Ira is a driven scholar, community leader, and aspiring physician. With a strong academic foundation and a passion for research, she has explored topics ranging from molecular pathways in ALS at Barrow Neurological Institute to computational modeling of CAR T-cell therapy. Her work extends beyond the lab, as she has also investigated disparities in HIV education through research and presented her findings at major symposia, demonstrating both intellectual curiosity and a commitment to public health. Her commitment to promoting research is seen in her work as the Arizona State Director of The Unity Network, where she mentors highschoolers on their research endeavors.  

Her entrepreneurial spirit is exemplified through her founding of BreakingTheCycle, a nonprofit organization aimed at addressing the lack of accessible education surrounding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). What began as a podcast and small discussion groups evolved, through reflection and adaptation, into a school-based organization focused on peer-led education and community engagement. By redesigning her approach to prioritize accessibility and relatability, she expanded the initiative’s reach to over 300 individuals in person and more than 120,000 online, while raising over $6,800 for PCOS research at Boston Children’s Hospital. She further extended this impact by creating a youth advisory board for a reproductive health startup, ensuring that teen perspectives shape how health information is communicated.

She’s President of STEAM Society, where she transformed a large but inactive club into a structured, impact-driven organization. Under her leadership, the club has launched STEM education programs at a Title I elementary school, organized donation drives raising over $900, and hosted “STEAM Knight,” the school’s largest science event, drawing over 200 attendees. She leads with intention, focusing on empowering others, fostering accountability, and building sustainable systems for growth. At school, she also enjoys competing and leading her peers in Speech and Debate. 

Her commitment to service is equally profound. As President of The Athena Project’s Arizona chapter, she has led over 25 community art events and has helped volunteers contribute more than 600 hours to hospitals, libraries, and schools. Through initiatives like a youth-led mural at St. Joseph’s Hospital, she has created spaces where patients, families, and volunteers can connect through creativity, transforming environments that often feel isolating into ones of collaboration and expression. Additionally, as a Junior Ambassador at St. Joseph’s Hospital, she mentors new volunteers and supports patient interactions, emphasizing empathy and human connection in healthcare settings.