communications_committee

Diane Janelle, “D.J.”, Camonayan is a fourth year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Georgia. She completed her B.S. in Nursing at Georgia State University and worked as a registered nurse before deciding to pursue medicine. She is the eldest daughter to Filipino immigrants, and loves staying in touch with her culture. So naturally, APAMSA was a perfect fit for her, integrating both the Asian American experience and the love for healthcare. She has enthusiastically served as Vice President of APAMSA’s PCOM Chapter and National APAMSA’s Region IV Director, prior to becoming the now Southeast Asian Director. Being a Georgia peach, she hopes to promote advocacy for SEA patients and representation of SEA medical students in the South and beyond in her new role. Outside of school, she loves to travel, run races, practice hot yoga, try new places to eat, and go on side quests (she just graduated from the Citizens Police Academy and recently took Curling lessons). She hopes to be an Emergency Medicine physician in the near future.

Shravani Khisti is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC). She also completed her BA through UMKC’s accelerated 6-year BA/MD program. She was born in Pune, Maharashtra, India, and immigrated to the United States at the age of five, a journey that shaped her deep interest in community advocacy, and advancing health equity for South Asian populations. Shravani has been actively involved with the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) for the past six years. She has served as Publicity Director, Vice President, Co-President, and Advisory Board member at the local level and nationally as a member of the Leadership Committee, now currently serving her second year as the APAMSA South Asian Director. She works to amplify South Asian health advocacy, promote culturally meaningful programming, and foster collaboration across the APAMSA community. Shravani is interested in pursuing ophthalmology and enjoys exploring research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and health disparity. In addition to her scientific interests, Shravani is passionate about mindfulness and well-being in medicine having completed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training and being recognized with distinction in mindfulness in medicine. Outside of medicine, Shravani enjoys cultivating creativity and curiosity into her everyday life. You can often find her practicing Spanish while listening to Latin hits, sketching, or spending time outdoors hiking or playing pickleball. Whether through advocacy, leadership, or community building, she hopes to continue uplifting South Asian voices in medicine while creating spaces that support both wellness and meaningful connection.

Regan Keonelehua Kame Stradtmann-Carvalho is a first-year medical student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine and a graduate of the ‘Imi Ho‘ōla Post-Baccalaureate Program, with a B.A. in Natural Sciences (Biology and Philosophy) from Johns Hopkins University. Born and raised in Hilo, Hawaiʻi, she brings a strong commitment to serving Pacific communities, grounded in both her academic training and lived experience. Her background includes immunology and virology research at Johns Hopkins and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the NIH, where she contributed to several peer-reviewed influenza research papers. Clinically, she has served as an EMT-A, emergency department technician, and pediatric hematology/oncology patient care technician, reflecting a sustained dedication to hands-on patient care. In addition to her scholarly and clinical work, she has demonstrated leadership as a class representative, current MS1 Co–Vice President, and Pū Paʻakai Ambassador, while engaging in mentorship and community service initiatives. She hopes to become an emergency medicine physician and return to the Big Island to serve her community.

Jessie Chen is a fourth year MD/MPH medical student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She was born in San Jose, CA then graduated from UCLA with a B.S in Physiological Sciences and a minor in Asian American Studies. She has worked extensively with the AANHPI communities through Asian Pacific Health Corps at UCLA during undergrad and more recently through medical school and APAMSA as local chapter Events Coordinator, Advocacy Chair, and Mentorship Chair, Advocacy Committee Member, and Committee Co-Chair. She is very interested in health policy and advocacy and health inequities particularly in the AANHPI populations. She hopes to integrate all of these interests into her medical practice in the future as she aims to pursue a career in Internal Medicine or Internal Medicine-Pediatrics.

Pehr is a first-year medical student at California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM). He earned his B.S. in Physiology from San José State University and previously worked in biotechnology research at ACDBio, where he focused on assay development and translational science. He also led a volunteer team with the Radiology Department at Stanford Health Care, supporting clinical education initiatives and expanding exposure to underrecognized fields of medicine.

As Rapid Response Director for the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), Pehr is committed to advancing timely advocacy efforts that address emerging health policy issues affecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. His interests include health equity, radiologic innovation, and the ethical integration of technology in healthcare. Through leadership, research, and policy work, he aims to strengthen APAMSA’s national impact and promote equitable access to care for underserved populations.

.

Karen Zhang is currently a fourth-year medical student at McGovern Medical School in Houston, TX. She completed her B.S. in Biochemistry at UT Austin. She was the co-president for her local chapter and is excited to serve as the Medical Education Director in her second term. Karen is interested in urology, medical humanities, and education.

Jenny Ni is a second-year medical student (OMS-II) at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)–Virginia, dedicated to advancing health equity for the AANHPI community. Originally from Brooklyn and raised in Philadelphia, Jenny earned her degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Drexel University. As the Founder and President of her local APAMSA chapter and a VCOM National Student Ambassador, Jenny is a proven leader in community advocacy. Her extensive service record includes impactful roles with Asian Americans United, SEAMAAC Philadelphia, and the Ronald McDonald House. Notably, as a Chinese Immigrant Families Wellness Initiative Leader, she specialized in dismantling linguistic and cultural barriers to care. With a robust clinical foundation, Jenny leverages her experiences as a clinical research coordinator, contact tracer, pharmacy technician, and medical assistant to bridge gaps in cultural competency. Outside of her medical training, she finds balance through boxing, hosting game nights, and relaxing with the latest on Netflix.

Sophia Choi is a fourth year MD/MPH student at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She grew up in Dallas, TX and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Neuroscience degree. She joined APAMSA during her first year of medical school and previously served on the National APAMSA Hepatitis Committee from 2024-2025 and as the Hepatitis B/C Co-Director from 2025-2026. She is passionate about community health, community engagement, and health disparities, and is excited to serve as the Hepatitis B/C Director for the second term this year. Outside of school, she loves trying new coffee shops, baking sourdough, collecting new stationery, and traveling!

Jeni Zhang is currently a second-year medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She was born in China and immigrated to the United States at the age of 13. Since then, she has completed her undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and worked as a research coordinator at the Johns Hopkins Hospital dermatology clinic during her gap year. She has held leadership roles in supporting Mandarin-speaking patients and developing culturally responsive educational initiatives. She enjoys preventive care, community-based medicine, medical education, and addressing health disparities affecting immigrant and underserved populations. After medical school, she hopes to pursue a career in internal medicine where she can build longitudinal relationships with patients and provide holistic, culturally competent care.

Bernadine Decapia is currently a third year medical student at UNT Health Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth, TX. She was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States when she was 8 years old. She completed her B.S.A. in Neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin. During her gap year, she conducted research at the Strong Children’s Research Center in Rochester, NY and worked as a medical assistant for a child and adolescent psychiatrist where she found her passion at the intersection of pediatrics, psychiatry, and advocacy for the underserved.

She was previously a part of the National Board APAMSA Mental Health Committee and local APAMSA chapter as historian. She aims to focus her work towards minimizing the stigma surrounding mental health in AANHPI populations and normalizing conversations about the importance of mental wellness.

In her free time, she likes to play with her cat Meep, go to Thursday Trivia Nights with her friends, play piano, and eat delicious food in the DFW area.
After medical school, she aims to pursue a career in child and adolescent psychiatry.