Directors of Programming

April is a third-year scholar in the Arrupe Global Scholars & Partnership MD/MPH Program at Creighton University School of Medicine. She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, pursued her undergraduate degree at Colorado State University, and completed her Masters Degree in Medical Science at Creighton University in 2022. During her time working in Colorado Springs, she saw first hand many of the barriers patients faced in accessing equitable healthcare. In her time at Creighton during her master’s studies, she found herself surrounded by like minded people with a passion for justice. April loved being part of the GHCM last year and is grateful to have the opportunity to serve as a director for this year’s conference.

April Mabie, Medical Student, Creighton University

 

Maddy Deanne is a third year student in the Arrupe Global Scholars & Partnerships MD/MPH program at Creighton University. A part of the inaugural cohort of the Arrupe Global Scholars and Partnerships Program, she is passionate about learning about health disparities and finding potential solutions through collaboration between countries and systems. She is one of the 2025 GHCM directors and is enthusiastic about seeing the innovation in global health that her peers will share at the conference this year.

Maddy Deanne, Medical Student, Creighton University

Directors of Logistics

 

Lauren is a second-year medical student at Creighton University. Originally from Joplin, Missouri, Lauren received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Creighton too. During her undergraduate study, Lauren had opportunities to participate in global health programs in the Dominican Republic (ILAC) and Cambodia (Rapha International). These experiences, in addition to various surgical trips to Haiti, kickstarted her interest in global health. Following her M1 year, Lauren was able to return to the DR, participating in ILAC’s Summer Health Program, further solidifying her passion for global health. She is interested in continuing conversations, service, and advocacy related to health inequities and health justice. Lauren had a wonderful experience last year as one of GHCM’s Community Fair Coordinators, and she is looking forward to being this year’s Director of Logistics.

 
 

Lauren Fogarty, Medical Student, Creighton University

 

GPNAHS Student Director

 

Alex is a second-year medical student at Creighton University School of Medicine. Alex was born and raised in Australia, but moved to Colorado ten years ago where she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado Boulder. Having worked with diverse populations both in her undergraduate years and during her time spent in Australia, she developed a passion for advocacy and working toward reducing the barriers that currently exist in providing equitable access to healthcare worldwide. Being able to provide care to those who do not have the same opportunities and accessibility as others is one of the reasons that lead her to health care, and she is excited to utilize GPNAHS as a platform to bring awareness to the current disparities that exist both locally and nationwide.

 
 

Alex Brown, Medical Student, Creighton University

 

GPNAHS Student Coordinators

Avery is a sophomore in the College of Nursing at Creighton University, grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, where she discovered her passion for nursing through volunteer work with people affected by Parkinson's disease. Her experience in in-home care opened her eyes to the diverse lives, healthcare needs, and cultural practices of individuals. Motivated by this, Avery joined the GPNAHS team to raise awareness about both the differences and commonalities people share when it comes to healthcare. As she pursues her nursing career, Avery hopes to continue sharing her knowledge and promoting understanding in the field of nursing.

Avery Kitzmiller, Nursing Student, Creighton University

 

Bianca is a first-year medical student at Creighton University School of Medicine. Originally from Austin, TX, she received a B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Catholic Social Tradition from the University of Notre Dame. Along with her role in the GPNAHS team, she is also the leader for Project CURA’s Uganda trip which she will be participating in the Summer of 2025. Her passion to serve patients of all backgrounds and experiences has inspired her to become more involved with the field of global health, and she is excited to contribute to increased understanding in how physicians can better care for underserved populations.

Bianca Widjaja, Medical Student, Creighton University

Media & Marketing

Kaitlin is a Sophomore undergrad student in the College of Nursing at Creighton University. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Kaitlin developed a passion for serving others after four years of volunteering around her local community. These experiences, combined with her newfound passion for nursing, sparked an interest in advocating for global health. This is Kaitlin’s second year on the committee as part of the marketing team, and she looks forward to working with everyone to have a memorable conference. She hopes she can utilize her artistic ability to illustrate the beauty and importance of GHCM and GPNAHS.

Kaitlin Mercado, Nursing Student, Creighton University

Taryn Geiger is a graduate student in the Master of Medical Sciences program at Creighton University. Originally from Bethalto, Illinois, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biology from the University of Alabama. Growing up in a small rural community, Taryn developed a strong interest in rural healthcare, conducting research in this area during her senior year and actively participating in a healthcare-focused peer education outreach program throughout her undergraduate studies. Taryn aspires to become a healthcare provider serving rural and underserved communities, working to bridge disparities in equitable healthcare access. In this capacity, she aims to collaborate with a dynamic team to raise awareness and promote Global Health initiatives among students in Omaha and the surrounding regions.

