where she studied evolutionary biology. After graduation she travelled to Tsinghua University, Beijing for a Master’s in Global Affairs as a Schwarzman Scholar. She is currently a third year medical student at Harvard Medical School. She is planning a residency in internal medicine, with broader career interests in global health and medical education. Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking, discovering new chocolate recipes, and playing the bassoon.

Braylee Grisel is a rising fourth year medical student at Duke University School of Medicine. She became dedicated to medical ethics after witnessing her parent’s struggle and recovery from opioid addiction. During her time in medical school, she joined the inaugural class of Armstrong Scholars, a program dedicated to medical humanities scholarship. During her research year she has pursued research in trauma surgery and medical ethics, leading a forthcoming review on obligation to treat in medicine. With dedication to LGBT+ inclusion in healthcare, addiction medicine, disaster medicine and medical ethics, she plans to pursue residency in Emergency Medicine in 2024.

Saumya Kasliwal is a rising fourth year medical student at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Before beginning medical school, Saumya completed her undergraduate studies at Georgetown University. She was a 2019 Fulbright scholar and conducted pediatric oncology research in the Netherlands. Throughout medical school, Saumya has served a student fellow for the New York chapter of Physicians for a National Health program (PNHP-NY). She is engaged in local health care legislative reform and will continue her advocacy efforts into her training. She will specialize in obstetrics and gynecology and continue to advocate for reproductive justice and comprehensive health care for all.   

Anish Kumar is a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is originally from New Jersey and attended college at the University of Pittsburgh, where he studied linguistics and Spanish. In Pittsburgh, Anish developed a passion for equitable healthcare for patients with limited English proficiency. Before matriculating to medical school, he worked as a data scientist, building tools to translate text between languages. He has a deep interest in the intersection of healthcare, technology, and artificial intelligence, and the relevant ethical considerations that they entail. In his free time, Anish loves to read, cook and photograph.

Kevin Lazenby is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Kevin grew up in Opelika, Alabama, and he studied biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University. His interests in medical ethics include maximizing fairness and justice in the allocation of scarce health care resources and the role of virtue ethics in the moral formation of physicians. In his research in medical school, he has used computational methods to study the system that allocates donor hearts for transplantation in the United States. After medical school, he plans to pursue residency training in general surgery.

Originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, Rachel MacLean is a psychiatry resident at Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital and a Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School. Rachel graduated from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons in 2020 after completing her undergraduate degree in Political Economy from Williams College. Rachel is fascinated by interdisciplinary inquiry, particularly the intersection of medicine, law, and ethics. Outside the hospital, Rachel climbs rocks, enjoys novels, and plays the fiddle.

Krishna Patel is a medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is the founder of Health & Education Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to building partnerships between health systems and school districts and creating supportive communities for students and families. He aspires to become an oncologist who works with researchers and policymakers to advance healthcare for patients with physical and intellectual disabilities. He holds a B.S. in Economics and B.A in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania’s Life Sciences and Management Program, and an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention from the University of Oxford.

Dr. Michaela Reinhart is a pediatric genetics trainee at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia subspecializing in metabolic and mitochondrial disorders. She completed her undergraduate studies in biochemistry and genetics at Clemson University and her medical degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Reinhart has a special interest in education and medical ethics, recognizing the rapid growth within the genetics field and ethical dilemmas accompanying genetic information. She will incorporate her ethics education into an equitable medical practice and in genetics education of future trainees. In her spare time, she is an avid gardener and book enthusiast.

Gregg Robbins-Welty, MD, MS is chief resident of the combined Internal Medicine and Psychiatry residency program at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Robbins-Welty is a graduate of Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine where he obtained his medical doctorate and a Master’s in Clinical Research studying end of life care. He has written extensively and is passionate about mental health, ethics and end-of-life care. In addition to his clinical work as an internist-psychiatrist, Dr. Robbins-Welty serves as a clinical ethics fellow in the Trent Center fellowship, the chair-elect of the early career sub-committee of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and vice chair of the prestigious American Psychiatric Association’s Leadership Fellowship. He is also a nationally recognized and awarded bluegrass musician, having released several albums including 'Gregg Welty - Community', which was named among the top recordings of the year in 2019.

