Network Director

Hi! My name is Sunshine (and yes, that is my real name) and one of the three Region V Directors! I am currently a OMS-2 at Michigan State University and was the former Chapter President and Director of the last Region V Conference. As the daughter of immigrants and someone who has not only seen but experienced significant health disparities among immigrant and low-income populations, I am passionate and committed to addressing and advocating for AANHPI issues. As a Regional Director, I hope to foster a sense of inclusion within the region while supporting the individual chapters. In my spare time, I love crocheting, baking, drawing, and learning K-pop choreographies.

Hi! My name is Daiana Takashima and I am an M3 at Emory SOM. Previously I served as the Co-President of the Emory APAMSA Chapter in 2022-23 as well as one of the Region IV Directors in 2023-24. I was born and raised in the Bay Area but spent part of my childhood in Japan. I went to Williams College for undergrad and spent my gap years working as a high school biology teacher at a 5-day boarding school in the suburbs outside of Boston before moving to Atlanta for medical school. Attending a predominantly white undergraduate institution motivated me to get involved in APAMSA and stay connected with the AANHPI community. I am specifically interested in mentorship, further exploring the collaborations between Eastern and Western medicinal practices, and bridging health literacy gaps for AANHPI immigrant communities in particular. Outside of school, I love playing volleyball, hiking, and watching kdrama/anime.

Hello, my name is Neil Vuppala and I am a DO student at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. Before medical school, I obtained my B.A. at Washington University in St. Louis with a major in Chemistry and a double minor in Physics and South Asian Cultural Studies. During this time I also conducted research at WashU on student performance in introductory STEM courses and helped create and modify interventions to help every student succeed. Afterwards, I taught Introductory Chem Lab for a year also at WashU. Currently, I am doing research at Johns Hopkins University on the topic of re-irradiation on glioblastoma patients in my field of interest, radiation oncology. In my free time, I enjoy working out, playing video games, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Hello! I am a second-year student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (North Georgia). Before attending medical school, I earned my B.S. in Biology from Cornell University and worked at the NIH. I’m excited to be part of APAMSA and to serve as one of the Region IV directors. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, climbing, and running.

Hi APAMSA! My name is Jeffrey Wang, and I am currently a third-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCOM) in Philadelphia. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from UCLA with a BS in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology in 2019. Following undergrad, I stayed in LA to work in Skid Row for over a year prior to moving back home to San Antonio during the middle of the pandemic, where I then worked as a certified Medical Assistant for an anesthesiology/pain medicine clinic. I applied and was accepted into a one-year specialized Master’s program at Drexel, where I eventually matriculated into their medical school beginning in 2022. As DUCOM’s past APAMSA co-president, I’m very excited to continue to serve AANHPI communities as Region III Co-Director!

Hi! My name is Sandy Yang, and I am a second year medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. I grew up in northern New Jersey, and I attended Princeton University for undergrad where I majored in English Literature and minored in Global Health. I’m passionate about advocating for AANHPI populations and amplifying diverse voices to meet the unique needs and challenges our community faces. I’m so excited to be one of your Region III directors and to explore the incredible ways we can connect and serve our communities together! In my free time, I enjoy painting, running along the Schuylkill river, trying new recipes, and reading speculative fiction.

Hi! My name is Stephen and I’m a second year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine. I’m from Rowland Heights, CA and went to UC Berkeley where I majored in Public Health. My interests in medicine and my Taiwanese heritage has given me a desire to serve the greater AANHPI community. Hobby-wise, I enjoy playing basketball, collecting sports cards, and thrift shopping.

Sarah Lee is a medical student at the NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, a three-year accelerated program located in Long Island, NY. She was born and raised in New York, and received her B.A. in Art History from Yale in 2020. She co-founded and was co-president of her local APAMSA chapter at NYU GLISOM. As an ISFJ, she likes to go to the art museum and aesthetic cafes, take long walks, and talk about her faith.

Hi everyone! My name is Yue Jiao Jiang, and I am currently an OMS2 at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, NY. I was born in Taishan, China, and immigrated to New York City when I was 3 years old. I completed my Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences with a minor in Asian American Studies at Hunter College. Before entering medical school, I worked as a medical assistant at an otolaryngology and endocrinology clinic in the heart of Chinatown, Manhattan, where I also grew up! The AANHPI community has been and continues to be an integral part of shaping my journey, enriching my experiences, and catalyzing my growth in ways beyond measure. I am passionate about and committed to the AANHPI community. Previously, I had the pleasure of serving as the local chapter president. I am excited to continue my involvement with APAMSA as the Regional II Co-Director.

A fun fact about me is that I am a mother of 4 goldfish and 2 cats. In my spare time, I love to cook and go for long walks around NYC’s parks.

Hi everyone, I’m Ruby, an MS3 at SUNY Downstate. I hope to bridge APAMSA alumni with the current students in the NYC/NJ region for ongoing mentorship. Outside of school, I love trying new restaurants and new items at bubble tea places. In my free time, I love jigsaw puzzles, legos, board games, video games, and webtoons!