Now in its twenty-second year, the University of Oklahoma Medical Humanities Scholars Program (MHSP) received over 200 applications from the nation's most academically accomplished high school seniors this past spring. As usual, most applicants had extensive shadowing, volunteering, and research experience in clinical settings and biomedical laboratories. So many were also musicians, artists, filmmakers, and writers.
These young people are committed to being physicians but want to study the art as well as the science of medicine as they prepare for their chosen careers. The OU MHSP is one of the few BA-MD programs in the country that focuses on the humanities, arts, and social sciences as they relate to health and disease, encouraging students to become well-rounded, culturally astute, public health-minded doctors. This year, we made offers to six distinguished high school graduates. They have already become fast friends with other MH Scholars. A new t-shirt celebrating the students in the program will be released shortly. Below are this year's incoming students.
Aashish Allu hails from St. Louis, MO, where he graduated from Lafayette High School. Throughout high school, Aashish played the French Horn, as a member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. He intends to explore his passion for music further by examining how music can be used to treat patients more effectively and by continuing to play in recreational orchestral groups. Music is far from Aashish's only passion, however. From speech and debate to sporting events, he took a leading role in a wide variety of extracurricular activities during high school. He was dedicated to raising awareness of teenage mental health issues and increasing access to resources for all kids, Aashish was recognized as a Coca-Cola Scholar for his advocacy work. Aashish loves the homey feel that Norman gives off and was drawn to OU by the MHSP's holistic approach to medicine. He wants to advocate for his future patients' physical and mental health. Aashish believes that gaining an understanding of health policy and medical ethics as well as the ways people around the world view health and disease, will help him be a great physician advocate.
Lauren Hsieh is from Tulsa, OK. She earned valedictorian honors as a graduate of Bixby High School and was recognized as a National Merit Finalist, and Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction. At Bixby High, Lauren had multiple leadership positions in the pre-med and the Interact Club; she was also a member of the varsity swim team from 2018-to 2022. In high school Lauren received the National Honor Society Service Recognition Award, and the Bixby High School Outstanding Achievement and Superior Performance Award. At OU Lauren plans to major in Health Administration. She was drawn to the OU MHSP because of its interdisciplinary nature, flexibility in coursework, and reputation for training well-rounded medical professionals. Laure believes it is important to understand how a patient's environment, personality, and constitution, play a role in health and disease, this is coupled with her interests in neurology and psychiatry. In her spare time, Hsieh enjoys playing the piano, spending time with friends and family, visiting new places, crocheting, and learning about different cultures.
Steven Lee grew up in Wichita Falls, TX he graduated from Wichita Falls High School, where he was captain of the men's varsity tennis team; he also toured the United States to play in various US Tennis Association tournaments. Throughout high school, Steven qualified for the Texas State STEM competition (TAME) as well as other academic competitions. He represented the WFHS Army JROTC award, the Honor Unit with Distinction. Steven applied to several early admission programs, but the OU MHSP was his "dream program" because he has always wanted to study my interests outside of medicine, allowing me to enjoy my higher liberal arts education while still being on track with my professional goal of becoming a physician," Steven notes. Now, he is contemplating a career in dermatology because, "skin cancers are one of the biggest health problems plaguing my bright, small Texas hometown." He sees himself building a medical practice in an under-served area.
Joseph Mathew was born and raised in Coppell, TX, where he graduated from Coppell High School in the top 10% of his class. Music and medicine are Joseph's strongest passions. He was a member of two of his school's varsity-level choirs, serving as president of the choir program as well as captain of the varsity choir program. A renowned Texas all-state singer, Joseph has played piano since the age of 7 years and has been invited to Carnegie Hall three times as an award-winner in the American Protege International Competition. Joseph gained a great deal of clinical volunteer and research experience during his high school career. He was drawn to the OU MHSP because it encourages exploring medicine from a variety of perspectives including music, literature, and history, with an eye toward tailoring care for individual patients. He plans to pursue a double major in Health, Medicine & Society, and a degree in Music. As of now, Joseph envisions his career as a surgeon in orthopedics or an ear, nose, and throat doctor. He is an avid sports fan and loves the Dallas Mavericks and Cowboys.
Meena Ramadugu is from Cedar Rapids, IA, where she graduated from John F. Kennedy Senior High School. Throughout high school, Meena worked independently and as part of a medical research facility team on bioscience projects at local universities; she conducted research on helicobacter pylori (the bacteria that causes ulcers), examining the consequences of its prevalence among low socioeconomic groups. She presented her work in film and history and was able to produce short films and a documentary within the field of Native American history over the past two years. In Meena's free time, she enjoys listening to jazz music and horseback riding. She also plays the violin, piano, and Native American flute. Meena became interested in the OU MHSP after learning about its interdisciplinary humanities-based approach to medicine. "While I love science and the technical aspects of medicine, the thing that draws me to it the most is the human element," says Meena. She adds, "To be the person that someone can trust when they are at their most vulnerable means being able to connect with people at an intrinsic level. I hope that studying the subjects which define our humanity will better prepare me for this responsibility."
In the future Meena hopes to work in under-served areas to combat discrepancies in healthcare access between rural and urban populations. She also hopes to continue her research in microbiology, while branching out to explore Alzheimer's and other neuroscience research.
Sheridan Rodrigues was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, graduating from West Career & Technical Academy as the class valedictorian. Sheridan is also a National Merit Scholar. His hobbies include music and soccer. Sheridan plays several different instruments—piano, guitar, and saxophone—and is an accomplished athlete on the soccer pitch, where he has won multiple state championships and a national title. His passion for medicine has led Sheridan to spend over one hundred hours shadowing physicians and volunteering in clinics, including those at Las Vegas Sunrise Children's Hospital. There, Sheridan was awakened to the value of breaking down cultural and language barriers in healthcare. Sheridan plans to major in Biology at the University of Oklahoma and is excited to be a part of the OU MHSP because he has always loved the arts and humanities. He has always appreciated being a part of a team and has developed a good sense of composure under stress. Sheridan hopes one day to put these skills to use as an anesthesiologist. He looks forward to the new experiences that await him at OU and in the MHSP.