The VisualDx Student Advisory Board

Rutha Adhanom

Board member

Charles R. Drew College of Medicine

Rutha is a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew College of Medicine in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, specializing in Neurobiology and Physiology.

Rutha is an aspiring dermatologist who is passionate about autoimmune dermatology, skin of color, and immune dysfunction and its effects on the skin. Specifically, she is interested in dermatological diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Rutha is dedicated to addressing health disparities through advocacy, biomedical research, and community service. Her goal is to improve outcomes in skin of color and address the disparities that hinder access to care, such as socioeconomic status and low health literacy. Her current research interests include pediatric dermatology, cutaneous lupus, non-scarring/scarring alopecia, and skin of color.

Mharlove Andre

Board member

University of Florida College of Medicine

Mharlove Andre is a dedicated fourth-year medical student at the University of Florida College of Medicine, originally hailing from Miami. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. Following graduation, Mharlove immersed herself in clinical research at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), where she spent three years supporting Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc in the development of the pediatric Food Allergy Advocacy, Education, and Prevention program. It was during this formative period that her passion for dermatology ignited, particularly through her exposure to atopic diseases such as eczema and contact dermatitis.

Since her tenure at MGH, Mharlove has broadened her interests within dermatology to encompass skin of color, autoimmune diseases, and rheumatology-dermatology. Committed to fostering diversity in medicine, she actively mentors minority students pursuing careers in dermatology. Her affiliations include memberships in the Skin of Color Society, Student National Medical Association, National Medical Association, Rheumatologic Dermatology Society, Dermatology Interest Group Association (DIGA), and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Notably, she serves as the one of the Chairs of the 2025-2026 VisualDx Student Advisory Board, is on the leadership team for DIGA’s Skin of Color/Increasing Representation Working Group and coordinates the acquisition of sun safety products for homeless patients through her institution’s Street Medicine program.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Mharlove finds joy in participating in dance classes, creating floral arrangements, creating and collecting loose leaf teas, and attending art festivals.

Harman Bindra

Board Member

UMass Chan Medical School

Harman Bindra is a second-year medical student at UMass Chan Medical School. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry at Wayne State University. As an undergraduate, he founded Saaf Suthra, an organization dedicated to improving hygiene access for underserved populations through donation drives and community events. This commitment to health equity carried into medical school, where Harman has focused his efforts on dermatology-related health disparities, sustainability, and digital innovation. His research includes evaluating the efficiency and environmental impact of single-kit Mohs surgery, investigating pulse oximetry accuracy in patients with skin of color, and contributing to projects involving AI tools for wound care and symptom tracking in dermatology.

Colin Burnette

Board member

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Colin Burnette is a third-year medical student at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, aspiring to make meaningful contributions in the field of dermatology. He completed his undergraduate studies at Roanoke College, earning a B.S. in Biochemistry. His previous volunteer work at the local free clinic shaped his passion for community outreach and addressing healthcare inequities. His current research focuses on patient advocacy, prescription patterns, and sun-smart education within the field of dermatology. His passions have driven his current grant work, which aims to implement and maintain a community-based sun-safe initiative.

Colin is involved in various medical associations, including Sigma Sigma Phi, the National Psoriasis Foundation, the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, and the Skin of Color Society. Additionally, he has held several leadership roles, including serving as the president of his school’s Dermatology Interest Group chapter and serving as a Committee Chair for the annual statewide Florida Dermatology Trainee Advocacy Day. 

In his free time, Colin enjoys swimming, a love he has for nearly two decades, as well as reading, running, and exploring new music. In the future, Colin hopes to continue advancing the accessibility of medical education, with a focus on enhancing dermatologic care for underserved communities.

Nadine Del Rosario

Board Member

UC Riverside School of Medicine

Nadine Del Rosario is a fourth-year medical student at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. Her academic interests focus on rare dermatologic manifestations in the pediatric population, as well as community outreach initiatives aimed at educating children on skin cancer prevention. In addition to her clinical and academic work, she is developing a gamified mobile application designed to help children build healthier habits and improve their skin care routines. Outside of medicine, Nadine enjoys outdoor activities including running, hiking, and surfing – while using sunscreen of course! Within dermatology, her areas of interest include skin of color, autoimmune skin diseases, pediatric dermatology, skin allergies, and contact dermatitis.

