Our Team

Julie Joyal

  • Founding Executive Director

    Ms. Joyal has been a registered nurse for over 30 years and enjoyed a rewarding career in the ICU of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. Moved by the educational disparities that she witnessed in the Boston Public School District, she earned an Ed.M in Education Policy & Management from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Within minutes of observing the MEDscience program, she knew she had found something special and her soon-to-be life’s work. Julie’s multi-faceted background in nursing and education, combined with her commitment to the program’s unique mission and pedagogy, position her to make an especially meaningful impact on the HMS MEDscience Program.

Obi Onochie

  • MEDscienceLAB and Forensics Director

    Obi graduated from Boston University School of Medicine with a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences and a doctorate degree in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology. After completing her doctorate, she joined CityLab, a biotechnology-based outreach program, where she worked as the Education Program Coordinator. While there, she ran the afterschool program and created hands-on laboratory experiences for students in grades 9 - 12. Obi is passionate about teaching science and research methods to the next generation, with a special interest in improving STEM education in minority communities. The mission of HMS MEDscience to increase student exposure to STEM through innovative, hands-on and simulated medical experiences aligns with Obi’s interests and goals. As a member of the HMS MEDscience team, she aims to continue stimulating scientific curiosity in students who may otherwise feel that a career in STEM is beyond their reach.

Camilla Alexius-Chin

  • HMS MEDscience Lead Teacher, Assistant Director of Teacher Development

    Camilla earned her BA in Biology with a minor in Music from Smith College. She completed her Master’s Degree in Science Education through the Boston Teacher Residency. Camilla was a teacher in the Boston Public Schools for 7 years and enjoyed teaching Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Biology. In the classroom, Camilla encouraged her students to act as scientists to understand and solve scientific problems. She is excited to continue this work and empower students through MEDscience’s immersive, hands-on experiences.

    In addition to her role as HMS MEDscience Lead Teacher & Program Coordinator, Camilla also leads the program's Teacher Training & Professional Development.

  • HMS MEDscience Assistant Teacher

    Malcolm Milord received his bachelors of science in the field of Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. His experience includes working as an intern with UMass Athletics in his fall semester of his senior year where he worked as an athletic training intern servicing a multitude of the university’s division 1 sports. Since then, he has worked as an administrative coordinator at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA within their concierge care clinic. He currently also works part time at the Track at New Balance as an events and operations staff, where he successfully created and launched a line of track related stickers for the merchandise team. His long-term goal is to work as a sports science researcher in a sportswear company where he can help test athletic performance and help improve upon it using new innovative ideas to help improve their equipment. While here at MEDScience, he hopes to help the inner-city youth of Boston understand that they don’t necessarily have to become a doctor or nurse but to understand there are multiple pathways into life sciences!

    In addition to his role as a HMS MEDscience Assistant Teacher, Malcolm also helps coordinates the program's social media initiatives and equipment set-up.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher

    Dr. Lee joined the HMS MEDScience faculty after five years as a volunteer teacher. She completed medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine and earned her PhD in Immunology in 2001. After spending two years as a surgical resident at the Weill Cornell New York Presbyterian program, she returned to Boston where her husband now serves as the Division Chief of Plastic Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. Britt has always had a passion for teaching and an interest in educational equity. The immersive teaching experience of HMS MEDScience coupled with its mission to foster and support a pursuit of STEM careers for all students encouraged her to join the team officially in 2021.

  • Administrative Coordinator

    Meaghan graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a BS in Philosophy and a minor in Digital Media. She comes from a background of working in film and television. Learning about the MEDscience program was a big motivation in her career change, as she is inspired by the work that is done here. She is looking forward to supporting a team of wonderful teachers and the mission to make a difference in the lives of high school students.

Nancy Oriol

  • President & Co-Founder

    Dr. Oriol is Former Dean for Students, and current Dean of Community Engagement in Medical Education, Associate Professor of Anaesthesia, and Lecturer on Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her educational innovations include introducing the use of mannequin simulation to the curriculum for medical students and co-founding the HMS MEDscience program to teach science and inspire critical thinking in high school students. Her passion for community service and social entrepreneurship, such as starting Family Van and the HMS MEDscience program, continuously inspires her students and colleagues.

  • Associate Director, MEDscience Program

    Erin graduated from Connecticut College with a BA in Behavioral Neuroscience and a minor in Applied Statistics. Her passion for medicine, public health, and education inspired her to become deeply involved with the program’s various internship opportunities along with the general mission of the program. Erin is inspired by the hands-on teaching pedagogy employed at HMS MEDscience and hopes to engage students of various backgrounds in the Boston area with the use of high-tech interactive learning and critical thinking.

