Kiana is originally from Miami, FL, and completed her undergraduate education at Florida A&M University before matriculating to Florida State University College of Medicine. Her work has reflected a strong dedication to service, advocacy and mental health equity, particularly for underserved populations. She is the founder and lead volunteer of Baskets of Blessings, a Miami‑based outreach initiative that partners with her home church to provide hygiene supplies and meals to individuals experiencing homelessness in Liberty City. Her advocacy work includes serving on the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation Advocacy and Curriculum Committee, where she helped draft and present a Medical Student Bill of Rights promoting stigma‑free mental health care and student wellness. A recipient of the National Health Service Corps Scholarship for Psychiatry, Kiana has also been recognized for her compassion and excellence with induction into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Alpha Omega Alpha.
Get to Know Kiana
- Hometown: Miami, FL
- Professional Interests: Community psychiatry, recovery-oriented care for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, early intervention for first-episode psychosis and reducing mental health disparities in underserved communities
- Future Plans: Community inpatient psychiatry with a focus on serving underserved populations, as well as involvement in academia and medical education
- Awards/Grants: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society; National Health Service Corps Scholarship
- Hobbies: Attending and listening to Broadway musicals, watching sitcoms, walking, traveling and spending quality time with family and friends.
Education
- MD, Florida State University College of Medicine, 2026
- BS, Florida A&M University, 2020