University of Maryland TOC
Board Members
The panel of Volunteers who are part of Trials of Color in UMD Office.
Lavanya Dias Amarawardena
Co-Director of Community Outreach
Lavanya Dias Amarawardena a junior at UMD majoring in biology and minoring in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. She is also on the pre-med track, so she hopes to pursue higher studies at medical school in the future. Aside from school, she loves to dance, bake, and read. She enjoy reading all kinds of genres, but mainly fantasy!
Tuan Mang
Treasurer
Tuan Mang is a junior at UMD and her major is Biology-Physiology and Neurobiology and her minor is Human Development. She aspires to be a pediatrician in the future, as she enjoys working with children. She has been a Sunday School teacher for my church for 4 years and she currently volunteers at a library to tutor elementary school students. In her free time, she likes to crochet, watch movies, and spend time with my friends.
Tuan joined TOC because she is passionate about helping underserved communities have access to the healthcare they deserve. She believes cancer is different for everyone and it is especially important to have clinical trials where all communities are represented in a rightful way to provide the best treatment to all cancer patients. She hopes to provide awareness to the disparities some communities face through her position in Trials of Color at UMD.
Tanya Budhiraja
Co-Director of Community Outreach
Tanya Budhiraja is currently a Junior Bioengineering major at the University of Maryland, College Park. Within her major she is on the Biotechnology and Therapeutics Engineering track. She decided to join Trials of Color to help decrease racial disparities in health.
She is interested in attending grad school and hopefully pursuing a career in research after graduation. She is specifically interested in studying cancer computationally in the future.
Sapna Gajera
Secretary
Sapna Gajera is a junior at the University of Maryland. She is majoring in Biology with a concentration in Physiology and Neurobiology and minoring in Sociology. She hopes to attend medical school to become a Pediatric Oncologist. Last year, she volunteered with the Kids Achieve Club which is dedicated to tutoring elementary schoolers. This semester, she will be leading a group of volunteers at a site called CASA de Maryland which is dedicated to helping high schoolers with homework and enrichment projects.
In the midst of Covid-19, her father was diagnosed with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in his arm. This experience solidified her passion for pursuing a career in oncology. Her goal by being a part of this club is to improve the experience of having cancer for other people in any way that she can and become a part of improving that experience by making sure that underrepresented groups have access to clinical trials.
Saanika Mahashetty
President
Saanika Mahashetty is a junior General Biology and Business Management double major undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a 2023 National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Biology SURP Scholar and a student in the Honors College and Global Fellows Honors program at the University of Maryland. Saanika graduated high school with an International Baccalaureate diploma and was named a 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar. She also has a strong passion for music and has been nationally and internationally recognized by distinguished leaders and organizations, including the late former President of India.
Growing up in a family of healthcare professionals, Saanika has always been interested in pursuing a career in medicine and intends to go to medical school to become a surgeon. She has consistently been pursuing her passion by volunteering at local hospitals and clinics, working in clinical research laboratories at the FDA, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Maryland, and being an active member of health advocacy clubs on campus. Saanika met Sharon at an NCI Division of Cancer Biology conference in July 2023 and was inspired to found a chapter of Trials of Color at the University of Maryland. Her experience in cancer research has helped her recognize the importance of the Trials of Color mission, and she hopes to continue to spread the Trials of Color message throughout the University of Maryland campus.
Andrew Sidawy
Director of Fundraising
Andrew is a Sophomore at the University of Maryland where he is studying Physiology and Neurobiology with aspirations of becoming a physician. While he was always interested in science, it was his mom’s experience with breast cancer that ultimately solidified his desire to pursue his field of study. In a time that was filled with uncertainty and fear, watching his mom’s physicians work tirelessly to help her filled Andrew with hope that his mom would be okay. Thanks to early detection and quality treatment, his mom was able to beat her cancer. These experiences have made Andrew realize that barriers to good healthcare and clinical trials limit so many from positive outcomes. Ensuring that equitable access is available to those in underserved minority communities is the mission of Trials of Colors and Andrew is excited and honored to be a part of this work!
Luísa Barros Checcucci
Vice President
Luisa Barros Checcucci is junior neuroscience major. A premedicine student at the University of Maryland, her academic experience have driven her to be a part of the solution in diminishing the gap between patients and providers.
Trials of Color is a cause that holds profound significance to her as she also has experienced a personal loss due to cancer. Joining the efforts and contributing her time to Trials of Color aligns with her passion for making a meaningful difference in inclusivity for all affected by the disease.
Rishika Jadhav
Director of Public Relations
Rishika Jadhav is a junior undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park studying Bioengineering. She has always been interested in genetics and genetic engineering because of her family’s history with a rare genetic disease. She hopes to apply her degree to various area of study, including cancer genetics. As an undergraduate student, Rishika is also on the executive board of clubs involving South Asian culture, music, political discouse, and public relations.
As part of UMD Trials of Color, Rishika is excited to spread awareness and act on inclusive cancer care, as it starts with students that wish to go into healthcare, policy, and/or medicine. She believes that is it important that cancer care is inclusive, unbiased, and well-researched.
