SYNAPSE TEAM 2024 - 2025
The Department of Humanities in Medicine is pleased to present The Synapse, a medical and graduate student-edited journal of literature and art containing poetry, art, literature, and photography. The Synapse is a creative outlet open to submissions from the Texas A&M School of Medicine community. Its mission is to serve as a forum where students can creatively blend the scientific and humanistic aspects of medicine.
Please contact us at COM-synapse@tamhsc.edu to comment, question, or learn more!
Sunitha joined The Synapse because she is passionate about medical humanities and hopes to incorporate medical journalism into her career as a physician. It brings her great joy to be a part of a team that highlights the stories, art, and experiences of those at the College of Medicine. She is honored to be following a 10-year legacy of The Synapse and is excited to see what is in store for this year!
Sunitha Konatham
Editor-in-Chief
Vy is a third-year medical student at the Houston campus. She was initially involved with The Synapse as a writer and loved to read the submissions of her peers with the release of each issue. She decided to join the team to be a part of the publication process—acquiring submissions, working directly with other authors, and helping them publish final pieces that they can proudly share. Outside of school, Vy enjoys running, climbing, reading and writing medical non-fiction, and shooting street photography.
Rishi is a second-year EnMed student, though he wonders if writing and reading about people makes treating them easier. He loves to write more than other people enjoy his writing, so he elevates better authors and thinkers at the Synapse. Additional hobbies include being PNW granola (hiking and cooking seafood). Zach Mendoza’s best friend.
Rishi Ramesh
Managing Editor
Urenna Orazulike is a second year medical student at the TAMUCOM RR Campus. Before she found her calling in medicine, she studied for 5 years as a fine arts student in her GCSE program in Nigeria. During that time, she had an equally insatiable love for books, theatre, photography, and the likes. These extracurricular interests were nurtured further when she got involved in the Explorations LAUNCH journal publication process during her undergraduate career at A&M. She was able to collaborate with authors from different academic backgrounds and walks of life to uncover the intersectionality between science, analytical thinking and art. With this invaluable experience, and her maintained love of creative disciplines, it only made sense for her to join in on the celebration of interdisciplinary work that the Synapse Publication promotes. She thinks the creative outlet it provides bestows a new depth and color to our characters as aspiring professionals in the healthcare industry.
Zach Mendoza is a third-year medical student at the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine and serves as the Senior Acquisitions Editor for the Synapse. He joined the Synapse to gain a deeper appreciation of our student body's creative side. He believes each and every medical student obviously shows talent in the sciences, however, he wants to highlight the creativity our classes possess through his role at the Synapse.
Zach Mendoza
Senior Acquisitions Editor
Swathi is a third year medical student, and she joined the Synapse because she has always had an appreciation for medical humanities and believe it is such an important part of becoming a well-rounded physician. Outside of school, she enjoys hiking, spending time in the outdoors, art in whatever capacity, and most recently, pottery!
Vy Dang
Acquisitions Editor
Copy Editor
Roshini Thiagarajan is a second-year medical student. She joined the Synapse because she loves reading and writing and wanted to bring that passion back into her life despite the chaos that is med school! She is so excited to be a part of the team and can’t wait to see what we are able to bring to the Synapse this year!
Roshini Thiagarajan
Senior Copy Editor
Erin Cha was born in Dallas, TX. She went to Trinity University in San Antonio for college and graduated with an English major and Chemistry minor. She was involved in creative writing groups during college and joined the Synapse to continue her interest in publishing and writing, while also exploring her interest in the humanities in the context of medicine.
Erin Cha
Copy Editor
Paul Oancea is a first-year MD/PhD student from Houston, Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience from UT-Austin and is excited to serve as The Synapse’s new Staff Writer.
Urenna Orazulike
Acquisitions Editor
Social/Media Manager
Roger is an M3 G1 MD/PhD student from Taft, TX. He graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 2020. He spends his free time taking his dogs on walks, fishing, and playing basketball. He joined the Synapse team as a copy editor because he enjoys reading his classmates’ outstanding submissions and helping with finishing touches to make them ready for publication!
Roger Garcia
Senior Copy Editor
Cerci is a fourth-year student on the Bryan campus, who is interested in Pediatric Psychiatry. Her favorite things are art, watching her daughter grow up, and talking to others to get to know them and hear all of their stories. She believes everyone has a creative side, and that everyone always put some of themselves in their work whether it’s art, writing, or photography. She thought the Synapse would be an amazing way to meet others who also enjoyed art and the humanities, and she enjoys being able to contribute to the process of showcasing the talents of her peers.
Cerci Hammons
Senior Design Editor
Swati Iyer
Copy Editor
Social/ Media Manager
Elizabeth has always loved reading and writing (when she was a kid she wanted to be a writer when she grew up!), and joined the Synapse because it seemed like a fun and new way to get to know the A&M community. Plus, She is excited to work with all the other creators of the Synapse!
Elizabeth Bixler
Copy Editor
Pooja is a first year medical student from the Rio Grande Valley. She graduated with an English degree from Texas A&M University, and joined the Synapse to continue being involved in the humanities. She enjoys reading, painting, playing music, and traveling, and is excited to be part of this team!
Pooja Pathak
Design Editor
Paul Oancea
Staff Writer
Barbara Gastel coordinates the science journalism graduate program at Texas A&M University and teaches medical humanities at the College of Medicine. A medical school graduate and longtime faculty member, she specializes mainly in the communication of science and medicine. Her outside interests include travel, music, cooking, and baking.
Originally from Virginia, Andrew served for six years in the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Electronics Technician. He received undergraduate degrees studying nuclear energy and health sciences and is certified as a cytotechnologist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. He is currently a second-year graduate student in the Medical Sciences PhD program focusing his research on using stem cells and signaling pathways for treating bone diseases and cancer under the guidance of Dr. Carl Gregory. When he has free time he enjoys writing, video games, cooking, and playing games with friends.
Karen J. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. is an assistant professor in the Department of Humanities in Medicine at the Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College of Medicine. She graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree and a baccalaureate in nursing from Dallas Baptist University. After 30 years in nursing she returned to academia where she received a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Dr. Wakefield’s research interests include medical history in Texas, military medicine, and battlefield medicine.
Dr. Barbara Gastel
Andrew Haskell, CT(ASCP)CM
Dr. Karen J. Wakefield, R.N.
Editorial Mentor
Consultant
Faculty Editor