Sam Carson

  • Associate Director, Administration and Workforce Development

    Sam oversees all areas of administration and finance for the HMS MEDscience program and leads HMS MEDscienceWORKS, our life sciences workforce development program. Prior to joining HMS MEDscience, Sam served as Director of Development and Administration at Project 351, a youth service and leadership development nonprofit. Sam began his career in Massachusetts state government as a member of Governor Deval Patrick’s Office and at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). Sam graduated from the Harvard Kennedy School with a Master in Public Policy degree and has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Vanderbilt University. 

  • HMS MEDscience Lead Teacher, Assistant Director of Curriculum, BPS Liaison

    Tim DiMario received his undergraduate degree from UMass Amherst in the fields of Wildlife Biology and Ecology and later earned his MED from UMass Boston in conjunction with the Boston Teacher Residency in 2007. Since then, Tim has been a full-time classroom teacher for Boston Public Schools totaling 14 years in science classroom setting. During his tenure at Boston Public Schools Tim has taught Biology, AP Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Biotech, Genetics, and Advanced Topics in Science. Currently Tim is one of the lead teachers at HMS MEDscience delivering their hands-on curriculum to Boston Public School students while also acting as the liaison between HMS MEDscience and all BPS partner schools. Tim is also a veteran of the armed forces, a certified CPR instructor, and an avid outdoorsman.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher & Communications Coordinator

    Caroline recently graduated from Harvard College with a BA in Spanish Language and Literature and Molecular/Cellular Biology. As an alumna of the MEDscience program, she knows that everyone is capable of making an impact and changing lives, particularly in the field of medicine. She most recently worked as a program coordinator with the LEAD Fellowship for Promoting Women in Global Health at the Harvard Global Health Institute. She’s most proud of her volunteer work during college, teaching cooking lessons to kids en español and practicing English with Spanish-speaking members of the East Boston community. As an Assistant Teacher at MEDscience she hopes to refine her teaching skills and develop her classroom leadership abilities. Her goal is to figure out how best to empower a diverse student body to reimagine their potential.

    In addition to her role as a HMS MEDscience Assistant Teacher, Caroline also helps coordinates the program's social media initiatives and volunteer program.

Fiona Kennedy

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher

    Fiona Kennedy graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Public Health Science. During her time at Maryland, she helped build a youth mentorship program called the Saturday Freedom School where she taught students math, reading, and science until she graduated. Shortly after graduating, she became a Medical Assistant working at Beth Israel Hospital in Obstetrics and Gynecology. During this time, she began volunteering for MEDscience where she saw all of her passions come together. Fiona worked as both a full-time teacher and as the DEIB liaison. She is now gearing up to get her Master of Science in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine where she will continue on with MEDscience virtually.

Jules Chou

  • Administrative Coordinator

    Jules comes from a background of healthcare administration and non-profit fundraising. She is drawn to the mission and vision of the program, particularly in teaching students to “think differently — think not only outside of the box, but think like there is no box.” She looks forward to playing her part in supporting and contributing to the success of the program.

  • Director, MEDscience Program

    Livia joined MEDscience as a teacher and curriculum developer in 2017. Previously, Livia was a middle school and high school science teacher at Boston College High School where she implemented the MEDscience curriculum into her physiology course. She was drawn to MEDscience as she values experiential learning as an effective teaching method to inspire students to enjoy science and explore STEM careers. Furthermore, the pedagogical emphasis on boosting confidence in the classroom and empowering young minds to think critically aligns with Livia’s mission as an educator. Livia’s enthusiastic approach to teaching and interest in medicine pair well together in the MEDscience classroom. Livia has a BA in biology and political science from Amherst College, and a MLA in biology from Harvard Extension School.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher

    Elu recently graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology and a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences. As an alumna of HMS MEDscience, her passion for the program stems from the impact it made on her STEM education. While in college, Elu volunteered as a UConn Health Leader, screening patients for social determinants of health for their healthcare providers. With a keen interest in the intersection of genetics and medicine, Elu aspires to become an oncologist. Beyond her academic endeavors, Elu is committed to raising health literacy and promoting diversity in STEM fields. She recognizes the importance of accessible healthcare information and strives to empower individuals with knowledge to make informed decisions about their well-being. Elu is excited to spend her gap years at MEDscience to make a lasting impact on the next generation of aspiring scientists and healthcare professionals.

    In addition to her role as a HMS MEDscience Teacher, Elu also helps coordinates the program's social media initiatives.

