Vershawn C. Hansen is a rising third-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine, committed to advancing health equity, social justice, and community-based care. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, along with certificates in Global Health and Environmental Sciences. He later completed the Drexel Pathway to Medical School program and received a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Vershawn currently serves as president of Drexel’s Reproductive Endocrinology Interest Group, where he promotes awareness of reproductive health issues, including ethics and barriers to care. Vershawn is a patient advocate at the student-run clinic at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center of Philadelphia and volunteers at AbsoluteCare, where he assists in providing nonjudgmental care, HIV testing, and harm reduction services to individuals affected by substance use and sex industry work. He also mentors pre-medical students, helping to build a more diverse and inclusive future healthcare workforce.

• Senior Laboratory Technician

  Hospital & Health Care · Fairfax Cryobank

  Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

• Medical Technologist

  Hospital & Health Care · Reproductive Medicine Institute

  Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

• Medical Laboratory Technician

  Hospital & Health Care · Loyola University Medical Center

  Jan 2021 – Jan 2022

• Plasma Processing Technician

  Hospital & Health Care · CSL Plasma

  Jan 2020 – Jan 2021

• Advocacy
• Volunteering
• Philanthropy

• Undergraduate Research Assistant

  University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health · Microbiological Sciences and Immunology

  2017 – 2020

  Research topic:

  Cytotoxic peptidoglycan, Neisseria gonorrhoeae

• Volunteer

  Volunteering · Small Things Philly

  2024 – Present

  Mission:

  Small Things Philly distributes food, hygiene products, and household goods to a network of local partners, comprised of food pantries and churches, to target food insecurity in local communities

• Volunteer, Medical Student

  Advocacy · Streetside Clinic at Prevention Point

  2024 – Present

  Mission:

  The Streetside Clinic at Prevention Point aims to reduce the harm associated with substance use and sex industry work by providing nonjudgmental urgent care, HIV/hepatitis C testing, and advocacy

• Volunteer

  Volunteering · Microgreens Outreach Project

  2024 – Present

  Mission:

  Microgreens Outreach Project utilizes microgreens to provide less nutrition-privileged communities with exposure to healthy foods and lessen the overall burden of chronic disease by facilitating a connection between foods eaten and health outcomes

• Patient Companionship Volunteer

  Volunteering · Capital Hospice & Palliative Care

  2022 – 2023

  Mission:

  Capital Hospice & Palliative Care provides compassionate, patient-centered care to the elderly and terminally ill.

• Member

  Advocacy · Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

  2017 – Present

  Mission:

  Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities.

• Volunteer

  Volunteering · The River Food Pantry

  2019 – 2020

  Mission:

  The River Food Pantry provides food, resources, and faith to build a stronger community, including free groceries, meals and clothing, as well as free mobile lunches for children and teens on non-school days

• Peer Mentor

  Volunteering · The Ladder

  2019 – 2020

  Mission:

  The Ladder is a club for kids who are interested in health careers, designed to expose kids to health careers through a structured environment of service learning, leadership development, and cascading mentorship

• Peer Mentor

  Volunteering · Health Occupations and Professions Exploration (HOPE)

  2018 – 2020

  Mission:

  HOPE is a career pathways program that established a pipeline designed to aid underrepresented groups of high school students in understanding and researching a list of over 50 different careers in health care

• Volunteer

  Volunteering · Salvation Army Emergency Family Shelter

  2018 – 2019

  Mission:

  The Salvation Army Emergency Family Shelter welcomes homeless families seeking immediate shelter, while providing meals, shower/laundry facilities and case management.

• Kitchen Volunteer

  Volunteering · Slow Food: UW-Madison

  2017 – 2018

  Mission:

  Slow Food promotes an alternative food system where food is good, clean, and fair for all by supporting sustainable food production, creating an inviting community around food, and advancing food justice in the Madison area.