Founder and Director of Medi-Gators
Alyson Moriarty
Alyson Moriarty is a recent graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. While completing her undergraduate education, Alyson majored in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience and minored in Communication Sciences and Disorders on the pre-med track. Alyson is from South Florida, earning her AA degree along with her high school diploma in 2017, followed by her BS in 2021, leading her to become the first in her family to graduate from college. She intends to continue her education on to medical school with interests in pediatric trauma surgery and emergency medicine. As an undergraduate student, Alyson served as a 2019 Preview Staffer and as the president of a gun violence prevention organization. She is passionate about improving access, equity, and diversity within education and healthcare, including for people from underserved and underrepresented communities. In her free time, Alyson enjoys getting outside to play sports, including football and softball, and she seeks adventurous experiences when traveling with family and friends, while also trying new food along the way. Contact Alyson at alysonmoriarty@ufl.edu
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Founder and Faculty Director for MedI-Gators
Pouya A Ameli, MD, MS
Dr. Ameli joined the University of Florida in 2020. He completed his undergraduate degree at UF before pursuing graduate school and medical school at the University of Central Florida. He then completed residency in Neurology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, followed by Neurocritical Care fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Ameli serves in multiple leadership roles in Neurocritical Care Society. He is also a member of the American Academy of Neurology, American Heart/Stroke Association, and the Society for Critical Care Medicine.During his career, Dr. Ameli has been involved in a wide variety of research including: the role of specific cell cycle kinases in the development of breast and prostate cancer, the genetics of stroke outcome, and vital sign instability as a predictor of clinical deterioration.
OUTREACH CHAIR
Karlie LeFor
Karlie LeFor is a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Florida majoring in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience and minoring in Disability Science and Pathogenesis. She is from Tampa, Florida and plans to specialize in neurology or obstetrics and gynecology after medical school, with hopes for involvement in clinical research. Karlie enjoys fitness, women’s health, reading, and discovering new places. She is particularly passionate about researching and practicing advocacy for migraine and headache disorders, entering her third year as an Ambassador for the American Migraine Foundation. At UF, Karlie is involved in the First-Generation Leadership Program, an organization that provides first-generation students mentorship and guidance during their years in college. She also loves going to Gators football games and gymnastics meets!
Contact Karlie at karlielefor@ufl.edu
Programming chair
Leanne Rosenbusch
Leanne Rosenbusch is a third year undergraduate student majoring in Biology and Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. Her pre-health goals include attending medical school and specializing in Sports Medicine. She is passionate about helping people who are living with chronic pain or injuries get back to doing what they love to do. Leanne is from South Florida, where she graduated high school in 2019. She is a research assistant with the EXHALE lab on campus, and has leadership roles in Habitat for Humanity and Shoes for Smiles. Leanne enjoys paddleboarding at the springs, working out, running, learning new skills, listening to a good podcast, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Contact Leanne at leannerosenbusch@ufl.edu
Secretary
Sionika Thayagabalu
Sionika Thayagabalu is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Biology and Women’s Studies on the pre-med track. She is from Weston, Florida and hopes to specialize in pediatrics in the future. Sionika enjoys being the point of contact for any current and potential Medi-Gators participants and encourages you to reach out with any questions and concerns. Outside of Medi-Gators, Sionika is involved in Dream Team, an organization at UF that volunteers with children in the PICU and Cardiac PICU at Shands. She is also a part of the TEDxUF operations team. Sionika hopes to continue building on the Medi-Gators mission of inclusion and accessibility. In her free time, Sionika loves to bike, dance, and paint.
Contact Sionika at s.thayagabalu@ufl.edu
Mentorship Co-Chair
Hillary Aina
Hillary Aina is a second-year undergraduate student from Atlanta, Georgia majoring in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience and minoring in Spanish on the pre-medical track. Hillary hopes to one day attend medical school in order to become a General Surgeon. She is very excited to work with the Medi-Gators Leadership Team after participating in the program herself in the Summer of 2021. On campus, Hillary is also involved in clubs such as Psychology Club, and the Neuroscience Club, and hopes to get involved with other pre-health organizations this upcoming school year! At home in Georgia, Hillary has been involved by volunteering at her local food bank for the past 6 years and volunteering at a local hospital this past summer. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, watching TV, hanging out with friends, and traveling to new places. Hillary is very excited to chair the new mentorship program that Medi-Gators is offering and is looking forward to seeing the new program grow and help other pre-health students.
Contact Hillary at hillaryaina@ufl.edu
Mentorship Co-Chair
Veronia Sadek
Veronia Sadek is a second-year undergraduate student majoring in biology and minoring in Spanish and anthropology. Veronia is from Port Orange, Florida, and is on the pre-med track in hopes of specializing in emergency medicine. She is very active in her church: she teaches the children church hymns and the liturgical Coptic language and is the secretary of Orthodox Christian Campus Ministries (OCCM). Veronia will volunteer weekly at Shands Emergency Department this semester and hopes to study abroad in Spain before graduating. She is bilingual in Arabic and English and hopes to be fluent in Spanish as well. In her free time, Veronia enjoys playing the piano, painting, and hanging out with friends.
Contact Veronia at veroniasadek@ufl.edu
Medi-Futures Chair
Elizabeth Eberley
Elizabeth Eberley is a second-year undergraduate student from Orlando, Florida. She is majoring in Health Science and minoring in Nutritional Sciences in hopes to attend medical school. Elizabeth has participated in the Medi-Gators Program and she was previously a Medi-Gators Ambassador prior to her current role. She is very passionate about Medi-Gators and she’s excited to be a part of its expansion to bring accessible shadowing to more students. Aside from Medi-Gators, Elizabeth is involved in the Pre-Professional Service Organization (PSO) on campus as well as MentorGNV, in which she mentors local elementary students. She hopes to get involved with research in the near future as well. In her hometown, she is a volunteer lacrosse coach and she was previously nominated as an All-American Lacrosse Player. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, working out, watching new shows, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Contact Elizabeth at eberleye@ufl.edu
