Conference

Amelia Huynh

Membership Co-VP
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Jerry Yin

Region IX Co-Director
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School

Cindy Hu

Region IX Co-Director
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

Stephen Kwong

Region IX Co-Director
Texas A&M University School of Medicine

Courtney Huynh

McGovern APAMSA Co-President

Sienna Wu

McGovern APAMSA Co-President

Joselyn Yang 

McGovern APAMSA VP

Mary Li

McGovern APAMSA Secretary 

Caleb Shi

McGovern APAMSA Treasurer

Justin Cho 

McGovern APAMSA Social Chair

Jennifer Tang 

McGovern APAMSA Service Chair

John Tran

McGovern APAMSA Publicity Chair

Sara Koh 

McGovern APAMSA MS1 Liaison 

Kevin Shi 

McGovern APAMSA MS1 Liaison

Dr. Lan Ðoàn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Population Health Section for Health Equity at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Her work is centered on the structural drivers of health and has focused on cardiovascular disease and psychosocial factors, including quality of life and depression, among Asian American older adults and how neighborhood deprivation modifies the impact of these determinants. She is an interdisciplinary scholar with expertise in analysis of complex datasets, with a focus on aging and aging-related processes, data disaggregation, immigrant health, and social environments. Her research is motivated by a commitment to promoting health equity for historically marginalized communities through meaningful, community-engaged research and collaborations. Dr. Ðoàn completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Department of Population Health at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and received her PhD in Public Health, with an emphasis on Health Promotion and Health Behavior and minor in Biological Data Sciences, from Oregon State University.

Dr. Miller attended the George Washington University, where he studied journalism, biology and public health, and also completed medical school. He moved to New York City to complete his residency training in internal medicine at NYU, where he also completed his fellowships in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, and served as the senior chief resident of internal medicine. Following his training, Dr. Miller joined the NYU faculty, and served as the Senior Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Training Program for nearly a decade; his clinical practice was primarily at Bellevue Hospital. He currently serves as Assistant Dean for Career Advisement at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, the Director of Clinical Cardiology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and as the Associate Program Director of the Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease at NS/LIJ.

Dr. Tsai serves as President of New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, as well as Delafield-Rodgers Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In addition, he serves as Founding Director of the Center for Ophthalmic Artificial Intelligence and Human Health (COAIHH) and Co-Founder/Executive Advisor of the Center for Asian Equity and Professional Development (CAEPD), both at Icahn Mount Sinai. Prior to joining Mount Sinai, he served as Robert R. Young Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Yale University School of Medicine. Tsai has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and 80 additional articles, chapters, and textbooks, including the Oxford American Handbook of Ophthalmology and Medical Management of Glaucoma (4 editions). He also serves on the Administrative Board of the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems (COTH) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and Immediate Past President of the International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (IJCAHPO).

Dr. Ethan Daniel Fried is a graduate of the City College of New York, Sophie Davis School for Biomedical Education (a 7 year BS-MD program) and the SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine.  He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at SUNY Downstate-Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn and a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the Cornell University Medical School – New York Hospital.  He has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.  He also has a Master’s Degree in Health Professions Pedagogy and Leadership from Hofstra University.  Dr. Fried is currently Associate Chair for Education and Internal Medicine Residency Program Director at Lenox Hill Hospital, part of Northwell Health and Professor of Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Northwell/Hofstra.  He is also Associate Designated Institutional Official for Lenox Hill and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Northwell.Health.  In 2012, Dr. Fried was inducted as a Master of the American College of Physicians.  This presentation will be the 16 th time he has given the opening plenary at the APDIM Chiefs Meeting.

Dr. Con is an Attending in the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an active researcher with numerous publications. He was the former Program Director for the Department of Surgery Residency Program, a role he held for 6+ years. During that time he developed a research track within the residency and mentored surgical trainees into obtaining competitive fellowships. Dr. Con continues to be involved in surgical education, clinical outcomes research and mentorship

Dr Timothy B. Sullivan is Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and was the founding Program Director of the Psychiatric Residency Training Program, from 2013-2023, at Northwell Health/Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH); and he is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker SOM at Hofstra/Northwell. After graduating from Dartmouth Medical College, he trained in Internal Medicine and Hematology-Oncology at Saint Vincents Hospital in Greenwich Village, New York; and subsequently pursued further training in Psychiatry at the New York Hospital Westchester Division, Cornell University Medical Center, where he then served as a member of the faculty for several years.

