SYNAPSE TEAM 2026 - 2027
The Department of Humanities in Medicine is pleased to present The Synapse, a medical and graduate student-edited journal of literature and art containing poetry, art, literature, and photography. The Synapse is a creative outlet open to submissions from the Texas A&M School of Medicine community. Its mission is to serve as a forum where students can creatively blend the scientific and humanistic aspects of medicine.
Please contact us at COM-synapse@tamhsc.edu to comment, question, or learn more!
As a Medical Sciences PhD candidate, she performs cell biology research in the fruit fly model. Coming from a liberal arts background, she has a love for the humanities, and the Synapse provides an outlet for her to blend science with art. When not doing experiments, teaching undergraduates, or editing manuscripts, you can find her in the woods, her garden, or a horse barn.
Abigail Bauder
Editor-in-Chief
Pooja Chettiar is a fifth-year PhD student in the Medical Sciences program who spends most of her time trying to understand how the brain decides when to hold on to a behavior and when to let it go. Originally from India, she moved to the U.S. as a first-generation international student and somehow ended up listening to neurons talk to each other for a living using electrophysiology. When she’s not in the lab chasing synaptic signals, she enjoys science writing, turning complicated neuroscience into stories people can actually understand, and brainstorming big ideas at the intersection of brain science and technology. Outside academia, Pooja can usually be found hanging out with her furry baby, Chance, who constantly reminds her that behavioral flexibility isn’t just a neuroscience concept, it’s a daily life skill.
Pooja shree Chettiar
Acquisition editor
Shivam is a first-year medical student at the TAMU College of Medicine from Sugar Land, TX. He enjoys playing sports, watching movies, and spending time with friends in his free time. He joined the Synapse after serving as Editor-in-Chief and Managerial Editor for the TAMU Undergraduate Journal, Explorations.
Shivam Pancholy
Copy Editor
Samar is a first year medical student from Amarillo, TX. At UT Dallas, she majored in Biology and double minored in visual arts and music. She loves painting and design, so she joined the Synapse to maintain those passions. When she isn't studying or sleeping, you can find her wandering around a Michael's or trying to get paint out of her clothes.
Samar Ahmed
Design Editor
Mihai is a second year medical student from Austin. After being involved in the design and marketing community during undergrad, he wanted to join the Synapse. Outside of school he enjoys going to the gym, watching movies, and reading.
Mihai Cipleu
Senior Design Editor
Ashley is a sixth year MD/PhD student, M3G3, who grew up in Indiana. She enjoys reading and writing fiction, running, cooking, and learning about infectious fungi. She joined the Synapse to practice writing fiction and learn how to be a better writer.
Ashley Kidwell
Staff Writer
Elina is a first-year medical student and artist from Houston, TX. During her time at UT Austin, her work with creative magazines sparked an interest in building community through reflection and self-expression. She is excited to create visual art for Synapse and explore how the humanities can foster compassion and a deeper understanding of the human experience in medicine.
Elina Chen
Staff Artist/Writer
Emma is a first-year M.S. student in Medical Sciences from The Woodlands. She completed her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University and has been involved in a research laboratory in the Department of Medical Physiology for the past two years. Outside of her studies, she enjoys staying active and playing the piano. She joined The Synapse to immerse herself in a different perspective of medicine through various literary and artistic forms.
Emma Grosser
Social Media Manager
Mihai is a first year medical student. After being heavily involved in the UC Berkeley design and marketing community during his undergrad years, he wanted to join the Synapse. He is often moved by the works submitted to the journal as he formats and prepares them for the website. Outside of school he is either: watching a movie, reading a book, going for a swim, or eating good food.
Mihai Cipleu
Design Editor
Rishi is a third-year EnMed student, though he wonders if writing and reading about people makes treating them easier. He loves to write more than other people enjoy his writing, so he elevates better authors and thinkers at the Synapse. Additional hobbies include being PNW granola (hiking and cooking seafood). Zach Mendoza’s best friend.
Rishi Ramesh
Managing Editor
Paul Oancea is a second-year MD/PhD student from Houston, Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience from UT-Austin and is excited to serve as The Synapse’s Senior Staff Writer.
Paul Oancea
Senior Staff Writer
Michael, a first-year medical student, most recently lived in West Texas for four years but is an east coast kid at heart. Before moving to Texas in 2020, he lived in Iowa, New York, Mississippi, and was born in Pennsylvania. Outside of keeping moving companies in business, Michael loves trying out food venues, hiking, and can’t ever resist a good game of pickup basketball.
Michael Boulis
Staff Writer
Anokhi is an M1 from Albuquerque, NM. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in astronautical engineering from the University of Southern California. She has a passion for trying new restaurants, traveling, and writing about food. Anokhi was a writer for USC’s student newspaper and joined the Synapse to continue writing about food while in medical school.
Anokhi Kolwadwala
Staff Writer
Nabeeha is a second-year MD/PhD student at Texas A&M with a current interest in infectious disease research and internal medicine as a clinical specialty. Originally from Round Lake, IL, she grew up in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Plano, TX, and earned her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Dallas. Passionate about the arts, Nabeeha has been involved in creative projects since high school and hopes to continue promoting positive self-expression by joining Synapse. In her free time, she enjoys painting, printmaking, baking, reading sci-fi/fantasy, and most arts and crafts.
Nabeeha Qazi
Social/Media Manager
Barbara Gastel coordinates the science journalism graduate program at Texas A&M University and teaches medical humanities at the College of Medicine. A medical school graduate and longtime faculty member, she specializes mainly in the communication of science and medicine. Her outside interests include travel, music, cooking, and baking.
Dr. Barbara Gastel
Editorial Mentor
Originally from Virginia, Andrew served for six years in the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Electronics Technician. He received undergraduate degrees studying nuclear energy and health sciences and is certified as a cytotechnologist by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. He is currently a second-year graduate student in the Medical Sciences PhD program focusing his research on using stem cells and signaling pathways for treating bone diseases and cancer under the guidance of Dr. Carl Gregory. When he has free time he enjoys writing, video games, cooking, and playing games with friends.
Andrew Haskell, CT(ASCP)CM
Consultant
Karen J. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. is an assistant professor in the Department of Humanities in Medicine at the Texas A&M Health Sciences Center College of Medicine. She graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree and a baccalaureate in nursing from Dallas Baptist University. After 30 years in nursing she returned to academia where she received a master’s degree and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. Dr. Wakefield’s research interests include medical history in Texas, military medicine, and battlefield medicine.
Dr. Karen J. Wakefield, R.N.
Faculty Editor