  • HMS MEDscience Assistant Teacher

    Cole recently graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Health Sciences and a minor in Biology. His journey into healthcare began in high school through a cadet EMT program, where he was immersed into both real-life and simulated medical scenarios, much like the MEDscience program. Since then, Cole has spent over six years working in emergency medicine, serving as an EMT with his local fire department and an ER tech at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He has also contributed to immunology research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and ultimately aspires to become a physician. Cole is passionate about leveraging education to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM and believes it is a powerful tool to advance health equity and improve outcomes in underserved communities.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher and Program Coordinator

    Dr. Matt Canik received his undergraduate degree in human biology at the University of Texas in 2015. He is a product of the university’s UTeach program and spent 4 years teaching public high school in his hometown of Austin, Texas. He then returned to the University of Texas, where he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2023. He has experience writing and implementing curricula for biology, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, introductory chemistry, and medicinal chemistry courses. Matt finds the health sciences utterly fascinating and hopes to foster a similar sense of curiosity and wonder in his students. He was drawn to the MEDscience program because of how its hands-on, simulation-based approach closely mirrors the experience of medical and pharmacy residents. He strives to elevate each of his students to their fullest potential and is a fierce proponent of education for all.

    When not in the classroom, Matt enjoys running, swimming, reading, and playing Scrabble.

Sandy Connors

  • Student Programs Manager

    Sandy has spent 22 years supporting academic missions of both local and international schools, most recently as student sponsorship coordinator with a non-profit organization that supports and educates marginalized girls in Tanzania. Appreciating the value of education to empower and transform lives, Sandy is inspired by the engaging and active learning at MEDscience. Sandy holds a BA in Social Work from Michigan State University.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher and Program Coordinator

    Anna graduated from Grand Canyon University with her bachelors of science in biology with an emphasis in physical therapy. She spent the last few years teaching at all different levels including elementary, high school, and as an adjunct professor for undergraduate students. She also has a passion for hands-on education and was inspired to work more in medicine through her experience as a program coordinator at the University of Arizona Medical School and volunteering at Phoenix Children’s hospital. She was drawn to the MEDscience program as she loves the unique and impactful way of teaching and inspiring students in STEM education. She is excited for her love of education and medicine to combine in this new role and to be a part of a team that works to inspire students from all over the world.

  • Student Programs Coordinator

    Sufia is a mission-driven nonprofit professional with experience spanning community-based organizations, independent schools, and higher education. She brings expertise in partnership development, marketing and communications, fundraising, admissions and enrollment, and volunteer management. Sufia is passionate about building authentic relationships, supporting initiatives that advance equity and access, and engaging with organizations that strengthen the Boston community. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, going for walks, watercolor painting, and listening to music of all genres.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher

    Daniel received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During his time at UMass Amherst, he competed on their NCAA Division I Track and Field team as a hurdler, and served as Captain his senior year. His experience in medicine began working as an EMT-B for Brewster Ambulance and UMass EMS for a year, before working as an ER Tech at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he still works clinically in addition to MEDscience. At Brigham, Daniel is passionate about leading health equity projects and research in the ED. Daniel found his love for teaching through becoming a peer educator in the Brigham ED, preparing new ER Techs for the challenges of emergency medicine through medical simulation. Following this love for teaching, Daniel joined MEDscience as a volunteer in January 2025. After being inspired by MEDscience’s pedagogy and hands-on learning, he began working part-time as an Assistant Teacher in September 2025. As an aspiring physician, Daniel aims to use education as a way to work with underserved communities to advance health equity and improve community health outcomes. 

  • HMS MEDscienceLAB Teacher and Program Coordinator

    Dr. Robert López-Astacio is a scientist and educator who earned his B.S. in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce, completed a post-baccalaureate in Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Rochester, and later received his Ph.D. in Immunology and Infectious Disease from Cornell University. His interdisciplinary training spans virology, immunology, teaching, industry research, and science communication.

    Robert currently serves as the Director of Communications for Ciencia en tus Manos, a nonprofit dedicated to making science accessible to Spanish-speaking and underserved communities. Before joining the HMS MEDscienceLAB program as a Teacher and Program Coordinator, he held research and teaching roles at Cornell University and worked in industry as a biologics scientist.

    Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. López-Astacio is deeply committed to increasing representation of disadvantaged communities and Latinos in STEM careers. He strives to create inclusive, hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and empower students to see themselves as future scientists and health professionals.

    Outside the classroom, Robert enjoys creating educational visuals, crocheting, cooking, spending time with friends, and expressing his artistic side through karaoke.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher

    Heather earned her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College, majoring in Biology with a minor in French. After graduating, she worked as a Research Technician in the Biochemistry Department at Boston University School of Medicine and completed her MAT in Secondary Science Education at Boston University.

