Announcing the 2025 InfuCare Rx® Scholarship Program Recipients
Each year, the InfuCare Rx Scholarship program highlights exceptional students who navigate life with complex medical conditions while pursuing their academic goals and making a positive impact in their communities. We are proud to support a new group of scholars whose strength, vision, and resilience continue to inspire us all. We are thrilled to introduce Shanthi, Christopher, Sabrina, Zoe, Kierstyn, and Samantha as the 2025 InfuCare Rx Scholars. These recipients share more than just medical diagnoses; they embody a spirit of purpose that drives their dreams of helping others.
We offer scholarships in three categories: primary immunodeficiencies, neuromuscular conditions, and bleeding disorders. Our annual scholarship program provides financial support for individuals diagnosed with these chronic conditions who are pursuing higher education to improve their lives, futures, and the lives of those around them.
Creating Change for the Bleeding Disorders Community
Shanthi
Shanthi Hegde grew up in Georgia and is currently pursuing a degree at Vanderbilt University. She lives with von Willebrand Disease (Type 1), Factor VII deficiency, and an immune dysregulatory condition. These experiences prompted her to establish the first college-level support group for bleeding disorders while attending Northeastern University. She combines her personal experiences with leadership, advocacy, and research.
“Unlike my mother, who wasn’t diagnosed until age 50, I was diagnosed at 19—by then, I had already spent most of my life bleeding,” she shares. Shanthi’s vision is to reimagine care for women and people of color living with bleeding disorders. As a student of public health, she aims to bring visibility to historically silenced patients. “My greatest hope is to help build a world where a rare diagnosis doesn’t mean invisibility, delayed care, or suffering in silence.” Shanthi works on national advocacy coalitions and research on care inequities for women of color and plans to continue researching and advocating for care equity in the bleeding disorder population.
Christopher
Christopher Joseph Ambrosio has spent much of his life undergoing daily treatment for severe hemophilia A with inhibitors. Despite these physical limitations, he developed a strong interest in medicine at an early age. “Though I was limited in what I could do physically, I discovered that I was not limited academically.”
Originally from Lynbrook, New York, Christopher is an involved member of the bleeding disorder community and is a former Teen-Impact Award recipient. He is currently pursuing an advanced medical studies program to become a Physician Assistant at King’s College in Pennsylvania. He is passionate about giving back through medicine, inspired by the care he has received from his own healthcare team. In addition to his studies, Christopher is a volunteer EMT and firefighter, driven by a lifelong goal: “to help as many people as possible.”
Standing Strong with Primary Immunodeficiency
Sabrina
Sabrina Maldonado, from Newton Square, PA, lives with Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID) and is a Pre-med student at Frostburg State University in Maryland. She has learned to live “not in spite of it, but alongside” her condition. In high school she was a team leader for Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) Walks, raising funds and awareness in the community for conditions like hers. As an advocate and aspiring healthcare provider, she balances treatment with academics, sports, and community work.
Through her experiences, Sabrina has been inspired to provide empathetic care for those with chronic or invisible conditions. “PI may be rare,” she writes, “but it has helped me find a voice and purpose that I wouldn’t trade.”
Zoe
Zoe Angelopoulou, diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinemia and multiple chronic conditions, including POTS and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, describes her lifelong health journey as one filled with both challenges and empowerment. After facing setbacks in high school that led to several diagnoses, she emerged with a stronger resolve. “Strength does not come from physical capacity; it comes from an indomitable will,” she reflects.
Hailing from Virginia, Zoe plans to attend Virginia Tech in the fall. A former competitive swimmer and high school record holder, she is now focused on studying science and pre-dentistry. Zoe is dedicated to advocacy and mentorship, aspiring to make a difference in healthcare. She intends to advocate for students with immunodeficiencies and aims to become a licensed healthcare provider. Ultimately, Zoe hopes to become a dentist with a strong interest in advocacy and public service.
Redefining Possibility in the Face of Neuromuscular Conditions
Kierstyn
Kierstyn aspires to become a NICU nurse, where she hopes to care for the most vulnerable patients with compassion and skill.
Currently, she is balancing full-time study with health management as a college student.
“My experience has taught me resilience, compassion, gratefulness, and the importance of advocating for others,” she shares. Her goals are deeply rooted in empathy and a strong desire to uplift others during their most challenging moments.
Samantha
Samantha Hamilton was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) as a teenager, and she has transformed her personal health journey into a story of persistence and perseverance. Being diagnosed in high school was difficult because she struggled to find other young people who understood what she was going through. “Instead of allowing it to hold me back,” she writes, “I use the experiences I have gained from having MS to inspire others.”
Despite managing symptoms like headaches and tremors, Samantha continued to push herself academically, proudly making the Dean’s List as a college freshman at the University of South Florida. She dreams of becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and aims to increase awareness about invisible illnesses in professional settings. Samantha seeks to use her personal journey to inspire others to navigate chronic conditions and plans to raise awareness about these invisible conditions in the professional world.
A Future Fueled by Purpose
Each of these students offers a unique perspective on healthcare, advocacy, and community leadership. What they all share is an unwavering determination to pursue their dreams while navigating the challenges of rare and chronic conditions. We are proud to support them—not only for their accomplishments, but also for the empathy, courage, and insight they bring to everything they do.
To our 2025 scholarship recipients: thank you for reminding us of what it means to persevere with purpose. We can’t wait to see the future you create.
About the InfuCare Rx Scholarship Program
Our annual scholarship program supports individuals with primary immunodeficiencies, neuromuscular conditions, and bleeding disorders who are pursuing higher education. Each year, we receive many qualified applications from students who bravely manage their health challenges while excelling in their studies. To learn more about the InfuCare Rx Scholarship Program, click here.