Meet Our Team

Jessica is a native of Winston Salem, NC. She received her BS in Biology from Howard University and a Masters in Biomedical Science from Barry University. Prior to the start of her professional career at the Brody School of Medicine, Jessica worked in Clinical Research. Jessica's research interests include postpartum care in Black women and health outcomes in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Jessica is involved with the Brody Chapter SNMA and the Medical Student Council. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys relaxing outdoors with her husband and one-year-old son. 

Morgan is a first-year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Broadly, her research interests include health equity, perinatal health outcomes, and how criminal-legal involvement manifests as a structural determinant of health. Her prior research has focused on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on incarcerated populations. 

ECU Brody Scholar | NC Schweitzer Fellow 

Co-founder, ECU Birth Companions

Uma is passionate about reproductive justice, interpersonal violence prevention, maternal health equity

​

Current projects: Birth Companions and community expansion,  Addressing food insecurity at ECU's high-risk pregnancy clinic, IPV scoping review 

Madison Kendrick is from Charlotte, NC and currently a Brody School of Medicine medical student with a strong passion for equitable birth practices. 

Madison is a DONA certified birth doula and is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE) with a focus on individualized birth plans and interactive learning. Her efforts are guided towards advocacy of socially conscious care for pregnant persons and addressing health disparities.

Valentina Mărginean (she/her) is a registered nurse, aspiring physician, and farm owner. Her research interests include promoting community engagement, evaluating study methodologies, and investigating substance use.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vmarginean/

Co-director, Birth Companions at ECU

Passionate about sexual and reproductive health equity, maternal and fetal outcomes | addressing disparities, patient education and advocacy

Co-Director & Lead educator, Birth Companions at ECU

​

Previously a maternity care nurse (immediate postpartum, high-risk antepartum, newborn nursery) at UNC Health and volunteer roles within UNC Birth Partners

​

Marriam is passionate about

addressing maternal mortality crisis and disparities through taking actionable steps towards change. She specifically works to advocate for pregnant persons and promote holistic, patient centered-care

Leeza Mason is a first-year medical student at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. She is from Henderson, NC and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with a B.S. degree in Biology and minors in Chemistry and History. She attended Meredith College in Raleigh, NC for a post-bac program. She enjoys watching movies, laughing with friends and family, and helping others.   

Joya is a medical student at the Brody School of Medicine. She studied Biology and Public Health at Catholic Univ. in Washington, DC and later worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator with the cardiogenetics clinic at Walter Reed Hospital. Her academic interests include perinatal substance use disorders, reducing the stigma surrounding substance use disorders, pharmacogenetics, and medical sociology.

Dayana Allison is from Fayetteville, NC, and is currently an Honors undergraduate student at East Carolina University. Dayana is majoring in Public Health & Psychology on the pre-med track. Ultimately, she hopes to pursue a career as a medical doctor specializing in rural health. She is particularly passionate about women’s and children’s health, and enjoys volunteering in programs serving this patient population. In her free time, Dayana enjoys spending time with her family & friends, traveling, working out, and cooking.