Congratulations to our alumni Katrina Carver (BSc ’22), Pablo Gonzalez (BSc ’22), Adrian Leva (BSc ’16), and Brian Serapio (BSc ’18) for being named among York University’s Top 30 Alumni Under 30 for 2024.
Launched in 2021, York’s Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program seeks to highlight the success and diversity of the University’s young alumni community, while inspiring the next generation of young alumni leaders to make a positive difference locally and globally.
“The York University Top 30 Alumni Under 30 program showcases the remarkable work that York’s young alumni have done to create positive change at home and abroad,” said Julie Lafford, assistant vice-president, alumni engagement, in an announcement in YFile. “The 2024 cohort is an accomplished group featuring creative artists, innovators in science, business leaders and champions for social justice.
Katrina Carver
Katrina Carver is a graduate student in the field of computational neuroscience at the University of Toronto, where she utilizes novel machine learning techniques to understand and explain Alzheimer’s Disease. With the results of her research, she aims to guide drug development, improve diagnosis and enhance patient care. Katrina has been awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarship and a Medical Biophysics Excellence Award for her work, continuing the recognition of her dedication to academic and research excellence established as an Honours Physics student at York University. At York, she was awarded the Schulich Leader Scholarship, three Undergraduate Student Research Awards and the Iristel Undergraduate Scholarship. Notably, her undergraduate thesis research using neural networks to improve adaptive deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease has been published in Nature Communications and presented internationally. Katrina’s ultimate motivation is to serve society by advancing diagnosis, treatment and care for those living with neurodegenerative diseases using artificial intelligence, while considering and advancing the highest standards of ethics and privacy.
Pablo Gonzalez
Pablo Gonzalez, a medical student at the University of Toronto, is a dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion. He founded the Canadian Association of Latin Medical Students (CALMS) to unite those interested in Latin American culture and healthcare. As CALMS president, Pablo and his team empower marginalized Latin American youth to pursue healthcare careers, addressing underrepresentation in the field. Pablo's community-building extends to his role as an ally to Jewish community leaders in the fight against antisemitism. As a keynote speaker at provincial interfaith events, Pablo fosters empathetic dialogues, seeking common ground with diverse cultural and religious communities. Furthermore, he is passionate about supporting underserved and marginalized groups through his academic endeavours. Collaborating with leading diabetes researchers at the University of Calgary, he sheds light on the healthcare barriers faced by those experiencing homelessness. He has presented his research at national and international medical conferences to drive policy discussions. Pablo's advocacy stems from his experiences at York University, where he graduated from the Bachelor of Science Biotechnology Program. Active in student life, Pablo represented York University students through the President's Ambassador Program and as a Student Representative on the York University Alumni Board. In these roles, he collaborated with university executives and stakeholders to ensure that York University remains a vibrant place for diverse learning experiences.
Adrian Leva
Adrian is the COO and co-founder of Nu-Rise Construction Management, a firm specializing in mid to high-rise construction in the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to co-founding Nu-Rise, Adrian founded New Mission Investments, a real estate company focused on building generational wealth through multifamily properties and increasing access to housing in Ontario. Adrian Leva's humanitarian background began in 2013, when he was an international missionary for The Samaritan Foundation. Adrian visited the Dominican Republic to help build homes for at-risk families who lived on less than $1 dollar per day. Adrian helped with fundraising and building over 25 homes between 2013 and 2019, which were equipped with basic electrical and plumbing services. To support this goal, Adrian inspires youth to engage with their community and to take philanthropic action. Since 2019, Adrian has influenced 800 students through keynote presentations, raising funds to further home construction in the Dominican Republic.
Brian Serapio
Brian Serapio is a resident physician in psychiatry based in Toronto with a strong interest in the psychiatric care of older adults and adults with complex health needs. Brian is exploring a newfound interest in psychotherapy. Throughout his career, Brian has been involved in geriatrics interest groups at the local and national levels that raise awareness about the health challenges older adults face and promote a career in geriatrics amongst medical learners. Brian has engaged in research on the impact of volunteers on hospitalized older adult patients and the views of long-term care staff on technological innovation. As a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines who has had to overcome significant hurdles in his career, Brian is also passionate about rectifying the underrepresentation of minorities, including Filipinos, in medicine. While in medical school, he was involved in programs and initiatives including the Filipino Association of Medical Students (FAMS), Community of Support (COS) and Altitude Healthcare Mentoring that provide mentorship to pre-med and medical students from underrepresented groups. As Brian continues to progress through his training, he aims to equip himself with the necessary knowledge to provide care to underserved communities.
To view the full list of 2024 recipients, visit the Top 30 Alumni Under 30 web page.