Bridget Lee
Esther Kaplun
Mei-Ling Malecki is from Hershey, Pennsylvania.  She is majoring in Psychology and Health & Wellness, and she expects to graduate from Tulane in the spring of 2021.  

Why did you join the Stroke Buddies program?
I had a friend who was in the Stroke Buddies program, and she loved it. She raved about the program and recommended I apply. As someone who is interested in clinical psych, I was very excited to get involved. 

What is your favorite thing about the Stroke Buddies Program?
​I love when I can make someone smile, whether it be a patient or caregiver. They talk to a lot of doctors and nurses all day, and I think they really enjoy talking about non medical things. 

Describe a positive experience from the Stroke Buddies program.
​I visited with a patient and his son, and they were about an hour away from home, so they loved talking about their hometown. They thanked me for providing some laughs and relief in their day. 

What are your career goals?
​Currently, I am hoping to become a clinical child psychologist. ​
Ty Josloff is from Livingston, New Jersey.  He is majoring in Neuroscience and English, and he expects to graduate from Tulane in the spring of 2020.  

​Why did you join the Stroke Buddies program?
The ICU can often be a lonely place, especially when a patient's family members or friends are busy with life and work, or live too far away to visit. I've had relatives in this position before, so being able to provide an optional service to patients that can make their stay even the slightest bit more pleasant is an opportunity I knew I wanted to be a part of.

​What is your favorite thing about the Stroke Buddies Program?
The opportunity to spend 2 hours a week on an ICU floor, interacting with patients, caregivers, and the staff (who are always wonderful).

​Describe a positive experience from the Stroke Buddies program.
The most enriching experience I've had over four semesters as a Stroke Buddy was also the most difficult. During my last visit of my Junior year, I happened to be in the room with a patient when she found out her heart was failing. She didn't have any visitors with her at the time, so I waited with her till her family arrived. To this day, it's probably the most devastating experience I've had on the floor, but I count myself lucky that I just so happened to be there that day so she didn't have to go through that alone. A bit gloomy, but a moment I'll never forget.

​What are your career goals?
I'm a writer, so hopefully getting paid for that.​
Margo Nickerson is from Indianapolis, Illinois.  She is majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology, and she plans to graduate from Tulane in the spring of 2021.  

​Why did you join the Stroke Buddies program?
I was seeking a way to use my creative interests and love of meeting new people, as well as an opportunity to connect with patients in a healthcare setting. This program's dedication to putting the patients' and caregivers' wishes above all else resonated with me, and I wanted to become a part of the team!

​What is your favorite thing about the Stroke Buddies Program?
My favorite thing by far about the program is the opportunity to have such varied, interesting, and meaningful conversations with individuals who each have their own experiences and thoughts to share. The program creates a supportive space for open conversation. 

​Describe a positive experience from the Stroke Buddies program.
My favorite thing by far about the program is the opportunity to have such varied, interesting, and meaningful conversations with individuals who each have their own experiences and thoughts to share. The program creates a supportive space for open conversation. I once talked with a gentlemen about his life, education, and the varied ways of learning through different life experiences. We found that we shared a love of crosswords and I brought in a small puzzles and mind games booklet we kept in the activity drawer to work on together. He enjoyed them so much he asked to keep the booklet after I left, and I hope he continued to enjoy them!

​What are your career goals?
​I hope to attend medical school and eventually pursue my passions of working with children and investigating the brain by becoming a pediatric neurologist!
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Madeline Perry is from San Carlos, California.  She is majoring in Neuroscience and Gender & Sexuality Studies and minoring in French, and she expects to graduate from Tulane in the spring of 2021.   

Why did you join the Stroke Buddies program?
I joined the Stroke Companions program to serve as an empathetic listener to patients and hopefully make their day a little bit brighter. 

What is your favorite thing about the Stroke Buddies Program?
My favorite thing about the Stroke Companions program is getting to meet people from different places and backgrounds and hear about their lives. 

Describe a positive experience from the Stroke Buddies program.
One of my favorite memories from the program was having a conversation with a couple who had lived in the bayou their entire lives. As a French minor, it was really interesting to speak French with them and talk about the differences between the dialects of French we speak. 

What are your career goals?
I hope to be a therapist and help people find healthy ways to process the challenges life throws at us. I hope that by helping people grow, I can help them lead happier lives and effect positive social change. ​
Sarah McLennan is from Libertyville, Illinois.  She is majoring in Neuroscience and Public Health and minoring in Psychology, and she expects to graduate from Tulane in the spring of 2021.

Why did you join the Stroke Buddies program?
​I love to talk to people about their lives, and this program enabled me to do so for those who don't always get to have people to talk to. Support systems are so essential in healing, and it is important to me to help foster that in any way I can. 

What is your favorite thing about the Stroke Buddies Program?
​My favorite thing is when people tell me about their families and their general life experiences. I was kind of nervous about coming in as pretty clueless college student and feeling like I was imposing, but some of the conversations I've had so far are really entertaining and full of advice! 

Describe a positive experience from the Stroke Buddies program.
​The first patient I ever talked to wants to shave and dye her head, and we decided upon matching colors. She made me laugh, and vice versa, and it was a really nice conversation to start my time in the program. 

​What are your career goals?
​If I decide upon a more hard sciences route, pediatric physical therapy. Otherwise, I'd lean towards a master's in social work and maybe doing work in sexual assault support services and prevention. Or, in an ideal world, I'd find a way to integrate everything into my career. 
Victoria Conway is from San Jose, California.  She is majoring in Psychology and Sociology, and she expects to graduate from Tulane in the spring of 2021.  

​​Why did you join the Stroke Buddies program?
I joined the Stroke Buddies program because I wanted to volunteer in a hospital setting in order to provide patients with support.  Hospitals can be lonely and a bit scary at times, and I think companionship, even in small ways, can make the world of a difference in an individual's recovery process.  When I was a child, I witnessed my grandpa recover from a stroke; it was by no means an easy feat, and my family acted as a major support system for him.  I wanted to be able to provide that same companionship and support for others.

​​What is your favorite thing about the Stroke Buddies Program?
My favorite thing about the Stroke Buddies program is the conversations that I have with the patients on the unit.  Not all patients are fully cognitive, but whenever I am able to have a conversation with someone and hear about their families or pieces of their life, it reminds me of how much I am able to learn from others.  

​​Describe a positive experience from the Stroke Buddies program.
One of my favorite interactions through the program was a conversation I had with an older gentleman on the unit.  He was to be discharged later that day, and his excitement brought a huge smile to my face.  We ended up talking for about an hour, and he told me about his time in college, imparting little gems of wisdom throughout the conversation.  I think it's a very interesting thing to get to know a complete stranger through anecdotes, and I felt incredibly grateful that he was willing to share with me a facet of his life.

​​What are your career goals?
​I plan on becoming a physician, specializing in either emergency medicine or neurosurgery.
Anusha Rahman is from Reston, Virginia.  She is majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology, and she plans to graduate from Tulane in the spring of 2021.  

​Why did you join the Stroke Buddies program?
I joined the Stroke Buddies program so I could support patients as they spend some of their toughest days in the Neurological ICU.

​What is your favorite thing about the Stroke Buddies Program?
I love spending time with and laughing with a patient. I love to hear their life stories and their interesting adventures. 

​​Describe a positive experience from the Stroke Buddies program.
I once spent my entire volunteer block drawing and using glitter with a patient. We had such a fun time together!

​​What are your career goals?
I want to study clinical and forensic psychology. I want to use my expertise to help adult trauma victims (victims of sexual assault, those suffering with PTSD, and war vets) and to improve the criminal justice system.