Congratulations to Mary Ann Etling and Amira Nafiseh on being selected for IUPUI’s Elite 50. Both Etling and Nafiseh are MD/MPH students with a strong interest, background and commitment to global health who are currently working in Kenya under the mentorship of Megan McHenry, MD.
Etling graduated from DePauw University and received the CTSI/IU School of Medicine MedSTAR Grant to pursue research and advocacy work in Eldoret, Kenya, between her third and fourth year of medical school. In Kenya, she is coordinating three projects related to child neurodevelopment and community understanding and stigma about developmental delays.
Nafiseh is an IUPUI graduate with degrees in medical humanities/biology. She is working with Dr. McHenry and her research team at AMPATH on the advancement of EEG and neurocognitive research and autism efforts in western Kenya.
“Living and working within AMPATH's partnership and with Dr. McHenry's guidance has been incredibly insightful and helpful in reaffirming my interests in pediatrics, quality improvement, and advocacy efforts in low-middle income countries,” said Nafiseh.
Both Etling and Nafiseh will graduate in 2024 and have plans to pursue pediatric residency programs. Nafiseh hopes to pursue a subspecialty in potentially neurology or developmental-behavioral pediatrics and Etling would like to pursue her interest in hematology/oncology or infectious disease.
“After living in Uganda and Kenya, I have become deeply invested in the situation of children living with sickle cell disease and hope to pursue clinical work, advocacy, research, and building health infrastructure to benefit these children and their families,” said Etling, who was also distinguished as a 2023 Premier 10 selection.
Each year, IUPUI honors 50 graduate and professional students who demonstrate excellence beyond the classroom—in areas such as campus leadership, scholarly work, and community engagement. These IUPUI Elite 50 represent the best of the best among IUPUI’s graduate and professional students and capture everything that makes IUPUI exceptional.
