With a commitment to advancing health outcomes related to underserved populations, critical conditions and beyond, TC’s next wave of health graduates will build upon a long legacy of scholarship and practice in service of others. Ahead of the College’s Convocation ceremonies on May 20 and 21, health-focused members of the Class of 2025 gave us an inside look at what drives them and what’s next.
Meet Sabrina Dang (Ed.D. ’25, Health Education)
Hometown(s): Kunming, China
How She Makes an Impact: Dang has supported thousands of elderly individuals in rural China, where she witnessed firsthand how closely their well-being is tied to the support they receive from family caregivers. Inspired by these experiences, her dissertation explores the unique challenges faced by only-child caregivers navigating transnational care. “I hope to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities so they can be seen, heard, and supported,” Dang says.
What Matters: “While society often looks to the future, we forget we owe everything to the past—the older generations,” says Dang. Her work focuses on promoting active aging and improving support systems for family caregivers, recognizing them as a vital part of elder care. Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her efforts into grief and bereavement education, fostering deeper understanding and compassion around aging, loss, and the end-of-life journey.
What’s Next: Dang continuously committed to improving the health-related quality of life for underrepresented communities.“No matter what role I take on in my career, social responsibility will always be my calling,” Dang says.
Meet Charlie Graffius (M.A. ’25, Motor Learning and Control)
Hometown: Portland, Maine
How He Makes an Impact: At the Center for Cerebral Palsy (CP) Research, Graffius worked with TC’s Andy Gordon, Professor of Movement Science and Education, to investigate treatments for patients. Graffius, who himself has CP, is “particularly proud” of the connections he developed with patients at the Center — who often struggle with feelings of isolation, like many individuals with chronic conditions. “I have found psychosocial wellbeing to have strong influences on motor function,” explains the TC grad.
What Matters: Helping people with CP participate in physical activity. “Growing up with CP myself was often physically and emotionally challenging — especially in sports when my movement patterns were clearly different from others,” explains Graffitus, a hiker and tennis player who pursued exercise science and motor learning to improve athletic opportunities for those with CP. “It is very fulfilling for me to use my lived experiences and knowledge from studies to positively impact others with this condition.”
What’s Next: Graffius is working as a strength coach at a physical therapy clinic in Portland. He is also starting an online service for individuals with CP, which will offer evidence-based exercises and education.
Meet Mel Grasso (M.S. ’25, Communication Sciences & Disorders)
Hometown: Guilford, Conn.
How They Make an Impact: Helping advance research and clinical practice in voice, upper airway, and dysphagia as a research assistant and graduate clinician at TC’s Laboratory for the Study of Upper Airway Dysfunction under the mentorship of Michelle Troche and at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Aerodigestive Innovations Research Lab. “These opportunities have strengthened my passion for clinical research and its role in improving patient quality of life,” says Grasso, who also recently presented at the 2025 Dysphagia Research Society conference. A recipient of the Joanne Schwartz Scholarship and Jennings-Davis Scholarship, Grasso has also worked in professional organizations committed to accessible resources. “My experiences have pushed me to raise the bar for the standard of care within speech-language pathology, which I will enthusiastically translate into my future practice.”
What Matters: Supporting the communities they serve by providing dynamic, person-centered care that prioritizes patient autonomy and reduces barriers to evidence-based practice. “As SLPs, it is our duty to advocate, educate and create meaningful change for our patients,” says Grasso, who has created resources for the LGBTQ+ Communication Sciences and Disorders Students Association. “To fulfill this duty, I prioritize being involved in research and advocacy efforts that support best-practices within our field, especially within the subspecialty of voice, upper airway and dysphagia.”
What’s Next: Completing a clinical fellowship in voice, upper airway, and swallowing at Emory University’s Voice Center, where Grasso will practice clinically within a multidisciplinary team and contribute to clinical research. In their post-fellowship career, Grasso plans to continue centering both clinical practice and research to make evidence-based care more accessible.
Meet Nancy Kuy (Ed.D. ’25, Health Education)
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
How She Makes an Impact: Advancing research on the oral health disparities that children with autism spectrum disorder face. In her dissertation, Kuy outlines the individual, social and systemic factors that contribute to “lifelong” oral health issues for patients with autism. She reveals that, despite access to specialized dental facilities, this underserved population still faces significant barriers, including the necessity of multiple visits (which are often not covered by insurance) and the need for increased support to achieve oral health care equivalent to that of neurotypical patients. Through her ongoing research, Kuy is dedicated to developing enhanced training resources and evidence-based guidelines to better equip dental professionals in providing high-quality, equitable care for neurodivergent patients.
What Matters: Making her family proud. Kuy sees her story as intertwined with that of her parents, who fled Cambodia due to the communist Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. “My journey reflects their sacrifices and aspirations for a better future,” says Kuy, a first-generation college graduate who will be the first in her family to earn a doctorate — a “fulfillment of my parents’ dreams for our family. Their resilience and pursuit of opportunity inspired me to take risks, such as moving to New York City for a career change, and ultimately shaped my determination to excel academically.”
What’s Next: Continuing her role as an adjunct at NYU’s College of Dentistry, and advancing her research in injury prevention and oral health promotion among youth.
Meet Tyra Vanriel (M.S. ’25, Nutrition Education)
Hometowns: Westchester County, N.Y., and Greenwich, Conn.
How She Makes an Impact: Leading nutrition lessons for fourth-grade students during her time as a Zankel Fellow with the REACH program was an impactful experience. “Adapting health behavior change strategies and applying my nutrition counseling and education skills with diverse individuals has strengthened my abilities as a healthcare professional,” says Vanriel, who also worked for the Office of Admission during her time at TC. “My clinical experience thus far has reinforced my passion to advocate for equitable medical care for Black and African Americans and those who are disproportionately impacted due to systematic disparities.”
What Matters: “As a future registered dietitian, cultural advocate, and food enthusiast, I intend to raise awareness about the importance of cultural advocacy in healthcare and the field of dietetics for all cultures,” explains Vanriel, who aspires to blend her passions for nutrition, culture, and community engagement. “Recognizing the vital role nutrition plays in overall health, providing individualized nutrition education that respects cultural foods will optimize health outcomes.”
What’s Next: Working as a clinical registered dietitian to gain additional field experience before continuing her education.