DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & DESIGN

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Class of 2027

Afton is a third year MD-PhD student at the Penn State University College of Medicine. She is originally from Seattle, Washington, but has spent the last few years in the Midwest and Northeast. Her interests in medicine and research include leveraging math and computational modeling to improve cancer treatment. Afton is also drawn to LGBTQ+ advocacy in healthcare, which has led her to be involved with her local chapter and efforts to improve LGBTQ+ education at her campus. In her free time, she enjoys knitting and sewing, baking bread, and teasing her roommate’s cat.

For social media inquiries and partnerships, please contact Afton at afton.widdershins@medpride.org

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA

University of Pittsburgh
Class of 2032

 Jack is currently a 1st year MD/PhD student in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the University of Pittsburgh. Before delving into the world of medicine, he conducted botany research at Dickinson College as an undergraduate student. He studied the conservation and population dynamics of exceptionally rare plants species across the east coast of the United States. Jack then transitioned from studying rare plants to rare diseases. During undergrad, Jack was a visiting researcher at Georgetown University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. At these institutions, he conducted hormone and metabolism research. At the University of Pittsburgh, he is interested in liver metabolism and steroid hormone signaling. As such, he often studies rare metabolic diseases that lead to intersex conditions: 5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency (5ARD), Aromatase Deficiency, 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Deficiency, etc. After medical school, he hopes to continue his studies of the liver and rare diseases, either through an internal medicine or medical genetics residency program. Outside of the lab and the hospital, Jack can be found hiking, collecting plants and insects, kayaking, or photographing the night sky.

Twitter: @JackCDrda
Website: https://www.mdphd.pitt.edu/people/jack-drda

Jack can be contacted at jack.drda@medpride.org