Board Members
The panel of Volunteers who are part of Trials of Color in UMD Office.
Lavanya Dias Amarawardena
Co-Director of Community Outreach
Lavanya Dias Amarawardena a junior at UMD majoring in biology and minoring in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. She is also on the pre-med track, so she hopes to pursue higher studies at medical school in the future. Aside from school, she loves to dance, bake, and read. She enjoy reading all kinds of genres, but mainly fantasy!
Tuan Mang
Treasurer
Tuan Mang is a junior at UMD and her major is Biology-Physiology and Neurobiology and her minor is Human Development. She aspires to be a pediatrician in the future, as she enjoys working with children. She has been a Sunday School teacher for my church for 4 years and she currently volunteers at a library to tutor elementary school students. In her free time, she likes to crochet, watch movies, and spend time with my friends.
Tuan joined TOC because she is passionate about helping underserved communities have access to the healthcare they deserve. She believes cancer is different for everyone and it is especially important to have clinical trials where all communities are represented in a rightful way to provide the best treatment to all cancer patients. She hopes to provide awareness to the disparities some communities face through her position in Trials of Color at UMD.
Tanya Budhiraja
Co-Director of Community Outreach
Tanya Budhiraja is currently a Junior Bioengineering major at the University of Maryland, College Park. Within her major she is on the Biotechnology and Therapeutics Engineering track. She decided to join Trials of Color to help decrease racial disparities in health.
She is interested in attending grad school and hopefully pursuing a career in research after graduation. She is specifically interested in studying cancer computationally in the future.
Sapna Gajera
Secretary
Sapna Gajera is a junior at the University of Maryland. She is majoring in Biology with a concentration in Physiology and Neurobiology and minoring in Sociology. She hopes to attend medical school to become a Pediatric Oncologist. Last year, she volunteered with the Kids Achieve Club which is dedicated to tutoring elementary schoolers. This semester, she will be leading a group of volunteers at a site called CASA de Maryland which is dedicated to helping high schoolers with homework and enrichment projects.
In the midst of Covid-19, her father was diagnosed with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in his arm. This experience solidified her passion for pursuing a career in oncology. Her goal by being a part of this club is to improve the experience of having cancer for other people in any way that she can and become a part of improving that experience by making sure that underrepresented groups have access to clinical trials.
Saanika Mahashetty
President
Saanika Mahashetty is a junior General Biology and Business Management double major undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a 2023 National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Biology SURP Scholar and a student in the Honors College and Global Fellows Honors program at the University of Maryland. Saanika graduated high school with an International Baccalaureate diploma and was named a 2021 U.S. Presidential Scholar. She also has a strong passion for music and has been nationally and internationally recognized by distinguished leaders and organizations, including the late former President of India.
Growing up in a family of healthcare professionals, Saanika has always been interested in pursuing a career in medicine and intends to go to medical school to become a surgeon. She has consistently been pursuing her passion by volunteering at local hospitals and clinics, working in clinical research laboratories at the FDA, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Maryland, and being an active member of health advocacy clubs on campus. Saanika met Sharon at an NCI Division of Cancer Biology conference in July 2023 and was inspired to found a chapter of Trials of Color at the University of Maryland. Her experience in cancer research has helped her recognize the importance of the Trials of Color mission, and she hopes to continue to spread the Trials of Color message throughout the University of Maryland campus.
Andrew Sidawy
Director of Fundraising
Andrew is a Sophomore at the University of Maryland where he is studying Physiology and Neurobiology with aspirations of becoming a physician. While he was always interested in science, it was his mom’s experience with breast cancer that ultimately solidified his desire to pursue his field of study. In a time that was filled with uncertainty and fear, watching his mom’s physicians work tirelessly to help her filled Andrew with hope that his mom would be okay. Thanks to early detection and quality treatment, his mom was able to beat her cancer. These experiences have made Andrew realize that barriers to good healthcare and clinical trials limit so many from positive outcomes. Ensuring that equitable access is available to those in underserved minority communities is the mission of Trials of Colors and Andrew is excited and honored to be a part of this work!
Luísa Barros Checcucci
Vice President
Luisa Barros Checcucci is junior neuroscience major. A premedicine student at the University of Maryland, her academic experience have driven her to be a part of the solution in diminishing the gap between patients and providers.
Trials of Color is a cause that holds profound significance to her as she also has experienced a personal loss due to cancer. Joining the efforts and contributing her time to Trials of Color aligns with her passion for making a meaningful difference in inclusivity for all affected by the disease.
Rishika Jadhav
Director of Public Relations
Rishika Jadhav is a junior undergraduate student at the University of Maryland, College Park studying Bioengineering. She has always been interested in genetics and genetic engineering because of her family’s history with a rare genetic disease. She hopes to apply her degree to various area of study, including cancer genetics. As an undergraduate student, Rishika is also on the executive board of clubs involving South Asian culture, music, political discouse, and public relations.
As part of UMD Trials of Color, Rishika is excited to spread awareness and act on inclusive cancer care, as it starts with students that wish to go into healthcare, policy, and/or medicine. She believes that is it important that cancer care is inclusive, unbiased, and well-researched.