University of Virginia
Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program
Chiara Popp
My name is Chiara, and I was born and raised in Germany. I met my husband seven years ago and moved to Orlando, Florida, three years ago, where he works as a pilot. Before coming to the U.S., I worked as a police officer in Germany, which sparked my interest in understanding how trauma and social factors influence behavior. I’m graduating this May with my bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCF, and I currently conduct research on deviance with a focus on childhood trauma. While psychology helped me understand why people struggle, I want to be more directly involved in healing, which is why I’m pursuing medicine. Outside of school, I love hiking with my husband and our two cocker spaniels, and I enjoy reading, cooking, and baking.
Hunter von Zelowitz
My name is Hunter von Zelowitz, and I will be joining the cohort immediately after graduating from Roanoke College with a bachelor's degree in Health and Exercise Science and a bachelor's degree in Spanish. I am originally from Hopewell, New Jersey, a small town near Princeton University. While at Roanoke, I played baseball and was active in campus ministries. I am also a certified personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach, and I enjoy working remotely with a few clients. In my spare time, I enjoy volunteering, going to the gym, running, hiking, and reading.
Gabby Rockey
Hi! My name is Gabby, and I’m an incoming student in UVA’s Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program. I’m originally from Richmond, Virginia, and previously attended the University of Virginia for my undergraduate studies, where I graduated from the School of Nursing. I currently work as a registered nurse in Colorado and am excited to return to UVA as I continue building on my academic and clinical experiences while working toward my goal of becoming a dentist. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, snowboarding, and exploring new restaurants around town.
Mike Nickles
My name I is Mike Nickles. I grew up in Stafford, VA. I played baseball at Randolph-Macon college and graduated with degrees in Finance and economics. Since then I have lived in George, Arizona, North Carolina and Louisiana where I worked as an Intelligence Officer in the Army. Personally, I am married with no kids, but two dogs! In my free time I enjoy sports, Brazilian jiu jitsu, hiking, the beach, the outdoors, water sports, fitness, listening to live music, and spending time with family/friends. I am looking forward to meeting everyone!
Vaun Hill
Hello everyone, my name is Jayvaun Hill. Nicknamed Vaun, I am from East Orange, New Jersey and my family comes from a Jamaican background. I spent four years of high school at a boarding school called Church Farm in Exton Pennsylvania. I am currently a senior nursing student graduating from the University of Miami in May 2026. I am excited to start the University of Virginia's Premedical Post Baccalaureate Program (UVA PMPB) in June 2026. I enjoy spending my free time fishing, watching anime, and going to the gym. I am in a fraternity known as Phi Beta Sigma, and this year I had the pleasure of performing in the Miami Heat's halftime show. I'm interested in pursuing a career in trauma surgery or emergency medicine. If you have any questions about New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Miami, fishing, anime, or my journey in nursing to medicine feel free to reach out.
Connor Gunn
Hi everyone! My name is Connor Gunn, and I’m from Long Island, New York. I graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2023 with a degree in psychology. Since graduating, I have been working in a pediatric emergency department doing research in suicide prevention while pursuing a master of public health at Johns Hopkins, where I was also a member of the football team. In my spare time, I enjoy running, reading, and playing chess, but most of all spending time with my dog, Tucker. I’m really excited to meet you all and begin this new journey together!"
Mia Gonzalgo
Mia Gonzalgo is graduating from Columbia University in May 2026 with a major in music and minor in computer science. Through music production, she became interested in programming and eventually worked as a data analyst in a paleobiology lab. She later participated in tropical biology field research in Kenya to study animal behavior and deepen her interest in biology. She also conducted ethnomusicology research on EDM’s role in Asian American culture and is currently writing an autoethnography. After volunteering at hospitals, facilitating health promotion workshops as a peer educator, and shadowing, she became drawn to medicine, as it encompasses everything that she values—the hard sciences, human connection, and service.
Claire Jiang
Hi all, my name is Claire Jiang, and I am from Los Angeles, California. I graduated from UCLA with a degree in statistics in 2022, and for the past three years, I have been working as a management consultant based in NYC. Outside of work, I volunteer at New York-Presbyterian, with the Girl Scouts, and at a family shelter. I also have a lovely 14-year-old cat named Geo! In my free time, I enjoy trying new restaurants, rock climbing, and reading. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone here at UVA!
Kevin Pham
Kevin Pham was born and raised in Olney, Maryland. He graduated from Vassar College where he majored in International Studies. After graduating, Kevin worked in community outreach for the DC government. He then accepted an academic fellowship where he spent a year living and studying in Vietnam. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys playing volleyball, backpacking, and reading.
Daniella Deis
My name is Daniella Deis and I’m from Westfield, New Jersey. I graduated from the University of Rochester in 2023, where I earned a B.S. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and a B.A. in Psychology. Over the past couple of years, I lived in Brooklyn and worked as a behavior technician, providing ABA therapy to kids with autism. Now, I’m back in NJ working as a clinical research coordinator in an outpatient neurology office. I’ve been able to get involved in some groundbreaking clinical trials for epilepsy, and working with the patients in these trials is what really pushed me to pursue medicine. In my free time, you can find me playing soccer, crocheting, listening to music, going to concerts/shows, and spending time with friends. I’m super excited to get started and meet everyone in June!
Sara Mittleberg
My name is Sara Mittleberg. I am originally from Long Island and attended Ohio State University for my undergraduate degree in International Development Studies and Spanish. Following graduation, I volunteered in the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corps for two years, which is where my passion for healthcare began to develop. Upon returning to the US, I took prerequisite courses for nursing school while working as a ski instructor, and ultimately became an RN in 2021. The last few years, I have been working as an RN in NYC in a Cardiac Surgical ICU (CSICU), where my desire to become a physician has solidified. I am so excited to get to know my classmates with diverse backgrounds and embark on this journey of learning together. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors - skiing, hiking, or playing tennis.
Savannah James
Hi everyone! My name is Savannah James, and I was born and raised in Florida. I graduated from the University of Florida in 2024, where I triple majored in Chinese, Economics, and Marketing. After spending the past couple of years working in technology consulting in Tampa, I felt a lack of impact on my community. Through volunteering in the Emergency Department, I discovered how much I value patient-centered, empathetic care, which ultimately led me to pursue medicine. Since then, I have spent time shadowing physicians across a variety of specialties to continue exploring the field. When I’m not working or exploring medicine, you’ll likely find me running, rock climbing, playing pickup sports, reading, or hiking. I am really excited to meet everyone and start this next chapter together!
Miae Bushra
Hello everyone! My name is Miae Bushra, with a background in social and political psychology. Excited to pursue a career in medicine, where I hope to combine my understanding of human motivation with patient centered care! Looking forward to learning with all of you throughout this year.