About Us

HISTORY

Helix was founded by six undergraduates at UC Berkeley in 2017. Over the summer, they had been working as EMTs and had noticed a lack of diversity in healthcare providers at the facilities that they visited. Concerned, they looked into the issue and were surprised to discover that African Americans, Hispanics, and other ethnic minorities, despite making up 30% of the population, only comprise 10% of doctors.

Around the same time, UCSF was hosting their Summer Science Camp for middle schoolers. Inspired, they thought, why not organize a summer program for those underrepresented in medicine to give them a chance to explore healthcare careers?

Thus, we founded Helix, a non-profit organization whose goal is to address the underrepresentation of minorities in healthcare by stimulating interest and providing opportunities that empower these individuals to pursue a future in medicine.

MANAGING DIRECTORS

PROJECT MANAGERS

STAFF

NOT PICTURED

Ajitesh Nanda
Raghad Osman
Sonika Vuyyuru

PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS

Dr. Heather Hertema, PharmD
UCSF Summer Science Camp
Founder

Dr. Amy Garlin, MD
UCSF-UCB Joint Medical Program
Head of Clinical Instruction

Abraham Roman
Berkeley Fire Department
Assistant Fire Chief

Dr. Nailah Thompson, DO, MPH
Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Medical Center
Director, Internal Medicine Residency Health Equity and Disparities Track

Gary Owens
Sutter Health, Youth Bridge
Program Coordinator

Millicent Morris-Chaney
University of California, Berkeley
Student Organization Coordinator, LEAD Center

Dr. Mercedes Paredes, MD, PhD
University of California, San Francisco
Principal Investigator, Asst. Prof of Neurology

Dr. Gustavo Valbuena, MD, PhD
UCSF-UCB Joint Medical Program
Head of Curriculum

Dr. Kevin Mitchell, MD, FACS
Rideout Memorial Hospital
Critical Care Trauma Surgeon