Alhena Islam

Alhena was born in Australia and lived in Japan and Oklahoma before moving to Laramie, Wyoming when she was six years old. She completed her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) in Biology with a Concentration in Molecular and Cell Biology. During her time at UPenn, she was involved in UnEarthed, a student organization that created and distributed academic magazines to students in West Philadelphia with the aim of reducing disparities in access to learning resources by providing free educational materials. She was also involved in Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC), an organization focused on improving access to healthcare and education for children and families in medically underserved communities, emphasizing the importance of preventive care. In addition, she volunteered as a Bedside Buddy at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in which she provided companionship to patients and families. Alhena also had the opportunity to conduct research on epigenetic mechanisms of toxicity and neurodegeneration in a neurobiology lab at UPenn. After graduating from UPenn in 2024, Alhena worked as a Medical Assistant at Laramie Pediatrics. This experience demonstrated the significant challenges social determinants of health as well as a rural health care setting posed to receiving quality and timely health care, especially in pediatrics. Motivated by these experiences, she is eager to support underserved communities and help reduce barriers to care and education. For fun, she enjoys spending time with her family, collecting stationery, and watching international dramas.