Taryn Geiger, Master Student, Creighton University

 

Alex is a third-year medical student at Creighton University. She is originally from College Station, Texas, and received her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience & Behavior with a minor in Compassionate Care in Medicine from the University of Notre Dame. Alex participated in the ILAC Summer Health Program after her first year of medical school, which served as her first incredible experience in global health. Having the opportunity to live among the community, help provide medical services, and learn about the healthcare system in the rural communities of the Dominican Republic, this experience fostered an interest and passion for global health. Through this role, Alex hopes to utilize her creativity to help facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and promotion of education to the greater Omaha community on the importance of healthcare in both our local communities and on a global scale. 

Alex Tan, Medical Student, Creighton University

Jenna Lehn is a third-year medical student at Creighton University. She grew up in Anaheim Hills, California and completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. She became interested in indigenous health during her study abroad program in Santiago, Chile, where she volunteered at the local hospital during the social unrest of 2019. Jenna hopes to increase awareness for equitable healthcare for all and bring attention to underserved communities through her contribution to GHCM. 

Jenna Lehn, Medical Student, Creighton University

Community Fair

Olivia Foley is a third year scholar in the Arrupe Global Scholars & Partnership MD/MPH Program in the class of 2027. Originally from Munster, Indiana, Olivia developed her passion for both medicine and public/global health through service work throughout her life along with completion of a minor in International Development Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Formally studying international development allowed her to understand the intersections and connections between health and a variety of other fields, and she hopes to keep this multidimensional perspective of health at the forefront of her future career as a physician. Motivated by this, Olivia joined the GHCM planning committee, working to organize the community fair portion of the event. Through this role, Olivia hopes to interact with many different organizations throughout the Omaha community and learn more about how to improve public health here at home and around the globe.

Olivia Foley, Medical Student, Creighton University

 

Arij Khan is a first year medical student at Creighton University. As a native to Omaha, Nebraska, she attended Creighton University for undergraduate as well, where she majored in Biology with a minor in Sociology. She explored her passion for global health through numerous volunteer experiences both in the local community and outside of it, such as working with the organizations Omaha NorthStar and through the ILAC center in the Dominican Republic. Arij joined the GHCM team to shine light on the work that local organizations are doing to improve the health of the members within it. She hopes to help the Creighton community and beyond strengthen their knowledge about this important work.

Arij Khan, Medical Student, Creighton University

 

Eva D’Epagnier is a second-year medical student in the Arrupe Global Scholars & Partnership MD/MPH Program. Eva hails from Longmont, Colorado and completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Creighton University. She is interested in global health and seeks to understand how social determinants of health impact disadvantaged communities. She attributes her interests to her aunt, Dr. Martha Sommers, who exposed her to international medicine. Eva joined the GHCM planning committee as a member of the Community Fair Team. She looks forward to building connections with local organizations and learning how to best support the Omaha community and beyond.

 
 

Eva D’Epagnier, Medical Student, Creighton University

Speaker Search

Alexandra Van Cleave is a third year scholar in the Arrupe Global Scholars & Partnerships MD/MPH Program in the class of 2027. She is from Naperville, Illinois originally. Alex attended Creighton University for her undergraduate study where she majored in Biochemistry and Spanish and Hispanic Studies. Throughout her life, she fostered a passion for learning about other cultures and getting to know people’s life stories. These experiences opened her eyes to the issues of global health and injustices that are faced by people every day. Desiring to learn more about global health and connect with other people with the same passion, Alex joined the GHCM planning committee. She serves as a member of the speaker search team and hopes to connect with professionals in this field, acquiring knowledge about global health solutions and how to implement them as a physician one day.

Alexandra Van Cleave, Medical Student, Creighton University

 

Taylor Low is a second year medical student at Creighton University. She grew up in Stockton, California, and completed her undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Biomedical Ethics at the University of San Diego. Her experiences in a Health Inequities Fellows program and volunteering with underserved populations sparked her interest in advocacy. As a member of the speaker search team, Taylor is excited to find speakers who can share their perspectives on critical issues surrounding global health and how we can work to address them.

