communications_committee

Hello everyone! My name is Melissa Lin, and I am currently a second year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine- Middletown, NY. I’m originally from Houston, TX and graduated with a major in Nutritional Sciences and minor in Biology from the University of Houston. Outside of school, I love travelling, trying new places to eat, exercising, doing nail art, and spending time with friends and family. I am excited to work alongside my peers on this committee and everyone in APAMSA in this upcoming year!

My name is Chynna Nguyen. I am a Vietnamese American medical student at University of Arizona COM Phoenix. I was born and raised in Phoenix and went to the University of Arizona for a degree in Physiology and Public Health. I am so excited to be part of the Women in Medicine committee and to see all the good we will accomplish together!

Hello everyone, my name is Madeline and I am a student at the University of Texas Medical Branch! Prior to medical school, I received my undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University in Biological Sciences and Health & Society. I am passionate about joining a task force dedicated to fostering supportive environments for women in medicine of various AANHPI backgrounds. By amplifying our voices, we can break stereotypes, address systemic challenges, and advance gender equity. In my free time, I love learning languages, traveling, and spending time with my cat!

Jacob Less is currently a third-year medical student at Midwestern University AZCOM. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from UCLA, where he worked in higher education as a peer counseling coordinator for the Filipino Community, and volunteered at UCLA’s Mobile Clinic Project. Currently, Jacob is a Multicultural Health, Obesity, and Cancer Health Equity Research Scholar at the Medical College of Wisconsin and serves as Co-Chair of the Council of Young Filipino Americans in Medicine’s Education Committee. For fun, you can catch Jacob taking a Pilates class, eating shabu, or listening to BTS!

Xin Rong Dong is a first-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Born in Fuzhou, China and raised in Michigan, she graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in Chinese Studies and Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. She is passionate about advancing health equity by addressing cultural and LGBTQ+ disparities in care to ensure inclusive representation in medicine. In her free time, she enjoys creating digital art and spending time with her dog.

My name is Thinh Nguyen, but I go by Bin. I’m a third-year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. I was born and raised in Saigon, Vietnam, and moved to the U.S. at age 20 to pursue my journey in medicine. In my free time, I love exploring local coffee shops, growing my collection of houseplants, and maybe lifting – depending on who’s asking. One of my long-term goals is to advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and increase visibility for Asian queerness in medicine.

Hi, I’m Elijah! I’m a nontraditional medical student at Marian University – Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine, with a deep appreciation for public health and a passion for reproductive medicine and sexual health. I’m one of three kids born in Southern California and raised primarily by my grandparents in a Chinese immigrant household. I’m also proudly first-generation, pursuing this self-determined path well beyond the high school level. My journey to medicine wasn’t linear: I earned a Bachelor’s in Music at University of California-Irvine before pivoting into the sciences and completing a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Marian, where I focused my research on increasing representation in healthcare, especially for communities too often left out of the conversation. When I’m not in my student doctor role, I’m lounging around listening to music, solving Sudoku puzzles, watching documentaries, being a devoted cat dad to my Tabby, Paulette Bonafonté, and learning the nuanced art of keeping my growing plant nursery happy and alive!

Born and raised on the island of Guam. Of Native CHamorro, Japanese, and Filipino heritage. Pursuing a career in primary care with a focus on preventative medicine and health systems reform in the Pacific.

Josephine Kaohi is a second-year medical student at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Kansas City Campus. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and was raised in a multicultural household with Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Native Hawaiian heritage. Growing up as a military child, she moved frequently between the United States and Korea, which deepened her appreciation for cultural diversity. She is passionate about representing her heritage as a future physician and is committed to promoting culturally competent care in healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new restaurants, listening to K-Pop, and reading historical fiction novels.

Hi everyone! My name is Reina Takaki-Nakagawa and I am a rising OMS-III at Touro University Nevada, College of Osteopathic Medicine! I’m from Mililani, Hawai’i and hope to return back home as a primary care physician. In my free time, I love eating and trying new restaurants and attending professional sports games with my husband!