Past Speakers
Dr. Barakat
Dr. Barakat is a lecturer in the department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California as well as an Associate Faculty Member in the Neuroscience Graduate Program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Molecular and Cellular Biology (Neurobiology) from UC Berkeley in May of 2015 and her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Neuroscience from USC in June of 2022. Dr. Barakat is an avid bird watcher and some of her other hobbies include singing and recording music.
As our first faculty presenter to collaborate with Spark the Scientist, Dr. Barakat made a powerful impact on the students of Orthopaedic Hospital Medical Magnet High School as she shared her insight into her journey in becoming a professor at USC and conducting her research as a graduate student funded by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Some advice Dr. Barakat has for high school students interested in a career in the science field is that grades are not the most important thing about your undergraduate education and to keep an open mind about where your education will take you post-graduation. Remember, there is not “right path” for everyone in a particular major and it is important to explore your interests throughout your undergraduate years.
Dr. Castro
Dr. Rose
Dr. Rose is the Director for Pre-Health Undergraduate Studies and the Director of the Minor in Health Care Studies at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. She trained in Emergency Medicine and was the chief resident at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center before pursuing a Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship at Loma Linda University. She has since been Emergency Medicine faculty at LA County/USC Medical Center since 2010 where she continues to care for both sick and injured children and adults.
Among recently publishing a textbook on life-threatening rashes, Dr. Rose is currently creating a practical guide for pediatric emergencies. As a prolific educator, Dr. Rose also has numerous publications and is passionate about innovative education as well as high standards of professionalism in medicine.
Dr. Castro is an associate teaching professor in the department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California. As a first-generation student, Dr. Castro couldn’t rely on anyone to help her pursue her lofty goals. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of La Verne in 2002, her Master of Science in Biology from Cal Poly Pomona in 2005, and her PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Minnesota in 2010 all without paying a dime, funded on scholarships and grants.
Speaking to an audience of 15 students, Dr. Castro had a meaningful impact on the students of Wallis Annenberg High School as she shared her insight into what it was like to be a first-generation student in the science field and the challenges she had to overcome to get to the position she is in today.
Some advice Dr. Castro has for all pre-health students interested in a career in the sciences, academia, or healthcare is that you should never be afraid to try new things. Graduate school was initially particularly hard for Dr. Castro but once she gave it a chance, it was one of her most memorable experiences. She also emphasizes the value of scholarships and that there is always “money sitting around for someone to come and grab it”. Dr. Castro values a strong work ethic and taking initiative as she did not have a strong support system to guide her through her own journey growing up.
Amarra Olado
Amarra Olado is a Clinical Doctorate Student at USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Born in the Philippines and raised in Southern California she attended UC San Diego in her undergraduate years and received a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, with a minor in Human Developmental Sciences. After graduating from UCSD she went on to attend USC for graduate school. It was her mother who led her to find her passion in OT and she hopes to spread her love, creativity, interest in science, and passion for helping others with prospective students.
Some advice she gave regarding a future career is to find your interest and try everything. For her, OT was the perfect fit because of the impact and joy being an occupational therapist gives both in school and while working as a professional. With OT specifically, she highlighted all the innovations and technology coming to better their practice. She loves OT because of all the opportunities it brings such as Adult Physical Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, Productive Aging (Geriatrics), and Mental Health.