Taylor Low, Medical Student, Creighton University

Jury Ellis is a freshman nursing student at Creighton University. He is from Knoxville, Iowa, and is currently working on his Bachelors of Science in Nursing. He found his passion for healthcare through his work as a CNA at a local long term care facility. Jury is a member of the Harper Nursing Scholars Program, a cohort of nursing students that focus on social disparities and advocating for change in the public health sector. Jury wants to continue to educate himself on health disparities so that he can address issues in the workforce. As part of the speaker search team, he hopes to forge relationships with professionals that can help guide his journey into healthcare. 

 

Daniel Murillo Armenta is a second year medical student at Creighton University. He grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and completed his undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at the University of South Dakota. Having lived the first eight years of his life in Mexico, global health has always been an interest to Daniel, especially the health of underserved populations. He hopes to raise local awareness of global problems in Omaha and beyond.

Jury Ellis, Nursing Student, Creighton University

 

Daniel Murillo Armenta, Medical Student, Creighton University

Research Symposium

 

Anisha Kohli is a second-year medical student at Creighton University. She is from San Francisco, CA, and completed her undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University. There, she studied Public Health and discovered her passion for research. Her interest in global health stems from a belief in the interconnectedness of health issues worldwide, recognizing that addressing challenges on a global scale requires collaborative and innovative approaches. As a GHCM/GPNAHS Research Symposium Coordinator, Anisha is eager to provide global health investigators with a platform to share their knowledge and identify opportunities to work together towards common pursuits.

Anisha Kohli, Medical Student, Creighton University

 
 

Eric Lis is a third-year medical student at Creighton University. He is originally from Chicago, IL but decided to complete his undergraduate degrees in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. His experiences working with community-based organizations while in Missouri and Omaha drove his interest in global and public health. In the future, he plans to complete a residency in Pediatrics where he can continue his role in preventative medicine. He is in his 2nd year as a Research Symposium Director for GHCM/GPNAHS and is excited to bring in current research from all around the midwest.

Eric Lis, Medical Student, Creighton University

 

Maggie Kramer is a student in the Masters of Medical Sciences program at Creighton University. She is originally from Omaha, NE and attended Saint Louis University where she received her BS in Neuroscience with minors in Biology and Psychology. Having grown up in various cities, Maggie developed a deep passion for helping individuals from diverse backgrounds. During her undergraduate years, she channeled this passion into meaningful work with underserved communities, fostering a commitment to making a difference. Maggie aspires to continue this journey through a career in medicine, striving to provide compassionate care to underprivileged populations.

Maggie Kramer, Master Student, Creighton University

 

Public Relations

 

Mustafa Beidas is a third-year medical student at Creighton University.  He grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, and completed his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Medicine and Society from Virginia Tech. His experiences at Virginia Tech and during his gap year with City Year sparked his interest in advocacy.  As a member of the public relations team, Mustafa is excited to collaborate with members of the Omaha community and beyond with a similar passion for global health.

Mustafa Beidas, Medical Student, Creighton University

 

Marian is a second-year occupational therapy student at Creighton University. She is from the New Mexico area of the Four Corners. Marian has a desire to serve Native American people and tribes. Marian is Navajo and wants to utilize her time in the Midwest to learn more about the Indigenous community of the Great Plains. Marian earned her undergraduate degree in Organismal and Environmental Biology. Being part of the GHCM excited Marian as it’s a combination of research and Native American health that works together to promote the strength and beauty of Indigenous People.

Marian Kinsel, Occupational Therapy Student, Creighton University

 

Isabella Gernetzke is a first-year nursing student at Creighton University from Gretna, Nebraska. She discovered a passion for Global Health after participating in a Creighton Schlegel Center for Service and Justice trip. She volunteered in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, Louisiana and was exposed to the social marginalization and health inequities that are present within the community. This led to the start of her newfound passion for Global Health and she is very excited to serve as a Public Relations/Hospitality coordinator this year.

 
 

Isabella Gernetzke, Nursing Student, Creighton University

 

Director of Photography

 

Stone Zhang is currently in his second-year at the Creighton University School of Medicine. He originally hails from small-town Illinois, two hours west of Chicago, and attended the University of Minnesota for his undergraduate studies, where he majored in Physiology. In the time in-between starting medical school, Stone broadened his life experience: spending a year working and traveling in China, working with the United States Census Bureau, with Walmart, as well as volunteering extensively within his local community, among other jobs and activities. Along the way, he discovered a passion for connecting with people by way of listening and exchanging stories. Through these encounters he has honed the skill of relatability, which he will work to incorporate and use to benefit not just patients, but all the members of the team. He loves using photography as a way of documentation and creativity as well as a means of communication. As the saying somewhat goes, “A picture is worth quite a few words.”

 
 

Stone Zhang, Medical Student, Creighton University