Meet the 2026 Project AHEAD Interns
Project AHEAD (Asian Health Education and Development) is a ten-week internship program administered by the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. It provides firsthand training and experience to undergraduate students and recent graduates who are interested in pursuing careers in healthcare. The program’s goals are: (1) increase interns’ awareness and understanding of health-related assets, needs, and challenges faced by Asian-American communities; (2) provide exposure to community health and its various components; (3) help interns develop a better understanding of themselves as both individuals and important contributing members to their communities; and (4) motivate and inspire the next generation of community health leaders.
The Project AHEAD 2026 cohort will continue the tradition of designing and conducting a community health project. This year’s project will assess knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes towards advance care planning in older Asian American Pacific Islander adult communities in New York City. Findings from this project will help Project AHEAD interns and the Health Center understand how to better serve older adults and meet their advance care planning needs.
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Alif Sheikh
Alif Sheikh is a rising senior at Harvard College, studying integrative biology with a secondary in education and on the pre-med track. As a Bengali immigrant who grew up in Boston, she is passionate about addressing health disparities in underserved and immigrant communities. She is particularly interested in how education, especially at the elementary level, can serve as a tool to promote health equity. As an aspiring physician-educator, Alif hopes to integrate clinical care, community engagement, and health education to improve outcomes for children and families. Her interests include pediatric care, health literacy, and community-based approaches to medicine.
Alif Sheikh
Alif Sheikh is a rising senior at Harvard College, studying integrative biology with a secondary in education and on the pre-med track. As a Bengali immigrant who grew up in Boston, she is passionate about addressing health disparities in underserved and immigrant communities. She is particularly interested in how education, especially at the elementary level, can serve as a tool to promote health equity. As an aspiring physician-educator, Alif hopes to integrate clinical care, community engagement, and health education to improve outcomes for children and families. Her interests include pediatric care, health literacy, and community-based approaches to medicine.
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Benson Zou
Benson Zou is a rising senior at Brown University, double majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, and economics, and is on the pre-medical track. He is interested in studying pharmaceutical treatments and their impact on patients and patients’ access to care. At Brown, he is an undergraduate editor for the Brown Infectious Review, a researcher in a lab studying reproductive toxicology and cardiothoracic metabolomics, and a volunteer at the Rhode Island Hospital and American Cancer Society. Benson is passionate about improving public health through health education, equitable access, and aspires to be a physician strengthening primary care access among underserved communities.
Benson Zou
Benson Zou is a rising senior at Brown University, double majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology, and economics, and is on the pre-medical track. He is interested in studying pharmaceutical treatments and their impact on patients and patients’ access to care. At Brown, he is an undergraduate editor for the Brown Infectious Review, a researcher in a lab studying reproductive toxicology and cardiothoracic metabolomics, and a volunteer at the Rhode Island Hospital and American Cancer Society. Benson is passionate about improving public health through health education, equitable access, and aspires to be a physician strengthening primary care access among underserved communities.
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Emily Lai
Emily Lai is a rising senior at the University at Buffalo, majoring in biochemistry and is on the pre-dental track. She is currently the vice president for the Asian American Student Union at UB and has previously volunteered with the Chinese American Parents Association. Emily also regularly shadows at a dental clinic in Chinatown, where she developed a strong interest in supporting elderly populations after witnessing their barriers to care. Through participating in Project AHEAD and her research on AREDS2, Emily aspires to become a dentist who promotes quality and accessible healthcare for aging communities.
Emily Lai
Emily Lai is a rising senior at the University at Buffalo, majoring in biochemistry and is on the pre-dental track. She is currently the vice president for the Asian American Student Union at UB and has previously volunteered with the Chinese American Parents Association. Emily also regularly shadows at a dental clinic in Chinatown, where she developed a strong interest in supporting elderly populations after witnessing their barriers to care. Through participating in Project AHEAD and her research on AREDS2, Emily aspires to become a dentist who promotes quality and accessible healthcare for aging communities.
