Tyasia Cannon
Tyasia Cannon is a junior majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Sociology and Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. She is interested in health education and policy, and specifically how early and continuous education on health risk factors improves the health of marginalized communities. She is also interested in the role of service in treating uninsured, at-risk populations. After graduation, she hopes to enter medical school and possibly graduate school and continue to advocate for and increase accessibility for all.
Tyasia works with two mentors during the SUMR program. Tyasia is working under Yehoda Martei, MD, MSCE to evaluate the role of community health workers in active cancer treatment and survivorship. She will assess the need for intervention to understand and eliminate disparities in healthcare. Tyasia is also part of the GEAR UP Program, working with Anna Jo Smith MD, MPH for the first summer. Under Dr. Smith, Tyasia will examine barriers and interventions addressing peritoneal cancer. Specifically, she will examine CA-125 as a biomarker for primary peritoneal cancer.
Tyasia is involved in service, leadership, and mentorship around campus. She enjoys volunteering for marginalized and youth communities in her free time, as well as mentoring high-school students and underclassmen. During the school year, she works with Shana D. Stites, PsyD, MA, MS, on research regarding social determinants of health as it applies to Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Tyasia currently serves as President of the Minorities Association for Pre-Medical Students, Marketing Chair for the United Minorities Coalition, and Marketing Chair for Penn Black Scientist Collective. Tyasia is also a part of Alpha Iota Gamma Healthcare Fraternity, where she serves as DEI chair. She also finds support in her community as a Johnson Scholar. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing flute for Penn Flutes, spending time with friends, thrifting around Philadelphia, and cooking new foods.