Christelle Larissa Johou Tchafa

Christelle is a devoted student on a pre-med track who is dedicated to helping others in every way possible. She enjoys every facet of medicine and is currently working towards a career in Cardiothoracic Surgery. She also discovered a passion for empowering young girls and women by serving at the Children Hunger Fund organization and is intentional about growing this vision in years to come.

• Certificate of completion of the Career Development Academy (CDA) at the University of Michigan.
• Certificate of Excellence in Biological Research from the CBU NMS department for 2 subsequent years.
• Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Leadership of the CBU Red Cross Club.
• $14,500 Trustee Merit Scholarship.
• $2,300 Community Foundation Scholarship.
• $1,500 Madge Norman Merit Scholarship.
• President's List honoree.

• Team leader in research on the effects of ion channels in oocytes with Dr. Nathaniel Heyman.
• Team leader in research to improve a novel metric of measuring fitness (GAP) with Dr. Nathaniel Heyman.
• Carried out research on the topic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria with Dr. Anabel Flores.
• Gave an oral and poster presentation at the annual NMS symposium at California Baptist University as well as the WCBSUR Conference in LA.

• Served with the Children's Hunger Fund organization to distribute food supplies.
• Communications Director of the Cameroonian Youths Association in South California (CAMYOUA_SC).
• Partnered with Keeping Riverside Clean and Beautiful (KRCB) to clean community streets via the University's Red Cross club.
• Participated as a Judge for college and high school NMS fairs.
• Volunteered with CBU at the South Baptist 2022 Convention.
• Loma Linda University Health Hospitality Volunteer.
• Sandals Church Kids volunteer.

• Lead researcher on the effects of ion channels in oocytes under PI Nathaniel Heyman.
• Lead researcher investigating a novel metric for measuring fitness (GAP) under PI Nathaniel Heyman.
• Research team member on the topic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria under PI Anabel Flores.
• Oral and poster presentations at the CBU 2023 & 2024 annual NMS symposiums and the 2023 WCBSUR Conference at Loyola Marymount University.

• Communications Director of the Cameroonian Youths Association in South California (CAMYOUA_SC).
• COPE Health Scholar volunteer at Riverside Community Hospital (RCH).
• 50+ volunteering hours as a Patient Experience Ambassador on the medical surgery floor at RCH.
• Loma Linda University Health Hospitality Volunteer (LLUH) for 2 years and counting.
• Distributed food and essential supplies to underserved communities via the Children's Hunger Fund organization.
• Collaborated with the CBU Red Cross Club and Keeping Riverside Clean and Beautiful Association (KRCB) to clean community streets.
• Frequently participated as a Judge for college and high school NMS fairs.
• Volunteered with CBU at the South Baptist Convention 2022.
• Sandals Church Kids volunteer for a year.