Scholarship Awardees

Our Pooja Way Awardees stand out among our applicants. They found a way to exude many of Pooja’s traits including her humor, resiliency, and optimism. They have a strong vision for Genetic Counseling and impressively illustrated how training in the U.S. will help them achieve that vision. They told a compelling personal journey about the challenges they have faced to train here in the U.S. Most importantly they have a strong connection to what Pooja stood for and we believe they understand the uniqueness and importance of “The Pooja Way.” We are honored to support them as they pursue their endeavors and hope Pooja serves as a continued inspiration to them.

2024 Awardees

  • Badí Israel Quinteros Espinoza

    2024 Pooja Way Champion $1,000 Awardee

    Home Country: Ecuador

    GC Program: Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Isabela Dall'Oglio Bucco

    2024 Pooja Way Champion $1,000 Awardee

    Home Country: Brazil

    GC Program: McGill University

  • Somin Hwang

    2024 Pooja Way Champion $1,000 Awardee

    Home Country: Korea

    GG Program: MGH Institute of Health Professions

  • Alexandra Saieh

    2024 Pooja Way Honoree $300 Awardee

    Home Country: Haiti

    GC Program: University of Cincinnati

  • Claire Jo Youjin

    2024 Pooja Way Honoree $300 Awardee

    Home Country: Korea

    GC Program: University of California San Francisco

  • Norhafizah Binte Abdullah

    2024 Pooja Way Honoree $300 Awardee

    Home Country: Singapore

    GC Program: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

2023 Awardees

  • Sylvia Lin

    2023 Pooja Way Champion $1,500 Awardee

    Home Country: China

    GC Program: JHSPH/NHGRI

  • Saneela Ashraf Khan

    2023 Pooja Way Champion $1,500 Awardee

    Home Country: Pakistan

    GC Program: University of Minnesota

  • Alanis Quinones

    Pooja Way Honoree $500 Awardee

    Home Country: Puerto Rico

    GG Program: University of Washington

  • Nadezda Ivanova

    Pooja Way Honoree $500 Awardee

    Home Country: Russia

    GC Program: Sarah Lawrence College

  • Mallika Venkatramani

    Pooja Way Crew $100 Awardee

    Home Countries: Singapore and India

    GC Program: University of Michigan

  • Rajeshwari Koti

    Pooja Way Crew $100 Awardee

    Home Country: India

    GC Program: University of Arkansas

  • Srinka Arora

    Pooja Way Crew $100 Awardee

    Home Country: India

    GC Program: University of Rochester

  • Sofia Marrufo

    Pooja Way Crew $100 Awardee

    Home Country: Venezuela

    GC Program: Northwestern

In Their Own Words…

“I have been mentoring some international students applying to GC schools and I am passionate about continuing that and contributing my part in the future to the GC field, in general, and to the International GC community.”

— Sylvia Lin (2023 Awardee)

“Pooja, to me, represents a role model and symbolizes the spirit of individuals like myself who have chosen to leave their homes to pursue their passions.”

— Saneela Ashraf Khan (2023 Awardee)

“Working alongside colleagues, using humor as a balm, in the face of adversity, and celebrating every small victory along the way became my source of strength.”

— Nadezda Ivanova (2023 Awardee)