Dr Sullivan is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association; Fellow of the International Society for Affective Disorders; Co-Chair of the Psychotherapy Section of the World Psychiatric Association; and Associate Editor of Psychodynamic Psychiatry He is also Chair of the Education Committee for the American Academy of Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis (AAPDPP).

Dr Sullivan has throughout his career been active in the communities where he has worked, maintaining relationships with and frequently lecturing to NAMI, as well as serving for several years as First Vice President of the Board of Westchester Arc, and as a member of the Board of Governors of NYSARC. He currently serves on the Board of Partners Health Plan, a first-in-the-nation health insurance company marketed to individuals with developmental disabilities.

In addition to founding the psychiatry residency training program at SIUH when he arrived there in 2011, he has subsequently in his role as Chair focused on modernizing systems of care and recruiting teaching faculty from distinguished institutions; and also collaborated with other hospital departments on a variety of projects, including Integrated/Collaborative Care models; programs that improve the recognition and treatment of persons with substance use disorders in primary care settings; initiatives to enhance behavioral care for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and their families; community public health initiatives targeting underserved communities and populations at risk, especially adolescents; and resident and physician wellness. His current area of academic interest is the structure of future psychiatric practice and the training/educational needs of future psychiatrists, with an emphasis on proposed models of psychotherapy training.

Nadine A. Chang, Ph.D. is Senior Psychologist, Psychology Training Director, and Chair of the Asian Psychiatry Program Committee at Gracie Square Hospital, a freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospital affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Chang also holds faculty appointments as Assistant Attending Psychologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Assistant Professor of Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Chang earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology at New York University and Ph.D. in Clinical and School Psychology at Hofstra University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with Dr. Aaron Beck, receiving the NIH National Research Service Award for this work. Dr. Chang was recently awarded a grant from the New York Community Trust to fund community outreach efforts with Asian communities in NYC. Dr. Chang’s interests continue to focus on implementing and disseminating cognitive-behavioral interventions for psychosis and other severe and persistent mental illnesses, suicide prevention and Asian American mental health.

Dr. Mike Zhou is a psychiatrist by training and currently serves as the Medical Director of Hamilton-Madison House, community non-profit in New York City specializing in Asian-American and immigrant mental health. In this position, he works with therapists, caseworkers, and peers – most of whom are fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, or Japanese — across various treatment programs including substance use, child and adolescent mental health, and personalized recovery from severe-persistent mental illness. In addition, he maintains a small private practice and continues to participate in resident education and supervision in the Mount Sinai system. Prior to these positions, he completed medical training at the State University of New York – Downstate College of Medicine and residency in psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where he served as the chief resident of the long-term psychotherapy program. He was born in China originally before immigrating to the US with his family in grade school, and where possible he uses Mandarin and these life experiences to facilitate his work.

Christie Kim (she/her), LMHC, is a second-generation Korean American psychotherapist who works alongside individuals and couples to cultivate curiosity, healing and authentic connection. Christie is attuned to a holistic sense of health that spans across emotional, relational, spiritual and physical wellness. Christie received her EdM and MA in Psychological Counseling at Teachers College, Columbia University, and her BS in Applied Psychology at New York University. In addition to her practice, Christie is the co-founder of Bridges Mental Health which connects Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian Americans with culturally-affirming mental health care and builds community for the professionals who serve them. Along with the Bridges team, Christie co-hosts “Beyond the Couch”, a weekly podcast exploring Asian American mental health and identity.

To Shan Li teaches osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) at the New York Institute of Technology- College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) and also provides osteopathic manipulative care and acupuncture for patients at the college’s two academic health care centers. His research activities have included the study of the effects of OMM on constipation in subjects with Parkinson’s disease, on type 2 diabetes, and on cardiac arrhythmias in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices. He also co-authored a paper in 2021 with APAMSA students at NYITCOM based on research that assessed the knowledge of the osteopathic profession in the South Asian population of Hicksville, Long Island. Dr. Li graduated with distinction from Cornell University in 1991 with an A.B. in Biological Sciences. He attended the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in family practice. He is board certified in family medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and integrative medicine. He continues to explore health through the study and practice of osteopathy, eastern medicine, and qigong, and has led qigong workshops for students to alleviate stress and promote wellness. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading, walking, and photography.

