Lewis Scholars

Sara Biju

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

I aspire to become a physician-scientist specializing in medical oncology, specifically cancer immunotherapies. I believe oncology is a field that can benefit from a thorough understanding of patient care for those facing a cancer diagnosis in a clinical setting, as well as the scientific understanding of the mechanisms of malignant tumors and their ever changing treatments.

What are you most proud of achieving so far?

Gaining the opportunity to be a part of the PSI program, as well as an intern in the Barajas lab this summer are accomplishments I am incredibly proud of.

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

I am so grateful to be a Lewis scholar and the ability to cultivate my interests in medicine and oncology through the research setting it has allowed me to be a part of.

Ivan Villamizar Alvarado

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

I dream of achieving financial stability, a strong passion for what I do, and making a positive impact on my community and workplace. I dream of waking up every day and looking forward to what I do for a living.

What are you most proud of achieving so far?

I am most proud of developing a clear passion for radiology through the PSI class. The PSI program and class assignments really supported and ignited my interest in this field.

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

As a Lewis Scholar, I am deeply grateful for the chance to explore my current interest in radiology.

Oliver Hamilton

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

One day I hope to open my very own lab which will do cutting edge research on a topic that is relevant to our current world, environment, community or society. I hope to do research that isn't just something new but is truly something that will better the health of humanity.

What are you most proud of achieving so far?

Being accepted into the PSI program and having the experience of interning for the Emery Lab this summer is an experience and accomplishment I will never forget.

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

"I didn't know that real scientific research was available to me at such a young age. This program has shown me what high schoolers are able to do and I am excited to share this with my peers and inspire others to apply for these opportunities!"

Sara Beg

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

I aspire to pursue research and practice in forensic psychiatry one day! I'm especially passionate about psychology and criminal justice, and being a forensic psychiatrist would allow me to link my interests in medicine and law.

What are you most proud of achieving so far?

I am most proud of doing my first formal Journal Club presentation to my lab, which I used tips from PSI to do!

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

I am thoroughly grateful for this opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar; being one further motivates me to pursue research in the future and make a meaningful impact in the field of medicine.

Ivet Freixa-Rodriguez

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

One of my key goals is to gain sufficient knowledge and expertise in my area of research so that I can be able to develop solutions to otherwise unresolved issues. I strive to have the capacity to be able to create and develop therapies or tools that not only extend the lifespan of an ill patient but in addition ensures an improved quality of life.

What are you most proud of achieving so far?

I'm very proud of myself for maintaining my 4.0 GPA while also pursuing my passions through my extracurricular activities.

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

When I learned I was selected to be a Johnathan D. and Mark C. Lewis Scholar, I was overwhelmed with joy.

Kyle Brockert

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

I would love to become a biomedical engineer or an environmental engineer in the future. I dream of working in the field alongside animal models, researching ways of enriching their ecosystems while also developing new potential medications and treatments for humans and animals.

What are you most proud of achieving so far?

I have had the opportunity of a lifetime with the PSI program. This opportunity has changed the way I think about how science can be applied to day to day problems.

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

I wish that more teenagers that are interested in pursuing a career in science knew about the PSI program and about the Lewis Scholar foundation.

Callie Chu

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

As a freeski athlete who often travels while balancing school and skiing, I aspire to help athletes like myself recover, prevent injuries, and maximize their training. My dream is to become a Sports Physician Assistant.

What are you most proud of achieving so far?

My biggest accomplishment is going from having no clear direction to receiving a scholarship for doing what I love.

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has helped me reach this point, including my mentor, the PSI staff, Monster Army, and my family.

Laszlo Szidonya, M.D., Ph.D.

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

I dream of a position where I can directly contribute to patient care and apply the results of my research for the well-being of people.

How is being a Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Scholar helping you pursue your career goals?

The Foundation's support means that I can perform research in one of the world's leading workgroups regarding ferumoxytol and be part of an awesome group of people.

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

"Being a Lewis Scholar means that I can practice medicine and conduct research in one of the most beautiful places in the world"

Cymon Kersch, Ph.D.

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

I dream to work in a collaborative group of scientists and clinicians to develop methods to cure brain cancers. As malignant brain tumors vary person-to-person, a “one size fits all” type of approach to treating them is unlikely to be successful.

How is being a Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Scholar helping you pursue your career goals?

The Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Foundation gave me the opportunity to learn about, explore, and participate in cutting edge research on brain tumors during my graduate school training.

Peyton Cowan, Undergraduate student from PSU

What do you dream of achieving in your career someday?

I dream of becoming a Dermatologist in order to help prevent and diagnose skin cancer before it can metastasize to the brain.

What are you most proud of achieving so far?

I am most proud of myself for qualifying for the Four Years Free Program at Portland State University.

How is being a Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Scholar helping you pursue your career goals?

It is giving me an amazing start on my career path with exposure in the medical and scientific fields.

Provide a quote sharing your gratitude for the opportunity to be a Lewis Scholar and what it has meant to be selected for this honor.

"I am so incredibly thankful to be a part of this unique opportunity, and I very much appreciate your help in getting my career in medicine started."

Csanad Varallyay, M.D., Ph.D.

Where are you now in your career?

Dr. Varallyay continued his training in diagnostic radiology at OHSU while advancing neuro-oncological imaging research, including ferumoxytol-enhanced MRI and improved imaging techniques for brain-tumor patients.

Lewis Scholar impact

Foundation support helped make possible his translational research training and his goal of an academic radiology career specializing in neuroradiology.