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PALLAVI JONNALAGADDA
Medical Student
Pallavi Jonnalagadda is a medical student at Washington University in St. Louis with a background in bioengineering and classical studies from the University of Pennsylvania. She brings a rich interdisciplinary portfolio of research, including innovations in neonatal apnea monitoring and nanotechnology for infection treatment. With leadership roles across medical ethics, pediatric CPR education, and orthopedic interest groups, she is passionate about blending technology, ethics, and clinical care.
Email: j.pallavi@wustl.edu
I’m a medical student at Washington University in St. Louis with a background in bioengineering and classical studies from the University of Pennsylvania. My experiences span from designing AI-powered neonatal monitors to researching gold-based nanotechnologies for infection treatment. I’m passionate about combining innovation, ethics, and patient care—and love working at the intersection of engineering and medicine.
Education
2024-current
Louis, School of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
May 2023
Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Ongoing IRB-approved studies (* = IRB authorship):
Shoulder Arthroplasty Utilization
Shoulder to Shoulder, or Miles Apart? An analysis of sociodemographic and geographic determinants of health and how they impact patient utilization of shoulder arthroplasty services.
Non-English Speakers & Clinical Trials
Attitudes of Chronic Pain Patients to Mobile Health Interventions. Survey of patients living with chronic pain to understand how they could best be supported by mobile app technology.
Non-English Speakers & Clinical Trials
Attitudes of non-English speaking patients to English Clinical Trial Postings. Survey of patients who primarily speak a non-English language to understand cultural attitudes about clinical trial postings among patients who are not primarily English speakers.
Surgery Recovery & Insurance
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Surgery Recovery based on Insurance Coverage. A study examining how patient-reported outcome measures vary based on insurance status.
Insurance & Surgery Authorization
Is Surgical Authorization Dependent on Insurance Provider? A study examining the relationship between insurance coverage and shoulder surgery authorization.
Femoral Fractures After Osteotomy
Femoral Fracture Frequency Following Derotational Femoral Osteotomy. Analysis of femoral fracture frequency in pediatric patients who undergo derotational femoral and/or tibial osteotomies.
Gap Years & Ortho Residency Matching
How Do Gap Years/Research Fellowships Impact Matching Likelihoods in Aspiring Orthopedic Surgery Applicants? Understanding the relevance of gap years/research fellowships to their likelihood of matching to an orthopedic surgery residency program.
Periprosthetic Femur Fractures
Periprosthetic Femur Fractures in Pediatric Patients. Collaborative project with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to analyze risk factors for periprosthetic femur fracture in pediatric patients.
Discectomy Outcomes
Outcomes in Patients Receiving Discectomies. Retrospective study comparing intraoperative variables and postoperative outcomes between patients receiving discectomy.
Ongoing Non-IRB Projects
Chronicle
An app that hopes to improve the care continuum for chronic pain patients outside the hospital and allows for community-building to reduce social isolation for chronic pain patients.
DiversifAI
App that seeks to reduce language barriers to informed consent in clinical trials by leveraging natural language models/artificial intelligence to translate clinical trial postings while maintaining medically accurate language.
Chronicle
Composition of Major Orthopedic Surgery Societies. Project seeking to understand the composition of major orthopedic surgery societies across the United States.
Research & Design Experience
August 2022 – May 2023
BAMBI Engineer
- Designed a multi-award-winning Biointelligent Apnea Monitor for Bradycardia-Prone Infants (BAMBI). BAMBI is a tripartite system that leverages machine learning and automated mechanical stimulation to detect and treat apnea of prematurity in the NICU.
- Programmed a machine-learning algorithm to detect apnea in premature infants in the NICU, with F1 score of 97.4%, sensitivity of 96.27%, and specificity & accuracy of 99.9%.
- Laser cut and 3D-printed a functional mechanical chassis to stimulate infants and resolve apneic episodes manually.
- Programmed a user-interface to relay information about apneic episodes over time to attending physicians for use in making discharge decisions.
August-December 2021
Bioengineering Modeling and Design Lab I
- Mathematically modeled and experimentally verified dialysis and drug delivery systems.
- Constructed a Human-Cockroach Machine Interface, characterizing and controlling the movements of a severed cockroach leg in parallel with a motor arm to obtain two degrees of motion. Interfaced MATLAB program with niDAQ, Biopac, and Arduino to precisely control this prosthetic using real-time human physiological inputs.
January-May 2022
Clinical ENT Preceptorship with Noam Cohen, MD, Ph.D
- Designed an artificial intelligence-integrated image analysis algorithm to quantify the number of nasal epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 based on immunofluorescence antibody staining.
- Optimized time expenditure for researchers attempting to discern the relationship between COVID-19 pathogenicity and the LZTFL1 gene.
September 2019-June 2023
Research Assistant to David Cormode, DPhil
- Studied controlled-shape synthesis and biological applications of metal nanoparticles at the Nanomedicine and Molecular Imaging Lab.
- Elucidated the cytotoxic properties of gold Wulff-in-a-Cage nanoparticles for translational use in disrupting subcutaneous bacterial biofilms in HeCaT skin cell cultures.
- Optimized gelation and contrast of gold-nanoparticle-laced chemotherapeutic hydrogel for use in trans-arterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Technical Skills & Certificates
Publications
April 2024
M. Hajfathalian, K. Mossburg, A. Radaid, K. Woo, P. Jonnalagadda, Y. Kapila, P. Bollyky, D.P. Cormode, “A Review of Recent Advances in the Use of Complex Metal Nanostructures in Biomedical Applications from Diagnosis to Treatment.” WIREs Nanomedicine & Nanobiotechnology. Publication pending in April 2024.
