2020 Florida Pre-Med Scholarship Program Winners

The Shane Retina Florida Pre-Med Scholarship Program was created to support motivated students pursuing careers in
medicine and vision care. Below, we proudly recognize the recipients of our 2020 scholarship awards and celebrate
their academic achievements, creativity, and commitment to improving healthcare.

2020 Florida Pre-Med Scholarship Program Winner | Danielle DuPuis

Infographic Topic: Poor Vision and Morbidity

Danielle DuPuis is a junior in the Honors College at the University of Florida, majoring in Microbiology and Cell
Sciences with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Music in Medicine. She served as president of the UF
Undergraduate American Medical Women’s Association and founded UF Music Meets Medicine, an organization dedicated
to raising awareness about medical research while bringing music to veterans at her local VA hospital.

A musician for more than 14 years, Danielle is deeply interested in the humanistic benefits of the arts in
healthcare and plans to incorporate these elements into her future medical practice. Following medical school,
she aspires to pursue a career in either Ophthalmology or Dermatology. She expressed sincere gratitude for Shane
Retina’s support throughout her medical journey.

2020 Florida Pre-Med Scholarship Program Winner | Talia Kawesa

Infographic Topic: Diabetic Retinopathy

Talia Kawesa is a junior majoring in Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University. She works as a research
assistant at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, where she conducts binding assay experiments related to
potential treatments for chronic pain.

Talia’s long-term goal is to help reduce healthcare disparities in the United States and improve the well-being of
her local community through a career in medicine. Outside of her academic and research pursuits, she enjoys
digital painting and spending time with her younger siblings.