Josue Diaz-Melendez

Board Member

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Josue Diaz-Melendez is a third-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia. He is originally from Los Angeles and studied biology at the University of Southern California. Additionally, he had studied dentistry at Columbia University, but realized during his training that medicine was more his passion. His interests in dermatology include autoimmune skin disorders, skin of color dermatology, LGBTQ+ health, dermatopathology, and social media and its implications in misinformation. He’s also part of the social media chair for the Sk(in depth) newsletter. Outside of medicine, Josue loves Pilates, traveling, iced coffee, and making content as a brand ambassador for FIGS.

Alicia Edwards

Board member

Howard University College of Medicine

Alicia Edwards is a native of Savannah, Georgia and graduate of Spelman College. Experiencing the fearlessness of her mentors and classmates at Spelman encouraged her to pursue a career in medicine and advocate for underserved populations. Her passion to serve and love for community motivated her decision to attend Howard University College of Medicine. Currently, Alicia is on a research year focused on cutaneous diseases with a higher prevalence and worse prognosis in skin of color patients. Her current research experience and interests include alopecia, hidradenitis suppurativa, skin of color, and vitiligo.

She has student membership affiliations with the American Medical Association, Skin of Color Society, Student National Medical Association, and National Medical Association. Alicia served as President of the Howard University Dermatology Student Society (HUDS), Region 6 MAPS liaison, HUDS Social Media Manager, and three terms as a student representative on Howard’s admission committee. She currently serves on the VisualDx Student Advisory Board, the National MAPS Committee as the Convention Planning Coordinator, and Learn2Derm Executive Board as the Social Media Manager. Alicia uses her positions to open doors and present opportunities to disadvantaged students. Her ultimate goal is to provide expectational care to patients in need, advocate for students of color to enter spaces they are traditionally excluded, and to organize with policy makers to ensure the medical system is inclusive and equitable.

Iain Encarnacion

Board member

Eastern Virginia Medical School

Iain Encarnacion is a 3^rd year medical student at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in Norfolk, VA. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia in 2018, he worked as a medical assistant for two years before pursuing his Master’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences at EVMS. He is particularly passionate about sexual and gender diverse (SGD) health as well as racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. He aims to bring awareness to healthcare issues affecting these marginalized communities with the hopes of improving research, cultural competency, and ultimately equitable access to care for these groups. As a queer Filipino-American, Iain understands possessing multiple social identities impacts one’s health, and he hopes to advance intersectional approaches to all aspects of medicine.

He serves as the Co-Chair of the planning committee for an annual state-wide Virginia Dermatology Trainee Advocacy Day. Additionally, Iain has peer reviewed for the Journal of Student-Run Clinics and the American Academy of Dermatology’s Basic Dermatology Curriculum. In his research, he has examined the effect of dermatologic diseases disproportionately affecting the LGBTQ community and efforts to promote SGD curricula in medical education.

Afua Ofori-Darko

Board member

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Afua Ofori-Darko is a second year medical student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She attended Tufts University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biology & Community Health. Prior to medical school, Afua worked in the health start-up and innovation space, and has carried her interests in the medical innovation field with her to VisualDx. Her current research interests include medical education, public health dermatology, and using AI to improve dermatologic outcomes in marginalized populations.

Christine Olagun-Samuel

Board member

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Christine Olagun-Samuel is a third-year medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, starting her research year in July. She grew up in Paramus, New Jersey, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020 with a BA in Health and Societies. At Penn, Christine was an avid writer and reporter for the school newspaper, developed public health education programming in West Philadelphia focused on lead poisoning, and founded a magazine highlighting the experiences of minority students at Penn.

After graduating, she spent part of her gap year as a Fulbright Research student in Johannesburg, studying the impact of apartheid policies on the structure of the current healthcare system in South Africa. At NYU Grossman School of Medicine, she has continued to explore her interests in health policy, addressing healthcare disparities and research.

Currently, her research focuses on developing evidence-based dermatological community education tools for patients of color. In her second year of medical school, she co-founded The SHEA Project: Salons for Health Education and Access, a community health education program for Black Women focused on dermatologic and reproductive health based in Harlem Beauty Salons. She is passionate about using health literacy and advocacy to bridge healthcare gaps in underserved communities. Additionally, she has served as the research coordinator at the NYC Free Clinic and currently sits on her school’s Humanities and Bioethics Committee. In her free time, Christine enjoys taking portrait photography, going on long bike rides, and painting.

Charity Russell

Board Member

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Charity Russell is a second-year medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Originally from Long Island, NY, she earned her bachelor’s degree in both Psychology and Education Studies from Wesleyan University, where she developed a deep interest in the intersection of advocacy, education, and health. Her path to medicine began with her work as a doula, where she supported patients through some of life’s most vulnerable moments. That commitment to patient-centered advocacy continues to shape her medical journey.

