We are a small team that came together in June 2026 through the Hack Your Summer Program to combine our passion for public-health data, statistics, and engineering. We’ve been working completely remotely alongside our day jobs, but our shared passion and great communication kept us aligned and energized to bring this project across the finish line! Together, we set out to answer one critical question: where do stroke risk and poor access to care overlap, and what should be done about it?
Jane Condon
Data collection · geographic accessibility analysis · index methodology · index analysis
Hello! I am a graduate student at Stony Brook University from Long Island, NY. I expect to graduate with my Masters in Statistics in December 2026. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Stony Brook University. Prior to starting my Masters, I did an internship as a data analyst at a nonprofit in the public health field and really enjoyed the experience, which led me to develop an interest in biostatistics (i.e., statistics in the field of healthcare/medicine, public health, etc.). Personally, this project was motivated by a personal experience after a family member suffered a stroke earlier this year. Experiencing firsthand how critical timely treatment is sparked my interest in understanding whether geographic location and healthcare accessibility create disparities in stroke care. Through this project, I sought to develop indices that identify communities where stroke risk is highest and access to care is most limited, providing a framework for prioritizing public health interventions.
Ngan (Jane) Vu
Data collection · stroke risk analysis · index methodology
Hi! I’m a Data Analytics graduate, and I love using data to solve complex, real-world problems. After starting my academic career in social sciences, humanities, and healthcare, I transitioned into data analytics to bridge the gap between people-centric fields and technical solutions. I’m passionate about leveraging my analytical skills to improve public service decision-making and public health outcomes. That passion inspired my work on our project, where we are analyzing county-level stroke burdens to help policy makers direct resources exactly where they are needed most.
Cathleen Xi
Data collection · healthcare access analysis
Hi! I’m an undergraduate student studying Cognitive Science at the University of California San Diego. As a New York City native, I’m especially passionate about the Stroke Burden Index because it addresses health disparities in the communities I grew up in. For this project, I gathered and analyzed healthcare access data, worked with an SQL database to organize and query the information, and helped identify factors that contribute to stroke burden across counties. This experience allowed me to combine my interests in healthcare, data analytics, and technology while contributing to a project with direct public health impact.
Mikko Palis
Engineering · pipeline & site
Hi! I’m finishing my Master’s in Computer Science at the end of August 2026. My path here wasn’t a straight line — my undergraduate degree was in Exercise Science, and it was only after that I made the switch into computer science. That background made a public-health project like this one feel like a natural fit. On this team I work on the software side: the data pipeline, the project database, and this site with its interactive dashboard — turning the team’s methodology and analysis into working tools.
Nitya Nemani
UI/UX design
Hello! My name is Nitya Nemani! I am currently an undergraduate student at San José State University studying Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems while pursuing a minor in Human Systems Integration. I’m interested in UX research, human centered design, and understanding how psychology and technology can improve the way people interact with information and products. Before this project, I worked on a UX research project focused on redesigning Quizlet’s Content Hub, which sparked my interest in creating more intuitive and accessible digital experiences. I was excited to join this project because it combined healthcare, public policy, and UX research. During the project, I focused on UX research to help guide the dashboard’s design so it would be intuitive for both public health professionals and the general public.