Yihua (Evon) is a first-year MSTP student at Washington University School of Medicine. Originally from Shanghai, China, she earned her B.S. in Biology and Community Health from Tufts University. During college, she devoted most of her time doing cardio-oncology research on the vascular side effects of cancer treatment. She was greatly inspired by her physician-scientist mentor and decided to pursue an MD/PhD degree.

After graduation, she spent two gap years as a research associate at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute studying the role of transposable elements and chronic inflammation in cohesin-mutant myeloid malignancies. Outside of lab, Evon enjoys dancing (ballet, contemporary, jazz and musical theater), figure skating and journaling. She is also passionate about health policy, women’s health advocacy, and expanding access to STEM education in local communities.

Evon is happy to answer questions about undergraduate and gap year research opportunities, applying to both MD and MSTP programs as an international student and anything related to being an F-1 medical student!