Charity’s passion for dermatology took root after working for two years in a dermatology practice and volunteering on a medical mission in Brandon Hill, Jamaica with the LJDR Davis Foundation. There, she witnessed firsthand the diagnostic challenges and disparities that arise when treating skin of color—an experience that further cemented her goal of becoming a dermatologist committed to equity in care.

At Pritzker, Charity serves as Co-Director of the Dermatology Interest Group, where she leads efforts to increase dermatologic access and education for patients on Chicago’s South Side. She also volunteers with IMPACT Melanoma, where she advocates for skin education and sun safety. She also educates local hairstylists on how to identify signs of skin cancer, empowering them to be health advocates within their communities on the South Side.

Her clinical and research interests include skin of color, alopecia, hidradenitis suppurativa and community-based dermatology education. As a member of the VisualDx Student Advisory Board, Charity is excited to help advance diagnostic equity and improve representation in dermatology.

Nehaa Sohail

Board Member

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

Nehaa Sohail is a medical student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, TX,  Class of 2027. Nehaa is the first Pakistani Division I women’s basketball player in NCAA history. A full-ride Division I scholarship athlete at Utah Valley University, she completed her bachelor’s degree in just three years and went on to earn an MBA with summa cum laude honors. During her collegiate career, she led her team to the NCAA tournament and received numerous accolades, including Honorable Mention All-WAC, Academic All-WAC, Most Inspirational Athlete, and multiple Dean’s List appearances.

Nehaa has volunteered at local clinics for underserved patients for years and has volunteered on numerous international medical trips in Mexico and Central America. Her current interests include skin of color, global health, health disparities, and psychoneurocutaneous disorders. Outside of medical school, Nehaa loves to work out, travel, and create content for social media.

Samer Wahood

Board Member

Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Samer Wahood is a fourth-year medical student at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. A first-generation Syrian-American from the southwest suburbs of Chicago, he graduated from Brown University in 2021 with a BA in Public Policy and is completing a Scholarly Concentration in Biomedical Informatics. His passion for dermatology is rooted in witnessing his late father suffer from unrelenting itch due to bile duct cancer and a deep commitment to health equity, technology, and refugee care.

Samer co-founded Amal Clinic, a student-run free clinic for uninsured immigrants and refugees in Rhode Island, where he built a multilingual interpreter network and recruited physicians across specialties. He serves as Director of Operations for Skin of Color Community, a nonprofit focused on dermatologic education in underserved communities, and is a peer reviewer for the JAAD, JAAD Case Reports, and the International Journal of Dermatology. He is a member of the Rhode Island Hospital Ethics Committee, developing policies and taking calls for ethics consultations throughout the year.

Since becoming the inaugural VisualDx Brand Ambassador for Free Clinics in 2024, he has recruited over 70 volunteers nationwide and helped launch a localization initiative for Arabic-speaking clinicians in Syria. His advocacy sparked collaboration with Syria’s Ministry of Health to align VisualDx with local guidelines. His research spans geospatial access to dermatologic care, AI-assisted patient education, and skin cancer disparities.

On the Student Advisory Board, Samer aims to expand VisualDx’s global reach through equity toolkits, multilingual content, and inclusive diagnostic support for underserved populations.

Alexys Wright

Board member

Tulane University School of Medicine

Alexys Wright is a native of both New Orleans and Belize. Both of these regions present with similar healthcare challenges, and at an early age, having direct exposure to these medical inequities led Alexys to medicine and her lifelong commitment to serving.

Alexys is a second-year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine interested in Dermatology. She is focused on forming an exceptional medical foundation to become a physician who competently treats and educates patients and encourages weaving together communities while identifying the needs of diverse communities and advocating for increased representation in medicine. As an aspiring physician, Alexys recognizes the importance of research and clinician care that targets Dermatological conditions on Black and Brown skin to further learn about their complexities and how to better advocate for patients.

Alexys has membership affiliations with the Skin of Color Society, Student National Medical Association, and National Medical Association. She serves as the President of the Student National Medical Association Chapter at Tulane while maintaining a primary role in its Health Equity Advancement Through Leadership pipeline program. As a former educator, Alexys values the importance of education and mentorship. She received a 2024 Good Knowledge Skin Grant through the American Academy of Dermatology. She is a Student Coordinator of Mentorship and Youth Engagement for the 15 White Coats. Alexys hopes to continue a medical career rooted in alleviating medical inaccessibility, competently treating communities, especially Black and Brown populations, and advocating for increased diversity and representation in medicine.