Alumni Career Panel | Spring 2024

Alumni of the Biohazardous Threat Agents & Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biomedical Science Policy & Advocacy programs joined for a panel discussion on May 1 to share valuable career insights and network with current students.

Meet Our Panelists

Shiraz Belblidia is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Microbiology at NYU Vilcek Institute for Graduate Biomedical Sciences, studying host response to respiratory viruses in Meike Dittmann’s lab. Originally from Southern California, she got her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Barnard College and her master’s degree in biomedical science policy and advocacy at Georgetown. Between degrees, she spent time as a research associate in a molecular immunology lab at the Rockefeller University and an immuno-oncology biotechnology company (Xencor). After Georgetown she was an ORISE Fellow with HHS-BARDA, working on strategic planning and STEM outreach as a member of the Office of the Director. After completing her doctorate, she hopes to use her knowledge and expertise to become a fierce advocate for scientific progress and its translation into real, meaningful, and actionable policy.

Noah Duff (she/her) is an Associate Program Officer in the Office of the President at the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), and 2021 graduate of Georgetown’s Biomedical Science Policy and Advocacy program. At NAM, Noah works on a variety of projects focused on improving health and health care in the U.S. She is currently leading the prevention, data, and research and education, practice, and health systems portfolios of NAM’s Action Collaborative on Combatting Substance Use and Opioid Crises, a multi-sector, public-private partnership seeking to build a sustainable, systems-based response to the nation’s evolving substance use crises. In this work, Noah is dedicated to consensus building and effectively translating data, research, and practice-based evidence into actionable policy solutions.

Prior to NAM, Noah worked in policy, advocacy, and project management roles for global public health organizations working to advance the development and uptake of enteric vaccines, including the Sabin Vaccine Institute and PATH’s Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access.

Lydian Green graduated from the Biohaz program in the Spring of 2021. Her current position is with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) as a Public Health Analyst. In her current position at ASPR, she serves as the Information Manager for the Mid-Atlantic region and New England region. Under ASPR, she has deployed as the Health and Medical Information Management lead for multiple disasters and Special Security Events. Prior to joining ASPR, Lydian served as a FEMA Grants contractor at Cadmus LLC and a Biosecurity Intern with CRDF Global. Lydian also has a background in EMS and a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience.

Leah Goodman, MS, is a Global Health Security Consultant at Jacobs (Washington, District of Columbia, United States) with with expertise in infectious diseases, public health communications and government relations. Over the past two years, she has supported numerous projects related to Pandemic Preparedness, Biosurveillance, Biosafety and Biosecurity, One Health, and the intersection of climate change and health. Current project work includes The National Biosurveillance Network for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Sustainment & Transition of two BSL-2 laboratories in Ukraine, and Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Biosurveillance Capacity Building in the Republic of Indonesia both for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

Ms. Goodman supports the thought leadership portfolio at Jacobs, recently contributing to the study titled: “What Can Global North Learn from Global South: Lessons from Past Pandemics and Epidemics”, and published a report in coordination with FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute.

Kimberly (Kimmy) Ma, Policy Analyst, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, Washington DC. Currently Kimmy is a Policy Analyst with the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology while pursuing her PhD in Biodefense part-time at George Mason University. Before the Biotech Commission, Kimmy worked as a Senior Analyst with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) on their public health preparedness portfolio, working with CDC, ASPR, and DHS. Prior to ASTHO, she was a Biosecurity Project Lead with CRDF Global for projects funded by Department of State’s CTR Biosecurity Engagement Program and served as team lead for CRDF’s Women in Science and Security Initiative.

Her overall focus and interests are in public health systems strengthening, risk communications, promoting the One Health mindset, and advancing equity in national security workplaces. Kimberly obtained her MS from Georgetown University’s Biohazardous Threat Agents program and a double bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and Japanese from Dartmouth College.

Kennedy Ukelegharanya is an Associate in the Boston office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he focuses on corporate and securities law. He represents life sciences and technology companies throughout all stages of their business life cycle, advising clients on matters of formation, venture capital financings, and corporate governance.

Prior to law school, Kennedy worked as a science and technology policy analyst at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., where he produced in-depth analyses on blockchain, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. He earned Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Political Science from Syracuse University, an M.S. in Biomedical Science Policy & Advocacy from Georgetown University, and a J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Hamid Eshan: Clinical Hematology & Oncology fellow, Levine Cancer Institute-Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC

I grew up in Pakistan and moved to the USA in 2011 for my medical training. I served as a Research Assistant at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York. During my tenure, I was an integral part of a team dedicated to HIV research, contributing to trials such as MTN 004 (Microbicide Trials Network) and ATN 062 (Adolescent Trials Network) studies. In 2012, I embarked on my internal medicine residency training at MedStar Health in Baltimore, where I later assumed the role of chief resident. Following the completion of my residency, I transitioned into a position as an academic hospitalist, actively engaging in the education of medical students and residents. My responsibilities extended to participation in various institute-based committees, including those focused-on pharmacy and therapeutics, quality improvement, and patient safety council. In 2019, I seized the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in Biohazardous Threat Agents and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Georgetown University. My coursework specialized in the rapidly evolving fields of cancer immunotherapy, immunogenetics, and the critical role of biosafety and biosecurity in cancer research.

Currently, I am immersed in my role as a clinical Hematology & Oncology fellow at Levine Cancer Institute/Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC. This position allows me to combine my diverse background and expertise to make meaningful contributions to cancer care and research.

Aniket Dipak Patel, Analyst, Ripple Effect Communications, Inc., DC.
Founder at BioMedSpace®, Philadelphia, PA

Aniket is an accomplished professional with extensive expertise in program management, research, and policy analysis. He holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science Policy & Advocacy from Georgetown University (Batch of 2013-2014) and a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Mumbai University, India (2009-2013). Aniket’s career highlights include serving as a Senior Program Manager at Novavax, where he successfully led a portfolio of drug development projects including COVID-19, rSV, and flu, ranging from research to commercialization worth over $300 million. He has also worked as a Research and Development Program Manager at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, managing a multi-million-dollar multi-valent rabies vectored Ebola and Lassa virus vaccine development program funded by the NIH. Additionally, Aniket has experience as a Science Policy Analyst, contributing to initiatives at organizations like Ripple Effect Communications and the Library of Congress. He has co-authored reference guides and publications on topics such as the microbiome and Ebola virus. Aniket is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®, a pro-bono scientific program management consultant, and is known for his exceptional communication, organizational, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Currently living in Philadelphia, PA, Aniket is working on developing an influencing and consulting company, BioMedSpace®. Through BioMedSpace®, Aniket aims to bridge the gap between various stakeholders in the life and biomedical sciences industry by providing cross-content influencing and innovative consultancy management services. These stakeholders include U.S. biotech companies, researchers, academic institutions, healthcare providers, patients, and the general population. BioMedSpace® is planned to be officially launched in Fall 2024.