Research and Grants

Director of Research and Grants

Romaisa Aamer

Romaisa is from Champaign, Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. She is currently a Master of Public Health student with a concentration in Health Behavior and Promotion. She has been part of Avicenna since 2023, where she served as an Operations Volunteer and Operations Manager before becoming the Director of Research and Grants. She is passionate about Avicenna’s mission to provide accessible care to underrepresented communities.

Previous Research Projects | 2020-2021

  • The impact of volunteering at a free clinic on a student’s outlook on holistic medicine. Aalishba Ahmad, Hanna Erickson, Irfan S. Ahmad (Spring 2021)

  •  Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on free clinic usage. Hanna Erickson, Mariam Camacho, Angela Wilton, Michelle Mao, Grace Park (Spring 2021)

  •  Data-driven prioritization in patient education materials on free clinic usage. Kenny Leung, Hanna Erickson, Anne Robin, Mehmoodur Rasheed, Jennie Hsu-Lumetta, Irfan S. Ahmad (Spring 2021)

  • Carle Illinois Make-a-thon finalist: ECG Shirt. Manisha Reddy, Meghna Basavaraju, Hanna Erickson. (Spring 2021)

Past Funded Grants

  • National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and CVS, 2015, Expansion of clinic services to include social worker, pharmacy director, and Operations director, and general clinic operations

  • Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, 2014, EMR System Initiation and Development

  • University of Illinois Graduate College Focal Point Program, 2014, Healthcare Training and International Charitable Connections

  • Faith2, 2012

  • Illinois Disciples Foundation, 2010, general clinic operation