Staff

Elizabeth Barajas, MA

  • Staff Advisor, All Health Professions
Elizabeth is a staff advisor for Health Professions Advising, specializing in helping current students and alumni with their personal statements and other writing requirements for health professions applications. She received her MA from UC Davis in 2013 in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. After receiving her degree, she taught writing, grammar and pronunciation classes for international students through the UC Davis Extension and the Linguistics Department. More recently, she worked for the Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers as a Writing Specialist, helping students with their class assignments and writing requirements for graduate and professional school applications. Elizabeth is passionate about giving students the support and tools they need to reach their goals.

Karen Draper

  • Staff Advisor, All Health Professions
Karen (she/her) grew up in Stockton, CA and is a first-generation college graduate. While she is not technically a transfer student, she did receive her Associates Degree in Arts and Humanities when she graduated high school. Karen then attended and graduated from UC Davis with her Bachelors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Karen has been a part of HPA since 2016 when she was a student. Now, as a staff advisor, she advises all health professions and topics and has an emphasis in meeting with students about application prep and GPA concerns. Her advising philosophy is rooted in supporting students/alumni holistically and working with advisees to develop a plan and find next steps that work best for their circumstances. Additionally, Karen looks forward to continuing to develop partnerships on- and off-campus, for example collaborating with El Centro and Undocumented Student Resource Center on events. She oversees the majority of pre-dental programming at HPA including Pre-Dental Orientation in the Fall, Pre-Dental Applicant Retreat in Winter/Spring, and Pre-Dental Bootcamp in the Summer. She also enjoys partnering with the health professionals on the HPA Advisory Board for programming and connecting students with alumni.

Sukhdev Singh Mann

  • Medical Student, Graduate Student Advisor
Sukh is a MS4 at UC Davis School of Medicine. He plans to pursue Internal Medicine and will starting residency in 2027. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biology B.S. and graduate degree MPH both from UC Davis prior to medical school. HPA has been a pivotal factor in allowing me to reach medical school and he is happy to return and offer support to current undergraduate students seeking to become future physicians. Being able to offer students support and advice with knowledge and resources he is personally familiar with is an exciting opportunity! Thank you to HPA and UC Davis for this opportunity!

Katelyn Addison

  • Medical Student, Graduate Student Advisor
Katelyn is a third-year medical student at UC Davis School of Medicine. She also completed her undergraduate education at UC Davis, so she is especially excited to return to the undergraduate campus in a new capacity with HPA. Her own journey from undergraduate student to medical school has given her a lot of appreciation for the guidance, mentorship, and support that can make the pre-med journey feel a little less overwhelming. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her partner and their cats, hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and playing the flute. She also love connecting with others and finding opportunities to support students as they work toward their goals. She's incredibly excited to be a part of HPA and to help pre-med students navigate their own paths toward careers in healthcare. She is looking forward to getting to know students, hearing about their interests and goals, sharing what she has learned along my journey, and helping them feel confident as they pursue their dreams. She is also excited to reconnect with the UC Davis undergraduate community and be part of a team dedicated to helping students succeed.

Cici Zhai

  • Events and Marketing Coordinator
Cici recently graduated from UC Davis in Winter 2026 with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. During her time at UC Davis, she served as a Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for the Pre-Health Conference for two years, helping connect students with valuable opportunities and resources. She also has experience in healthcare as an EMT and Home Provider, giving her firsthand insight into patient care and the pre-health journey. In addition to her healthcare and outreach experiences, Cici has worked as a peer tutor, where she discovered her passion for teaching and mentoring others. She enjoys helping students navigate challenges, build confidence, and achieve their academic and professional goals. Outside of work and academics, she is a sports enthusiast who loves both playing and watching basketball, tennis, and golf. She also enjoys watching dramas and exploring new hobbies and activities whenever she gets the chance. At HPA, Cici is excited to help students access as many resources and opportunities as possible. She looks forward to coordinating and promoting events that support students on their pre-health journeys and help them make the most of everything HPA has to offer.

Maia Byrne

  • Nursing Student, Graduate Student Advisor
Maia graduated from UC Davis in 2024 with a degree in Human Biology and a Minor in Religious Studies. During her gap year, she worked as an EMT and applied to nursing schools, and is now a MEPN student at UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. Outside of work and school, Maia loves going on walks in nature, eating good food, and playing board games with friends. She looks forward to sharing my passion for nursing with students considering the nursing path and guiding students and alumni through the preparation and application process.

Kassy Vang

  • Pre-Health Program Advisor
Born and raised in Fresno, California, Kassy Vang (she/her) is the youngest daughter of Hmong refugees. Kassy obtained her B.A. in Public Health and Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley, where she engaged in educational mentorships and outreach efforts of Southeast Asian and Hmong student organizations to bridge the gap between higher education and students of color. After graduating, Kassy served as a College Advising Fellow with UC Berkeley’s Destination College Advising Corps (DCAC), providing college preparation services to first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented high school students in the Bay Area. While pursuing her Master’s in Higher Education with a concentration in Student Access and Success at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Kassy held several roles: Academic Advising Graduate Intern in the Department of Sociology, Residence Coordinator for the 2024 Summer Bridge Scholars Program through the Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP), and the Academic Services Graduate Intern with the Residential College. Now serving as the Pre-Health Program Advisor, Kassy is committed to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment where students feel comfortable seeking guidance, while offering consistent and quality advising services to help students navigate their academic journey and make informed decisions.

Robyn Crittendon

  • Staff Advisor, All Health Professions
Robyn graduated from UC Davis in Spring of 2021 as a Communication major and Latin minor. She began her work with HPA as a member of the Pre-Health Ambassador Network (PHAN) in 2019, before transitioning to peer advising. She has since progressed to working as a Staff Advisor to continue supporting both undergrad and HPA post-bac students in their pre-health journeys. In her free time, Robyn enjoys plant keeping, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Gloria Becerra-Cortes

  • Veterinary Student, Graduate Student Advisor
Gloria is a first-year veterinary student at UC Davis. She earned a bachelor's degree in Animal Biology, also from UC Davis, and went straight into veterinary school after graduating. She intends on practicing mixed animal medicine with a focus on One Health and improving access to veterinary care. Outside of school, Gloria enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking and baking, and playing board and card games. In joining the HPA team, she is excited to support fellow students as they pursue their health professional goals!

Sierra Sandusky

  • Events and Marketing Coordinator
Sierra is a graduate of Sonoma State University, earning her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. During her time in college, she played on the Napa Valley College Women's Golf team and was a member of the Sports Business Club at SSU. Sierra began her career in marketing working at a premier motorsports facility, focusing on marketing and events execution. In joining the HPA team, Sierra is excited to curate and host events to help students pursue their education goals and careers. Sierra loves to fill her time with golf, creative projects, and attempting sourdough recipes. Additionally, she serves on a board of a local organization that assists the community through wildfire education and mitigation projects.