Masani Coley

Alma Mater: University of California, Irvine, B.S. Biological Sciences, Minor: African-American Studies

Matriculation Year: 2021

About Masani: Masani is a first-generation college graduate and current MS1 from central Los Angeles, California. She completed her B.S. in Biological Sciences as well as a minor in African-American Studies at University of California, Irvine, in 2016. She later completed the UC Davis School of Medicine’s post-baccalaureate program in 2020, just prior to beginning her journey as medical student. Masani is passionate about improving healthcare in underserved communities, specifically implementing policy that targets eliminating the healthcare inequities that these communities often face. Outside of academia, Masani enjoys hiking, traveling, and taking care of her plants.

Research Advisor: Melissa Chen

Research Interests: My research interests include topics related to women’s healthcare, specifically maternal fetal medicine and obstetrics research, as well as reproductive health. My prior research was in a Developmental and Cell Biology lab studying transcription factors and their effects on germ layer development in frog model embryos. I also have interests in providing mentorship and increasing participation of underrepresented minorities in STEM fields. As a medical student at University of California, Davis and member of ARC-MD, I hope to gain the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary for a successful and impactful career as a physician scientist.

Why ARC: I chose the ARC-MD program because I hope to strengthen my research background by incorporating it into my medical education, as well as using the experiences I gained growing up in an under-served neighborhood to guide my research pursuits throughout my career. I also value the support and mentorship that comes with being part of such a tight-knit cohort of talented individuals and directors.

Publications: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3855-4856