Title: Native Circle
Location: Crow Creek Sioux
Education
Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
BS in Neuorscience, Johns Hopkins University
Biography
Cera Hassinanis a Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her research focuses on Neurofilaments,a cytoskeletal protein, in the context of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Originally from Tempe, Arizona, Hassinan moved to Baltimore to study at Johns Hopkins University, where she graduated in 2017, with a B.S. in Neuroscience. While in school, she played on the Johns Hopkins Soccer Team. She is also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a Community Service Fraternity. Hassinan is a part of the THREAD family, a group of volunteers centered around supporting a vulnerable Baltimore high school student. Hassinan is a member of the Crow Creek Sioux tribe with her maternal family originating in South Dakota. Growing up she was influenced by her grandmother, Feanette BadMoccasin. Hassinans grandmother introduced her to many Sioux traditions, such as cooking, family gatherings and ceremonies, and instilled in her the value of respecting and emulating her elders. In the future, Hassinan wants to build upon her familys legacy and help Native communities by becoming a Native American physician and researcher.