Major: I am a third-year bioengineering student at the University of Toledo.

Dream job after graduation: Ultimately, my dream job would be to serve in a health field that allows me to work with the elderly or individuals that do not have easy access to healthcare.

Why did you sign up to participate in Tellegacy? I joined Tellegacy because for the last three years I had worked as a server in the dining hall of a nursing home. Beyond my serving duties, I interacted with the residents on a personal level, learning about their youth and family. In the summer of 2020, I firsthand experienced the loneliness the residents felt due to the COVID restrictions in place as many could not see their family or interact with their friends. Thus, when I heard about Tellegacy I was eager to help make a difference. I look forward to working with the Tellegacy team and appreciate this opportunity.

Fun fact: A fun fact about me is that my favorite sports team is the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Major: I am going into my third year studying Bioengineering at The University of Toledo.

Dream job after graduation: I do not have a specific dream job yet after graduation, but I aim to be working in the health profession where I am helping others, am happy, being challenged, and continuously improving personally and professionally.

Why did you sign up to participate in Tellegacy? I signed up to participate in Tellegacy because I have worked and volunteered at a nursing home since I was 16. This experience did not seem like a job as I truly enjoyed what I was doing. I loved spending time and learning from the residents. During lockdown, I would write positive messages for all of the residents, and I experienced firsthand how lonely the residents were when I returned back to work. When I heard about Tellegacy, when I returned back to school in the Fall, I was eager to join and help others beyond my local community. Overall, I am thrilled about this opportunity and am looking forward to all that we will accomplish.

Fun fact: One fun fact about me is that I enjoy cooking and love eating food from different cultures.

Major: I am a biology major at The University of Toledo.

Dream job after graduation: I aspire to be a future physician.

Why did you sign up to participate in Tellegacy? I joined Tellegacy to support my community during COVID, especially the isolated older adults who are experiencing loneliness. I wanted to take this opportunity to connect with the older generation, learn important lessons, and hear the advice they have for experiencing life. I hope through this internship I can further my impact and continue to support the residents.

Fun fact: I drove a snowmobile for the first time this year!

Major: I am a biology major at The University of Toledo.

Dream job after graduation: I want to become a physician who specializes in nephrology.

Why did you sign up to participate in Tellegacy? I joined Tellegacy because during the pandemic, forming connections has been difficult as many facilities were unable to allow families to visit and spend time with their loved ones. I wanted to support elderly individuals by listening to their stories and hearing about the impact they have made in their lives.

Fun fact: I have never broken any bones!

Major: Sociology at Arizona State University. 

Dream job after graduation: Sociological Research.

Why did you sign up to participate in Tellegacy? I love connecting with people and building relationships, my parents are older adults, and I have not been able to focus on this particular demographic yet. 

Fun fact: I love storytelling, reading textbooks, and kayaking. 

Junior at the University of Toledo working towards a bachelor’s degree in Science. She is currently in the Bacc2MD direct med program with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and entrepreneurship. She is a passionate pre-medical student with previous volunteering and clinical healthcare experiences.

I am a medical student currently in my clinical rotations at Ross University School of Medicine. I am extremely passionate about wellness, specifically the overall wellness of the geriatric population and the medical community. My dream is to be an Emergency Medicine Physician with a fellowship in Geriatric Emergency Medicine. In my free time, I enjoy outdoor walks, participating in wellness-focused activities, and binging new Netflix series.

Fun fact: I love animals, and my family currently has 5 pets in one household: two cats, two birds, and one fish!

Fun fact: I do Bollywood Fusion Dance on a competitive team!

University & Major: I am a graduate student at Aurora University pursuing an MBA in Healthcare Management. I also hold a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Dream Job After Graduation: My goal is to build a career in the public health field where I can apply data-driven research and evaluation to improve healthcare outcomes and equity.

Why I joined: I joined Tellegacy because it aligns with my passion for connecting research with real-world impact. Through my experience in healthcare evaluation, I’ve seen how community-based programs can improve well-being for older adults. In addition, having been part of a research team that studied the impacts of social isolation, I value how Tellegacy promotes connection, purpose, and health through meaningful conversation.A fun fact: I enjoy working out and reading

Hi, I’m Corey, a student at the University of Virginia studying Economic Sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences. My academic focus explores how expanding markets and commodification shape social life, particularly the loss of non-commodified interpersonal relationships.

After graduation, I hope to work in Project Management, where I can combine strategy, collaboration, and thoughtful leadership to create meaningful impact.

I chose to participate in Tellegacy because it gives me the chance to bring my sociological perspective to life in a meaningful, people-centered way. In my studies, I examine how modern institutions can unintentionally weaken authentic human connection; through Tellegacy, I’m truly excited to help do the opposite—preserve stories, relationships, and lived experiences that exist beyond economic exchange. It feels rewarding to move beyond critique and into action by contributing to work that centers memory, care, and intergenerational connection.

Fun fact: I’m a basketball geek and could happily talk hoops all day.

Jaclyn Podlaski is pursuing her Master’s in Instructional Design and Technology at the University of Denver. She is passionate about Universal Design for Learning and equitable pedagogy and hopes to bring thoughtful, accessible design into modern education.

She joined Tellegacy because of its mission to humanize healthcare for the geriatric community, building on her experience working in residential memory care. A certified art educator with a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, she uses her multidisciplinary art background to approach instructional design creatively.

