Medical Students
Christian Dang, MD Candidate
Education:
- Doctor of Medicine Candidate— University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Class of 2028
- Bachelor of Science — University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.
Personal Statement:
I am NIDA T32 medical student, and under the mentorship of Maegan L. Calvert, Ph.D., I am researching how novel functional neuroimaging techniques like functional near-infrared spectroscopy can be used to study substance use disorders and addictive behaviors. My research interests include: child and adolescent psychiatry, artificial intelligence in therapy, antidepressants, neuroimaging in clinical psychiatry, and behavioral addiction.
Sarah Khot, MD Candidate
- Doctor of Medicine Candidate— University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Class of 2028
- Bachelor of Arts — Psychology and Biology – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Personal Statement:
I am a T32 summer intern in the Addiction Research Training Program, while also being a rising second-year medical student as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. During college, I was a research assistant in an affective neuroscience lab and conducted research on the relationship between prenatal stress and adult health outcomes. Under the mentorship of Dr. Andrew James, Ph.D. and Dr. Maegan Calvert, Ph.D., I am currently working on two projects. They aim to compare fNIRS- and fMRI-derived brain-behavior associations among adults with substance use disorders and develop a method to increase the reliability of spatial localization in studies utilizing fNIRS. I am interested in pursuing neurology as a future specialty and my research interests are in the neurosciences, primarily in neuroimaging and neurodegenerative diseases.
John Striednig, 2 LT Army HPSP, MD candidate
Education:
- Doctor of Medicine Candidate— University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Class of 2028
- BS Biology — Southern Arkansas University
- AS Biology — National Park College
Personal Statement:
I am a rising second year medical student at UAMS that is participating in the T32 Summer in Addiction Internship. I am currently interested in pursuing a career in addiction psychiatry. Dr. Fantegrossi and I are working on a mouse model project using behavioral assays to determine if chronic synthetic cannabinoid use affects anxiolytic effects of alprazolam.
Macy Owens, MD candidate
Education:
- Doctor of Medicine Candidate/MPH – UAMS College of Medicine, Little Rock AR; Class of 2028
- Bachelor of Arts – University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
Personal Statement:
I am a current dual-degree MD/MPH student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences who is supported by the NIDA T32 program this summer as a Medical Student Intern. I am under the mentorship of Dr. Melissa Zielinski in the HEALS Lab and am gaining research experience in scoping review data extraction, conducting assessments as part of a clinical trial, and in supporting community relationships fostered by the Women’s Justice Health Alliance. Prior to this internship, I had completed a senior honors thesis in economics at the University of Notre Dame and in 2022, participated in the LSUHSC Summer Research Internship Program and poster presentation. My research interests include maternal and infant health, mental healthcare, addiction medicine, social determinants of health, and economic implications and feasibility of interventions.
Psychiatry Residents
Molly Wootten, D.O., MPH
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry — Carleton College
- Minor in Women and Gender Studies
- Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine — Des Moines University
- Master of Public Health — University of Minnesota
Personal Statement:
I am working in Dr. Zielinski’s Health and the Legal System lab, focusing on multiple projects involving justice-involved and/or incarcerated populations with PTSD and SUD. I am interested in serious mental illness, community mental health, co-occurring disorders (mental illness and substance use disorders), and the relationships between serious mental illness, homelessness, and criminal justice involvement. I am also interested in qualitative research methods and practice. I plan to continue clinical practice in community mental health settings, focusing on patients with psychotic disorders. I hope to use my research knowledge to inform policy decisions and improve treatment for people with co-occurring disorders.
Varenya Nallur, M.D.
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – Hendrix College
- Doctor of Medicine – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Personal Statement:
I earned my degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Hendrix College and completed my medical education at UAMS in 2023. I am particularly interested in forensic psychiatry and plan to pursue fellowship training in the field. I am currently part of the NIH-funded T-32 research program, where I am working on developing my research skills to complement my clinical training. My research explores how stigma shapes the psychiatric care of people involved with the legal system and works to uncover systemic gaps in order to promote compassionate, evidence-based approaches in forensic psychiatry.