Premed Leadership Introductions

Amanda Barbeau University of California - Davis in Davis, CA National Premedical Trustee-at-Large

Matt LeClair Harvard University Premedical Region 1 Director My name is Matt and I'm a life-long New England resident presently residing near Boston. I am president of the Harvard University premed AMSA chapter and it is now my great honor to act as the incoming Premedical Director for this region. Since January 2008, I've been a post-baccalaureate student and an AMSA member. After attending the Premedical Leadership Institute, I was instilled with AMSA's infectious optimism and enthusiasm for influencing the future of health care on every level. Upon returning to Harvard, I worked hard to revive the local chapter here and bring members to national events. Now that I have a formal introduction to AMSA as an organization and our nation's health care system as viewed from a medical student perspective, I'm equipped to work with chapters across New England. Together we can educate ourselves, share our knowledge with other students, help in our local communities, and bring about the changes we envision for health care on a state and national level. In my term as regional director, I intend to stir up passion among premeds for the full breadth and depth of medicine. I invite all chapters to share their ideas with me during the coming year. We can harness new web technology to communicate, collaborate, and instruct each other on how to make our chapters thrive. I will facilitate conversations between our established chapters and our newer chapters. We're all in this together, so when I pick up the phone and call you it's because I want your chapter to succeed! We're all going to work together to turn our AMSA premeds into role models for the country. And it's going to be fun.

Joshua Weinstock Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ Premedical Region 2 Director Welcome Premedical AMSA members! I have the privilege of serving as the Premedical Regional Director (PRD) for Region II, which consists of New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Puerto Rico (¡Hola amigos!).  I am a proud member of the School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, where I am currently majoring in Cell Biology and Neuroscience and Psychology. Extracurricularly, I serve as a research assistant, volunteer as an EMT, enjoy writing and am an avid sports fan. My involvement in AMSA, which began during my freshman year at Rutgers, has exposed me to a myriad of unique opportunities and to a diverse set of issues that surround the exciting medical profession. Specifically, at Rutgers, I am a Local Officer for Research Exchange for the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and have served as a local AMSA Executive Board member. My peers and I have worked tirelessly to make Rutgers AMSA the best it can be. It is with this same effort and enthusiasm that I approach the job of PRD. I look forward to serving as a link and a constant resource for all chapters and members in Region II. I also hope to facilitate communication between the 25+ chapters I serve. To current AMSA members, please do not hesitate to contact me. I look forward to working in cooperation with you! To all others, I encourage you to become a member of this esteemed organization and to get involved, because it takes more than medical school to make a physician.

Kevin Maloney Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA Premedical Region 3 Director Hey Region 3!! My name is Kevin Maloney and I am a rising senior at Drexel University, in Philly. I am one of two Premedical Region 3 Directors (PRD). Together, with my counterpart further south, we will represent Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia! Both my professional and personal experiences with health care have instilled within me a certain set of values, which have guided me toward patient advocacy and health care reform, awareness of health disparities. I have seen some of the awesome things medicine can do, but also what it is not doing. I first became involved with AMSA a little over a year ago, when a chapter was chartered on my campus. Almost immediately, I realized that this was an organization, which shared my convictions and values. AMSA has created a passion within me and given me the tools to not be a bystander in our health care system.  I think it is extremely important that all future physicians find that voice inside themselves, and to discover and harness their energy in a positive way, to effect real change. Together, we represent the future of health care.  As PRD, I am the link between National AMSA and the great premedical chapters in Region 3. It is my responsibility to support strong and active chapters in all the great work that you do. My goal is to reach out to the chapters that are less active and have struggled to gain energy and momentum, and to bring them the resources of the national organization.  As the premedical program grows within AMSA, it is also important to locate schools, which would benefit from AMSA and to support the development and eventual charter of that chapter. Please feel free to contact me with any and all questions you may have!

