Sylvia Sawislak, BS

Sylvia Sawislak is a Research Assistant at the Harvard University FXB Center for Health and Human Rights where she works with Dr. Margareta (Magda) Matache in the Roma Program for Health and Human Rights. In this role, she contributes to the multi-country initiative on Romani feminist leadership and climate justice, supporting research design, data collection, and community engagement with Roma women and girls in Europe. Sylvia earned her B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2023. She currently also works as a Medical Assistant at Kiwi Pediatrics.

Sylvia serves on the Board of Directors of Voice of Roma, a California-based Roma human rights and culture non-profit. In 2024, she co-authored a children’s book with Hristo Kyuchukov that uplifts Roma narratives and experiences.

 Sylvia’s passions focus on advancing equity in pediatric health and patient care, with particular attention to reducing bias and barriers to care for children and families in marginalized communities. She is applying to become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, focusing on integrating clinical practice with public health initiatives to improve health outcomes for underserved populations.