Ruey Hu, MD, MPH is a cardiovascular outcomes researcher and third-year fellow in cardiovascular medicine at Yale School of Medicine. He was voted by Yale medical students as outstanding fellow teacher of the year in 2021, voted by Yale medical residents as the Department of Medicine’s 2022 Fellow of the Year, voted by APAMSA medical students as 2023 Alumnus of the Year, and voted by Yale emergency medicine residents as the 2023 Consultant of the Year. Originally from Canada, Dr Hu served as national president of APAMSA 2016-2018. He completed his AB at Princeton University, MD and residency at Vanderbilt University, and MPH in epidemiology and biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where he was inducted into the Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society. A metabolomics researcher, he is a two-time winner of the NKF National Young Investigators’ Forum. His research has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and Annals of Internal Medicine. His tool for guideline directed medical therapy, GDMT.org, has been recognized by the American Heart Association and is used by clinicians in 70 countries. He is an active peer reviewer for cardiology and nephrology journals and serves on the intern selection committee of the Yale internal medicine residency program.

Alex Choy, MD is currently a third year cardiology fellow at the Mount Sinai Hospital planning to do additional sub-specialty training in cardiac electrophysiology. He studied biomedical engineering at Tufts University before receiving his medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He moved on to complete his internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai Hospital. He served on the national APAMSA executive board from 2014-2018 as in the communications branch and as strategy director and has returned to give lectures as part of the APAMSA Intern Boot camp. He is passionate about medical education and has received several awards for his commitment to teaching medical trainees.

Yingfei Wu, MD, MPH completed her BS in Neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles, MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin, and MPH in epidemiology and biostatistics from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and is currently a General Internal Medicine fellow at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. She has served on her local APAMSA chapter board at the Medical College of Wisconsin as well as on the APAMSA National Board, including as National President from 2018-2021. Her research experience ranges from basic neuroscience research and qualitative community surveys to systematic reviews and secondary analyses of large randomized clinical trials. Dr. Wu is passionate about primary care and clinical research in chronic cardiometabolic diseases, especially in addressing health inequities for minority/underrepresented populations.

Katie is a first year gastroenterology fellow at NYU. She initially became involved with APAMSA as a medical student at Sidney Kimmel Medical College and was one of the Hepatitis B Conference directors, which fueled her passion for GI and hepatology, along with demonstrating the strength of the APAMSA community. After medical school, she completed her internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic. She is interested in serving immigrant and refugee communities, and is excited to give back as an alumni to APAMSA, as it has brought her a lot of great friends and memories!

Dr. Jaclyn L. Chen is a current child and adolescent psychiatry fellow at AECOM/ Montefiore Medical Center. Her journey into medicine began as a premed engineering student at Cornell, and her senior thesis would lead her to presenting breakthrough neuroscience research around the world. She worked in the hospitality & mixology industry before completing medical school and psychiatry residency at Stony Brook Medicine. Dr. Chen is a Manhattan native who enjoys frequenting coffee shops, fitness classes, and speakeasies. She is a published poet, former competitive swimmer, and competitive chess player. Her nonprofit work focused on AAPI empowerment includes serving on the national boards of ECAASU, APAMSA, and, more recently, Project by Project (NY). She is currently on the medical board of NYCCAP (psychiatrists) and enjoys sharing wellness tips on social media. In her free time, she can be found perfecting her sourdough bread recipe, baking a fresh new batch of macarons, or pouring her heart out to all of the Frenchies at Central Park!

