Hanna Scalzetti-Greene, BA, BS, MS

Hanna Scalzetti-Greene is a second-year medical student at the Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology as well as her Bachelor of Arts degree in Violin Performance at the State University of New York at Geneseo. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she developed an interest in parasitology and infectious disease. This newfound interest inspired her to travel to Accra, Ghana, to conduct field and laboratory research, in collaboration with faculty from the University of Ghana, on the incidence and transmission rate of two different strains of schistosomiasis.

After graduation, Mrs. Scalzetti-Greene became involved in clinical research, joining a taskforce led by the New York State Department of Health to revise and optimize the database for the New York State Newborn Screening Long-Term Follow-Up program. In addition, she helped develop a survey study to better assess barriers faced by people infected with HIV when trying to access pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) before their HIV diagnosis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs. Scalzetti-Greene served as a Clinical Research Associate through different arms of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination clinical trials.

Now in medical school, Mrs. Scalzetti-Greene is pursuing a micro-credential in physician advocacy and is a scholar in The Rural and Underserved Service Track (TRUST) program, which brings together trainees from various disciplines to engage in interprofessional community-based training activities that serve marginalized communities. She also acts as a Service Learning Leader for the Women’s Health Education and Learning (HEAL) program. In this role, she co-leads monthly group sessions with female residents at the Syracuse Rescue Mission to promote physical, mental, and social well-being through education, relaxation, and a variety of other social activities. On campus, Mrs. Scalzetti-Greene serves as the President of the Street Medicine Outreach organization, which works with a local medical van initiative to bring quality medical care to those with housing insecurity in the Syracuse community, and as the Advocacy Chair for the Medical Students for Choice group on campus, which promotes reproductive justice for all patients. Currently, Mrs. Scalzetti-Greene is participating in the Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (RISE) Summer Fellowship Program. This fellowship expands on her interest in addressing the intersection of infectious disease, public health, and healthcare disparities.

In her future work as a physician, Mrs. Scalzetti-Greene plans to function as a physician-scientist in the field of infectious disease, using her research training and passion for medicine to promote health equity and provide quality care to vulnerable, underserved communities. Focusing on urban environments, where infectious diseases can exert a disproportionate impact, she would like to work directly with unhoused individuals within the community. She would also like to integrate her passion for women’s health and reproductive justice into her future practice, as well as working towards alleviating healthcare disparities on a global scale.