About GHLI

GABRIELA GOMEZ

Gabriela is a third year student in the B.S. Biomedical Sciences Program at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She grew up in Long Beach, California which is a huge contributing factor to her passion for serving the underserved communities of Los Angeles. Gabriela has completed over 250 hours at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Long Beach where she created innumerable unforgettable bonds with patients from her own city and with similar experiences— it is then she realized that it is her personal mission to uplift and serve her own community by advocating for them, for equality in healthcare, and for the right to healthcare. In 2019, Gabriela had the incredible opportunity of becoming an undergraduate research intern with the CDU/UCLA Cancer Center Partnership to Eliminate Health Disparities. Here she was able to work with an esteemed team of fellow interns and under the mentorship of renowned and prolific staff at CDU. In that summer, Gabriela worked with PARP1 and studied its role in the mediation of transcriptional regulation of CCL2 (chemokine ligand 2) which is overexpressed in women of color with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Results of the research done indicated a crosstalk between PARP1 and CCL2, which is critical for maintaining CCL2 levels in breast cancer cells and subsequently drives cellular invasiveness. Understanding how these chemokines are maintained and upregulated in breast cancer cells can generate some strategies for therapies. Additionally, since TNBC is more common among Black/African-American women, findings of our results can be useful in addressing health disparities in the field of cancer. It is through this program that Gabriela was able to publish as a co-author on her first scientific paper titled “Transcriptional Regulation of CCL2 by PARP1 Is a Driver for Invasiveness in Breast Cancer”.

ADAM DAKA
Bachelor of Education in Environmental Education. UNZA.

Adam Daka is a Zambian national born on 5th March, 1995 in Mazabuka district of Southern Zambia. He is a seasoned and motivated Environmentalist specialized in bringing value and fostering positive attitudes towards work. Adam Daka’s great passion is to promote awareness, knowledge and development of skills for identifying and solving environmental problems that range from social justice, environmental sustainability and sustainable living standards. Adam Daka graduated from the University of Zambia (UNZA) in 2019 with a degree in Environmental Education. In the course of his studies, Adam acquired various certificate awards for various positions he held which include: Executive member of the Christian Interfellowship Forum (UNZA-CIF) from 2016-2017, Chairperson for UNZA Brethren in Church fellowship from 2016-2017 and Vice Chairperson of the same fellowship from 2017-2018 respectively. Not only that, with the desire to broaden his knowledge base, Adam did a complementary course at the University of Zambia under the School of Education in Monitoring and Evaluation. Adam Daka was also trained in HIV prevention and couple counselling in Mazabuka by PCI and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia in 2013. In 2020, upon graduation in march, Adam started an internship at Extractive Industries Transparency Alliance, a Non-Governmental Organization where he was Governance Officer. As part of his job responsibility, Adam was in charge of promoting and supporting strategic development of the network, strengthening and growth of the advocacy outreach of the network with a focus on building its profile and capacity to advocate and campaign on agreed upon priority areas. Lastly, supporting the development of annual planning and reporting requirements in order to further organizational efficiency at the central office in Lusaka, Zambia.

SHINECE DOUGLAS

Shinece graduated from California State University, Bakersfield in 2016 where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Human Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry and Women Gender Studies. She is avid about creating an environment where equality and equity reside for minorities. Shinece truly believes healthcare is a natural born right, that should be accessible for everyone nationally and globally. She is currently attending Charles R. Drew University (CDU), where she is earning her Master’s in Public Health with an emphasis on Urban Disparities. She hopes to continue her journey to medical school by completing the Enhanced Post Baccalaureate Certificate Program in Pre-Medicine at CDU. She is a research assistant for Dr. LaShonda Spencer at Charles R. Drew University/OASIS Clinic where she is engaged in research that seeks to address the many barriers that African American men and women who are living with HIV/AIDS face. She is an Area Health Education Center (AHEC) scholar, gaining clinical experience while learning ways to develop population-based approaches to health professions education with a special emphasis on community-based training. She is also a project coordinator for Medical Careers and Project STRIDE I/II that help to connect high school/graduate students to research opportunities in the community with renowned faculty/staff at CDU. In Shinece’s free time she enjoys being in nature, hiking, traveling, listening to live music, and making memories with her family. She also enjoys thrill-seeking adventures and facing her fears.

