Nithya Trichy

"I want to improve the health of the community by educating and making healthy food options more affordable for under-resourced populations and, ultimately, alleviate food insecurities."

Education & Experience

• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine M.D. Candidate | Class of 2026
• Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences, Minors/Certificate in Public Health, Nutrition, and Global Health Studies from the University of Cincinnati
• She currently serves as a Bearcat Mentor and Lead Teacher at New Leaf Kitchen. She also helped develop the Bearcats Food Recovery Network, a public health program in partnership with the University of Cincinnati, to distribute extra food from campus dining locations to communities in need.

What do you hope to gain from participating in the Integrative Medicine MSSP Program?

I hope to learn about the cultural and historical backgrounds behind integrative therapies and the systemic challenges associated with implementing them. Utilizing this knowledge, I will read, learn, and share existing journals focused on current innovations in Lifestyle Medicine and Integrative Health with my colleagues during journal clubs and interest group meetings. After consolidating this information, I aspire to contribute to research oriented around identifying the health disparities that exist within the community and developing effective avenues to address them.

Megan Knauer

“We must shift medicine to emphasizing prevention and meeting people where they’re at in their journeys. This begins with figuring out what patients can control, and what lifestyle factors are mutable.”

Education & Experience

• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine M.D. Candidate | Class of 2026
• Bachelor of Sciences in Medical Utilitarianism from Duke University
• She also worked as a research assistant and as an intern at Duke University’s healthcare policy center

What do you hope to gain from participating in the Integrative Medicine MSSP Program?

I hope to participate in the integrative medicine MSSP because I want to understand how to incorporate stress management, dietary changes, and every other aspect of holistic care into my practice. Further, I want to make this model of care possible for every patient. Further, I want to make this model of care possible for every patient. I hope that participating in this MSSP program will expose me to the different tools that integrative medicine incorporates, will allow me to make connections with leaders in the field so I can discover where I can be useful in expanding this model, and will teach me to connect with patients in a way that sees each as their story, not as their diagnoses.

Adam Beucler

"I believe that integrative and lifestyle medicine are the future of preventing disease and lessening pain."

Education & Experience

• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine M.D. Candidate | Class of 2027
• Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences from Furman University
• Volunteering experience working with community members to develop healthy diet and exercise habits as a FitRx coach

What do you hope to gain from participating in the Integrative Medicine MSSP Program?

I believe that integrative and lifestyle medicine are critical in developing a well-rounded and resourceful physician. In an age where chronic disease, polypharmacy, and reactionary procedures lead to high medical expenditures and adverse outcomes for patients, integrative and lifestyle medicine are extremely relevant.

Katie MacVittie

"I believe healthcare in America needs to shift more to preventative and lifestyle medicine, and I am so excited to be learning more about this approach so early in my medical education"

Education & Experience

• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine M.D. Candidate | Class of 2027
• Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania, Minors in Nutrition Science, Hispanic Studies, and Chemistry
• Medical Assistant at AIM for Wellbeing, an Integrative Medicine Clinic in Cincinnati, Volunteer at Hospice of Cincinnati

What do you hope to gain from participating in the Integrative Medicine MSSP Program?

I am excited to see how UC brings lifestyle medicine and modalities such as nutrition or acupuncture to patients with chronic disease and those undergoing cancer treatment. I am passionate about becoming a physician trained in Integrative Medicine and utilizing this holistic approach to improve the lives of my future patients.

Christen Lescallett

“My goal is to learn how to guide patients towards healthy lifestyle improvements that are implementable and change the course of their healthspan”

Education & Experience:

• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine M.D. Candidate, Class of 2027
• Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the Ohio State University
• Experience as a research assistant studying housing for homeless youth, patient care associate for patients with disabilities, and volunteer at NNEMAP Food Pantry

What do you hope to gain from participating in the Integrative Medicine MSSP program?

I hope to learn more about the field of Integrative Medicine so that I’m more prepared to provide patients with evidence-based options for complementary therapies and lifestyle changes, so that I can provide holistic and preventative care that’s impactful.

Ria Jindal

“I believe the human body was built to thrive. Integrative medicine is the future of disease prevention.”

Education and Experience

• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine M.D. Candidate | Class of 2028
• Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University
• Research Assistant at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine

What do you hope to gain from participating in the Integrative Medicine MSSP Program?

I look forward to learning about all the unique tools that Integrative Medicine has to offer. I want to use these insights as a physician to create comprehensive care plans that empower my patients to proactively manage their health. Ultimately, my vision is to build a healthcare model that emphasizes prevention and whole-person care.

Aadi Pallerla

“I believe that our medical system and our communities can be improved by placing an increased emphasis on the way that cultures and lifestyles impact health.”

Education & Experience

• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine MD-MPH Candidate | Class of 2029
• Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Medical Anthropology, Minor in History from The Ohio State University
• Student researcher at the Spakowicz Lab at Ohio State University focused on the gut microbiome and diet-based interventions for cancer immunotherapy response

What do you hope to gain from participating in the Integrative Medicine MSSP Program?

Studying medical anthropology, I learned about the importance of understanding the sociocultural side of medicine and its potential to improve patient outcomes without an excessive focus on surgical or pharmacological therapies. I am excited for the opportunity to apply some of the principles I learned and discover how evidence-based diet and lifestyle therapies can make meaningful contributions to the management and prevention of illness.

• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine M.D. Candidate | Class of 2028
• Bachelors of Science in Biology from Stanford University
• Research assistant at the University of Chicago TMW Center for Early Learning, Lifestyle Medicine research intern at Apeiron Life