2024 Peach State Scholars

Caleb Bazal of Moultrie, GA is interested in pursuing a career in Internal Medicine. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Biology. He grew up in a rural South Georgia town which spurred in him the desire to bring healthcare to the medically underserved people of Georgia. Following in the footsteps of his father who also graduated from MCG, Mr. Bazal hopes to one day have a positive impact on his community through his medical practice. In his free time, he loves volunteering at his church and playing the piano. “As a South Georgia native, I have seen how preventable chronic diseases and illnesses impact the lives of our families, loved ones, and neighbors. I will work to reduce the impact of those illnesses by providing competent care and education to those who need it the most.”

Hermela Beyene of Johns Creek, GA is interested in pursuing Pediatrics. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BA in Arabic and a BS in Biology with a Neuroscience concentration. She is passionate about improving pediatric healthcare outcomes through youth educational initiatives and has worked with kids of all ages in various mentorship and leadership programs. Ms. Beyene also spent time in Greensboro, AL working for a non-profit on community-level interventions to address rural health disparities. This immersive experience in rural homes, social circles, and healthcare environments provided her with insights into communities’ perceptions of and barriers to a healthy life. Ms. Beyene plans to continue her efforts to support healthier communities by improving access to healthcare and education.

Silas M. Howerton of Alpharetta, GA is committed to pursuing a career in General Surgery. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2023 with a BS in Biology. Mr. Howerton's interest in underserved communities began after shadowing the legislature at the Georgia State Capitol, where he learned about the vital need for rural physicians and gained awareness of the importance of advocacy for patient rights and healthcare literacy. He is currently working as a student clinical coordinator with Empower Clinic, a student-run mobile health clinic that serves the medically underserved community, to gain more experience in caring for patients in underserved populations. As a Georgia native and aspiring surgeon, he hopes to have a positive impact on his community, and he is dedicated to improving access to surgical care for all patients in his home state.

David B. Kotter of Lilburn, GA is interested in pursuing Psychiatry. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Microbiology. Mr. Kotter’s interest in medicine began with a childhood diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Following high school, Mr. Kotter spent a year living in a farming community of 600 people, and this experience opened his eyes to the reality of the consequences of healthcare shortages in rural and underserved areas. He realized that his experience with childhood leukemia could have been very different had he not resided near a city with adequate resources for both physical and mental health. His interest in Psychiatry has grown throughout his life and he currently holds the positions of Wellness VP for his class and Student Clinic Coordinator for the Free Mental Health Clinic. Through all that Mr. Kotter has experienced and continues to work on, his passion for helping the underserved has grown, and he is even further committed to making a difference in Georgia healthcare.

Michael K. McGrath of Augusta, GA is interested in pursuing Internal Medicine. He graduated from Augusta University with a BS in Cell & Molecular Biology. Mr. McGrath’s interest in serving the medically underserved is rooted in his faith and cultural background. As a native Spanish speaker, he has experienced the ways in which language barriers, among other factors, have impeded loved ones and community members from being advocated for in a variety of settings. His time providing medical interpretation and engaging in campus ministry has helped solidify his intentions as an aspiring Georgia physician. Mr. McGrath is excited to cultivate meaningful relationships with his patients and provide accessible patient care in a sincere effort to combat healthcare disparities in our state.

Carrington M. Moore of Suwanee, GA is dedicated to pursuing a career in Family Medicine. She graduated from Georgetown University with a BS in Human Science. Ms. Moore’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare for underserved communities stems from her experience as a medical assistant where she witnessed firsthand the barriers many patients face within the healthcare system, and through her research into the social and behavioral effects of racialized events on underserved families in Washington, DC. Witnessing the barriers faced by her own family members due to healthcare disparities has also fueled her determination to address systemic issues affecting marginalized communities. Ms. Moore aspires to use her knowledge and experiences to advance health equity and provide compassionate care to underserved communities throughout Georgia.

Sweta Munagapati of Cumming, GA is committed to pursuing a career in Surgery. She graduated from Augusta University’s Professional Scholar Program with a BS in Cell & Molecular Biology. Witnessing firsthand the challenges members of her community faced accessing quality surgical care in rural Georgia deepened her commitment to this field and to improving healthcare outcomes in rural Georgia. Her passion for research-driven care is evident in her involvement in biomarker research for heterotopic ossification at Massachusetts General Hospital in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and studies on neural crest development processes at the Medical College of Georgia in collaboration with Princeton University.  As a future surgeon planning to work with underserved communities, she plans to continue to utilize her background in software to develop community outreach and build on her advocacy for policies that help rural private practices' sustainability. Ms. Munagapati aims to continue her work in computational medicine, advocate for sustainable care, and engage in mission work throughout her career.

Kaley Reid of Armuchee, GA is interested in a career in Family Medicine. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Biology & Psychology, then went on to earn her MS in Preclinical Sciences from Mercer University. During her time as a medical scribe, she consistently met patients who traveled great distances to receive care for exacerbations and complications of their illnesses that may have been prevented with better access to care. She recognized the strain on patients of managing chronic health conditions and was disheartened to learn how far many people travel to receive basic medical care. Mrs. Reid is committed to providing primary care to fellow Georgians in regions where it is needed most. She volunteers with Ronald McDonald House Charities and is passionate about their mission to provide a home away from home for children and families who travel to receive care. Ultimately, she would love to serve communities like the one that raised her in Armuchee.

Avni A. Sawant of Marietta, GA is interested in pursuing Family Medicine. She graduated from Augusta University as part of the accelerated BS/MD program with a degree in Cell & Molecular Biology. Ms. Sawant’s experience living abroad in Germany as an exchange student taught her the value of effective communication and adaptability, as she navigated language barriers and diverse cultural perspectives. This experience underscored the importance of empathy and clarity in patient interactions, emphasizing that medicine requires more than just knowledge—it demands skillful communication. As a first-generation American, she is attuned to sociocultural differences and hopes to share insights from her experiences to address the pervasive racial and ethnic disparities present in medical care. Ms. Sawant is committed to the health and happiness of families across generations in rural Georgia, making our Peach State’s health system a tad sweeter.

Dhruti J. Trivedi, of McDonough, GA is interested in pursuing Internal Medicine. She graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a major in Biochemistry and two minors in Spanish and Health, Medicine, and Society. Ms. Trivedi grew up the daughter of an outpatient family medicine physician and saw early on the importance of primary care, especially for prevention of chronic illness in medically underserved areas. She further saw the challenges experienced by patients in rural communities when she worked as an emergency room scribe during the COVID-19 pandemic. With her research in creating diagnostic devices that can be implemented in these communities, she has a passion for overcoming health disparities by helping those who are underrepresented. Ms. Trivedi is committed to a career focused on prevention of diseases that occur due to lack of access to care.

Ayanna N. Turner, of Shiloh, GA is interested in pursuing Family Medicine. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Biology. Ms. Turner's interest in serving underserved and rural communities was ignited after a firsthand experience with emergency services struggling to find her house for more than 30 minutes when a family member needed care. Her experience working in nursing homes and acute care facilities increased her awareness of the disparities faced by residents of smaller communities, and further solidified her commitment to serving underserved areas in Georgia. She values the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients and address a wide range of health issues within the context of patients’ home and community environments. Ms. Turner has made it her mission to serve areas often overlooked by conventional healthcare systems. She is committed to leveraging her skills and experiences to enhance healthcare access, promote preventive care, and support the overall wellbeing of rural populations.

Madison T. White of Douglasville, GA is interested in pursuing OBGYN. She graduated from Georgia State University with a BS in Biology. Mrs. White has always had a passion for providing compassionate healthcare to women. While working at a fertility clinic during her gap year, she heard innumerable stories from women who had received lackluster care and often felt unheard in doctors’ offices. She also witnessed the economic and logistical strain on patients who had to travel long distances to receive healthcare. These experiences solidified her desire to provide the type of care that every woman deserves: to feel heard, validated, and safe in the healthcare setting. Mrs. White hopes to give back to the state and communities she has grown up in and looks forward to making a difference for the women of Georgia.