GLORIA KWAMBANA
BSc Public Health.

Gloria Kwambana spends her time encouraging healthy living using her career and personal experience to help others overcome unhealthy living and provide support when need arises. Gloria is a graduate from the University of Lusaka in Zambia where she earned her Bachelor of science in Public health. In order to improve her skills and experience, she involved herself in voluntary, community/charity services, hence She joined a non-profit Organization of young called Public Health and Environmental Promotion Organization of Zambia (PHEPOZ) in 2016 where she involved herself in project management and finances. Gloria participated in WASH (Water, Sanitation and hygiene) project with Village Water Zambia as an intern in 2016. In 2017 she volunteered to participate in preventing cholera outbreak by reducing domestic waste in kalinga-linga community. She recently interned and volunteered at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) throughout Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. She is trained for infection prevention and control and health education. Gloria is interested in voluntary, community service or charity work involvement. Gloria’s goal is to increase her skills in leadership, research, innovation, collaboration and gain knowledge and experience in public health as well as advance her career to master’s in Epidemiology. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends. She is currently a Global Health Leadership Intern at Charles R. Drew University (CDU) under the Rise-Up project in Zambia whose aim is to promote Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) empowerment and linkage to health services.

MONDE LISIMBA DR.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN DENTAL SURGERY.

Monde Lisimba was born in Mongu in the Western province of Zambia. She gained a great interest in public health and female rights. In 2016 she began volunteering with FAWEZA- Forum for African Women Educationalists In Zambia. FAWEZA focuses on the education of the girl child. It also helps counsel them on HIV/AIDS related issues, reproductive and sexual health education, peer education to mention but a few. Her experience with faweza was not only an eye opening experience but also very expiring. In 2018, she co-founded Female Empowerment For Financial Independence and Local Development(FEFILD). In July 2020, she graduated from Voronezh State Medical University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dental Surgery. She then went ahead and interned as a Junior Medical Officer at Lewanika General Hospital, Mongu District Hospital and The Dental School in Lusaka in that order.
In her free time Monde likes listening to music, traveling, art viewing and spending time with family and friends.

JOSHUA LATORRE

Joshua Latorre is a junior attending Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), where he is majoring in B.S. Biomedical Sciences. Joshua began his exposure to research in his first two years at CDU by attending bi-weekly meetings held by the CDU student organization, Critical Exploration of Academic Literature (CEAL). Joshua is now actively part of a research skills developmental series held by CDU’s Urban Health Institute-Student Research Core (UHI-IRC). Joshua is also heavily involved with CDU’s student government (CDUSG). Joshua first started his involvement with CDUSG as a senator and now serves on CDUSG’s executive council as secretary, further representing the entire student body at CDU and up-filling CDU’s mission as future health leaders. In addition, Joshua is a certified surgical technologist at the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center (LAC+USC) where he specializes in trauma and orthopedic surgery in the operating room, assisting the surgeon while maintaining a sterile operative field. Furthermore, he works with the operating staff as a team and communicates with the OR nurse and surgeon to provide direct and indirect care to patients before, during, and after surgery. With both LAC+USC and CDU serving the underserved communities of Los Angeles, Joshua is dedicated to widening his social lens and medical conscience as he continues his academic and career journey towards becoming a physician. Joshua is now part of the 2021 Global Health Leaders Internship under the Rise Up! CDU-Zambia program. Joshua will work on a trans-international level with his fellow interns who are CDU students and post-graduates from Zambia to assess, provide, research, and educate the health dynamics of young women and adolescent girls and health care access.