    Heather taught high school science in New Hampshire for 30 years at John Stark Regional HS, offering courses in Human Anatomy & Physiology, Advanced Placement Biology, Human Biology, Health, and General Biology. She also developed curriculum and created new student courses, including Forensics I & II.  Her interest in technology led to the design of online, interactive lessons to enhance student engagement and learning  as well as the development of a Technology Tools course. In addition to her classroom teaching, Heather managed the department budget, served as the science department–administration liaison and was a mentor for new teachers.

    Heather came out of retirement to join the MEDscience program because it embodies everything she loved about teaching—passionate and supportive colleagues, student discovery, hands-on learning, meaningful engagement with young people, and the opportunity to nurture and deepen a lifelong passion for science. Heather aims to leverage her years of experience while developing new skills that inspire and encourage students of various backgrounds to pursue STEM fields.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher

    Mia recently graduated from Tufts University with a BS in Biology. As an alumna of HMS MEDScience, her love for the program is rooted in first-hand experience of its impact on both her and her classmates. She has remained involved since that time, as an intern, volunteer, and now instructor. During college, she participated in several community-oriented volunteer programs, connecting with both pediatric and geriatric populations, and she is still an active volunteer in that area. Mia has contributed to clinical research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in both the thoracic and gastroenterology fields, and she is a member of the Allegretti Lab at BWH. Mia is very interested in the growing number of immune-related GI diagnoses, and she ultimately aspires to be a gastroenterologist. Throughout her time at MEDScience, Mia hopes to empower young scientists to advocate for themselves as students and patients, give them the information to make informed health decisions, and introduce them to the many impactful roles in the healthcare field.

  • HMS MEDscience Lead Teacher, Assistant Director of MEDscienceTECH

    Hailey is an engineer at heart with a passion for teaching students about all things STEM. Her educational background spans computer science, biomedical engineering, and neural engineering, drawing from her undergraduate studies in cognitive science at UC Berkeley and her master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Hailey’s first role out of college was serving America’s veterans at the West Los Angeles VA Hospital, where she worked as a neural image analyst supporting patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She later applied these skills to neuroprosthetic research at Carnegie Mellon, designing and implanting a neural device in mice to study biocompatibility and device performance.

    Prior to joining the MEDscience team, Hailey spearheaded synthetic biology outreach and education efforts at Boston University through the STEM Pathways program. While at BU, she further developed her teaching practice by earning a second master’s degree in science education from Wheelock College of Education & Human Development.

    Hailey’s teaching goal is to demystify complex scientific ideas and help students explore topics they care about through an engineering lens, while connecting their interests to transferable, real-world skills.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher

    Kait recently graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Nutrition from Rutgers University and is passionate about integrating these disciplines into her nursing practice. After volunteering with MEDscience in December 2025, Kait developed a strong appreciation for the program’s ability to expose high school students to careers in healthcare while promoting health literacy. As the first member of her extended family to pursue a career in healthcare, Kait understands the challenges of finding one’s path in the medical field. She brings several years of experience working as a medical assistant in a pediatric primary care setting and hopes to pursue a career in pediatric nursing while continuing to work with MEDscience.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher

    Tommy recently graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a BS in Biological Sciences and minors in Chemistry and Leadership Studies. During his time at URI, he worked at
    the George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, contributing to studies on Alzheimer’s pathology, while also completing his own Honors research project that blended in vitro studies of mitochondrial dysfunction with the artistic aspects of neurobiological research. In the clinical setting, he works as an Emergency Room Technician at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.

    Previously, Tommy worked for the Center for Student Leadership Development at URI, served as an assistant teaching an A&P II laboratory, and tutored at his local Adult Learning Center. Through these roles, he has remained dedicated to providing educational opportunities to diverse communities. As a former intern and volunteer, Tommy developed a strong connection to the pedagogy at MEDscience and seeks to highlight leadership qualities in every student while advancing health literacy. Ultimately, he aspires to become a physician specializing in endovascular neurology.

  • HMS MEDscience Teacher & Program Coordinator

    Elnora earned her B.S. in Liberal Studies from The Honors College at the University of Houston, with minors in Nutrition, Biology, and Medicine & Society, and her B.S. in Nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where she also served as a tutor for nursing students. She began her career in critical care, with clinical experience spanning cardiovascular, trauma, surgical, transplant, neuro, medical, and burn ICUs, as well as rural critical care settings in Texas and Florida. She is currently pursuing an MPH in Health Management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where her work centers on transforming healthcare systems to create safer, more dignifying environments for patients and healthier, more supportive environments for providers. Through MEDscience, Elnora hopes to inspire and empower the next generation of healthcare professionals to approach their careers with purpose, conviction, and compassion.

“There isn’t any other programs to my knowledge that teach students this way. It forces us to think critically, and problem solve. It was very impactful to me, because it made me feel like I was actually a doctor, helping save lives.”
— Summer Program student