Highlighting College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences graduates

July 10, 2024 • Alumni, Med Sci, Research, SBS, students

We shine a spotlight on the remarkable accomplishments of some of our outstanding College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences graduates. These individuals have not only excelled academically but have also made significant contributions to their communities, demonstrated exceptional leadership and embarked on promising career paths.

Spotlight on College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Graduates

Charles Amankwa, PhD

More than a decade ago, Charles Amankwa was beginning a new career as a community pharmacist in Ghana, his home country, when he met a patient who would change the trajectory of his career.

“She came to the pharmacy to fill prescriptions aimed at easing her glaucoma,” Amankwa said. “Despite the cocktail of medications she was taking, the patient eventually lost her vision.”

That interaction ignited his curiosity to understand ocular diseases and to help develop better treatments that could save people’s sight.

Temiloluwa Bolaji-Oyenekan, MS

When Temiloluwa Bolaji-Oyenekan set her sights on medical school, finishing her undergraduate degree during the height of the COVID- 19 pandemic was not a part of the plan. Fortunately, resilience is a part of her character.

The timing left her feeling unprepared to apply to medical schools, so she spent time getting patient care experience as a clinical trial coordinator. To strengthen her application even more she enrolled in the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences medical science program. She graduated in May with her Master of Science in Medical Science.

“Navigating the rigorous curriculum of the program has truly defined my experience here,” Bolaji-Oyenekan said. “Upon successful completion, I emerged feeling empowered and confident to take on life’s next challenge.”

Akpedje “Serena” Dossou, PhD

When Dr. Akpedje “Serena” Dossou was a just a teenager in Lome, Togo, two of her grandparents were diagnosed with cancer. Despite her family’s efforts to ensure they received the best possible care they both passed away before she graduated from high school.

“This first exposure to a difficult-to-treat disease, to the importance of early detection and of safe and effective treatments developed in me an interest in contributing to the betterment of patient care,” Dossou said.

That experience left a lasting mark on Dossou, who graduated in May with her PhD in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology.

Jordan Easterling, BS

When Jordan Easterling decided she wanted to go to medical school, she knew she needed excellent health and science training to help her get there.

She found the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, a program that provided the flexibility she needed to continue working full time while giving her the knowledge and skills to be a successful medical professional.

Lane Hughes, MS

Lane Hughes felt the call to give back during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a sophomore in college, he spent time volunteering with the Children’s Medical Center and the American Red Cross helping deliver blood donations and providing companionship to patients when their families could not visit.

“I was usually assigned overnight shifts, but I didn’t mind because I enjoyed being able to do something positive for my community when the world was in disarray during the pandemic,” Hughes said.

Through those first-hand experiences, Hughes also felt the call to become a doctor.

Whitney Miller, MS

When Whitney Miller crossed the stage at The University of North Texas at Health Science Center’s graduation ceremony, she celebrated some major accomplishments: earning a Master of Science in Clinical Research Management from the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences and her recent acceptance into medical school at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

These accomplishments highlight Miller’s academic success at HSC at Fort Worth, but one of the things that really shaped her experience at HSC was the opportunity to give back. While earning her degree, Miller served as an orientation leader, a student ambassador and a teaching assistant. She wanted to help guide new students, the way that others did for her when she was new to campus.

College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences