Tremayne Ansani, an Honors College neuroscience major from Columbia, has dedicated his University of South Carolina career to service and leadership in the classroom, in research and in helping his fellow students and the community at large.
“Since the beginning of college, my central goal has been to support my communities,” says Ansani, one of two winners of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award — the university’s highest student honor. “The lessons I have learned at USC will guide me in my pursuit to become a physician who works to improve the social determinants of health and outcomes for the underrepresented.”
In his academic research, Ansani has worked in Fabienne PouIain's Neurobiology Lab, exploring brain-angiogenesis inhibitors and their role in developing the visual system. His work has contributed to understanding of mechanisms and molecules underlying brain wiring during development. This work formed the basis of his honors thesis.
“As I progressed in my major, my curiosity about the root causes of health disparities in underserved populations grew,” Ansani says. “This led me to pursuing research opportunities which taught me the various factors that influence community health.”
His work with the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation investigated issues with mitral stenosis in patients who also had aortic stenosis and successful aortic valve replacement. Ansani screened more than 200 patients on 80 variables as part of his work on the study, which was presented at the American College of Cardiology Conference.
“Conducting clinical cardiology and neuroscience research revealed the prominence of diseases such as aortic stenosis and dementia in the U.S.,” he says. “I saw real-life examples of how lifestyle, demographics and the environment influence the health of individuals.”
“Whenever I was lost, USC and the Columbia community had the mentorship and guidance to support me. This instilled a passion to give back to the communities that raised me.”
Ansani also studied voluntary energy efficiency programs in South Carolina as part of a research project for the geography department at USC at presented at the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers Conference.
“Research showed me how advances are made to provide tangible changes, such as the findings of my geography research initiating weatherization services for the Meadowland neighborhood,” he says. “Research helped me acquire a stronger understanding of my community's needs and what it means to be an advocate.”
Among his service work, Ansani has served as an Honors Peer Mentors, guiding Honors freshmen during their first year of college. As a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, Ansani has served in leadership positions in the organization and contributed over 50 hours volunteering throughout the Columbia community and assisting with issues, including homelessness, food poverty, juvenile detention and diabetes research through a variety of organizations.
“I am grateful for the leadership opportunities that allowed me to cultivate meaningful communities in organizations like the Black Honors Caucus and AED,” he says. “Whether I am assisting in planning a fall potluck, organizing a service event at a nursing home, or having a physician come as a guest speaker, I actively listen to the needs and interests of our members to create events that enrich their experience within the organization.”
He also has been on medical service trips to Panama and Guatemala and has received Magellan awards for research.
“Throughout college, USC provided me with life-changing opportunities to develop my intellectual curiosity, professional skills and interpersonal growth,” Ansani says. “Whenever I was lost, USC and the Columbia community had the mentorship and guidance to support me. This instilled a passion to give back to the communities that raised me.”