Abigail Sneider is a medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and holds a BA in History and Music from Yale University. Her strong humanities background has fueled her interest in medical ethics.  During medical school, her research has focused on the impact of palliative care for symptom management and quality of life in advanced cancer. Her professional interests include oncology, patient-centered care, and end of life.

Sarah Spaulding is a 3rd-year medical student at Yale School of Medicine. Originally from Wilmington, NC, she graduated from Yale College in 2018 with a double major in Environmental Engineering and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. In medical school, she conducts research in the Department of Surgery, serves on the Committee on the Wellbeing of Students, and writes for the Internal Medicine communications team. Outside of school, she enjoys baking, running, and listening to audiobooks.

Jeremiah Stout was born and raised in San Diego, California and completed his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Spanish at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is a third year medical student at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and plans to apply into residency in Psychiatry. His academic interests are in empirical bioethics, particularly the use of qualitative methods to investigate physicians’ responsibilities at the limits of their professional boundaries, such as end of life care, experimental therapies, and care for patients involved in the justice system. Jeremiah also enjoys playing volleyball and trying new recipes with his partner.

Mitchel Wride was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. After graduating from Webster Groves High School in St. Louis, Missouri, Mitchel went on to study Portuguese at Brigham Young University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He is a medical student at the Yale School of Medicine where he founded Yale’s chapter of Patient Voting and where he conducts research in the areas of medical education and otolaryngology. He enjoys playing pickleball and riding bikes with his two daughters.

Devin Ames is finishing his fourth year at Luther Seminary and is graduating this May with a Master’s of Divinity degree, planning to pursue a career as a Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He previously graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Classics and Religion from St. Olaf College. One of his hobbies is scuba diving. Later this summer, with friends, he plans to backpack across England on Hadrian’s Wall. He is looking forward both to the learning opportunity that FASPE provides this summer, as well as beginning a chaplain residency program at Mayo Clinic in the fall.

Sharon Rose Christner grew up in Lancaster County, PA. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2019 and earned her MFA from Hollins University in 2021. Sharon is currently a Master of Divinity student at Harvard Divinity School. She is working on a book of narrative nonfiction about homelessness in Rome and Vatican City. She lives at the monastery of Society of Saint John the Evangelist in Cambridge, MA.     

Kingsley East Gibbs is a youth minister at DaySpring Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. She also works for Truett Seminary’s Theology, Ecology, and Food Justice Program. Kingsley earned a BA in writing and rhetoric from Baylor University before completing her MDiv at Truett in 2021. On the side, Kingsley runs a blog called “East Bound Pilgrim,” where she writes about the intersections of ministry, theology, and culture. Kingsley loves hiking with her husband Nathan, playing with her pets, and being an aunt. She is committed to Jesus’ church and ministry of hope, love, and reconciliation in the world.

Jesse Epstein is a 3rd-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC) in New York, and a graduate of Skidmore College with a BA in Psychology and Religious Studies.  At HUC, he is a Supervisor of the student-run community Soup Kitchen, a Fellow within the Tisch Initiative for Synagogue Excellence, and a 2nd-time Fellow with the Be Wise Fellowship in Jewish Entrepreneurship.  Through this fellowship, Jesse combined his background as an Emergency Medical Technician with his passion for Jewish learning by developing Torah and Tourniquets©, a bleeding-control and text study workshop.  Jesse has held the positions of Chaplain Intern in Lenox Hill Hospital's Cardiothoracic ICU, Rabbinic Intern at Northeastern University Hillel, and Student Rabbi at Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs, NY, and he is looking forward to his upcoming role as Rabbinic Intern at North Shore Synagogue in Syosset, NY.  Through his work as a Fellow with the 92nd Street Y’s Jewish Innovation Fellowship, Jesse has continued to develop his beer brand, Shmaltz Brewing Co®, which is aimed at providing community members with a mode and environment for accessible, modern nourishment steeped in Jewish ethics, text, and tradition.

