WAU Alumna Earns Spot in MedServe Fellowship, Will Serve N.C. Community
Written by: IMC Director Simonique Dietz
TAKOMA PARK, Md. — The Washington Adventist University Department of Biology and Chemistry is celebrating recent graduate Catusha Desjardins (’25), who has been selected for the competitive MedServe 2025-27 Fellowship Program in North Carolina.
MedServe, headquartered in Durham, pairs recent college graduates with primary-care clinics across the state to bolster community health while preparing fellows for careers in medicine and allied health. Fellows serve two years in underserved areas, complete quarterly skill-building sessions and gain extensive patient-care experience.
Desjardins learned of the opportunity in February through the department’s WhatsApp chat and quickly secured recommendation letters from both healthcare and non-healthcare mentors. After first- and second-round interviews in March and June, she received her acceptance letter in early July.
“The timeline was long, but God gave me the perseverance to see it through,” Desjardins said. “I pray I can use the skills and experiences He’s given me to serve communities that need medical care and support.”
As a limited-scope medical assistant and community health worker, Desjardins will gather patient histories, take vital signs, coordinate with insurers and lead outreach efforts such as health-education events and home-wellness checks.
Those duties build directly on her WAU experience. While earning her biology degree, Desjardins served as a teaching assistant and tutor in the Biology and Chemistry Department, worked as a receptionist in the Nursing Department and held leadership roles in the Honors College, Black Student Union, Student Association and the senior class.
“Catusha’s compassionate heart and the rigorous training she received at WAU make her an ideal fit for MedServe,” said Dr. Melinda Villanueva, chair of the Biology and Chemistry Department. “We’re proud to see her living our mission of excellence and service.”
For more information on our Biology program, visit us at wau.edu.