KATE M. MC AVOY, MPh, BSN, RN, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Student

Kate grew up in Staten Island, New York, United States of America. Throughout secondary school and there after Kate worked closely with peace building agencies within the United Nations towards inclusion of youth in peace building strategies. Kate received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Language Pathology from St. John’s University in 2008 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Wagner College in 2011. Kate started her professional nursing career in a pediatric intensive care unit and embarked on medical missions all over the globe. After working in Haiti and the Gaza Strip Kate realized her passion for public health. Kate enrolled in a Master of Public Health (MPh) program at the University of Southern California and remained working as a pediatric staff nurse. Kate transitioned her nursing duties to pediatric emergency medicine and graduated with an MPH in 2015. In 2018, Kate worked with “Medical Teams International” on a 6-month assignment in Uganda and Bangladesh. As Kate returned to work in the United States, she continued to work with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence as a forensic nurse in Los Angeles County. In Kate’s free time she enjoys traveling, nature, playing soccer with friends (old and new) and cooking recipes learned from her travels.

ILEDY NJOBVU

Iledy Njobvu was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia. Born on the second of February, She did her secondary and tertiary education in Lusaka. She is self-motivated, goal oriented, client assessment in providing comprehensive care that considers the patient, social, emotional, and physical need. Iledy graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Chreso University. During the years of study she did a lot of practical work to equip her for her profession, she did the practical work at various hospitals namely university teaching hospital, chilenje level one hospital and saint Francis hospital from 2017 to 2019. Iledy is passionate about serving mankind across the globe regardless of race, religion, political ideology, beliefs and culture, creating and maintaining a positive professional growth and display the performance of service standard and will also work anywhere her services are needed. She is currently with Charles Drew University as an intern under the Rise-up! project in Lusaka, whose main purpose is to eradicate discrimination and stigmatization among adolescents living with HIV\AIDS, keeping adolescents who are negative negative and also suppressing the viral load by 95%.

NJAVWA SICHULA

Njavwa Sichula is a Zambian national born in the city of Ndola on 1st may. He is a passionate, innovative, solution focused Development specialist with a favorable and biased experience in health outcomes but also an exceptional blend of creativity, empathy and Non-governmental disorganization experience. Njavwa Sichula received his bachelor of arts degree in Development Studies in the year 2019 from University of Lusaka in Zambia. During his stay on university campus, he held two different leadership roles that is president of the development studies association of UNILUS, as well as Secretary general of the lions club at the university. Njavwa whose always had the yearn to expand his knowledge went on to further his knowledge by receiving two certificates in planning for Monitoring and Evaluation from an online university called philanthropy university which is offered by FHI 360 as well as a certificate in Agri-preneurship: A path for the future from YALI network. He’s previously worked for Clinton Health Access Initiative as a research assistant for a project funded by USAID for community health assistants. He’s also worked for Smollan Zambia as a data collector and interned in the ministry of community development. Njavwa Sichula is so passionate about each and every person regardless of their race, nationality, economic status and cultural/religious beliefs have both equity and equality in terms of accessing good health. He enjoys travelling, watching soccer and basketball, writing and making new friends.

SHAUNTEL WINSTON

Shauntel Winston is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She is also enrolled in the prelicensure nursing program at Los Angeles Southwest College. She is a seasoned and motivated pediatric Licensed Vocational Nurse specialized in bringing value to her team and delivering high quality compassionate patient centered care. Ms. Winston is committed to helping others thrive and has a great passion to advance peace by closing the gaps of racial and ethnic disparities in her community and globally. She assisted in providing healthcare services to the residents in the deep rural communities and addressed the incidences of sudden cardiac death amongst adolescent athletes in the community. Shauntel understands the importance of becoming the best version of self and investing in the community. She aims to further her knowledge in the art and science of nursing and progress towards a career as a Pediatric Nurse practitioner, with hopes to one day travel aboard, transforming healthcare for children regardless of geographic location. Ms. Winston is passionate about supporting youth and ready for the next opportunity to advocate for the life and wellbeing of mankind.