PHMI Ambassadors

Alexander Niyazov

Alex is a senior biochemistry major and Spanish minor on the pre-med track. He is also a member of the Hunter track and field and cross-country teams. He loves educating in ESL for immigrant adults and children in addition to doing molecular biology research at the Belfer center. As a PHMI member, he wishes to guide new students towards a successful path like his PHMI mentor did for him as a freshman.

Shahrika Taiyeba

Shahrika Taiyeba is a Yalow Honors Scholar and a senior majoring in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience. She aspires to be a Physician Associate and work in mental health. PHMI provided a valuable experience for Shahrika as a mentee, which she is paying forward as a mentor. She wants to create spaces for students to ask

questions and grow professionally in personalized settings that they may not otherwise receive in Hunter's large student population.

Fatima Khalid

Fatima Khalid is a rising senior majoring in Biology. She is a Yalow Honors Scholar on the pre-med track. Fatima joined PHMI as a Mentor to help pre-health students on their healthcare journey. She understands navigating one's pre-health journey at Hunter can be challenging and scary without support. Now, as a PHMI Ambassador, Fatima hopes to continue supporting students in achieving their academic and professional aspirations and aims to expand the program's reach.

Ghazal Zareimehrvarz

Ghazal Zareimehrvarz is a senior at Hunter College majoring in Biology on the pre-dental track. Her main goal at PHMI is to build confidence in pre-health students because she believes that success is not possible unless you truly value your endeavors and believe that you can achieve your goals. She knows how challenging this journey can be and she wants to help her peers receive the support they need. Further, she understands how supportive our pre-health advisors are, and she wants to join them in helping the Hunter pre-health community succeed.

Salma Hammam

Salma is a senior majoring in human biology with a concentration in chemistry and a minor in psychology on the Pre-MD or Pre-MD-PhD track. She joined PHMI as a mentor to help students and guide them on their way to a career in medicine. Now as a PHMI Ambassador, Salma endeavors to alleviate student apprehensions about imposter syndrome and self-doubt, emphasizing unwavering support and guidance throughout their journey while also demonstrating that steadfast guidance and hard work will lead to success.

Alp Doymaz

Alp Doymaz is a senior pre-medical student in the Macaulay Honors College, majoring in Biology and minoring in Computer Science. Continuing his mentorship duty as an Ambassador, Alp is dedicated to connecting the pre-health community with the abundant resources available at Hunter College and throughout New York City. He is passionate about

helping students find opportunities in health and research, guiding them towards their dream careers in medicine.

Areeba Aamer

Areeba Aamer is a third- year student at Hunter College pursuing a degree in Biology and a concentration in Psychology. She is both a McNulty and Thomas Hunter Honors scholar. She conducts research in neurology and is interested in neurodegenerative diseases and childhood development. She is growth oriented and values community, which is why she continues to work with PHMI as a mentor and an ambassador. She wants to help other pre-health students in her community achieve their full potential.

Sarah Baltzer

Sarah Baltzer is a senior at Hunter College majoring in Biology and on the pre-medical track. She served as a PHMI mentor in her junior year in hopes to help other pre-health students and to give back to the pre-health community at Hunter. As a PHMI ambassador, she aims to continue to provide

mentorship, guidance, and support for pre-health students through their professional and academic journeys.

Ilana Beacher

Ilana Beacher is a senior majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology, on the pre-medical track hoping to become a future physician. After joining PHMI as a mentee during her freshman and sophomore years, she became a mentor in her junior year. PHMI has allowed her to give back to the pre-health community in so many ways and help other pre-health students navigate their way. She understands that being a pre-health student can be difficult and stressful at times, but she is excited to help build the mentor-mentee support system to relieve this stress for many students.

Emily Chu

Emily Chu is a junior on the pre-medical track, majoring in Human Biology. She conducts research on pediatric disorders and is a strong advocate of academic mentorship. She believes that mentorship provides students with opportunities to grow connections. Her goal is to achieve a strong understanding of healthcare dynamics and support both mentors and mentees in their pre-health journey.

She aims to lead them with resources and expand the PHMI community, guiding students toward successful pre-health careers.

Rania Darwish

Rania Darwish is a fourth-year student in the Macaulay Honors program at Hunter College where she is pursuing a degree in Human Biology and a minor in Arabic studies. She is on the pre-medical track, hoping to become a physician scientist in the future. She first joined PHMI as a mentee during her freshman year and continued to serve as a mentor thereafter. As a PHMI ambassador, she strives to offer resources and guidance to students in order to foster a more welcoming community and reduce the obstacles to those pursuing healthcare.

Gaddah Abouzein

Gaddah Abouzein is a senior at Hunter College majoring in Biology with a focus on Chemistry and minoring in Psychology on the pre-med track. She aspires to become a physician who bridges the gaps in healthcare for refugees and low-income individuals. She is part of this effort as a volunteer with Weill Cornell’s Heart to Heart Outreach program. Gaddah joined PHMI in her junior year, hoping to help incoming freshmen with the obstacles that come with being pre-med students.