Leadership
Kisha Burgess, D.O., M.S.
Founder and Executive Director
Dr. Burgess is an internal medicine physician in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM) in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 2020 and completed her residency training at Morehouse School of Medicine. During medical school, she remained very active in the Student National Medical Association, serving as president of her SNMA chapter. Also within SNMA, she was a board member of the Osteopathic Schools Committee, and served as osteopathic liaison for the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students subcommittee.
Dr. Burgess, no stranger to trailblazing, founded her school’s first Cardiology Interest Group. After completion of her internal medicine residency, she aspires to pursue a cardiology fellowship, and practice as an interventional cardiologist to address diseases that plague minority and underserved communities.
After receiving a tuition scholarship from WCUCOM’s former dean, Dr. Burgess felt compelled to serve her community in a similar way. Her hope is that Dreams Pursued Inc. will open doors to medical school for many underrepresented minority students for years to come.
DARIAN HARRIS, D.O. , M.S.
ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dr. Darian Harris is a resident physician in Texas and a graduate of William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. While in medical school, Darian has served as chapter president, first-year representative of her school’s SNMA chapter, and as a board member on the SNMA Osteopathic Committee. She was chosen for the Primary Care Leadership Program in 2018 by National Medical Fellowships and served as the Region 2 representative for their Young Leadership Council.
In 2019, Dr. Harris was awarded the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s Sherry R. Arnstein Minority Scholarship.
Dr. Harris is passionate about mentoring to increase diversity in the medical field. Her goal is to become a pediatrician committed to serving underserved communities with excellent and compassionate care.
Paloria Hills, D.O., M.B.S.
Mentorship and Fellowship COmmittee
Dr. Hills studied biomedical engineering at Mississippi State University and received her medical degree at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. During her time in medical school, she was on the board of the Student National Medical Association and the American Women’s Medical Association. She is currently a candidate for her second Masters degree in Clinical and Translational Research at Georgetown University. She is a resident physician in Denison, Texas. She is a dedicated advocate to women’s healthcare and multicultural graduate education.
Dr. Hills is passionate about diversity in medicine and mentoring aspiring pre-medical and medical students.