Zach Landau Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Premedical Region 3 Director I am an undergraduate student of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; We are the Hokies of Virginia Tech.  While I am currently a junior pursuing a biology and Spanish degree in honors, I stay energized through involvement with my fraternity (Pi Kappa Phi), IMPACT (the alcohol and drug abuse prevention and peer education team), and other engaging organizations.    I plan to attend an MD program after graduation, ideally at a medical school in a metropolitan area. As the Premed Regional Director of Region III (PRD-III) I assist the Premed AMSA chapters in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and DC.  I am excited about my main responsibility of helping in communication between local chapters and the national organization.  Region III, know that I am here to help you with your involvement in all things AMSA.  The PRD position is described as being a cheerleader, troubleshooter, and organizer for a region.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need advice, assistance, information, organization, or a boost.  Region III has a great deal of potential for growth, chartering of new chapters, premedical-medical chapter interaction, and national involvement.  I bring a lot of energy to this position, and the AMSA premedical chapters bring a unique and quintessential newness to the medical pursuit and profession.  AMSA is power.

Bobbie-Jo Dyson Kent State University in Kent, Ohio Premedical Region 4 Director My name is Bobbie-Jo Dyson and I attend Kent State University in Ohio. I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. I absolutely love AMSA! Throughout my undergraduate years, AMSA has given me a new view on medicine and a new enthusiasm for the medical field through its activism and support! I represent Region 4 which includes the 17 chartered chapters in Ohio and Michigan. As your Pre-medical Regional Director, I act as a liaison between national AMSA to existing premedical chapters and potential premedical chapters. I have several goals while serving my term this year. The first is to establish connections between premedical chapters within our region. This will create a passage to network and collaborate with each other and share information on AMSA related projects. Also, the connection between local pre-medical chapters and national AMSA is very important for the heart of each chapter; therefore I would like to keep an open line of communication with the leaders of each chapter. I welcome you to present any questions you may have about issues presented in your local chapter as well as questions about national AMSA. The knowledge of national AMSA events is very important for local chapters. This is why attending regional and national conferences are vital to each chapter’s success. I will assist you in fundraising ideas and writing letters to your college/university to help you solicit funding that will allow you to attend these conferences. I am really excited to act as your Region 4 PRD this year! Please take my information down and contact me, I would love to speak with you about your chapter and learn how I can be of assistance to you!

Britani Martinez Florida Atlantic University Premedical Region 5 Director Hi, my name is Britani Martinez and I am a senior at Florida Atlantic University and I will be graduating this summer with a Bachelors degree in Biology. I am one of two Premedical Regional Directors for Region V and I will be overseeing Florida. I have been with AMSA for three years now, one year as a member and the next two as an officer for my local chapter. I feel that becoming a part of AMSA was one of the best decisions I could have made as a premed; it has literally changed my life! As your PRD, I am a liaison between Local and National AMSA and I am here to provide assistance, support, and advice to my local chapters. I would like to increase communication between the local chapters in Florida because I feel that this would let both successful and struggling chapters have a resource for new ideas and projects. I would also like for local chapters to have more involvement in National AMSA. There are so many premeds that are passionate about what is going on in today’s healthcare system and AMSA provides a voice for these premeds; as more chapters join together in National AMSA, our voice can only grow stronger and we can make even more of a difference. Please come to me if you need any advice or support.  I am here for you and I would like to see your chapter grow and be successful! We are all in this together, so please use every single resource available to you to make your chapter, and your premedical experience the best it can be. I am very excited about working with you so please do not hesitate to contact me at anytime!

Kimberly Kimes University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC Premedical Region 5 Director Hello, I am a senior at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte pursuing a double major in Biology and Psychology with two minors, the first in English and the second in Interdisciplinary Heath Studies (in the college of Public Heath). Upon completion of my degrees in December, I plan to apply for Graduate school to pursue a Masters in Public Health before eventually applying to medical school. I am one of the two Premedical Region 5 Directors, and I am responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of all pre-medical AMSA chapters in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, serving as additional support for Florida. My goal for the upcoming year is to facilitate growth amongst established chapters, encouraging an open line of communication with National AMSA as well providing support and guidance to those chapters that have just become chartered. In addition to the standard chapter communications, I hope to encourage chapters to develop some of the strategic priorities of AMSA locally. Activism is something that I find to be most influential at the individual chapter level and I hope to encourage the chapters within my region to become a more dynamic force in the battle for quality, affordable healthcare for all. I have a ton of ideas and the energy to back them, and I look forward to working with Region 5 in the year to come. Any Questions? Don’t hesitate to ask.

