Diana Salha

As a Public Health undergraduate at Texas A&M University, minoring in Business, my academic pursuits are deeply intertwined with a passion for medical innovation, an area I am further exploring through my aspiration to pursue a medical degree. At Sling Health, I identified a significant challenge in the urinary catheter field: the prevalence of catheter-acquired urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) in various care settings. My response was the conceptualization of an early-detection biosensor device for CAUTIs, aimed at preventing severe outcomes like sepsis. This idea, which garnered interest from Olera Care, led to a collaboration that enhanced my exposure to practical healthcare solutions.

Throughout my work on this project, I engaged in substantial research and development activities, including over 220 customer discovery interviews, and participated in key funding programs like the NSF I-Corps Site, VentureWell, Aggie Pitch, Ideas Challenge, and Sling Health Demo Day. The invaluable skills I've acquired from my experiences have not only enabled me to co-found Cosnetix but have also significantly enhanced my ability to mentor students effectively within Sling Health. My journey is a testament to my dedication to bridging gaps in healthcare through innovative thinking and strategic problem-solving.

Dr. Aghi’s Basic Science Lab UCSF Summer 2022, Summer 2023

Research Assistant, San Francisco, CA

• Developed skills in laboratory techniques like tissue culture, mouse dissection and surgeries, cell analysis, and flow cytometry.
• Focused on a project in a basic science research lab studying immunotherapy for glioblastoma tumors.
• Contributed to data analysis for publications.

Dr. Mummanenis Research Group UCSF Summer 2022, Summer 2023

Research Assistant, San Francisco, CA

• Contributed to clinical research by writing publications and recording/editing videos.
• Collected and analyzed data for clinical studies.
• Focused on projects related to cervical laminoplasty surgery techniques.
• Gained experience by shadowing neurosurgeons in spine clinics and operating rooms.

Texas A&M Health Science Center 01/2024 - Present

Research Assistant, College Station, TX

• Working 20 hours a week at the Sph Center for Population Health & Aging. Assisting with various local BCS research projects.
• Responsibilities include creating surveys and conducting data analysis. Involved in recruiting participants for research.
• Peer-editing publications and developing project concepts.

Sling Health

President, 01/2024 - Present

• Overseeing overall operations and direction of the student organization.
• Coordinating with faculty advisors and university officials.
• Developing and implementing strategic plans for growth and development.
• Organizing events, workshops, and guest speaker sessions.
• Promoting collaboration with industry partners and other student organizations.

Vice President External, 02/2022 - 01/2024

• In charge of sponsorships and external collaborators.
• I am a point of contact for all student teams.
• I serve on panelists to provide feedback to students on their projects.
• I aid with recruitment of students for the organization.

American Medical Student Association (A.M.S.A) 08/2021 - Present

• I Participate in volunteer events.
• I Participate in suture clinics.
• I Attend medical informational meetings.

Piano 08/2007 - 05/2022

• Chosen to perform piano at Carnegie Hall through the International Music Academy in 2018.
• Repertoire: Prelude in C sharp minor by Rachmaninoff, Prelude in G Minor by Rachmaninoff, Moonlight Sonata (first movement) By Beethoven, Pathetique (first movement) by Beethoven

Baylor Scott and White 08/2022 - 03/2023

Endoscopy Assistant Volunteer

• Help staff with cleaning rooms, stocking supplies, and replenishing drink supply.
• Take patients down to their cars after surgery.
• Volunteered for 70+ hours.

Memorial Hermann Hospital 05/2019 - 03/2020

Nurse Station Volunteer

• Supported hospital departments by providing beverages/magazines to patients, returned medical equipment to correct locations, took test samples to labs etc.
• Guided patients to correct rooms, assisted at information desks, and helped with hospital events.
• Volunteered for 75+ hours. Stopped due to COVID restrictions imposed at the hospital.

OpenMinds VentureWell, 03/2024 

I was one of 8 students selected from a nationwide pool to participate in the OpenMinds Pitch Competition in March 2024. This is for my U-Care project.

National Science Foundation I-Corps Site Grant $3k, 09/2022

I was the team lead for the NSF I-Corps Site Grant where the project focus was on an incontinence device to alleviate caregiver burden and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Within a 6 week period, our team conducted 30 customer discovery interviews, allowing us to further understand the problem space.

VentureWell E-Team Stage 1 Grant $5k, 03/2023

I am the team lead for this grant, with a project focus on the U-Care device to alleviate caregiver burden. Our team is participating in a 2-day workshop in Columbus, Ohio with the goal to validate the device through market research.

2nd Place Aggie Pitch $5k, 04/2023

Our team was chosen out of over 200 applicants to participate as a finalist in Aggie Pitch. We are using genetics and phenotypic traits to recommend current skincare products on the market. We came in second place receiving $5,000 in funding.

3rd place Sling Health National Demo Day Pitch $2k, 04/2023

Our team was chosen to participate in the annual Sling Health Demo Day on a national level. Our project was chosen out of all other submitted national applications. At the pitch, we competed against 8 teams, placing third for our device U-Care. The device is an amperometric biosensor used to provide early detection of Catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

National Science Foundation I-Corps Site $3K, 11/2023

Our team was chosen to participate in the National Science Foundation I-Corps Site program in order to continue conducting customer discovery interviews, as well as market research.

Entrepreneurs Exposed, 09/2023

I was one of two students invited to participate in an entrepreneurship panel to speak and answer questions about my experience as a CEO. I guided students at the beginning stages of their entrepreneurship journey, and offered advice on balancing both school and startup activities.

6th place Ideas Challenge $500, 11/2023

Our team prepared two pitches and pitched in front of 15-20 judges. We competed against over 40 other student teams.

Sling Health Micro-grant $500, 05/2022

I was awarded a $500 micro-grant by Sling Health to continue progressing my venture after completion of the program.

• National Institute of Aging Fast Track SBIR 2.3M
• National Science Foundation I-Corps 50k
• VentureWell Stage 2 20K
• Rice Business Plan
• GBeta Accelerator

Lad BM, Beniwal AS, Jain S, Shukla P, Jung J, Shah SS, Yagnik G, Babikir H, Nguyen AT, Gill S, Young JS, Lui A, Salha D, Diaz A, Aghi MK. Glioblastoma induces the recruitment and differentiation of hybrid neutrophils from skull bone marrow. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Mar 25:2023.03.24.534105. doi: 10.1101/2023.03.24.534105. PMID: 36993266; PMCID: PMC10055347.

Elaina Wang, Alexander Haddad, Jacob Young, Ramin Morshed, Joshua Wu, Diana Salha, Nicholas Butowski, Manish Aghi. (2023). Recent advances in the molecular prognostication of meningiomas. Frontiers in Oncology. 12. 910199. 10.3389/fonc.2022.910199.

Vardhaan S Ambati, Ramin Morshed, Christine Park, Diana M Salha, Timothy Chryssikos, Praveen V Mummaneni. Technical Nuances of Cervical Laminoplasty: Operative Video. Clinical Spine Surgery.

Fan Q, Hoang MN, DuBose L, Ory MG, Vennatt J, Salha D, Lee S, Falohun T

The Olera.care Digital Caregiving Assistance Platform for Dementia Caregivers: Preliminary Evaluation Study JMIR Preprints. 03/12/2023:55132

Houston Premier Dermatology 07/19/2021 - 07/20/2021

Gained knowledge into private practice of dermatology by observing different skin conditions, skin procedures and cosmetic treatments.

Memorial Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 07/26/2021

Gained insight into oral and maxillofacial surgery by observing multiple surgeries, treatment planning meetings and post-operative follow-ups.