Undergraduate Fellows in Disability Policy - Lurie Institute for Disability Policy

Carmela Belizaire

Carmela Belizaire is an Undergraduate Fellow in Disability Policy. She is a Brandeis senior studying Health: Science, Society, and Policy, with a minor in African and Afro-American Studies. On-campus, she serves as a community advisor (CA) under the Department of Community Living and is an undergraduate departmental representative (UDR) for her major. Carmela is passionate about healthcare disparities and accommodating communities through policy and programming. Through the Starr Fellowship, Carmela is excited to gain an understanding of the issues in access and needs of a specified community to develop policies, that may result in better policy reform. She hopes to further develop her critical thinking and analytical skills, in addition to academic writing skills.

Anna Davidge

Anna Davidge is an Undergraduate Fellow in Disability Policy. She is a Brandeis senior majoring in Health: Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP). She is a community advisor (CA) in the Department of Community Living and a teaching assistant for epidemiology. She is also involved in the Brandeis Jewish community. Anna is passionate about accessibility and health equity. Anna looks forward to her research experience looking into shared living opportunities for young adults.

Shoshana Finkel

Shoshana Finkel is a senior at Brandeis studying Health: Science, Society, and Policy (HSSP) with a minor in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. She is a passionate disability advocate and activist, and a peer advisor at Yachad, the National Jewish Council on Disabilities. In addition to her Starr fellowship, Shoshana is an intern at the Ruderman Family Foundation, and serves on the Chief Diversity Officer’s task force on accessibility on campus. Shoshana was a Summer 2018 fellow with the American Association of People with Disabilities in Washington, DC, through which she earned a certificate in Disability Advocacy from the George Washington University. Shoshana is excited to be conducting research on reproductive health outcomes among women with developmental disabilities, and hopes to promote healthcare equity for people with disabilities through her research and activism.

Maddy Pliskin

Maddy Pliskin is an Undergraduate Fellow in Disability Policy. She is a sophomore majoring in Biology and Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP). Outside of the Starr Fellowship, Maddy is a member of Chabad Club and volunteers with elderly patients in hospice. Maddy is researching opioid misuse among people with disabilities under her mentor Rachel Sayko Adams.

Jack Rubinstein

Jack Rubinstein is a Health: Science, Society, and Policy major, with a minor in Anthropology. He is thrilled to be part of the Lurie Undergraduate Fellowship this year. Alongside the fellowship, Jack is a Bridge to Wellness peer educator, an organizer for Deisability, and a member of TRON, the Brandeis Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team. He also rock climbs and writes poetry in the free time that he does not have. Managing his time is seemingly also a hobby!

Regina Tham

Regina Tham is an Undergraduate Fellow in Disability Policy. She is a Brandeis senior majoring in Biology and Health: Science, Society, and Policy with a minor in East Asian Studies. On campus, she is the vice president of Brandeis Asian American Students Association and a Roosevelt Fellow Peer Advisor. She also works as a lab technician and Chemistry Department teaching assistant. Regina is passionate about working with marginalized communities to eliminate disparities in health. She is excited to be a Starr Fellow this year to explore how research can empower and uplift different voices.