Morgan Figa is in her second year of rabbinical school at Hebrew College. In addition to her studies, she currently teaches fifth grade and electives at the Temple Israel school, serves as teen educator at the Tent, and is a mikveh guide and educator and Mayyim Hayyim. Prior to attending rabbinical school she worked as a non-profit management consultant, education program manager, and elementary teacher. She has a Bachelor's Degree from William and Mary and a Master's of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Maximillian H Hollander is a graduate of NYU with a double major in Communications and Judaic Studies, who now lives in New Jersey with his wife Ruthie, his daughter Mila, and his puppy Momo. He is a student at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and Bernard Revel Graduate School of Judaic Studies. Max is driven by a love of storytelling, Torah, and an intense desire to share powerful ideas with others, and he has had the privilege of doing so through podcasts, videos, educational resources, and articles.

Vancouver based pastor and musician Benjamin MacRae specializes in modern music and the spoken word, blending influences from across the diverse traditions of music and Christian spirituality.  Ben is currently a Master of Divinity student at Vancouver School of Theology and minister with youth and young adults at St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church. He has a Bachelor of Jazz Studies in Performance and Composition from Capilano University and a diploma in Orchestral Clarinet Performance from Kwantlen Polytechnic University.  Ben’s ministerial passion is in the intersection of music and spiritual traditions, ecumenical and interfaith dialogues, social activism, and engagement with those in the first third of life.

Katie Mascari is a first year Master of Theological Studies student at the University of Notre Dame concentrating in Moral Theology. She holds a B.A. in Education from Texas A&M University and spent two years as a parish youth minister in the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ while she earned an M.A. in Theology through Notre Dame's Echo Graduate Service Program. Her academic interests include virtue ethics, theological anthropology, and the role of the parish in Christian formation.

Josepha Mbouma was born in Douala, Cameroon and grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  She played college basketball at Elon University where she also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Television Productions.  After graduating from Elon, Josepha moved to Bournemouth, England where she continued her basketball career and earned a Master of Arts in Media Communications.  She is currently in Waco, Texas earning her Masters of Divinity with a concentration in Sports Ministry and chaplaincy at George W Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University.  She is passionate about spiritual formation in and through sports and mentoring youth in her community.  Josepha enjoys playing and coaching basketball, practicing photography with her collection of film cameras, and sinking her teeth into a good book.  

Jackson McNeece is a Master of Divinity student from Oklahoma City, OK. In May 2020, Jackson graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Medical Humanities. Throughout his studies at Baylor, he developed an intense curiosity for medical ethics, particularly within a healthcare setting. While studying at Duke Divinity, Jackson further cultivated his fascination with medical ethics, not only learning how to ground medical ethics within a theological context and better understanding what it means to serve in a pastoral capacity in medicine, but also has developed an academic interest in disability ethics.

Thornton Muncher is a Master of Divinity student at Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Religion, and Mythology. Thornton is currently pursuing ordination in The United Methodist Church, and he is preparing for doctoral research focusing on Jewish-Christian relations and the ethics of biblical interpretation, particularly relating to the Hebrew Bible. He is a lifelong resident of Alabama and hopes to serve Appalachian communities through the intersection of religious and education leadership.

Sarah Neumann is a Candidate for Holy Orders preparing for ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church. She earned a B.A. in Sociology and Religion from Williams College in 2017 and is currently earning her M.Div at Yale Divinity School. Sarah worked as a youth and young adult minister and in non-profit development prior to beginning seminary, and aspires to be a parish priest in the future.

Jon Ort is an M.Div. candidate at Yale Divinity School, where he is a liaison in the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Jon also works at Yale Law School’s Office of Public Affairs and the Project MORE Reentry Welcome Center, which serves formerly incarcerated New Haven residents. He graduated from Princeton University in 2021 with an A.B. in History. A volunteer researcher with the Princeton & Slavery Project, Jon recently published work that traces how the Firestone Company’s exploitation of Liberia fueled Princeton’s modern rise. In 2020, Jon led The Daily Princetonian, Princeton’s independent student newspaper.