Skylar Luu

Region I Director
Albany Medical College

Dennis Dea

Region I Director
University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine

Ruby Chung

Region II Director
SUNY Downstate College of Medicine

Wenqi Qiu

Region II Director
New York Medical College

Steven Wei-Chieh Tseng

Region II Director
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM)

Matthew Ho

Region II Director
Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Crystal Choi

Membership Vice President
SUNY Downstate College of Medicine

Jason Hu

Fundraising & Events Director
New York University Grossman School of Medicine

Annie Liu

Jeffrey Park

Dr. Yen-Han Lee (PH.D., MPH) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida. With a dedication to research and advancing public health, Dr. Lee has significantly contributed toward advancing our understanding of the field. Earlier in his career, Dr. Lee’s research focused on health policy evaluation and access to healthcare services. Dr. Lee’s current work revolves around using large secondary datasets to explore the social behavioral aspect of public health. Specifically, his interests are in substance use behaviors and lifestyle factors associated with chronic conditions commonly found in older adults (e.g. cognitive impairment, sleep-related issues, and obesity).

Dr. Lee also serves as an Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse and as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Substance Use.

Dr. Anna Varlamov (MD) was born and raised in the Soviet Union. She immigrated to Okeechobee, Florida with her family at a young age and attended the University of Florida from 1998-2002. She earned her degrees in Microbiology and Russian at the University of Florida and completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Danbury Hospital. Later on, Dr. Varlamov became an assistant professor at Albany Medical College in upstate New York, where she developed her passion for teaching. In 2015, she joined Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, and in 2021, she came onboard at UCF College of Medicine.

Dr. Varlamov is actively involved in healthcare in Florida, serving as a delegate to the Florida Medical Association and contributing to initiatives like FPQC. She holds significant roles within the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for Florida. Currently, she is a faculty member at the UCF/HCA GME Consortium in Gainesville, focusing on Obstetrics and Gynecology residency. She is married to a vascular surgeon and is a mother of four.

Crystal Choi

Membership Co-Vice President
SUNY Downstate Medical School

Daiana Takashima

Region IV Director
Emory University College of Medicine

Wendy Yang

Region IV Director
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville

Neil Vuppala

Region IV Director
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Michael Hsieh

General Chair
University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Brandon Molligoda

Program Director
University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Shiyu Jing

Community Outreach Director
University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Kevin Reyes

Design Chair
University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Dr. Amy Lin is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Assistant Dean for Curriculum overseeing Phase 1 (preclerkship) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She completed medical school at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and residency in ophthalmology, fellowship in ophthalmic pathology and residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at UIC. Dr. Lin has served as the faculty advisor for the UIC Chapter of APAMSA for more than 10 years and has helped staff many student-led health fairs in Chinatown. She is an avid runner and is currently training for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Himanshu Agrawal was born in New Delhi, India and spent his childhood living with his family in Bangladesh, London, Moscow, and Nepal. He attended medical school in New Delhi, India, then emigrated to USA in 2002 to pursue  a residency in psychiatry, followed by a fellowship in child psychiatry. He is currently training to become a psychoanalyst.

Himanshu lives in Milwaukee and serves as an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he sees patients, conducts research, and teaches psychotherapists, medical students, residents, and fellows. Medical students are his favorite kind of colleagues. Don’t tell the others. On second thoughts, go ahead and tell the others. He has been involved with APAMSA since 2018.He enjoys presenting on a wide range of topics, however his passion lies in the arena of wellbeing, stigma and burnout in health care. He is the inaugural vice chair of wellbeing for the department of psychiatry and behavioral medicine.

Dr. Jennifer M. Estanilla, DO, MEd, is an Attending Neonatologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, IL. A former APAMSA member, her professional journey uniquely intertwines medicine, entrepreneurship, and a deep dedication to advocacy. She completed her Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellowship at Rush University Medical Center and her Pediatric residency at Loyola University Medical Center. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from the University of the Philippines and a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Prior to her medical career, Dr. Estanilla was an early intervention developmental specialist for the State of Nevada for seven years before entering medical school at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Estanilla is a passionate child advocate and served on national committees with the American Academy of Pediatrics during both residency and medical school.

During residency, Dr. Estanilla co-founded pig & fire, a Filipino food and beverage company, driven by a mission to address food insecurity in Chicago. Alongside her chef husband, she actively manages the company’s operations, which has provided 2,500 meals to underserved communities on Chicago’s west side, as well as meals to families in need, volunteers, and medical personnel during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. Her dedication was recognized with a 2022 PepsiCo Women in Business Grant Award, and pig & fire has gained media attention from outlets like the Chicago Reader, WGN-TV, Wednesday Journal, and Oak Park Eats.