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Emily Wang
Emily Wang is a recent graduate of Barnard College with a degree in political science and a minor in science and public policy. This fall, she will be pursuing a Master of Public Health at Columbia University, studying population and family health. She is passionate about addressing health disparities and barriers to care, especially among migrant populations and other marginalized communities. Emily intends to pursue a career in community health work, where she can ensure community voices are centered in the development, implementation, and evaluation of health interventions.
Emily Wang
Emily Wang is a recent graduate of Barnard College with a degree in political science and a minor in science and public policy. This fall, she will be pursuing a Master of Public Health at Columbia University, studying population and family health. She is passionate about addressing health disparities and barriers to care, especially among migrant populations and other marginalized communities. Emily intends to pursue a career in community health work, where she can ensure community voices are centered in the development, implementation, and evaluation of health interventions.
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Ingrid Lok
Ingrid Lok is a rising senior at Vanderbilt University, majoring in neuroscience with a minor in Chinese and an interest in public health. She serves as secretary for Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science and as a research assistant at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she studies thalamic disruptions in schizophrenia. Ingrid also holds leadership roles within Asian American advocacy initiatives on campus, where she works to support community engagement, representation, and dialogue. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a clinician dedicated to providing compassionate and culturally informed care to patients from all backgrounds.
Ingrid Lok
Ingrid Lok is a rising senior at Vanderbilt University, majoring in neuroscience with a minor in Chinese and an interest in public health. She serves as secretary for Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science and as a research assistant at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she studies thalamic disruptions in schizophrenia. Ingrid also holds leadership roles within Asian American advocacy initiatives on campus, where she works to support community engagement, representation, and dialogue. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a clinician dedicated to providing compassionate and culturally informed care to patients from all backgrounds.
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Joel Kim
Joel Kim is a rising senior studying neuroscience & behavior at Columbia University and cello performance at The Juilliard School as a student in the Columbia-Juilliard program. Guided by his passion for the arts and scientific research, Joel has explored the intersection of music and medicine through his research on Alzheimer’s disease at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and through providing music therapy to elderly hospital and dementia patients. Joel hopes to one day practice medicine, merging his artistic and research backgrounds, to provide equitable and accessible care to patients.
Joel Kim
Joel Kim is a rising senior studying neuroscience & behavior at Columbia University and cello performance at The Juilliard School as a student in the Columbia-Juilliard program. Guided by his passion for the arts and scientific research, Joel has explored the intersection of music and medicine through his research on Alzheimer’s disease at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and through providing music therapy to elderly hospital and dementia patients. Joel hopes to one day practice medicine, merging his artistic and research backgrounds, to provide equitable and accessible care to patients.
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Julia Miyasaka
Julia Miyasaka is a rising junior at Brown University, concentrating on applied mathematics-biology. She is passionate about creating quantitative models to better understand population health. Her previous work analyzed availability of information post Roe, and she has worked on machine learning models to predict cancer from tabular data and images, respectively. She is eager to learn more about what health looks like in New York’s Chinatown community through a federally qualified community health center. Post graduation, she plans on continuing to do research that examines the boundary between mathematics, technology, and health.
Julia Miyasaka
Julia Miyasaka is a rising junior at Brown University, concentrating on applied mathematics-biology. She is passionate about creating quantitative models to better understand population health. Her previous work analyzed availability of information post Roe, and she has worked on machine learning models to predict cancer from tabular data and images, respectively. She is eager to learn more about what health looks like in New York’s Chinatown community through a federally qualified community health center. Post graduation, she plans on continuing to do research that examines the boundary between mathematics, technology, and health.
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Lorna Lin
Lorna Lin is a rising junior at Georgetown University, majoring in nursing with a focus on public health. She is deeply committed to exploring the underlying drivers of healthcare inequities and advancing initiatives that improve access to care for underserved populations. Upon graduation, she intends to work toward her long-term goal of becoming a pediatric or adult-gerontology nurse practitioner. In this capacity, she aims to integrate her clinical practice with health policy to deliver equitable, patient-centered care to individuals across diverse communities.
