Briana Mosley, (4th Year Student)

Brianna Mosley, a third-year student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, was recently elected as the Region IX Director of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), the nation’s largest independent organization for medical students of color.

“My goal is to build a strong community in our region,” said Mosley, who served as the TouroCOM-Harlem chapter president last year. Her region covers New York and New Jersey, with 22 medical school chapters and 33 pre-med chapters. Mosley also aims to improve academic access by providing students with test-prep resources and mentors while planning the next regional convention.

Mosley has always been passionate about pursuing medicine, inspired by her family’s STEM background. “After shadowing an osteopathic physician, I knew I wanted to be a doctor and help patients while being a leader,” she explained.

A Rutgers University graduate with a master’s in biomedical science from Drexel, Mosley chose TouroCOM-Harlem for its mission of serving underserved communities. “I want to be a trusted face in medicine and help prevent the health issues that have affected my own family,” she said, citing her motivation to address health disparities in the Black community.

With plans to specialize in obstetrics or pediatrics, Mosley is committed to strengthening the patient-doctor relationship. “Doctors need to listen to patients fully, understand their barriers, and avoid making assumptions,” she said. “It all starts with trust.”

 

The Centeno-Gavica Sisters— Dr. Angela, Dr. Jenifer, and Dr. Mishelle

 

For the Centeno-Gavica sisters—Angela, Jenifer, and Mishelle—medicine is a family passion. All three are now in internal medicine residencies: Angela at New York-Presbyterian, Jenifer at Naples Community Hospital, and Mishelle at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook. All are proud graduates of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Harlem.

Originally from Ecuador, the sisters moved to Florida as teens and faced the challenge of adapting to a new country without knowing English. Their father, a marine biologist who once considered becoming a doctor, inspired their love of science and medicine.

The sisters pursued their dream together, earning degrees from community college, the University of Central Florida, and then enrolling at TouroCOM-Harlem. Jenifer and Mishelle completed Touro’s Master of Science Program and were accepted into the DO program, later encouraging Angela to join.

Throughout their journey, they found support from Touro faculty and fellow students, with a special mention of anatomy professor Dr. Carlos Quinteros as a mentor. The sisters share a commitment to serving underserved communities, particularly within their Hispanic community.

Today, they continue to pursue their medical careers, with aspirations of specialties like rheumatology and endocrinology. Angela reflects on her journey: "Touro gave me the opportunity to pursue a dream."

 

Dr. Robert Trasolini, DO (2012)

Dr. Rob Trasolini stands out as an exceptional orthopedic surgeon, known for his skill and humility—qualities that inspire nurses to choose him for their own surgeries and recommend him to family and friends.
His patients, over 500 of them, give him glowing five-star reviews, often highlighting two key traits: "great doctor and nice human being" and "he talks to me, not at me."

A sports medicine specialist, Trasolini finds joy in both surgery and mentoring future orthopedic surgeons. “I didn’t have much exposure to medicine growing up and had no alumni to guide me,” says Trasolini, a Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine graduate. “Now, I want to smooth the path for those coming up after me.” He recently became vice chair of the TouroCOM Alumni Board, a formal role for what he’s been doing for years—mentoring students and setting up events to help them succeed.

A former lacrosse star, Trasolini’s personal experiences with injuries give him unique insight into the challenges athletes face. “Athletes always see themselves as invincible. I spend a lot of time talking to them about the emotional journey they’ll go through,” he says.

Living in Garden City with his wife and three young children, Trasolini balances a busy surgical schedule with coaching t-ball and lacrosse. Whether treating a 12-year-old soccer player or a 68-year-old pickleball enthusiast, he understands that athletes of all ages view themselves as athletes for life.