Below are our incredible alumni of the Summer Research Program. Feel free to read about their experience and check out their LinkedIn to follow along with their current accomplishments!
Want to join the team? Please apply to through our CVI Summer Research Program Application.
My name is Sarina Chadha, and I am a second-year medical student at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Originally from the Bay Area, I completed my undergraduate studies at UC San Diego and later worked as an EMT in San Diego County, where I developed a strong interest in cardiovascular medicine. I am particularly interested in preventative and interventional cardiology and hope to integrate clinical practice with research throughout my career. I am currently involved in a research project examining the relationship between vascular calcification and stroke risk in young adults, with the goal of identifying early markers of subclinical vascular disease and improving prevention strategies in younger patients.
Through shadowing in the cardiac catheterization lab, cardiology clinics, and the cardiovascular rehabilitation center, I have gained valuable exposure to both procedural and longitudinal aspects of care. Observing procedures such as PFO closures and seeing the impact of lifestyle medicine and prevention on patient outcomes has reinforced my passion for cardiology and my goal of pursuing a career that combines research, prevention, and compassionate patient care.
My name is Kaden Hubly, and I am finishing my second year of medical school while looking forward to starting my clinical rotations. My research project focused on cardiovascular disease prevention, specifically assessing the impact of comorbidities and the degree of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] elevation in young adults who experienced premature cardiovascular events.
Beyond the research itself, the experience was strengthened by BEACON’s welcoming team and hands-on mentorship. Students are invited to participate in bi-weekly lab meetings, creating a collaborative learning environment, and the opportunity to learn directly from experts in the field.
My career interests center on cardiovascular disease prevention and the role of translational research in improving clinical care. I hope to bring greater awareness to earlier risk identification and reduction in preventable cardiovascular conditions.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaden-hubly-39469b268/
My name is Dahlia Adler, and I am a high school junior at Francis Parker School. During the summer of 2025, I participated in the Cardiovascular Institute Research Program, where I worked alongside two other high school students on a research project focused on young stroke patients. For the research project, we worked under the supervision of Dr. Taub and Sarina Chada to analyze medical records from patients under 60 who had experienced strokes. We collected and organized clinical and imaging data to study the presence of vascular calcification, a marker of early cardiovascular disease. Our findings suggested that many young stroke patients show signs of underlying vascular disease, emphasizing the importance of early detection and prevention.
This experience introduced me to the process of writing a scientific research paper and the level of precision and dedication it requires. It also helped clarify my future goals by allowing me to explore several areas of healthcare, including research, inpatient and outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation. My favorite part of the program was observing outpatient clinics, where I had the opportunity to watch physicians continue to develop long-term relationships with their patients and work to improve their quality-of-life following cardiovascular events.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dahlia-adler-2481583b0
I am currently a senior at Canyon Crest Academy and am hoping to pursue a pre-medical pathway once I graduate. Over the summer, I worked with Dr. Taub and Sarina Chadha to research the prevalence of Lipoprotein(a) throughout patients and its association with stroke risk. During my time here, I analyzed patient charts to understand the connections between this risk factor and cardiovascular diseases.
My favorite experience was getting the opportunity to shadow a variety of doctors during their outpatient and inpatient consult rounds. It allowed me to observe a variety of patients and see the differences in their treatment plans. In the future, I hope to continue engaging in research as an undergraduate student. In my free time, I volunteer with the International Health Collective as a Spanish translator in Tijuana and Mexicali. Additionally, I have performed violin internationally at the Burgos Music Festival in 2023 and 2025 and am part of my school's chamber orchestra. I am also a competitive springboard diver and placed first at the CIF San Diego Section Division 1 competition in 2025.
My name is Ayaan Mahmud, and I am currently a junior at The Bishop’s School. Last summer, I was given the opportunity to work in the Cardiovascular Institute Summer Research Program. I spent my time conducting research and shadowing doctors in the hospital during different shifts throughout the day. For my research project, I worked with two other high school students and a medical student to analyze potential risk factors for cryptogenic stroke in patients under sixty years old. We combed through hundreds of patients’ data to search for trends we could analyze. I also put together a presentation on our data suggesting a potential relationship between fatty liver disease and stroke, which I presented to the lab team at the conclusion of my experience.
I am grateful that I was able to work with such a great team, and I have remained in contact with them throughout the year. During my time with them, I gained invaluable insight into what it is like to work in healthcare, both in a hospital setting and in research. My favorite experience while shadowing physicians was inpatient care, as I was able to see what life is like for residents completing their training and speak with them about their perspectives at this stage of their careers. I was also exposed to a wide variety of medical conditions and was able to observe how doctors communicate with their patients. I know that my experience in this program will continue to shape my goals for the future, and I look forward to continuing the rewarding process of conducting research.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milli-mathur-775a67344/
