Network Director

Hi everybody! I am currently an MS3 at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. As a previous board member for my local APAMSA chapter, it’s been so rewarding to collaborate with my AANHPI peers in furthering our various APAMSA initiatives. Outside of life as a medical student, I truly have too many hobbies and not enough time. Some current obsessions are gaming with friends, soup, and quality time with my cat. I hope to meet as many of y’all as possible through some fun events and conferences throughout this year as Region VII director!

The University of Arizona Pre-Health APAMSA chapter has been my second home throughout college, and I truly want to give back to this community that has given me so much. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of serving on the executive board, starting as an intern and now as the Director of Volunteer Outreach.

I am currently involved in Dr. Ying-Hui Chou’s Brain Imaging and TMS lab, where I work on a study investigating the applications of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, I serve as one of the Co-Director of Internal Outreach for the Asian Pacific American Student Council, advocating for the best interests of the APA community on campus. Outside of school, I enjoy rock climbing, crocheting, baking, traveling, painting, exploring cute cafes and restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.

Having grown up in the Phoenix area and now attending college in Tucson, I have strong ties to many Arizona chapters. Yet, I dream bigger. My goal as your Region VII Director is to strengthen relationships across all chapters in the region so that, together, we can achieve more than any chapter could on its own. I am excited to work with and support each chapter in achieving its goals!

I am currently a second-year medical student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. I graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 2018 with dual bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and Psychology in Human Health. Through APAMSA, I hope to be an advocate for underrepresented students in medicine as well as promote awareness on the unique responsibilities and obstacles of medicine within AANHPI communities. Outside of school, I recently picked up sewing – so far I’ve made pouches and bags. I also love playing video/PC games, cooking, and cuddling with my @pupperino.pals! I am excited to work alongside my peers to uphold APAMSA values and ideologies.

Hi! I’m Lauren and I’m an MS2/rising MS3 at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. I grew up in Portland, Oregon and went to college at Washington University in St. Louis, where I got my bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry and served as one of the founding board members of their pre-medical APAMSA chapter. Having been both a pre-medical and medical school chapter leader at Region VI institutions, I’m excited and honored to have been entrusted with overseeing the operations of the entire region. APAMSA has given me so much in the way of community, leadership, and personal growth over the years, and I hope I can give just as much back to the organization during my first term on National Board! In my free time, I enjoy reading murder mysteries and teaching Kpop dance, both for UChicago’s Kpop dance organization and occasionally out in the community.

Hi! My name is Anh T. Luu, and I am currently a second-year medical student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. In the summer of 2024, I pursued cardiovascular research on congenital heart disease (CHD) at Stanford, followed by research on the impacts of physical activity on CHD. Currently, I am particularly interested in pediatric radiology and pediatric cardiology.

I was born in Loma Linda, California, and raised in a small town in the Central Valley. Growing up in a rural area, I did not have a large AANHPI community, but since joining APAMSA in 2021, my AANHPI family has grown significantly. I have served as a local chapter Year 1 Representative and Conference Chair, a Community Outreach Subcommittee member, and now the Regional VI Director. This year, I hope to foster meaningful connections between local chapters and their members, bridging gaps in underrepresented AANHPI populations.

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, exploring different cuisines, traveling, playing frisbee and tennis, and embroidery.

Hi! My name is Amy Lin and I am a rising M3 at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. I was born in New York and spent my first few years of life in Fuzhou, China before returning to Ohio. Growing up in a small town, I wasn’t exposed to much diversity, yet my parents kept me in touch with my cultural roots. Therefore, I’ve always tried to find ways to express my cultural identity. Now as a medical student, I am able to integrate my experiences and passion to advocate for the health of the AANHPI community. Outside of school, I enjoy dancing, trying out new recipes, and traveling.

Rachel Ablir is a third-year medical student at Michigan State College of Human Medicine. She was born and raised in Southern California and later attended UC Berkeley, where she majored in Public Health. During her gap years, she served as the Clinic Director at Mabuhay Health Center, a free clinic primarily serving uninsured Filipino elderly in San Francisco. She also worked on community-based research projects addressing health disparities in underserved populations, particularly AANHPI communities and deaf and hard-of-hearing children. She joined APAMSA during her first year of medical school then later served as the local chapter Vice President the following year. She is eager to continue advocating for the health of Asian American communities and integrating culturally-sensitive healthcare as a future medical provider.

Hello! My name is Nick Sze, and I am an incoming third-year at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. I am originally from the Columbus, Ohio area and completed my undergraduate at Ohio University. My past APAMSA experiences include being the co-president of the Wright State chapter and serving on the 2024-2025 Hepatitis Committee. I am excited to serve as one of the Region V Directors this year to promote AANHPI health and community in the Midwest, where I have grown up and lived for nearly my whole life! In my free time, I enjoy birdwatching, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

Helen Heo is a fourth-year MD/PhD student at the Duke University School of Medicine. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she completed her B.S. in Neurobiology and Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before spending a year in San Francisco, CA as a SENS Research Foundation Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. She then moved to Durham, NC to pursue her MD/PhD training at Duke. She is completing her PhD in lab of Dr. Cagla Eroglu, where her research focuses on the development and specification of white matter astrocytes.

She has been involved in Duke’s chapter of APAMSA for the past four years, serving as chapter president in 2023-2024. She then served as National Conference Logistics Director for the 2025 National APAMSA Conference at the Duke University School of Medicine. She is looking forward to connecting more with the southeast APAMSA chapters as a Region IV Director!

Diane Janelle, “D.J.”, is currently a second 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. Outside of school, she loves to travel, exercise (she just finished her first half marathon and she is a hot yoga enthusiast), and try new places to eat. Her current medical interests are EM, IM, OB/GYN, Anesthesia, and Pathology.