Cohen-Hammel Fellows: Cohort 2024-2025
Ryanne Ahmad
Ryanne Ahmad grew up in Exeter, PA, and graduated from Exeter Township Senior High School. During her senior year, she participated in the BCTC Medical Health Professions program. Through this prestigious program, she spent time at the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences studying human anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, hospital protocols, and fundamental healthcare skills such as taking vital signs and donning and doffing PPE. As part of the program, she also took courses at Penn State Berks, including Bioethics and Chemistry lab and lecture. Each Friday, she got the unique opportunity to shadow professionals in a variety of hospital departments, gaining firsthand experiences in diverse areas of patient care and clinical practice. Overall, this immersive experience further ignited her passion and solidified her desire to pursue a career as a physician.
Currently, Ryanne is a 2nd year student majoring in Genetics & Developmental Biology, on the pre-med track. She is a member of the Berks honors program and is actively involved in several campus organizations, including the Pre-Health Society and the Honors Club. She also serves as an orientation leader and a teaching assistant for CHEM 110. Additionally, Ryanne is conducting research with Dr. Dunbar on the effects of alcohol on breast cancer cells. Outside of campus, Ryanne volunteers at Tower Health – Reading Hospital, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact in her local community. In the same way, she hopes to contribute to the Cohen Hammel program and make a lasting difference.
Talan Nguyen
Talan Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American born and raised in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Owen J. Roberts High School, he was actively involved in engineering classes, FIRST Robotics, and varsity tennis. He is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematical Applications. At Penn State Berks, Talan tutors advanced math and physics at the learning center and aspires to pursue a career in engineering education. He is also a member of the Berks chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a member of the Penn State Berks Men’s Tennis team, and serves as head of robotics for Futures in Engineering: Role Model Can Empower (FiERCE). Beyond campus, he works as an assistant tennis coach for youth and adaptive camps in Pottstown. His research experience includes developing PET filaments from recycled plastic bottles and, most recently, participating in the Penn State Multi-Campus Research program, where he explored Thermorph—a 3D printing technique that leverages internal material stresses to enable self-folding flat structures. Talan looks forward to using his experiences to make a positive impact as a Cohen-Hammel Fellow.
Owen Ruiz Perez
Owen Ruiz Perez is a first-generation Latin American, born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, where perseverance and community defined his upbringing. At Reading High School, he made the most of every opportunity—taking AP courses, holding leadership positions, and studying health sciences at Reading Muhlenberg CTC. There, he explored anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing skills, and during a pediatric internship at Reading Hospital’s NICU, he discovered his passion for neonatology.
In his senior year, Owen was dually enrolled at Albright College, presenting research at the 25th Annual HECBC Undergraduate Conference, where he first connected with Penn State Berks, his current academic home. Now a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major with minors in Spanish and Mathematical Applications, Owen follows a pre-med track while mentoring first-generation college students, serving on the executive board of the Pre-Health Society, working as a residential assistant on campus, and conducting honors research with Dr. DiAngelo. His work utilizes Drosophila as a model organism to study how genes influence metabolism and fat storage.
Owen hopes to merge his research and clinical experiences to prepare for medical school and a career in neonatology, advancing neonatal care through both science and compassion. He expresses deep gratitude for the Cohen-Hammel Fellowship and remains committed to giving back to the communities that have shaped his journey.
Ashmeen Sidhar
Ashmeen grew up in a small village in Punjab, India, where she witnessed the challenges many face in accessing healthcare. She moved to Pennsylvania at the age of seven, and during her years at Ephrata High School, she developed a love for science and biology that naturally drew her toward medicine.
She is currently a Biology major at Penn State Berks and a Schreyer Honors Scholar. Ashmeen volunteers at the Ephrata WellSpan Cancer Center and the Ephrata Public Library. She also works in the medical unit at Ephrata Community Hospital where she gains valuable experience in patient care during her 12-hour shifts. On campus, she balances challenging coursework, research with Dr. Mysliwiec, teaching assistant positions, and leadership roles on the boards of the Berks Honors Club and the Pre-Health Society.
Ashmeen hopes to integrate her research and service work to address healthcare challenges in the Reading community. Looking ahead, she plans to attend medical school and become a physician with a global focus. She aspires to work with international organizations such as Khalsa Aid and Doctors Without Borders to improve healthcare access in underserved regions, including rural Punjab.