National Board

Tiffany Chen is a first-year medical student at the University of California, San Francisco. She was born in China and immigrated to Southern California at the age of 14. She completed her B.A. in Public Health and Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Before medical school, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at UCSF. Tiffany is passionate about serving immigrant and limited English proficiency (LEP) communities. Since her undergraduate years, she has volunteered as a health interpreter and served as a leader of the Volunteer Health Interpreters Organization at UC Berkeley, providing free interpretation and translation services across the Bay Area. At UCSF, she currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) local chapter. Her academic and professional interests lie in clinical research, health disparities, and immigrant and women’s health. She is also deeply committed to mentorship and education to support disadvantaged populations. Ultimately, she hopes to combine her passions for research, advocacy, and community engagement to improve healthcare access and outcomes for the community.

Katherine (pronouns: she/her/hers) is a medical student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) who is part of the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PRIME-US). She is a second-generation Chinese Filipino American from Santa Clarita, California. Katherine graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a B.S. in Human Biology and Society and a minor in Asian American Studies. As a medical student, she has been involved in student organizations that promote health equity in underserved communities across the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and bring to light the systemic injustices they face. She serves as co-chair of APAMSA at UCSF and co-president of the Filipino American Medical Student Association (FAMSA) at UCSF, where she strives to foster a supportive community of medical students and enhance diverse representation in medicine. Beyond health equity, she is also passionate about mentorship, ethnic studies, and expanding educational access. Katherine aspires to become a physician advocate who provides patient-centered care and partners with local leaders to create community-driven programs in underserved areas.

Jeanna Shaw is a medical student at the University of California San Francisco. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in an immigrant household and has dreamed of becoming a doctor since she was 3 years old. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with Highest Honors with a degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology from Harvard University, where she completed an honors thesis studying an induced pluripotent stem cell therapy for myocardial infarctions. Now a medical student, she serves as the Community Engagement co-chair and Advocacy chair at UCSF and is excited to step into the role of Logistics Co-director for the 2026 APAMSA National Conference. Jeanna is passionate about tackling healthcare inequities, particularly in immigrant communities with a specific focus on maternal healthcare disparities and structural barriers to healthcare literacy and access. In her free time, she loves art and music, running, and enjoying the outdoors.

Nelson Lin (he/him) is a medical student at the UC Berkeley – UCSF Joint Medical Program. His interests include language justice and cardio-metabolic health within AAPI communities. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and making matcha lattes.

Matthew Kim is currently a first-year medical student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He was born in Glendale, California, and raised in La Cañada. He completed his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at UC Davis, worked as a Process Engineering Intern at Genentech, and spent his gap year at Stanford University as an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Radiation Oncology, where he contributed to imaging-based cancer research and health access disparities.
In addition, Matthew has remained committed to service and mentorship throughout his journey. At UCSF, he currently serves as the Admissions Advisory Council Coordinator as a liaison for APAMSA and the admissions committee to support and connect incoming students who identify with the AANHPI community with school resources. He now acts as the NC Financial Director for the 2026 National Conference. He is passionate about equitable health access, community-centered care, and the intersection of medicine, technology, and education, and he hopes to continue his interests as he pursues a career in Radiation Oncology or Diagnostic Radiology.

Shawn Lim is currently a third year medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. He was born and raised in Sugar Land, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a B.S. in Biochemistry. After college, he worked as a medical assistant at a neurology clinic and a dermatology clinic before pursing his love for coffee as a barista. He has spent two years involved in UTMB’s local APAMSA chapter, including one year as chapter President, before taking on his current role as a Region IX Co-Director. He is passionate about investing in the next generation and is a strong proponent of “paying it forward”. Outside of school, he enjoys playing sports, trying new recipes, exploring new restaurants, and travel. After graduation, he aims to pursue a career as a dermatologist.

Hi everyone! I’m excited to step into my role as the Region IX Director for APAMSA this year. As a rising fourth-year medical student and former South Asian Director, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the incredible impact APAMSA has on our communities and future physicians. This organization has given me invaluable experiences, lifelong friendships, and a deeper passion for advocacy and mentorship. I can’t wait to see what this year holds and work alongside such an inspiring group of leaders!

Howdy, y’all! My name is Francis Khuong, and I am an MD-PhD student at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. Outside of school, I serve as one of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) Region IX Directors. Before medical school, I obtained my B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Dallas and worked at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center as a research technician in the Wetzel Lab, studying the mechanisms of internalization for Leishmania parasites. I continue to take an avid interest in Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and am planning to continue focusing on Leishmania during the PhD portion of my training with the Karamysheva lab. In my free time, I play games, hang out with my cat (Nori), and travel whenever I can!