Our Team
Sadeechya Gurung
Sadeechya Gurung, creative director of HealthConnect DC, is from Falls Church, Virginia. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. After graduating, she completed a fellowship with the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD. Sadeechya is passionate about science communication and increasing the accessibility of information regarding health and biomedical research. She has worked with companies like BioRender to communicate complex scientific topics, contributing their third most popular illustration. She hopes to use her skills and creativity to encourage wellbeing in the DC community. For leisure, she enjoys reading, lifting weights, and trying new things.
David Werking
David Werking, co-founder and co-president of HealthConnect DC, has lived in military bases all around the world, but calls the DMV his home. He went to UMD and received his B.S. in biological sciences. Currently, David is a trained medical assistant at an orthopedics practice in Rockville, MD. David is also volunteering at a local fire station as an EMT. In his free time, he likes to run, hike and travel around the east coast. He also enjoys cooking and trying new foods.
Neelan Mathivannan
Neelan Mathivannan, co-founder and treasurer of HealthConnect DC, is from Bethesda, Maryland. He attends the University of Maryland, College Park where he studies Biological Sciences. Currently, he is still an undergraduate student at university, but he plans to do research at the National Institutes of Health after graduation. Outside of school, he volunteers at the Glen Echo Fire Department, where he has served as an EMT for almost two years. He has also been working as a peer mentor within his undergraduate living-learning program, helping to ease the transition into college for first-year students. In his spare time, Neelan loves to watch baseball and basketball (huge D.C. fan) as well as exercise.
Michael Jacobsen
Michael Jacobsen, co-founder and co-president of HealthConnect DC, grew up in Rockville, Maryland. He works in Fairfax as a paramedic and firefighter. When not working, he spends his time training for triathlons, climbing mountains, and reading. Michael graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Cell Biology and Genetics. He developed a passion for addressing health inequities from his experiences in EMS.
Medical Director: Deborah Stone, MD
Josh Rich
Josh Rich, co-founder, former president, and administrator of HealthConnect DC, is from Bethesda, MD, and attended the University of Maryland in College Park where he obtained his B.S. in Cell Biology and Genetics. He is currently a medical student at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His experiences with community service and public health, especially his work as an EMT, inspired him to co-found HealthConnect DC. In his free time, he enjoys drinking tea, baking bread, and learning languages.
Gwyneth Rodriguez
Gwyneth Rodriguez, social media director for HealthConnect DC, immigrated from the Philippines and resides in Kensington, MD. She earned her B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Maryland in 2024. Currently, she works as a medical assistant at a gynecology and urogynecology clinic and as a patient care technician at Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital. In her free time, Gwyneth enjoys painting, reading, and working out. She is passionate about contributing to a healthcare system that is accessible, compassionate, and representative of the diverse communities it serves.
Surya Padmanabhan
Surya Padmanabhan, outreach coordinator of HealthConnect DC, is from Germantown, Maryland. He received his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park. While receiving his degree, he was a volunteered as a tutor, led workshops introducing local high school students to STEM research, and worked as an endoscopy technician. He currently conducts research at the National Eye Institute. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and trying new foods.
Maryam Beg
Maryam is the newly appointed Fundraising Chair of HealthConnect DC. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2024 with a B.S. in Anthropology and a minor in Medical Humanities. Her primary focus in her major was Medical Anthropology, in which she explored health disparities and cultural competency within medicine. This led her to join Health Connect, as the mission of the organization enables her to use the impactful tools of education and advocacy as a current non-clinician. Currently, she is completing an M.S. in Anatomy Education at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine during her gap year, with the ultimate goal of becoming both a public health educator and physician. In her free time, Maryam enjoys painting, baking, attending concerts, and exploring new restaurants.