Fabiana Aellos Honored with Postdoc Champion: Community Impact Award

Fabiana Aellos, a postdoctoral scholar in the Helms Lab and co-director of the Science, Technology, and Reconstructive Surgery (STaRS) Program, has been selected as a recipient of the Postdoc Champion: Community Impact Award by the Stanford Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.

"Fabiana has been such an important contributor to all our outreach efforts, from those with departmental collaborators to local high schools. Her desire to uplift others and lead through compassion is an exemplar for all of us. I think Gandhi said it perfectly: the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. I’m so proud of what Faby has accomplished- and what she will do in the future!" said Dr. Helms, co-director of the STaRS program and director of the Helms Lab. 

This prestigious honor recognizes postdoctoral scholars whose work meaningfully advances belonging and inclusion at Stanford and beyond. Aellos’s leadership and commitment to equity have been instrumental in shaping programs like STaRS, which empowers students through immersive biomedical research opportunities and mentorship.

On receiving the award, Dr. Aellos shared “As a first-generation immigrant, woman, and surgeon, I know how isolating it can feel not to see yourself reflected in the spaces you aspire to enter. Mentoring has helped me recognize my own power, and giving back by creating spaces of belonging is the most meaningful way I can honor that journey.”

A full list of recipients was announced late August 2025, and a celebratory award ceremony will take place during the Autumn quarter.