National Board

Hi APAMSA! My name is Jeffrey Wang, and I am a rising fourth-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 Stephen and I’m a third 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.

I was born in Toledo Ohio and grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. I went to Georgia Tech with an interest in Biomedical Engineering, and completed my degeree while conducting influenza research at the CDC. I spent a year supplementing anesthesia research at Beth Israel in Boston with an internship at a medical robotics startup at Noah medical in the Bay with a continued interest in advancing technological innovations in medicine to improve patient care. I am completing a full-covered extra year in Biomedical Informatics with a specific interest in AI to conduct further research of AI in medicine. Outside of medical school I enjoy playing volleyball.

Hey everyone! My name is Lara Castaneda and I am currently a second-year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Middletown. I was born and raised in Westchester, New York. For my undergraduate studies, I attended Stony Brook University where I graduated with a major in Health Science and minor in Chemistry. Since starting medical school, my commitment to increasing awareness and encouraging communication around AAPI medical concerns motivated me to co-found and serve as President for my medical school’s APAMSA chapter. I was so deeply influenced by APAMSA’s mission and goals that I served as Database Director last year, where I fell in love with supporting local chapters and saw firsthand the impact we can make at the community level. This experience encouraged me to take on the role of Region 2 Director, where I am excited to focus on the NY/NJ area and eager to give back to the community that shaped me into who I am today. Outside of school, I love trying new food spots, doing my own nail art, traveling, and playing volleyball. I’m incredibly excited to serve as one of your Region 2 Directors, and I look forward to continuing my commitment to amplifying the voices of the APAMSA community!

Yue Jiao Jiang is a third-year medical student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, NY. She was born in Taishan, China, and immigrated to New York City at the age of three. She earned her B.A. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Asian American Studies from Hunter College. Before medical school, she worked as a medical assistant at an otolaryngology and endocrinology clinic in Chinatown, Manhattan, where she also grew up. Her dedication to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community has been a driving force throughout her career. She has been actively involved in APAMSA, previously serving as the local chapter president and currently serving her second term as Regional II Co-Director. Through her leadership, she has helped organize regional conferences, foster chapter collaboration, and advocate for culturally competent care. She is passionate about community health, medical education, and mentorship, and she hopes to integrate these interests into her future medical career. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring NYC parks, and discovering new boba spots.

Maggie Zhou is currently a first-year medical student at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, NY. She is from Chandler, Arizona and completed her B.S. in Biological Sciences (Genetic, Cell, and Developmental Biology) at Arizona State University. Prior to starting medical school, she spent a year in San Francisco at UCSF working as a Clinical Research Coordinator. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, park days, and spending time with friends and family. She is Co-President of her local APAMSA chapter and now looking forward to serving as one of the Region 2 Directors!

Brian Vu is a first-year medical student at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Originally from Austin, Texas, he has ancestral roots in Vietnam. Brian earned his BA in Biology with minors in Asian American Studies and Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. During his gap years, he worked as a medical scribe at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and served as a coordinator at VietLead, a community-based organization supporting the Southeast Asian community in Philadelphia. As a medical student and future physician, Brian is passionate about drawing on his experiences with APAMSA, Brown, and VietLead to continue advocating for the Asian American community. In his free time, he enjoys tending to his plants, musical theater, cooking, and going to the gym.

Stephanie Lam is currently a first-year medical student at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Portland, ME. Born in Hong Kong, she immigrated to the United States at the age of five and went on to complete her B.S. in Kinesiology at Purdue University in Indiana.

She has experience working as a contact tracer during the COVID-19 pandemic with the Indiana State Department of Health, which sparked her interest in community and global health. She is deeply committed to advocating for Asian American representation in medicine and fostering a supportive, interconnected community. Additionally, as a DO student, she is passionate about increasing the visibility and representation of osteopathic medicine within APAMSA, breaking down misconceptions, and ensuring that all medical paths are respected and inclusive.

Inspired by a love for travel and exploration, she aspires to work with global health organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, providing care to underserved communities. After medical school, she hopes to pursue a career in either internal medicine or dermatology while remaining engaged in healthcare policy to ensure access to quality care for all patients, especially minority populations.

Welcome to APAMSA! My name is Annie Nguyen and I’m your new Professional Development Director. I’ve dedicated the past two years to this committee, working to expand opportunities for our members. For example, I spearheaded APAMSA’s first-ever Ask Me Anything series to connect students with physicians from diverse specialties, and helped launch the White Coats and Rice podcast alongside our incredible Communications Team to make these insights widely accessible. I’m excited to take our team to new heights this year!

I am currently conducting research at Stanford University on the heart-brain axis and will soon be applying to MD/PhD programs! During undergrad, I majored in Neuroscience and Architectural Design and served as the Co-President of the Stanford Premed APAMSA Chapter. I’ve also served as the National Board 2022 Pre-Medical Director. I strive to always make time for marathon training, beach volleyball, surfing, photography, cooking Vietnamese dishes and reading. Please send over your recipes and book recs!

Hello! My name is Lillian Phung and I am a second-year medical student (c/o 2027) at Drexel University College of Medicine. For the past decade, including my time as an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, I have found great fulfillment in fostering a sense of community within my local AANHPI population. Most recently, I had the honor of serving as my local chapter’s APAMSA Co-President. Outside of school, I love to explore the local food/cafe scene, hike, and ski!