Sofia Rebull, 2025 Ken and Joan Frankel Outstanding Premedical Student of the Year Award
Sofia Rebull, 2025 Ken and Joan Frankel Outstanding Premedical Student of the Year Award
- Undergraduate researcher in the Department of Biology
- Co-president for the Minority Association of Premedical Students
- Selected as a “Choose Development!” Fellow by the Society of Developmental Biology
- Member of the Honors College and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholarship program
"It is fundamentally important to me to serve people from all walks of life, irrespective of their immigration status, cultural background, or financial situations."
The Frankel Outstanding Premedical Student of the Year Award recognizes the top premedical student in each graduating class, and the awardee is selected by the Director and Assistant Director of the Mallory-Wilson Center for Healthcare Education. The 2024-25 recipient of the Ken and Joan Frankel Outstanding Premedical Student Award is Sofia Rebull.
Sofia is a biology and premedical and pre-health studies double major, with a medical sociology minor. She is also a member of the honors college and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Scholarship program.
Upon entering Miami, Sofia was dedicated to a career in medicine, explaining in her PMD 101 narrative that she is “passionate about this particular field because I can provide charity care to underserved communities while incorporating the latest advancements in biomedical technology.” Although she couldn’t have known what her four years at Miami would bring, that statement would prove to be a foreshadowing of the amazing things she’s done over the years.
As co-president for the Minority Association of Premedical Students (MAPS), she has not only overseen several philanthropic and community service initiatives, she has expanded the opportunities available to underrepresented Miami University premedical students. When she first joined MAPS, it “felt like a breath of fresh air” as “for the first time, I felt supported in my pre-med endeavors by students who were from diverse backgrounds and becoming the first healthcare workers in their families”, and this has been something she’s worked hard to continue for younger students.
Despite her understanding of how important scientific innovation is to healthcare, she didn’t necessarily know how large of a role research would play in her undergraduate studies, as well as her future aspirations. Upon joining the Del Rio-Tsonis lab, Sofia started participating in monthly journal clubs, presenting at conferences, and pursuing funding opportunities. Most notably, she completed a summer research internship in Sweden, was a poster winner at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists, and is currently a Fulbright Finalist, an opportunity that will hopefully allow her to combine her passion for research and promoting intercultural understanding.
Sofia has also been an asset to the Mallory-Wilson Center for Healthcare Education, as she’s helped with several initiatives, and has been a leader on the MWC Student Advisory Board. Over the years, we have gotten to know her on a deeper level, hearing stories about her family and the drive behind her career aspirations. Sofia truly encompasses the qualities to be a wonderful and impactful healthcare provider. She’s previously stated that “it is fundamentally important to me to serve people from all walks of life, irrespective of their immigration status, cultural background, or financial situations”, and we are excited to see this come to fruition.
Congratulations Sofia! We at the Mallory-Wilson Center wish you and all your outstanding classmates the best of luck in medical school and beyond.
[May 2025]