Russ Avellana Loyola University Chicago Premedical Region 6 Director What's going on AMSA! My name is Russ Avellana and I am a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago. I majored in Psychology and minored in Biology and Neuroscience. I've been the treasurer of my local chapter my sophomore year and the president my Junior and Senior year. I'd love to start out by telling you how I first fell in love with AMSA. I still remember it till this day. It was a cold, March winter day in Chicago. I attended the 56th Annual National Convention when I was a freshman in college and after that unforgettable weekend, I couldn't get enough of AMSA! It was my first of many conventions with AMSA. The more involved I got with National AMSA, the more I learned about the real issues in medicine. I've become an advocate in everything that AMSA has stood for especially high quality health care for all. We can all agree that applying to medical school can be a long, comprehensive, and an exhausting process. But AMSA has been helping me along the way. AMSA has also helped me gain an understanding that there is more to becoming a physician than just medical school. Becoming a doctor is not just limited to making the grade in undergrad or getting the best score possible on the MCAT. Becoming a doctor is more than that, and AMSA helped me excel in the other qualities necessary in becoming the best and most compassionate physician possible. During my time as Premedical Region 6 Director, I plan to give back to AMSA. I want to strengthen other local chapters in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana so that they can become more involved on the National level. I also plan to start up new chapters when possible. I plan to devote as much time to AMSA as I would to a girlfriend. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Dean Turbeville University of Central Arkansas, AR Premedical Region 7 Director Hello, my name is Dean Turbeville and I am a rising Senior at the University of Central Arkansas.  I am pursuing a biology degree with a minor in interdisciplinary studies.  I have been involved with AMSA for three years and each year I learn lots of new things about what AMSA can do for Pre-Meds and what Pre-Meds can get done through AMSA.  When I first got involved in AMSA as a Freshman I just wanted to “put it on my resumé,” but I have since come to realize that AMSA can add a lot more to my Pre-Med experience than giving me an extra line on my resumé. As Region VII PRD I will represent Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.  I hope to grow the chapter numbers even higher than they have grown in the last couple of years by creating strong contacts among not only myself and other chapters, but also among the chapters themselves.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you, whether it be something large or small.  I can’t wait to work with each one of the Region VII chapters, and hopefully charter some new chapters!

Katie Nebel Truman State University in Kirksville, MO Premedical Region 8 Director My name is Katie Nebel and I am a current biology undergraduate at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. As Premedical Regional Director (PRD) for Region VIII, I represent the states of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. My primary goals for this year include uniting the Region VIII chapters with a coordinated lobby day, strengthening the newly chartered chapters, helping prospective AMSA chapters, and then connecting all chapters to National AMSA. I feel it necessary that the establishment of a bridge between premedical chapters and the national leadership of AMSA will be beneficial and necessary for creating a strong region and important development in the area of networking. AMSA offers many essential resources to medical and premedical members.  AMSA continually shapes me as an individual, educating me daily on the health concerns of our nation.  As a future physician, AMSA strengthens and inspires me to follow my goals.  Just as AMSA inspires me, I want to inspire AMSA pre-med chapters in Region VIII.  As the Premedical Regional Director, I will create a constant contact between National AMSA and the chapters in Region VIII, as well as within the chapters themselves.  Please feel encouraged to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.  I look forward to working for you and your chapters, and helping to maintain a strong Premedical Region VIII in AMSA.

Damian Almiron Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana Premedical Region 9 Director Hi AMSA! I have been an AMSA member since soon after I began my college career. My passion and commitment to this group has not stopped growing since. Having started and led a chapter as a freshman in college, I understand how challenging the development and chartering of Premedical AMSA chapters can be. However, I am here to help you and you should feel free to contact me anytime with your questions and concerns. I will do all I can to assist you with whatever you might need! There are thousands of undergraduate students interested in health care careers and I believe that AMSA, as the largest and oldest premedical organization in the United States, can offer these students the guidance, and the support they need to follow their passions and achieve their dreams. AMSA has done just this for me. Thanks to my involvement in AMSA, I have become much more involved on my own campus and in my community. My activism within the field of healthcare and my leadership are a direct result of my involvement in this organization. As a PRD, I hope to help/challenge other undergraduate students to gain as much from this experience as I have. Thank you for your time and I am sincerely looking forward to working together in the future. All my best, Damian Almiron

