Hear from seven Coronat Scholar alumni, who share their current endeavors in medicine, the healthcare industry or graduate school. They are proof of what one can accomplish after making the most of everything A&S | Maxwell has to offer.

Doctors in the Making

Wafiq Khondkar ’26 opted to go straight from undergraduate to medical school, and is now in his first year at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He carried through his undergraduate career an extensive research portfolio spanning protein chemistry, endothelial biology and cardiovascular genetics.

Jessica Singh ’26 moved from Upstate New York to Ohio just months after graduation to study medicine at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. Jessica was deeply involved in research and a reliable volunteer for healthcare networks during her time in Syracuse.

Continuing Education in Healthcare

Isabella Chavez Miranda ’25 is currently pursuing her Master of Health Administration at the University of Southern California. She was excited to share that following her graduation from USC in May of 2027, she will begin as an Administration Fellow at the Mayo Clinic. Despite all of her impressive accomplishments and her excitement for her current and future roles, she remarked how badly she misses Syracuse, and the people who made her experience so impactful.

Kaniya Ross ’25 is following her passion for providing affordable and quality healthcare in low-income communities. She explored these passions as an undergraduate student, and at graduation wished to remain a student and dig even deeper. Kaniya is now a Master of Science candidate at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.

From the Graduation Stage to the Workforce

Alekhya Rajasekaran ’25 worked as a National Health Corp Member for AmeriCorps and a Food Hub Research Contractor for the Blue Zones Project Yuba-Sutter after graduating. She applied to medical schools while on the job, was offered a full-tuition scholarship for her medical studies, accepted the offer and returned to her home state of California. She’s now enrolled at the University of California Davis School of Medicine.

Gary Shteyman ’26 is working as an Associate Patient Experience Liaison at Staten Island University Hospital, simultaneously navigating the medical school application cycle. Gary completed research in Dr. Hewett’s and Dr. Riley’s labs, allowing him to leverage neuroscience research that has positively benefited his hospital work experience and med school applications.

Mark Nzasi ’25 began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for UHS Wilson hospital in Binghamton, New York. While working full time, Mark has been preparing to take his MCAT, and is nearing his exam date. He is eager to share where he chooses to attend Medical School at the end of the spring.

These alumni are few of many success stories that come from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School for students interested in medicine or medical careers.

Advice for Current Students

Gary Shteyman credits his entire portfolio of research, tutoring, and social experiences for the path he is on as he prepares to enter medical school. He urges younger students to “embrace what interests you’ve developed in college and stick with them! Working on something you're passionate about makes the post-college transition much smoother.” Reflecting on his undergraduate experience, Gary says: “regularly hanging out with the friends I made in Syracuse is something I dearly miss, but still keeping in touch with the people I met keeps me motivated and is deeply rewarding.”

Jessica Singh thanks the College of Arts and Sciences’ academic flexibility for her trajectory. She says, “I took extra classes outside of my degree path that sounded interesting to me! I took an introductory course in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD 212). CSD ultimately became my second major (Communication Sciences and Disorders), and led to a specialty of medicine (Ears, Nose, and Throat) that I am currently exploring as a medical student!” Jessica encourages students to “strengthen and sustain your relationships with friends, faculty, and organizations,” because her own friendships have “been a major pillar of support as I transitioned to post-grad life and I can't wait to see them again soon!” Even though she is now a medical student, Jessica has remained in touch with Dr. Victoria Tumanova who advised her undergraduate research.