Maya Harpavat is a post-baccalaureate fellow at the Medical Humanities Institute. Her current work includes contributing to medical humanities research, mentoring undergraduate students in practicum projects, and supporting the institute’s broader research initiatives. 

Maya received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University in May of 2026, graduating with honors with majors in Health Sciences and English (Creative Writing) and a minor in Medical Humanities. She also earned a Certificate in Civic Leadership. As an undergraduate, Maya pursued research spanning expressive writing in cancer care, maternal and child malnutrition in rural India, and Food As Medicine programs for high-risk expectant women in Houston. She is the founder of Write to Restore, an expressive writing program that uses storytelling to support cancer patients and caregivers. 

Her research interests lie at the intersection of the humanities and health, with a particular interest in how patients’ stories and lived experiences can inform more compassionate approaches to care. Through her work, Maya hopes to explore how the medical humanities can deepen understanding of patients’ experiences alongside innovative approaches to healthcare.