Her path embodies the integration of medical expertise, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, making a profound and positive impact in healthcare and beyond.

Daniel Tzou grew up in Michigan, studied Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton University, and then graduated from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.

He originally became connected to Lawndale Christian through his involvement with the Princeton Manna Christian Fellowship. Daniel has enjoyed playing his violin in the hospital for patients and their families, as well as with the Jefferson Chamber Orchestra.

Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA)’s mission is to reduce health disparities for medically underserved, low-income populations in the Midwest through providing culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services, which include community outreach education, screening and immunization, linkage to care, mental health services, and research and policy advocacy. To serve its mission, MAHA collaborates with community-based organizations, health care providers, academic institutions, public health departments, and volunteers.

Irene is currently the Health Program Coordinator at Midwest Asian Health Association.  She oversees MAHA Community Health Center and Immunization program. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from National University of Health Sciences. Irene was born and raised in Chicago, IL and enjoys traveling and spending time with her daughter.

Bill Wong is second year anesthesiology resident at Northwestern Hospital. Bill was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI and did undergrad at Tufts University and medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is still undecided but possibly interested in critical care or cardiac for fellowship.

Dr. Charlie Inboriboon is an associate professor of emergency medicine, assistant dean of advising and career planning, and an associate program director and social emergency medicine track director of the UIC Emergency Medicine Residency. He completed his undergraduate, medical school, and residency training at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Afterward, he completed a global emergency medicine fellowship at the University of Rochester. It was during his fellowship, that he realized his passion for teaching medical students and residents. Before returning to UIC, he spent significant stints teaching in New York, California, Missouri, and in Thailand as a Fulbright Scholar. His academic interests are medical education, promoting diversity in medicine, global emergency medicine, and addressing social determinants of health. When he is not working, he loves exploring the world and spending time with his wife and two boys.

Dr. Edward Ng will be helping with the suture workshop.

Dr. Rogelio Lorenzo will be helping with the suture workshop.

Dr. Holly Ryan will be helping with the suture workshop.

John Levi is from North Carolina and in his free time enjoys meditation and exercise. He trained at Wake Forest School of Medicine where he discovered his fascination with ultrasound (US) technology. He had some phenomenal mentors that empowered him to be an instructor for various US courses at their hospital and even help publish US literature regarding its use to detect hemorrhagic strokes. In his time at UIC, he has discovered that he really enjoys working with students and other medical trainees and is very excited to work with you all in exploring some concepts about ultrasound together. Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions regarding anesthesia or US.

Jessica Hsueh, MS4

Membership Vice President
Georgetown University School of Medicine

Ethan Wen, MS3

Region VI Director
Medical College of Wisconsin

Vivian Hoang, OMS3

Region VI Director
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences – Joplin

Nick Wu, MS3

Region VI Director
Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Christian Abenes, MS2

Region VI Director
Kansas University School of Medicine

Brandon Chow, MS2

President

Simon Liu, MS2

VP of Projects

Christy Chang, MS2

VP of Social Events

Matthew Lam, MS2

VP of Internal Affairs

Brandon Cho, MS2

VP of Outreach

Cissy Xiao, MS2

VP of Finance

Dr. Lin Zhu (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Urban Health and Population Science at the Center for Asian Health (CAH), Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University. She is the Principle Investigator of research projects funded by the American Heart Association and the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. She also serves as Co-Investigator and Data Manager on over a dozen projects funded by NIH, CDC, DHHS, and other funding agencies. Dr. Zhu earned her PhD in medical sociology from the Department of Sociology at Temple University in 2016. Her dissertation was a study of the sociocultural determinants depression prevalence, symptom patterns, and service utilization among Chinese immigrants. She completed her postdoctoral training at Center for Asian Health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine. A medical sociologist by training, Dr. Zhu is dedicated to investigating the intricate interplay of diverse factors at different levels, from individual and social to cultural and systemic/structural, that influence health behaviors and outcomes in underrepresented populations. Her research covers critical health areas such as cancer screening and prevention behaviors, cardiometabolic diseases, sexual health, and mental health. She has received accolades from the American Heart Association, American Psychological Association, and other national organizations for her contribution to health disparities research and community engagement. Dr. Zhu is a first generation immigrant and first generation college student, the daughter of a public servant and a school administrator.

