• biomedical researcher • patient advocacy board member • hospital volunteer • physician shadower • Hello, my name is Blake, I am a premed student at the University of Memphis double majoring in biochemistry and psychology. Due to my mother's participation in a landmark clinical trial neurosurgery in 2009, I want to become a neurosurgeon. Specifically, I want to become a neurosurgeon with an MD/PhD so I can combine my interests in patient care and research innovation. Through genetic research, I want to be able to develop genetically-precise pharmaceuticals that can reduce the need for surgical interventions for neurological disorders that typically need surgery. My favorite accomplishments are the various projects I have founded. From working with national NPOs and some of the world's largest healthcare systems, I have been able to lead initiatives helping my community where it needs it most. Thank you so much for the consideration of your scholarship.

• President of the campus club and volunteer within the nonprofit supporting their goal in reducing poverty and helping the unhoused.

  Non-Profit Organization Management · Catholic Charities Nonprofit

  Jan 2024 – Present

• Founder/Volunteer of My Life, My Story program, a program where I gather patient life stories to be placed in the medical chart for improved physician-patient relation

  Hospital & Health Care · Veterans Affairs Hospital

  Jan 2024 – Present

• Founder/Coordinator of Memphis' only Brain Aneurysm/AVM support group

  Non-Profit Organization Management · Joe Niekro Foundation

  Jan 2024 – Present

• Advocacy
• Volunteering
• Philanthropy
• Entrepreneurship

• Weightlifting

  2019 – Present

• Researching the molecular causes of severe pediatric epilepsies to identify avenues for new treatment options

  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Dr.Mefford, MD, PhD · Genetics

  2024 – Present

  Research topic:

  Epilepsy

• mice husbandry of mice with movement disorders, helped write a manuscript on blinking disorders through rabies as a neuronal tracer, data entry for a closing study

  Veracity Neuroscience Clinic - Dr. LeDoux MD, PhD · Genetics

  2023 – 2024

  Research topic:

  Parkinson's, Huntington's, Dystonia, Ataxia, etc.

• Developing chitosan, a cheaper biomaterial, for enhanced and low-cost wound treatment. --> Led to 1 local and 1 international presentation.

  University of Memphis-Dr.Bumgardner, PhD · Biomedical/Medical Engineering

  2023 – Present

  Research topic:

  Developing chitosan, a cheaper biomaterial, for enhanced and low-cost wound treatment

• 1/3 out-of-state students selected from 500+ students in the US. Developed a new treatment option through pharmaceuticals for cancerous, recurrent meningiomas. --> 1 local and 1 national presentation.

  University of Washington School of Medicine - Dr.Ferreira, MD, PhD, MBA · Genetics

  2024 – Present

  Research topic:

  AI Drug Screening and Genetic Testing for Patient-Derived Cancerous Meningiomas

• We found that self-compassion (SC) played a role in how students act in the classroom. Those who suffered from low SC were less likely to ask for help and stay after class, which showed the importance of SC in education. Presented at a UofM conference.

  University of Memphis -Social Psychology, Dr.Zhang, PhD · Psychology, General

  2023 – 2023

  Research topic:

  Self-Compassion and Academic Behavior

• I built and orchestrated the construction of their 'little free library', a center for free education for kids! These kids were experiencing more limitation on their library time which made a little free library essential.

  Altruria Elementary School · Architecture

  2022 – 2023

  Productions:

  Little Free Library to increase access to books

• I designed a t-shirt that raised over $4,000 for LeBonheur Children's Hospital.

  LeBonheur Children's Hospital · Design

  2020 – 2020

  Productions:

  I designed a t-shirt that raised over $4,000 for LeBonheur Children's Hospital.

• I transported over 300 patients for 120+ hrs throughout the hospital and ensured a smooth ride along the way. All of my patients turned to friends and it was a privilege to be a part of the caretaking team.

  Volunteering · Methodist Le Bonheur Hospital - VolunTEEN Program

  2023 – 2023

  Mission:

  Learn more about the healthcare field and provide care to patients in need.

• 115 hrs of shadowing physicians from the neurosurgeon who saved my mother's life to 11+ other specialties including radiology, emergency med, dermatology, plastic surgery, general surgery, neurology, oncology, etc.

  Volunteering · Shadowing

  2023 – Present

  Mission:

  Ensure that medicine is the right fit for me

• Emergency Department Volunteer: I comfort children who have been admitted into the ER and offer respite care. By doing so, I am able to ensure that the parents and children are alleviated of any further stress.

  Volunteering · Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

  2023 – Present

  Mission:

  My mission is to ensure that families' needs are meet in an emergency.