Bonnie Chen is a medical student at the CWRU School of Medicine. She earned her B.S. in Global Health and B.A. in Neuroscience in 2012 from the University of Southern California. Following undergrad, she acted as community engagement and fundraising coordinator for Yoga Behind Bars, a non-profit based in Seattle, WA. Her inspiration for pursuing medicine and HIV research stems from her service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia, where she supported community leaders to more effectively lead HIV prevention trainings and campaigns. She currently works with Dr. Michael Freeman and Dr. Soumya Panagrahi in the lab to explore the interactions between endothelial cells and CD8 T cells that may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk in individuals living with HIV.
In her free time Bonnie likes to find new ways to stay active and enjoys catching up on her favorite podcasts — Radiolab, Invisibilia, This American Life, and 2 Dope Queens.