Equal Access in Science and Medicine maintains a small committee of trainees at Johns Hopkins University. Don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact information below, or sign up for email updates through our Listserv.
Current Members
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, in a family full of therapists and psychologists, Michaela stayed close to home to attend UC Santa Barbara’s College of Creative Studies. Through both her upbringing and her experiences in neuroscience research, Michaela grew fascinated by all things brain science and mental health. She went on to work as a case manager for brain injury survivors after her undergraduate education, witnessing the immense struggles that survivors face when re-learning how to navigate daily life and listening to stories about the care that they received in their recovery journey. Now a medical student at Johns Hopkins, Michaela is passionate about advocating for patients who have experienced brain injury and disability in general and is excited to continue learning how to best do so. Outside of academia, Michaela can almost always be found in or on a body of water, and she’s a huge fan of oatmeal with copious amounts of peanut butter.
My name is Angelica Camilo, and I’m a Ph.D. student in the Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences program at the School of Medicine. As a first-generation student living with a chronic illness, I’m passionate about supporting marginalized communities and reducing stigma around mental health and disability in academia. I joined EASM because I believe in the power of community to increase equity and accessibility in science. In my free time, I stay grounded and reconnect with myself through writing, painting, and gardening. Feel free to reach out at acamilo3@jh.edu if you have any questions about EASM!
Winnie is a 3rd year Medical Student who grew up in Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she majored in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology with a minor in biomedical research. Since starting medical school, she has found a passion for the medical humanities in patient-clinician communication, especially in critical care settings where ableist language can often occur. Outside of her passions in science and medicine, she is also an avid graphic designer. She has loved working for the Johns Hopkins’ Annual Arts Magazine: Panacea, Los Angeles County, and the United Nations building media kits for healthcare nonprofits.
Former Members
My name is Lisa and I graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2025. I was born and raised in Renton, Washington, and received my BS in Molecular Biology and Psychology from the University of Washington. My experience as a tutor for students with disabilities and participation in traumatic brain injury (TBI) support groups led me to join the Equal Access in Science and Medicine committee! I have loved working with my co-officers to host community socials (from game nights to picnics) and peer support pairings. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, swimming, and running! Feel free to reach out to me at lyoung1090@gmail.com!
My name is Erica Avery and I was a member of the Claypool lab studying mitochondrial phospholipid metabolism. I’m originally from New Jersey and received a BS in Biochemistry and minor in journalism from Rowan University. I was diagnosed with a chronic illness known as fibromyalgia syndrome in 2012 as a freshman in college, marked by its hallmark chronic pain and fatigue, but as a syndrome, its symptoms are so much more. This condition is very poorly understood and lacks good treatment options. As a scientist, I felt failed by science and medicine in its initiative to understand and research this illness in addition to the societal stigmas behind it. Additionally, 90% of FM patients are assigned female at birth, and studies show women’s pain is taken less seriously.
Because of my experiences with ableism and lack of accessibility and accommodations throughout my academic career, I wanted to contribute to the Equal Access in Science and Medicine Committee initiatives because I sought to build a community and bring awareness to the disability, especially as it can contribute to diversity. I have published personal essays in publications like ASBMB Today, Scientific American, and the American Chemical Society about my illness and health in an effort to increase awareness. In addition to writing in my spare time, I enjoy fostering kittens, making cosplay, yoga, and playing piano. You can reach me at eavery3@jhmi.edu.
Hello! My name is Emily Xiao, and I grew up in Chicago and earned a B.A. in history at Yale University. My personal experiences led to my interest in disability and race studies in college.
I joined the Equal Access in Science and Medicine committee because I want to work toward better health equity for people with disabilities. We need disability representation in the medical and biomedical professions, and I hope to help build a supportive community among trainees who experience disability, chronic illnesses, and mental health conditions. In my free time, I enjoy reading, solving crosswords, and going for long walks with friends. Feel free to reach out to me at exiao2@jhmi.edu!
My name is Claire Bell, and I grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and earned my bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary. I am working on my thesis in Don Zack’s lab, tracing vertebrate retinal cell lineages at the single cell level.
I came on to the Equal Access in Science and Medicine committee from the beginning with Anna. My sister has bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, while I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety issues much of my life. My hope for this committee is that we will help destigmatize invisible illnesses within the scientific community and beyond, and provide a source of support, encouragement, and solidarity for students who may be struggling with their health, whether mental or physical, during their time at Hopkins. When I’m not in lab, I’m reading, crocheting, hiking, or just relaxing at home with my husband and our cat, Atlas, and our dog, Bizi (who love each other)!
My name is Anna Moyer, and I graduated with a PhD in the Human Genetics program in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. After growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from the University of Alabama. My younger brother has Down syndrome, and I’m currently researching cerebellar development in mouse models of Down syndrome under the guidance of Dr. Roger Reeves.
I co-founded the Equal Access in Science and Medicine committee with Claire in 2019 based on my experiences as a graduate student with a chronic illness. I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which is a genetic connective tissue disorder that causes a variety of symptoms- for me, POTS and MCAS among others. I hope that the new lecture series and other committee activities will improve the experiences of other trainees with chronic illnesses on the East Baltimore campus. In my free time, you can find me working on my website of visual recipes for people with intellectual disabilities, writing for the Biomedical Odyssey blog, and updating my Catstagram account. I also enjoy knitting, drinking tea, and watching the Food Network with my cat, Matilda.
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