Dr. Ouyang is a board-certified pediatrician, general psychiatrist, and child and adolescent psychiatrist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital/Georgetown University School of Medicine.

She currently serves patients in the Georgetown Psychiatry Clinic and families cared for by primary care pediatricians in the Division of Community Pediatrics/Kids Mobile Medical Van Clinic. She received her medical degree from Saint Louis University and completed residency training in the Triple Board Program (Pediatrics, General Psychiatry, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) at Indiana University, where she served as chief resident in her last year. She is also a fellowship-trained perinatal/reproductive psychiatrist from Brown University/Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.

Dr. Thoin Begum earned her PhD from the University at Albany, SUNY in 2022, with a focus on environmental chemical exposures and social disability among American Indian elders. She also holds an MS in Environmental Health Sciences (2020) from the same institution and a BS in Biology (2018) from Saint Lawrence University. During her PhD program, Dr. Begum conducted research on the health impacts of contaminants such as PCBs, PFAS, and phthalates among vulnerable groups. Her work has contributed to 11 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Begum is an active member of the Society for Epidemiologic Research and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology. Currently, Dr. Begum serves as a postdoctoral research fellow at Temple University’s Center for Asian Health, where they focus on hepatitis screening and structural racism in healthcare. Her research interests encompass environmental epidemiology, reproductive health, cumulative risk assessment, health disparities, and community-based participatory research. Dr. Begum is deeply committed to conducting impactful research for environmental justice while also engaging in mentoring and community involvement.

Dr. Esther Castillo is the Director of Racial Equity, Storytelling & Community Impact at the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity in the City of Philadelphia, where she leads the integration of racial equity into governmental operations and community engagement and works to promote equity in BIPOC and immigrant communities across the city. She has founded and led several initiatives that have made a positive difference in the lives of many people, such as the Chinese Immigrant Families Wellness Initiative (CIFWI), which promotes mental health in Chinese immigrant communities, and the award-winning short documentary “Feeling Asian American”, which sheds light on the unseen racism faced by Asian Americans. She also serves as a board member at Scattergood Foundation, where she provides expertise on DEI matters and strategic recommendations on equitable grant-making practices.

Dr. Castillo holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Temple University, where she taught classes on immigration, race and racism, and globalization. She is a sought-after speaker on DEI, racial equity, culture change, and community partnership and impact, and regularly delivers powerful talks that inspire and motivate others to take action for social justice. She believes that everyone has a story to tell, and that storytelling is a powerful tool for creating positive change in governments, philanthropies, and communities.

Mohan Seshadri (they/he) is the Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance and founder of the Asian American Community Fund of Pennsylvania. He is currently serving as the co-chair of the Asian American Power Network. Previously, Mohan managed electoral and organizing programs for Planned Parenthood across Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. From 2019-2020, they served as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. He co-founded multiple community and campus organizing programs across Pennsylvania including the Philadelphia chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, the Lehigh Valley chapter of DSA, and the AAPI PA Power Caucus. In 2018, they were honored to receive Resurrected Life Community Church’s Urban Angel Award. In 2021, they were featured on the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics & Public Affairs 40 under 40 list.

Hi, I’m QeeQee (pronounced “Chee-Chee”)! I was born in China and grew up in Manhattan, Kansas. From living and dying to neurons and networks, and everything in between, I am excited and inspired by all things human. I majored in biology at MIT, where I discovered the great joys of humanities and social sciences. After two gap years of teaching and serving coffee, I began medical school at the University of Kansas to become a surgeon. Little did I know that I would gravitate to the unassuming pursuit of human connection and meaning that is psychiatry! I hope to combine my love for art and science with policy and innovation to reimagine the social landscape. I am interested in the interdisciplinary crossovers of community and cultural psychiatry, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and medical humanities. In my downtime, you can find me listening to podcasts, binging Netflix reality tv, and occasionally writing a thing or two.

Leon was born in Texas and grew up in Virginia. He attended Virginia Commonwealth University as a biology major before going to University of Virginia School of Medicine. He couples-matched to University of Pennsylvania for Emergency Medicine, where he is a PGY-3 interested in critical care and operations.