Lorna Lin
Lorna Lin is a rising junior at Georgetown University, majoring in nursing with a focus on public health. She is deeply committed to exploring the underlying drivers of healthcare inequities and advancing initiatives that improve access to care for underserved populations. Upon graduation, she intends to work toward her long-term goal of becoming a pediatric or adult-gerontology nurse practitioner. In this capacity, she aims to integrate her clinical practice with health policy to deliver equitable, patient-centered care to individuals across diverse communities.
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Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng is a rising junior at Case Western Reserve University, majoring in biology with a minor in bioethics and medical humanities. Guided by her passion for improving community health, Sarah mentors underrepresented youth through Case Western’s Horizons Mentorship Program, collaborating alongside medical students to examine how socioeconomic factors shape health outcomes. By continuing to address health disparities, she aims to foster a community where marginalized patients feel supported, empowered, and respected. After graduation, Sarah hopes to pursue a medical degree and a master’s in bioethics and medical humanities.
Sarah Ng
Sarah Ng is a rising junior at Case Western Reserve University, majoring in biology with a minor in bioethics and medical humanities. Guided by her passion for improving community health, Sarah mentors underrepresented youth through Case Western’s Horizons Mentorship Program, collaborating alongside medical students to examine how socioeconomic factors shape health outcomes. By continuing to address health disparities, she aims to foster a community where marginalized patients feel supported, empowered, and respected. After graduation, Sarah hopes to pursue a medical degree and a master’s in bioethics and medical humanities.
What’s a Rich Text element?
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The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
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How to customize formatting for each rich text
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Sufan Wan
Sufan Wan is a recent graduate of Stony Brook University, majoring in biology with a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies and is on the pre-dental track. As a first-generation immigrant and former English Language Learner, she is passionate about improving access to culturally responsive care for underserved communities. She has clinical and research experience through dental shadowing and work with multi-caregiver immigrant families on community health initiatives. Sufan aspires to become a dentist focused on addressing oral health disparities and promoting preventive care for low-income and immigrant communities. Through Project AHEAD, she hopes to develop skills in community-based research and patient-centered care.
Sufan Wan
Sufan Wan is a recent graduate of Stony Brook University, majoring in biology with a minor in Asian and Asian American Studies and is on the pre-dental track. As a first-generation immigrant and former English Language Learner, she is passionate about improving access to culturally responsive care for underserved communities. She has clinical and research experience through dental shadowing and work with multi-caregiver immigrant families on community health initiatives. Sufan aspires to become a dentist focused on addressing oral health disparities and promoting preventive care for low-income and immigrant communities. Through Project AHEAD, she hopes to develop skills in community-based research and patient-centered care.
What’s a Rich Text element?
wdad
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
Static and dynamic content editing
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How to customize formatting for each rich text
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Weiheng Chen
Weiheng Chen is a rising senior at Stony Brook University, majoring in psychology. On campus, he has served as an undergraduate research assistant in the Developmental Stress and Prevention Lab, where he conducted participant interviews and supported community outreach efforts. He has also recently joined the RISE Lab as a new research assistant, where he will be studying sleep disparities among Asian American communities. After graduation, Weiheng plans to pursue a Master of Social Work with the goal of becoming a bilingual social worker dedicated to supporting immigrant families.
Weiheng Chen
Weiheng Chen is a rising senior at Stony Brook University, majoring in psychology. On campus, he has served as an undergraduate research assistant in the Developmental Stress and Prevention Lab, where he conducted participant interviews and supported community outreach efforts. He has also recently joined the RISE Lab as a new research assistant, where he will be studying sleep disparities among Asian American communities. After graduation, Weiheng plans to pursue a Master of Social Work with the goal of becoming a bilingual social worker dedicated to supporting immigrant families.
What’s a Rich Text element?
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The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
Static and dynamic content editing
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How to customize formatting for each rich text
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The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center is a nonprofit and federally qualified health center offering comprehensive primary care services to all in six convenient locations in Manhattan and Queens seven days a week.
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