Jalen Wilson

4th year Public Health Student at the University of Arkansas

Dream job: Program director or Research specialist

I signed up for Tellegacy for the opportunities Dr. Holloway presented. I like the idea of bettering myself as a writer and potentially co-authoring scientific journals. I hope to broaden my experience pallet and grow professionally from this opportunity. 

Fun fact: I learned how to step with my fraternity at 10 years old. I won my school’s Homecoming Step Show in 2024.

Major: I am a MPH: Health Policy and Management graduate student at Regis College

Dream job after graduation: My dream job after graduation would be to become a Health Policy Analyst, which would allow me to continue to impact my community through accessibility of healthcare services. I also have an interest in consulting with the hope to open my own consulting firm.

Why did you sign up to participate in Tellegacy? I signed up to participate in Tellegacy because it provided me the opportunity to integrate an aspect of the healthcare industry I already work in with my academic studies and goals. This experience allows me to explore how policy also connects to and influences the overall delivery and quality care older adults get. Tellegacy allows me to connect my experience along with public health principles, in relation to aging, health equity and social engagement. With this experience I am understanding why social engagement and building connections with other healthcare partners aid in creating a long-term relationship that highlights the community we all want to be a part of. 

Fun-facts: I enjoy writing songs, and dancing to different genres of music.

My name is Mya McGhee, and I am a junior at North Carolina A&T State University majoring in Health Services Management in the Department of Population Health Management and Policy. After graduation, my dream job is to work as an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where I hope to help investigate and prevent disease outbreaks while improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

I chose to participate in Tellegacy because I am passionate about health equity and expanding access to healthcare resources through innovation and leadership. I believe this experience will help me grow professionally while making a meaningful impact.

Fun fact: I marched in the Rose Parade with the Blue and Gold Marching

My university, major, and department: University of Maryland, Baltimore; Regulatory Science; School of Pharmacy

My dream job after graduation: Clinical Research Scientist, involved in cardiovascular with focus on congenital heart disease

Why you chose to participate in Tellegacy: Tellegacy gave me an opportunity to work hands-on in research while serving with a purpose ie, well-being of the aging population. It targets the loneliness and social isolation in older adults which is something close to my heart, while simultaneously preparing for a career in clinical research

A fun fact about me: I love learning random facts and often share them at unexpected times.

Name: Ruhaan Vasudeva

Major: Master of Science in Engineering Management student at Stevens Institute of Technology

Dream job after my graduation: I see myself working as a Project Management manager in the healthcare industry and helping get easy access to health.

Why did you sign up to participate in Tellegacy? I joined Tellegacy because I wanted to work on meaningful projects and make a difference in society. I also wanted to enter into the healthcare industry and bring a positive change in the older adults’ lives.

Fun fact: I am a Manchester United fan and I can sleep all day.

Major: I am a first-year Biomedical Sciences scholar at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Dream job after graduation: Ultimately my dream job would be practicing medicine as a physician with the ability to incorporate innovation within my treatment to be able to better the lives of my patients. 

Why did you choose to participate in Tellegacy?: 

I joined Tellegacy because I am deeply interested in addressing the effects of social isolation on older adults, particularly its contribution to accelerated aging and decreased well-being overall resulting in a low quality of life. Through my volunteer experiences, especially within hospice settings, I have witnessed the profound impact meaningful interaction can have on patients’ quality of life. Tellegacy’s structured program not only fosters weekly intergenerational conversations and preserves life stories, but also provides mentorship in conducting research, preparing manuscripts, and contributing to peer-reviewed publications. This combination of hands-on impact and scholarly development allows me to make a tangible difference while growing as a researcher in health equity and aging.

Fun Fact: I used to play ice hockey competitively for the City of Allen

Major: I am currently pursuing a Master of Science in Professional Science with a concentration in Healthcare Informatics at Middle Tennessee State University. I also serve as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Healthcare Informatics and as a Healthcare Research Intern with Tellegacy.

Dream job after graduation: My dream job is to work in Nurse Informatics, where I can combine bedside nursing experience with healthcare data and technology to improve patient safety and expand access to quality care.

Why did you sign up to participate in Tellegacy? I chose to participate in Tellegacy because I believe meaningful human connection is essential in healthcare. I am passionate about addressing social determinants of health and reducing loneliness among vulnerable populations. Tellegacy’s mission to re-humanize healthcare through conversation strongly aligns with my long-term goals in patient-centered care.

Fun fact: I enjoy serving in children’s ministry and have been volunteering in church-based programs for several years.

Name: Yasmine Attia 

I’m a PhD candidate in the Department of Computer Science at Missouri University of Science and Technology. I’ve always been passionate about healthcare and medicine, but since medicine isn’t exactly for the faint of heart (like me), I chose to focus on the computer science side of improving healthcare through artificial intelligence (AI). My work sits at the intersection of deep learning and trustworthy AI. My dream is to become a faculty member at an esteemed university, teaching and researching Explainability and Trustworthy AI in Healthcare Applications. I joined Tellegacy to learn more about the behavioral and social aspects of healthcare and how they shape the patients’ experiences and the lives of older adults.

Fun Fact: I’m fine as long as I have coffee and a dumbbell nearby..