Sharmaine Cubelo is a fourth-year Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate from Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, PA. She grew up in New Jersey and her family is originally from the Philippines. She is a family-oriented Filipino woman, always seeking to empower minorities within her community. Growing up, she has witnessed how health literacy, language, and cultural barriers impact the health and lifestyle of minority communities.

Sharmaine’s passion for Mental Health advocacy is her driving force and inspires her to make a difference within her community. She chose to attend Temple Pharmacy because she was aware that Philadelphia is a city filled with numerous, unaddressed health disparities that require a call to action.

As the 2021-2022 Temple SNPhA Chapter President, she was determined to grow and re-establish her chapter by reigniting the passion for serving the underserved. At the SNPhA 2022 Regions I & II Conference, she received the fruits of her labor when Temple University won the Region 1 Top Recruiter Award. Sharmaine also finds importance in advocating for legislation impacting the pharmacy profession and healthcare, especially those involving minority communities. This led her to expand Temple SNPhA by finally starting the LMBI initiative at her chapter.

As National President, Sharmaine is excited to continue developing confident student leaders, empowering minority health professionals, and elevating the future of pharmacy. Now is the time to make a difference in the world of pharmacy. Sharmaine is ready to Make an I.M.P.A.C.T. with her SNPhA family and continue serving underserved communities!

Janet is a second year Emergency Medicine resident at Jefferson Health Northeast. She was born in the Bay Area in CA but raised in Dallas, TX. She earned a B.A. in Medical Humanities at Baylor University in 2017. She completed medical school in 2022 at Kansas City University, a D.O. program in Missouri. She found her way to Philly through a combination of navigating long distance marriage and her love for the program she is training at now. She is passionate about social medicine (especially in the ED setting), medical mentorship, and resident wellness. In her spare time you can find her along the Schuylkill training for the Philly half, perusing the aisles of Trader Joe’s, and spending time with her friends and husband.

Linda Xu is a third-year neurology resident at the University of Pennsylvania. She was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. She studied neurobiology at Harvard College before completing her medical degree at Harvard Medical School. Her clinical interests are in neurocritical care, and her research interests are in neuroimaging and traumatic brain injury. In her free time, she enjoys writing, playing soccer, and baking. 

Hi! I’m Iris Charcos and I am a PGY-3 Neurosurgery resident at Cooper University Hospital. I was born in the Philippines and grew up in the Bay Area in California and Phoenix, Arizona. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona where I studied Neuroscience and Anthropology. I spent two gap years working in the business side of the tech start-up field before attending medical school at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. I enjoy seeing a wide variety of patients, but have a particular interest neuro trauma and cerebrovascular neurosurgery.

Justin Judilla is a clinical year Physician Assistant student attending Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. His family is from the Philippines, and he currently resides in San Diego, CA. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology: Exercise Science from California State University, Long Beach. He chose to attend school in Philadelphia to broaden his knowledge and experience firsthand the differences in patient demographics. He hopes to work in Emergency Medicine or Urgent Care after graduating in December, and to return to San Diego to share his medical knowledge with his community.

Maahika Srinivasan (she/her/hers) is a second-year Family Medicine resident at University of Pennsylvania. She grew up in New Delhi, India (by complicated way of Boulder, Colorado). After finishing her Bachelor’s in Science and Society from Brown University, she worked as an organizer in reproductive justice in New York City,  helped managed clinical trials in the field of pulmonology, and completed a Master’s at Columbia University in Narrative Medicine. Maahika then obtained her MD from Harvard University. Her passion lies in the intersections of full-spectrum primary care, equity, and activism, along with music festivals, podcast-binging, food adventures of any kind.

Sharon Kim is born and raised in California who recently moved to the East Coast for Nursing School. She is currently at Johns Hopkins for her MSN and attended the University of La Verne for her undergraduate degree in Biology. During her gap years, she worked at Hyundai as an Executive Assistant to explore and see what else was out there outside of healthcare. She also has a non-profit called Through Love. where they help bring hope, healing and prayer to foster children in Tijuana, Mexico. Her passion lies in community outreach and she hopes to work as a travel nurse in the future with non-profits.