Stories from students, families, and partners.

“I have been involved in the VLEAD research program since 2021, and it has shaped my perspective on healthcare while laying the foundation for my passion for research. In high school, I had the opportunity to work directly with physicians, analyze scientific literature, and write a research paper. As I progressed through the program, in college, I became a lead researcher and mentor, allowing me to guide younger students through their own research projects.”

Easha Narayanan — UC Berkeley, Class of 2025

“The VLEAD program is one of the biggest reasons as to why I’ve been able to be successful in high school and college. I participated for four years, from 2022 — 2026; I started off super shy in my own shell, but through this program, not only did I gain research skills and knowledge that have helped me find research opportunities at UCD, but I also gained so much more confidence in myself and my speaking skills that I use everyday. I’m truly grateful to the foundation this program built for me to be able to grow and get to where I am today.”

Kriti Podduturu — Sophomore at UC Davis

“VLEAD gave me the amazing opportunity to participate in medical research from the start of the pandemic to the end of high school (2020-2025). This research and leadership work was a great way for me to prepare for college-level research and group collaboration. I loved being a research team lead for four years and mentoring younger students because it taught me so much about myself and how to develop leadership qualities.”

Deepthi Nagubandi — UC San Diego, 2nd Year Biology (Bioinformatics)

“The VLEAD program gave me the incredible opportunity to work in a research team, gain mentorship and feedback from experienced researchers and physicians, and present my work at prestigious symposiums and the California State Capitol with 3 years into the program. Through VLEAD, I developed valuable leadership and research skills while gaining experiences that strengthened my passion for healthcare and research.”

Suhani Tikkisetty — UC Davis, Class of 2025

“I participated in the VLEAD program from 2022-2025 and truly learned a lot from this program and highly recommend it. Through this, I learned how to read and analyze scientific articles, think critically about science, and produce papers that demonstrate the importance of integrative medicine-I can’t thank VLEAD and the doctors enough for this opportunity!”

Varsha Bondu — UC Berkeley, 3rd Year Undergraduate

“I was a part of the VLEAD program from 2022-2025, and being in this program has truly helped me become a stronger researcher! I’ve been able to translate the skills in scientific writing, project management, communication, and publishing that I’ve gained to my other research and professional roles. Through this program, I’ve also developed a strong interest in integrative medicine and I hope to continue exploring it in the future.”

Geethika Tammana — UCLA, Rising Junior

“The VLEAD Program is a terrific way to expose young people to high-level business and community leaders and gain an understanding of the dynamics of our community. It brings real-world experience and information to help inform our young people as they consider their own career paths.”

Bill Halldin — Vice Mayor, Rocklin / Former SVP, Bank of America

“I participated in the VLEAD Program from 2019–2023. I am deeply grateful to VLEAD for introducing me to the world of academic medicine and research through experiences such as COVID-19 research, which helped build the confidence and foundation that later led me to a Stanford School of Medicine lab, where I contributed to published research and presented at an NIH conference; I continue to carry the lessons, curiosity, and sense of purpose I gained from the program into my work in medicine and public service.”

Avanti Ramraj — Stanford University, Class of 2026

“I was part of research my sophomore through senior years and I felt it made me a stronger leader, a more thorough researcher, and a more communicative team member. I grew to love clinical medicine through this program and I am incredibly grateful to Dr. LeCompte and VLEAD.”

Viren Chauhan — Freshman at Princeton University

“Being with the VLEAD program from start to present, first as a student and later as a mentor, has been such a privilege. I have learned so much throughout my time here, not just about research and integrative medicine, but also about what it means to be a dedicated teammate and steadfast leader. VLEAD has been invaluable for both my personal and professional growth, and I am excited for our program to continue having great impact for many more students and patients!”

Sowmya Gudapati — UCI MS1

“Participating in the VLEAD Program has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and it was such a privilege to work with Dr. LeCompte, whose mentorship, guidance, and support were invaluable throughout the program. I am extremely grateful for how helpful and encouraging the VLEAD team has been.”

Sanjana Gumma — University of California, Davis, 4th Year

“I participated in VLEAD for 2 years and it was a great opportunity for me to figure out my place in a group setting and learn how to lead a team. Not only did I get an introduction to academic writing, but I was also able to work on my communication skills. I now love working in group settings and hope this program does the same for more students like me.”

Shravya Koppada — Freshman at UCLA

“I was a part of VLEAD for 4 years and it has given me opportunities to participate in research, present my ideas to professionals, and strengthen my public speaking skills. It solidified my interest in medicine and shown me the various branches in which I can pursue my career.”

Shreya Koppada — UC Riverside - 2nd year