UT Health San Antonio’s 2025 Presidential Ambassador Scholars were officially recognized by Francisco Cigarroa, MD, senior executive vice president for health affairs and health system, during an awards ceremony at the Academic and Administration Building April 15.
Since 1988, the Presidential Ambassador Scholar Awards have been provided to outstanding students from each of the five schools and this year adding the School of Public Health. Selected by their deans, the ambassadors each receive $5,000 scholarships and represent the student body and the university at distinguished events throughout the year.
During the awards event, Cigarroa presented each student with medals and certificates.
The six scholars, one from each school in the university, are: Henriette Balinda, PhD, The University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio; Brooke Heche, School of Nursing; Erik Marchant, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Hamsi Nathan, School of Dentistry; Aubree Perkins, School of Health Professions; and Alexander Weinstein, Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine.
Henriette Balinda, a first-year Master of Public Health student, is a research scientist at the Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she focuses on addressing cancer-related health access for all. Balinda earned her Master of Science in Medicine Cell Biology from the University of Cape Town Cape Town, South Africa, and her PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame, where she investigated the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and progression.
Balinda’s passion for public health is deeply personal. After fleeing the 1994 Rwandan genocide, she witnessed the devastating effects of inadequate health care when her mother tragically passed away from a preventable infection in a refugee camp. This experience fueled her lifelong commitment to improving access to preventive care. She has since conducted health-related research across various disciplines, including clinical research, population genetics, molecular biology and cancer epidemiology.
Balinda is a dedicated community volunteer, mentoring children through the Adventurer Club at her church and organizing public health initiatives including the San Antonio Preventive Care Conference. She aspires to work with government agencies to advance cancer prevention and control efforts to provide access to health care for all.
Brooke Heche, a third-year student at the School of Nursing, is a native of Pierceton, Indiana, enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating early from high school. During basic training, she completed Aerospace Medicine studies, becoming a nationally registered EMT and graduating at the top of her class.
Stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, she served as a medical technician at Trainee Health, the Air Force’s largest sick-call clinic. Her exemplary leadership earned her multiple awards and culminated in her promotion to non-commissioned officer. While serving, she pursued an associate’s degree in biology with a pre-nursing focus at San Antonio College. Selected for the Air Force’s Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program, she is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Heche has quickly emerged as a leader among her peers. As part of the Peer Support Program, she mentors underclassmen by facilitating first-semester nursing content review sessions and providing academic guidance.
Upon graduation, she is dedicated to continuing her Air Force career as a labor and delivery nurse, combining her passion for patient care with her commitment to service.
Erik Marchant is a third-year PhD student in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on investigating the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance and developing therapeutic strategies to improve muscle health. He is particularly interested in how aging contributes to the development of insulin resistance, diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
Marchant began his research career at Brigham Young University, where he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Nutritional Science, along with a minor in Gerontology. His work there centered on skeletal muscle metabolism, leading to multiple publications — including a unique case study on himself and his identical twin brother, which assessed muscle mitochondrial function following an ultramarathon.
Throughout his academic journey, Marchant has been fortunate to learn from outstanding mentors and aspires to one day run his own research lab and train the next generation of scientists. He currently serves on the student council for the Integrated Biomedical Sciences program, representing the Biology of Aging discipline.
Outside the lab, he enjoys running on nearby trails, spending time with his wife Abby, and serving as a mentor for the youth at his church.
Hamsi Nathan is a third-year dental student in the School of Dentistry. A native of Austin, she earned her undergraduate degree in business with a focus on Science and Technology Management from the University of Texas. Her passion for dentistry began in her youth when she underwent extensive orthodontic and oral surgery procedures to address an underbite.
As a dental student, she is deeply involved in innovative research, exploring topics like artificial intelligence and the management of diabetic patients. Her leadership skills shine in her role as Class of 2026 Vice President, where she advocates for her peers.
After dental school, Nathan plans to pursue specialty training in oral surgery, with a goal of providing care to young patients who are facing challenging dental conditions.
Outside of dentistry, she enjoys creating recipes, solving puzzles, and crocheting. She loves spending time outdoors with her dog and unwinding with board games alongside her fiancé and friends.
Aubree Perkins is a first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy student in the School of Health Professions. She grew up in San Antonio and earned her undergraduate degree in Applied Exercise Physiology from Texas A&M University. Her passion for physical therapy began through her volunteer work with children with special needs and deepened as she discovered how prioritizing movement can positively impact an aging population.
Actively engaged in community outreach, she is dedicated to giving back and aims to provide health care for a diverse range of patients. With a particular interest in treating individuals with temporomandibular point dysfunction, Perkins aspires to help her future patients return to their daily activities pain-free and with renewed confidence.
In her free time, she enjoys working out, hiking, taking long walks with her dog and cooking. She also serves as the class president of her cohort and is an active member of the American Physical Therapy and Texas Physical Therapy associations.
Alexander Weinstein, a first-year medical student, graduated from Ronald Reagan High School before matriculating to the University of Texas where he majored in biochemistry and earned a Bachelor of Science, graduating with the highest honors.
He was named a Distinguished College Scholar twice and served as a physics learning assistant. In addition, he volunteered at the Kerrville VA Hospital and did deliveries after his volunteer shifts.
At the Long School of Medicine, Weinstein has volunteered extensively with the student-faculty collaborative practice clinics and the food bank farm.
In his free time, he likes to spend time with his younger brother and remains an avid saxophonist.