PHMI Ambassadors

Rukhshona Babakhodjaeva is a Yalow Honors Scholar pursuing the Pre-Medical track majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Psychology. She joined PHMI due in part to the incredible support she received as a mentee. She has firsthand accounts of how mentorship is valuable and assists students in their Pre-Health journey. She hopes to give back to the Pre-Health community by guiding students who may benefit from encouragement and direction.

Arthur Izik is a Macaulay Honors student on the Pre-Medical track. He is majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology & Chemistry. He joined PHMI because he wanted to assist students with the difficult transition into Pre-Health from high school. Equipped with the knowledge he gained as an upper-classman he wishes to help new students. His goal as an ambassador is to continue aiding students in their pursuits and help more students succeed as Pre-Health students in Hunter College.

Hapsa Bhuiyan is a senior majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Art History. She is currently on the pre-dental track. She joined PHMI during her junior year to support fellow pre-health students who felt overwhelmed by the demands of the pre-health journey, an experience that has resonated with her in earlier years. As an ambassador, she is committed to continuing that guidance; helping incoming students feel more confident and supported as they navigate their own journeys in the pre-health track.

Ilira Feratovic is a junior at Hunter College majoring in Biology on the pre-dental track. As a PHMI Ambassador, her main goal is to build a strong community that fosters collaboration, support, and growth among students interested in public health and medicine. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces and promoting meaningful engagement within the PHMI network.

Doston Karimov is a biochemistry major on the pre-med track at Hunter College. He first joined PHMI as a mentee and found the experience helpful in navigating his pre-health journey. Now as an Ambassador, he looks forward to supporting fellow students as they explore their own paths in healthcare. Outside of PHMI, he is involved in community health outreach and research, and values building connections to help students feel more confident and supported in the pre-health community.

Janey Liu is a junior majoring in Biological Sciences on the pre-medical track. She joined PHMI as a mentee in her freshman year, became a mentor in her sophomore year, and has valued the support that the program offers. As a PHMI Ambassador, Janey aims to connect with more students, providing guidance and resources to lead them toward success as pre-health students at Hunter.

Alexandra Barayeva is a rising senior on the pre-dental track, majoring in human biology and pursuing a Business Certificate. After participating as a mentee for a while, she became a PHMI mentor to support and assist students pursuing pre-health careers. Currently, she works as both a medical assistant and a dental assistant. Since she values community and is growth-oriented, she continues to serve as an ambassador and mentor for PHMI. She wants to help other pre-health students in her community achieve their full potential.

Mamoona Hassan is a junior majoring in Human Biology with a minor in Psychology. She is a Macaulay Honors scholar currently on the Pre-PA track. She aspires to become a physician assistant and is deeply passionate about expanding healthcare access for underserved communities. As a PHMI mentor, she valued the opportunity to build strong rapport with her mentees and support their academic growth. Now, as an ambassador, she looks forward to continuing her commitment to the PHMI community by helping students transform their pre-health journeys into success. One of her primary goals is to amplify awareness of the resources offered by the Pre-Health office to ensure students take advantage of available support.

Benjamin Botnik is a senior pre-medical student in the Macaulay Honors College, majoring in the Biological Sciences and minoring in Chemistry. Deeply passionate about neuroscience, he actively engages in memory research and leads an Alzheimer’s initiative across multiple sites in New York City. Benjamin is also a strong advocate for mentorship, committed to supporting pre-health students in discovering meaningful opportunities that align with their interests. He aims to help aspiring healthcare professionals identify their passions and build authentic, confident narratives around their experiences.

Akriti Khanal is a junior in the Macaulay Honors Program at Hunter College, majoring in biochemistry on the pre-medical track. She has deeply valued the mentorship she received through PHMI and believes that strong mentorship is essential for pre-health students in college. Akriti hopes to help foster a supportive community where students can grow through close relationships with mentors in the same field.

Sarah Shafique is a rising junior majoring in Biology and minoring in Human Rights and Chemistry, on the pre-med track. She first joined PHMI as a mentee during her freshman year. Inspired by the guidance and encouragement she received it propelled her to be a source of support for fellow pre-health students. She understands how difficult this journey can be, and is committed to working alongside PHMI and the pre-health advisers to help reduce stress and empower students to reach their academic and professional goals.

Sifat Azad is a senior on the pre-med track majoring in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. Currently, he is a proud SSLC tutor and will be serving in the USG as a Senior Senator. Continuing his extensive support in PHMI as an ambassador, Sifat strives for growth in students' pursuit of both academic and professional goals in healthcare. He hopes to serve his community with much wisdom and compassion to imbue future generations of healthcare professionals with confidence for their career goals.