Sarah Owens Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA Premedical Region 10 Director I am a senior biology major at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. In addition, to my love for all things biological, I am a history and Spanish minor. I am graduating in December and taking the rest of the year off to continue my work as a ski patroller. I also hope to travel before going to medical school. I have been involved in AMSA for four years, serving as president of my local chapter and as a national officer (Premedical Representative for the Military Medicine Interest Group and the Preventive Medicine Interest Group) for the last two years. My main responsibilities will be to serve as a liaison between pre-medical chapters in the region, particularly in the Southern half of Region 10. The Northern PRD and I will be working together closely so please feel free to contact either one of us. Region 10 covers a vast portion of the country; therefore one of my goals for this year is to increase communication between chapter officers. It is my hope that this unity will encourage the continuous growth of new chapters and renewed participation from those chapters that have become inactive. In addition, I hope to further develop and strengthen the bond between undergraduate chapters and corresponding medical chapters. I am looking forward to continuing my involvement with AMSA and, in particular, getting to know all of you at the local level!

Jim Curry University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa Premedical Region 10 Director Hey Region 10! My name is Jim Curry and you may recognize me from such hits as “AMSA’s 58th and 59th Annual National Conventions” or “Region 1 PRD: Returns”.  I am happy to say that this year I have graduated from the University of Iowa with a major in studio art and minor in Spanish. I will be moving on to a fellowship in immunology research at the National Institutes for Health in Bethesda, Maryland where National AMSA will be right next door! This year - although I was born in Region 6, schooled in Region 8, and directed Region 1 - Region 10 now holds an extra special place in my heart! I got my start in AMSA almost 3 years ago attending a Region 8 conference at Des Moines University. Seeing all the potential for learning, advocacy and involvement I knew that AMSA had something to offer that no one else did. Premeds struggle more than any others to find this in their schools and coursework. I have since been striving to bring this inspiration to premeds through AMSA. Since helping found AMSA Premed Chapter at the University of Iowa, I have served as President, Local Officer for Research Exchange, Fund Raising Committee Chair and Community and Environmental Health Chair. I have also attended about every national conference and institute one could want. I have watched my own local chapter grow from chartering underdog to one of AMSA’s biggest, and been there every step of the way! Now, as Region 10 PRD I want to use my experience as a Chapter Officer and Region 1 PRD to strengthen all of our local chapters. My goals for this year rest mainly in bridging the gap between National opportunities and local members and programming. Also, I know that you joined AMSA because of its incredible community of informed, proactive physicians in training and you should get no less. Not only am I your liaison to National AMSA, but I believe that connecting chapters, officers, and members to one another is a surefire way to success. The network of premed involvement will be at your fingertips. This year, the largest premed benefit will be the introduction of International Research Exchanges, and I hope to nurture potential chapters to create this amazing program locally as the Premed National Officer for Research Exchange Assistant as well. There has never been a better time to be a premed, and there has never been a better place for premeds than AMSA! Have questions? Just ask! Please contact me for any reason, by any means and at any time. I am here for you 24/7 as your AMSA connection and look forward to another great year!

Andy Trang University of California in Los Angeles, CA Premedical Region 10 Director Hello world! I am an undergraduate physiological science major at the University of California, in the beautiful city of Los Angeles. I have been involved with AMSA ever since the very beginning of my first year at UCLA.  Since then, I have had the pleasure of serving as the Global AIDS Project Director, Global Health Action Committee Chair, and the Community and Public Health Community Chair at our local chapter. I am the Northern PRD for Region X and I will be working together with the Southern PRD to meet the needs of the local chapters within our vast region.  As PRD, my responsibility is to serve as the liaison between the pre-medical chapters in Region X and national AMSA.  By developing a tight link between the local chapters and National AMSA, I believe we can work together to take advantage of new opportunities that will further strengthen AMSA as a whole.  In addition, I wish to understand and address the issues that local chapters are facing that are preventing them from becoming a strong and thriving chapter.  I hope to provide the support and guidance that you may need to help your local chapter grow. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.  I look forward to working with and getting to know all of you!