The Husky 100 recognizes 100 UW undergraduate and graduate students who are making a difference inside the classroom, in our communities and beyond. This year, eight students from the UW School of Medicine received this highly competitive recognition.
William French, Medicine
Montana WWAMI
“In 2015, I founded a 501(c)(3) organization serving families experiencing pregnancy loss and have remained the nonprofit’s president as a UW medical student. I have worked to expand opportunities for rural medical students as a twice-elected board member of the RTT Collaborative — a national organization devoted to enriching rural medical training. I plan to continue mitigating disparities between rural and urban healthcare through advocacy, activism and my future practice as a Montana physician.”
Devin Gaskins, Medicine
Idaho WWAMI
“Being a medical student, my training has not only included learning how to treat patients within the hospital walls but also how to protect my community. Through my passion for writing I’ve been able to help push the conversation on what it’s like to experience anti-Black racism and how social injustice bleeds into healthcare and hurts patients. My time as a Husky has taught me that no matter your age or rank, your words hold weight, your voice has power and it’s time to speak up.”
Beth Halsne, Rehabilitation Science and Engineering
Seattle campus
“As a concurrent graduate student in Rehabilitation Science and Mechanical Engineering, I work alongside a multidisciplinary team of engineers and clinicians to research prosthetic devices for people with amputations. I’m passionate about improving the lives of people with physical disabilities through collaborative relationships and designing innovative solutions for needs-based problems in healthcare.”
Eric Scott Nealy, Pathology – Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease
Seattle campus
“I have been chosen for the Husky 100 because, during my doctoral studies, I pursued a balanced effort of contributing to the field of cancer research while increasing diversity and inclusion in the sciences. My Husky experience has made me a more well-rounded person and scientist who is well-equipped to contribute to society.”
Thamanna Nishath, Medicine
Seattle campus
“I pursued an array of research, leadership and community engagement opportunities that helped contextualize the intersectionality of my passions in global health, health systems strengthening, equity and medicine in a career where I can contribute to improving patient care in its entirety in the communities I will serve. In parallel, I learned the value of continuous personal growth, contentment and faith that will be foundational as I continue to grow.”
Naomi Nkinsi, Medicine and Global Health
Seattle campus
“My work with underserved and underrepresented communities has always been and will continue to be empowerment centered. Having experienced hardship, racism and barriers to health myself, I see it as my responsibility to reach back and help others through the doors that I have been able to open. This social justice-focused mission has shaped how I see my role in the future as not only a physician, but a physician activist.”
Sangeetha Thevuthasan, Medicine
Seattle campus
“Being at UW has ignited my love for bringing people from all walks of life together and celebrating the experiences that individualize people while simultaneously searching for the connections that tie us together. My experiences have molded me and shown me how this concept of engaging with people and forging connections is essential to who I am and what I hope to accomplish in my future as a physician.”
Chiann-Ling Yeh, Genome Sciences
Seattle campus
“Creating and leading a hybrid genetics/coding camp called Genome Hackers for high school girls here at UW amplified my desire to pursue an academic career where I aspire to be a faculty member who is invested in student success as much as I am invested in my research. Beyond becoming a geneticist, my experiences at UW helped me embrace my identities as an activist, a teacher and a leader.”
Editor’s Note: Article updated on May 27, 2021 to include Beth Halsne, Rehabilitation Science and Chiann-Ling Yeh, Genome Sciences.
