Anh Ngo

Anh Ngo is a senior at Tufts University studying Child Study & Human Development with a focus on inclusive healthcare design. A Laidlaw Scholar and researcher in the Crehan Lab, she leads projects that amplify neurodivergent voices to build more equitable clinical systems. As a Chief Scribe at Beth Israel Lahey Health, her hands-on work in patient care deepens her perspective on accessibility and communication. Anh’s work sits at the intersection of empathy, innovation, and systems change—bridging the gap between research and lived experience to redefine what “care” means.

Tristan Dinsmore

Tristan received his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Connecticut College and his PhD in Chemistry and Biotechnology at Tufts University in May 2025. During his doctoral research at Tufts, he worked with Prof. Krishna Kumar examining chemical biology in the context of peptide chemistry, cellular bioassays, therapeutic translation, and intracellular signaling mechanisms. His research projects orient around GLP-1 and related peptide hormones, with an emphasis on developing strategies of preventing enzyme-catalyzed degradation and rational design of unimolecular multi-receptor agonists. 

Rebecca Altholz

Rebecca Altholz is a senior studying Clinical Psychology & Community Health, with a minor in Child Studies & Human Development. She is involved in research under Tisch College of Civic Life through Professor Jonathan Tirrell, which has spanned two academic independent studies during her time at Tufts. In Rebecca’s TEDX Tufts discussion, she will discuss, through her personal and research experiences, the important of culturally-relevant and sensitive mental health interventions in communities in the global south, particularly in Rwanda.

Isabella Arabia

I am a 4+1 Biology MS student in the Machanda Lab studying age-related changes in male chimpanzee behavioral strategies. I am passionate about tropical fieldwork, long-term data analytics, and using visual art mediums to disseminate scientific research and broaden public engagement in conservation.

Caroline Spahr

Caroline Spahr is a senior from Danville, PA, studying Biology and Child Studies and Human Development. She is passionate about healthcare equity in rural communities and hopes to build a career in dentistry that allows her to give back to underserved communities in need. Outside of academics and work, Caroline enjoys knitting and baking. 

Maanasa Bandi

Maanasa Bandi is a junior at Tufts University majoring in Community Health and minoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She’s passionate about advancing health equity and understanding how gender and social systems influence access to care. Through her involvement with local organizations such as Women’s Hope, Saheli Boston, and the Pine Street Women’s Clinic, Maanasa works to bridge research, advocacy, and community engagement to promote more inclusive and compassionate gendered approaches to healthcare.

Hannah Merritt

Hannah Merritt is a sophomore at Tufts, majoring in chemistry and biology. She has worked for the past year at the Brain Trauma Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she has been studying the effects of abusive head trauma and early traumatic seizures on the immature brain. In her free time, she enjoys baking, decorating cakes, and being outside.

Sheyla Zakashansky

Sheyla Zakashansky is a current senior at Tufts University studying Biology and Environmental Studies, with a minor in Russian. She is especially interested in prevented healthcare and environmental medicine in underserved communities and has pursued this work in Chile and New York City. Sheyla has spent 2 summers working as a Youth Leader at Camp Cada Paso in East Harlem, a summer camp focused on health justice, which combines youth activities with family empowerment services. In her free time, she enjoys all things outdoor, social, and comedic. 

Alexander More

Dr. Alexander More is a climate & health scientist and economist internationally renowned for his discoveries on the economic impact of climate and public health crises, the impact of climate change on pandemics, and groundbreaking interdisciplinary approaches to find true, sustainable solutions to climate change. Dr. More is a fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, the Royal Geographical Society, and a Fellow and Director at the Explorers Club, where he directs the Climate Week NYC program every year. He was educated at Harvard University, in a PhD program of his own design focused on environmental science, economics and public health. At Harvard, he was selected for multiple teaching awards and fellowships, including at Harvard’s Dumbarton Oaks Research center, in Washington, D.C., where Dr. More was also invited to serve on the staff of Senator Ted Kennedy. Dr. More directs a center for interdisciplinary research and science communications called ECHO—forging partnerships between scientists and journalists to fight misinformation about climate and health science.

Dr. More’s research has been covered by news media worldwide, including CNN, the New York Times, Washington Post, Popular Science, Newsweek, and hundreds of other outlets in more than 30 languages. Dr. More routinely serves as expert news commentator on issues of climate change and health and forges partnerships for climate solutions and summits with partners including Rolex, UNESCO, IUCN, XPRIZE, the Prince Albert II Foundation, and the embassies of France, Colombia, and Portugal. He has been a keynote speaker at the Global Exploration Summit and TED conferences.​

Dr. More is a first-generation college and PhD graduate, having immigrated from Europe alone to the U.S. for his secondary education. He maintains positions at Harvard University, the University of Massachusetts and the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine, and he is also affiliated with the Max Planck–Harvard Research Center. Dr. More's expertise extends to the private sector, where he serves on the board of directors of several foundations and as an advisor to multiple companies in the sustainability, energy, green buildings, real estate and tech industries.

Megan Bair-Merritt

Dr. Megan Bair-Merritt is Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Boston Medical Health System (BMCHS). She is responsible for developing and implementing BMCHS’ research-related inclusive science strategic vision and provides oversight of research governance across the health system. Before being appointed to this role in 2023, Dr. Bair-Merritt, who is internationally known for her research in family violence, served as Acting Division Chief of Academic General Pediatrics at BMC, Chair of the Women’s Leadership Advisory Council for the Boston University Medical Group’s Office of Equity, Vitality and Inclusion, and Executive Director of the BMC Department of Pediatrics’ Center for the Urban Child and Healthy Family. Dr. Bair-Merritt received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and a Masters of Science in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, Dr. Bair-Merritt is a professor of pediatrics and leads the Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Clinically, she works as a general pediatrician. She is a proud Jumbo, graduating from Tufts with a BA in Child Development in 1994.

Athanasios (Thanos) Zavras

Athanasios (Thanos) Zavras, DMD, DDS, MS, DrMSc, DG93, is the endowed Delta Dental of Massachusetts Professor and Chair of the Dept. of Public Health and Community Service, and Associate Dean for Community and Global Affairs at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and has served as Director and President of the Board. Dr. Zavras has served in multiple national and international committees and organizations, including at the World Health Organization during the inter-governmental negotiations to establish the first global public health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. His research work focuses on health services research to address oral health disparities and the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. In addition to his academic, research, policy and administrative responsibilities, Dr. Zavras maintains a strong interest in clinical dentistry and he is a practicing pediatric dentist.