I am a senior at Rice University double majoring in health sciences and policy studies with a passion to reduce global health disparities. I am a Truman Scholar, a Rice Distinguished Trustee awardee and a National Coca-Cola Scholar. As a native of the Rio Grande Valley, I have seen the threat that Neglected Tropical Diseases pose in pockets of poverty, motivating me to start the Rice chapter of the END7 campaign. In addition to my work with END7, I have been working at the Baker Institute for Public Policy to increase global investment in NTD reduction. I plan on pursing an M.D./Master of Public Health dual degree and ultimately develop and implement policies that help make health care systems more equitable and efficient.
Ishmael Jalloh, University of Sierra Leone (Freetown, Sierra Leone)
Graduate student; B.Pharm (Honors) course
I am a student at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (University of Sierra Leone). I have completed my three years course as a Pharmacy Technician and I am currently pursuing my B.Pharm (Hons) course. I was the Vice President of the National Association of Pharmaceutical students Sierra Leone (NAPS-SL). I got involved in the fight against NTDs in 2015 when I was selected to lead END7 campaign in my school. In October 2015, I was named the END7 student of the month. During my leadership, I was able to establish END7 campaign in the other constituent colleges of the University of Sierra Leone, Fourah Bay College and the Institute of Public Administration and Management.
NTDs are prevalent in my country, Sierra Leone, and the need to address these health problems is pivotal in improving the living conditions of those affected. In May of 2016, I led an awareness and education campaign during a mass drug administration campaign in various colleges throughout Sierra Leone with support from Hellen Keller International Sierra Leone. I am most excited to be selected as a member of the END7 Student Advisory Board to lead the fight against NTDs working with other students who have the zeal and passion that I do, so we can combine our unique creative skills in the campaign to end NTDs.
John Lu, Duke University (Durham, North Carolina)
Junior; Majors: Chemistry, Mathematics, and Global Health
Second-Term Representative
I am a rising junior at Duke University studying chemistry, mathematics, and global health. During my sophomore year, I created and taught Duke’s first for-credit course on neglected tropical diseases. I also founded the Duke Global Health Review, an undergraduate global health journal. I have won a number of grants and fellowships to fund my research on Epstein-Barr virus pathogenesis, schistosomiasis prevalence, and childhood vaccination uptake. In my free time, I like to meet new people and learn new things.
David Obadina, Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts)
Senior; Major: International Affairs
Third-Term Representative
I am a senior at Northeastern University majoring in International Affairs. Global health has been a passion of mine for a long time and I have had many opportunities to expand my worldview in this. I have previously worked in a research lab in Kumasi, Ghana and at the Institute for Health Care Improvement. I'm also passionate about social justice, health equity, history and languages and am always looking to explore avenues to develop these interests and use them to promote change.
Candace Pallitto, Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
Senior; Major: Biology of Global Health, pre-med concentration
Second-Term Representative
I am a senior at Georgetown University majoring in Biology of Global Health with a pre-med concentration as well as a member of the Varsity Women’s Lacrosse team. I first came across the END7 campaign in high school and was fascinated by the campaign’s plan to attain such an impactful goal. This will be my fourth year working the campaign and it's been amazing to see how the campaign has grown and all that has been achieved. I hope to help spread awareness about NTDs and fundraise for END7 at Georgetown and in the D.C. area. I look forward to exploring how education, international cooperation, and infrastructure can be enhanced to prevent the spread of NTDs.
Beth Poulton, University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
Senior; Major: Parasitology
I am 20 years old and moving into my final year of an undergraduate parasitology degree at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. In my 3rd year of my degree (last November) I found out about END7 while researching for an essay on Mass Drug Administration. I applied to be part of the Campus Leaders Council and subsequently set up the first END7 student group in the UK, The GU END7 Society. In the last 6 months, I have enjoyed establishing our group at UofG and holding events to support END7.
Elaine Ramirez, University of Texas at Dallas (Dallas, Texas)
Junior; Major: Neuroscience
I am a junior at the University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in Neuroscience. After attending a presentation about END7 on campus, I developed an unrelenting interest in global health, which ultimately drove me to establish a chapter of the END7 campaign at UT Dallas! My involvement with END7 has really opened my eyes to the global disparities in health care access, and the impact that these differences make have motivated me to devote so much time into this cause. Through school, I also volunteer at a free clinic, assist in research relating to regenerative neurobiology, and sing with an a cappella group. I’m very much looking forward to collaborating on projects, sharing ideas, and raising awareness and funding for NTDs while on the END7 Student Advisory Board.
Neeraja Setlur, University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas)
Junior; Major: Hydrogeology
I’m currently a junior at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Hydrogeology with a certificate in Environmental Science and Sustainability. My interest in END7 and the fight against NTDs started with my realization of the cause’s high potential for success in eliminating these diseases. From there it grew as I learned more and more about these diseases and their ties to contaminated water and impoverished areas. From there I was sold! Now, as President of END7 at UT, I can’t wait to converse and brainstorm ideas with my fellow END7 Student Advisory Board representatives on ways to raise awareness and funds on and off campus to help reach our goal to end NTDs.