August 2023
M. Hajfathalian, C. Vries, J. Hsu, A. Amirshaghaghi, Y. Dong, Z. Ren, Y. Liu, Y. Huang, S. Knight, P. Jonnalagadda, A. Zlitni, E. Grice, H. Koo, P. Bollyky, D.P. Cormode, “Theranostic gold-in-gold cage nanoparticles enable photothermal ablation and photoacoustic imaging in biofilm-associated infection models.” The Journal of Clinical Investigation. August 31, 2023. doi:10.1172/JCI168485
In Preparation
M. Hajfathalian, Y. Huang, Z. Ren, Y. Dong, P. Jonnalagadda, J. C. Hsu, H. Koo, E. Grice, D. P. Cormode, “Wulff in a Cage Gold Nanoparticles as a Theranostic Anti-biofilm Agent”, In Preparation.
Presentations
October 2023
P. Jonnalagadda, G. Qian, J. Ling, R. Dawar, “BAMBI: a Biointelligent Apnea Monitor for Bradycardia-Prone Infants.” Oral Presentation (competition), BMES Annual Conference, Seattle, October 2023.
April 2023
P. Jonnalagadda, G. Qian, J. Ling, R. Dawar, “BAMBI: a Biointelligent Apnea Monitor for Bradycardia-Prone Infants.” Poster Presentation (competition), Design of Medical Devices Conference, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, April 2023.
March 2021
M. Hajfathalian, Z. Ren, Y. Liu, C. Dong, J. Hsu, P. Jonnalagadda, P.L. Bollyky, H. Koo, D.P. Cormode, “Wulff in a Cage Gold Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Bacterial Biofilm-Associated Infections”, Oral Presentation, 23rd Annual Bay Area Microbial Pathogenesis Symposium, San Francisco, CA, March 2021.
June 2020
M. Hajfathalian, Y. Huang, Y. C. Dong, Z. Ren, S. Knight, J. Hsu, P. Jonnalagadda, H. Sussman, E. Grice, H. Koo, D. P. Cormode, “Wulff in a Cage Gold Nanoparticles in Therapy and Imaging of Bacterial Biofilms”, Oral Presentation, 46th Annual Pendergrass Day Symposium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, June 2020.
Honors & Awards
2023
2023
2023
2023
2019
2018 & 2019
2019
2023
Hobbies & Languages
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Abstract
June 2018
M.F. Faisal, N. Cosgrove, V. Kushnir, T. Hollander, S.P. Vitta, R.S. Patel, D. Kodali, S. Mahmood, T.A. Syed, S.M. Farooqui, A. Salman, J.T. Maple, P. Jonnalagadda, M. Rogers, R.N. Keswani, K. Andresen, S.S. Jonnalagadda. Mo1285 Lumen Apposing Self-Expanding Metal Stents Have a Higher Rate of Long Term Complications Compared to Double PigTail Stents in Management of Walled Off Pancreatic Necrosis: A Multicenter Experience. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Monday Abstract Vol 87.6. June 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2018.04.1936
Extracurricular Activities
January 2024-Present
Co-Lead, Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group, Washington University School of Medicine
- Organize and coordinate with faculty, residents, and device representatives to host hands-on events and panels for students interested in pursuing orthopedic surgery as a medical specialty.
January 2024-Present
Co-Lead, Pediatric Life Savers, Washington University School of Medicine
- Collaborate with community partners at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Center for Families to ensure volunteer coverage for Pediatric Life Savers classes in order to educate new parents of NICU infants on CPR best practices.
January 2024-Present
Co-Lead, Narrative Medicine Interest Group, Washington University School of Medicine
- Highlight the role of patient and provider narratives in the practice of medicine through narrative-sharing, journal clubs, and creating journaling opportunities for students seeking to reflect on their clinical experiences through narrative.
January 2024-Present
Co-Lead, Medical Ethics Student Society, Washington University School of Medicine
- Plan and host events centered around medical ethics for the medical community, including journal article discussions about truth-telling in medicine, ethical intersectionality between objective medicine and patient narratives, and the role of the physician in medical decision making.
Fall 2020-Present
Peer Tutor (Paid), University of Pennsylvania
- Tutor groups of 3-4 undergraduate peers in Molecular Biology and Scientific Computing
Fall 2020-Present
President, Engineers in Medicine (eMED), University of Pennsylvania
- Coordinate between eMED’s three main committees to hold pre-professional events for engineering students interested in medical applications, including doctor dinners and biotech company talks.
Fall 2020-Present
Managing Editor, Penn Bioethics Journal (PBJ), University of Pennsylvania
- Supervise a group of associate editors each semester and teach them the peer-review process for publication in PBJ.
- Lead discussions about paper submissions, communicating with paper authors about revisions, and compiling news briefs of major bioethical developments
Fall 2020-Present
Finance/Communications Director, Society of Women Engineers, University of Pennsylvania
- Budgeting and accounting for over $20,000 in corporate revenue.
- As Communications Director, oversaw all marketing for SWE, including communicating with corporate sponsors and expanding SWE’s audience through social media platforms.
Fall 2020-Present
Board Member, Classics Board, University of Pennsylvania
- Organize and plan events for the undergraduate Classical Studies community, specifically focusing on Faculties’, seminars about Classical Studies and Archaeology research and ancient literature.
Volunteer Work
Baking Portfolio
