Top: MiOra Interns Presented Four Posters at the USC Moving Targets LA Symposia. Bottom:MiOra Supported USC Inter-Health Council (IHC) Career Event. Nausheen Wakhlu and Patrick Citrano, co-directors of the professional development branch of IHC, organized an excellent panel of healthcare professionals to discuss their educational paths and careers. MiOra speaker Levente Orosz from Pfizer talked about his role in public health from pharmaceutical industry perspective.
OUR MISSION

We Provide Opportunity

MiOra’s mission is to expand equitable access to higher education and professional development in the health sciences. We provide college-level training in health sciences and STEM through innovative, inclusive, and no-barrier programs.

We combine formal instruction with hands-on experiential learning so that students gain:

  • An academic foundation in health sciences.
  • Professional networks with experts and mentors.
  • Practical skills for thriving in higher education and health careers.

Our students contribute directly to improving public health through research, science communication, community service, advocacy, and policy initiatives.

Top: MiOra students from La Vernia High school, who completed their HIPPA training. Bottom: Pfizer Chief Medical Officer Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall Inspires the USC Students Dr. Lewis-Hall was the speaker at the MiOra CareerEvent at the University of Southern California (USC).
OUR GOAL

We Help you Plan for Your Future

Our goal is to provide advanced internship exposure to high school and college students interested in a career in the health-care profession. This experience will help strengthen their resume for college, medical, pharmacy, and grad-school entry.

Driving Impact: Our Team and Board Lead the Change

Executive Directors

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Ozlem Equils, MD, FAAP

President and Founder

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Kelly Robinson

Associate Executive Director

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Christopher da Costa, MD, PhD, FACP, FIDSA

CEO

CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) Vaccines and Therapeutics Research and Development Lead

Board Members

Alex Chen, MD
Chief Medical Officer, HealthNet
Willie Watts-Troutman
Former Registered Nurse at LACDPH
Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program
Belinda Jimenez
DPM candidate class of 2025, Western University of Health Sciences
past Adjunct Biology Professor at Valley Community College
past Co-Executive Director MiOra
Michael Deitch
American Heart Association
CPR Advocate
James A. McGregor, MD
Researcher, retired Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology UCLA, USC, University of Colorado. 
Dr. Aparna Arun
Stanford University, School of Medicine
Pediatric Infectious Disease Medical Director
Deanna Bressler-Montgomery
 

Staff

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Ben Vorspan

Communications Director

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Brian Harris, CPA

Volunteer accountant

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Gisselle Pacheco

Associate Project Manager

Our Educators

Takemi Group

Dr Arnaud Iradukunda, MD

Senior Health Sciences and Research Academic Specialist

Dr Kat Muloma, PhD

Kat Muloma

Senior Health Sciences Academic Specialist

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Willie Watts-Troutman, RN

Senior Health Sciences Academic Specialist

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Moiz Ali Nasir

Health Sciences and Research Academic Specialist

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Giselle Pacheco

Associate Project Manager

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Deanna Bressler-Montgomery

Senior MiOra Health Sciences and Research Academic Specialist

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Parker O’Connell

MiOra Health Sciences and Research Academic Specialist

Our Partners

MiOra leadership and interns work with governmental, non-profit and commercial organizations to improve public health. MiOra and partners organize outreach events and online educational experiences. These partnerships create opportunities for MiOra interns to network and gain real-world public-health and research experience.

Want to manage Community projects?

With a MiOra membership, you will have access to our courses and gain the confidence you need to host community projects.

Want to challenge yourself?

MiOra creates and coordinates projects by helping you overcome adversity and allowing you to set the bar at any level.

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