For Immediate Release: January 28, 2025
By Alison Medley and Arlette Chavez
Embracing 2025 with fresh energy, enthusiasm and vision, the new HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre supports community engagement as one of their top priorities for this new year. The four innovative University of Houston students who were selected as members of the 2024-2025 HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre include Ivy Manalo, Lamont Bennett, Dhwani Mulani, and Viet Alex Nguyen.
“Community is all about connection,” Mulani said. “I want to find an opportunity to be part of the community. We are neighbors to the Third Ward community. I want to find a way to take my love about the science of population health, to serve directly and to connect science to community.”
The HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre celebrates its third anniversary promoting community empowerment and community-focused research. Through the mentorship of Community Engagement Core Director, Chakema Carmack, this year’s Student Cadre is looking forward to forging community partnerships and becoming agents for change in improving health outcomes.
Serving as HEALTH Research Institute’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Damien Kelly, EdD, emphasized how crucial the Student Cadre’s role was in forging community partnerships. Kelly has helped mentor the students in grant application skills in collaboration with Community Outreach Coordinator, Pablo Panta Cajavilca,
“This year's Student Cadre members have truly excelled in every area of their responsibilities, demonstrating remarkable adaptability and dedication,” Panta Cajavilca said. “Their willingness to embrace new challenges and provide essential support has been instrumental in advancing our mission and making a tangible impact.”
In 2023, the HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre participated in a grant writing experience that ultimately resulted in a NEXT G.H.E.N. award through the City of Houston.
"It is always a blessing to be around such beautiful young people who see their internships as a chance to gain knowledge as well as make an impact in the communities the RCMI serves,” Kelly said. “They look at the senior staff not as supervisors but mentors, their zest for service helps reinvigorate our efforts and look at issues with a fresh set of eyes."
Ivy Manalo
Ivy Manalo aspires to earn an MD/Ph.D. and become a surgeon and complete her biomedical engineering research. Now serving as a UH Student Volunteer for HEALTH-RCMI, Ivy has always envisioned becoming a doctor. Her passion is to help bridge the gap in health disparities. Ivy immigrated from The Philippines ten years ago, and she saw first-hand the health challenges within her own community.
Through the HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre, Manalo also worked directly in the lab on key projects focusing on ovarian cancer research with Director of the RCMI Research Infrastructure Core, Dr. Fatima Merchant.
“Student Cadre really helped me with connecting the gaps,” Manalo said. “It helped me keep the connection with the community. If you go for a career as a doctor, you need to keep the connection with the community-- so we want to raise awareness for the community. This has been a good program to join.”
Lamont Bennett
Lamont Bennett is a senior majoring in Public Health with an interest in epidemiology. His interest in the Student Cadre began at the recommendation of former HRI Interim Director, Dr. Virmarie Correa Fernandez, which piqued his curiosity about community-based research.
As a Student Cadre volunteer, Lamont shares his passion for community outreach by coordinating and attending numerous community events, such as the Acres Homes’ Renaissance Festival. He hopes to build confidence in his research skills and sharpen his focus for future projects, including his post-graduation goals of attending graduate school. Excitedly, Lamont is certain his involvement with the HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre will help him gain the experience needed to shape his career and discover what truly excites him in public health.
“Being a research assistant on community projects offers the hands-on experience missing from a traditional classroom,” Lamont said. “As part of the Student Cadre, I can explore health challenges at the community level while uncovering new passions and shaping the kind of researcher I aspire to become.”
Dhwani Mulani
Dhwani is a senior at the University of Houston, majoring in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Medicine and Society through the UH Honors College. Dhwani is dedicated to a career in medicine and is on the Pre-Med track. She is passionate about integrating nutrition and medicine to address healthcare challenges and promote preventive care.
Dhwani’s research at Baylor College of Medicine focuses on the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on colorectal cancer, deepening her understanding of cancer biology. Through the HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre, Dhwani hopes to engage first-hand in community-based research. Her goal is to become a physician who deeply understands the role of nutrition in improving patient outcomes.
“When we think about philanthropy, research, and community service, I think it is important for us—to put ourselves in the shoes of community members,” Mulani said. “We need to see and understand what the community is going through first and get into the mindset that you are doing this work for the community.”
Viet Alex Nguyen
Viet “Alex” Nguyen is a senior who is studying Mass Communications at the University of Houston. Nguyen was born in Vietnam and moved to Texas when he was ten years old. After graduation, Nguyen is planning to launch his career with an expertise in Interpersonal Communication.
Nguyen learned about the Student Cadre through Community Outreach Coordinator, Pablo Panta Cajavilca. Nguyen has collaborated with Cajavilca on a lung cancer awareness social media campaign for the HEALTH-RCMI Student Cadre.
“Being part of the Student Cadre is especially meaningful to me, as it allows me to connect with and support a community I truly care about,” Alex said. “One of the classes I am taking is health education. Once I heard what the program was about, I was interested in helping in any way I could. I have relatives who have dealt with serious health issues. That is why I want to help spread the message of public health.”
– Alison Medley, Arlette Chavez
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Alison Medley at 713.320.0933 or email aemedle2@central.uh.edu
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