National Board Bio

Carol Chen is currently a junior and will be a senior (2026-27) studying Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with minors in Biochemistry, Spanish, and Health and Human Values at the University of Arizona. Carol started her APAMSA journey three years ago at the University of Arizona Pre-Health APAMSA chapter. She has served on her local chapter executive board over these past couple of years, starting as an intern, then as the Director of Volunteer Outreach, and now as the President. She also served on National Board last term as one of the Region 7 Directors.

She is also part of Dr. Ying-Hui Chou’s Brain Imaging and TMS lab, where she investigates the applications of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, she serves as one of the Co-President for the Asian Pacific American Student Council, advocating for the best interests of the AANHPI community on campus. Outside of school, she enjoys rock climbing, crocheting, baking, traveling, painting, exploring cute cafes and restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.

Julie N. Trinh is currently a first-year osteopathic medical student at Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She was born in Can Tho, Vietnam, and immigrated to Houston, Texas when she was 2 years old. Growing up in a predominantly Hispanic and Vietnamese immigrant community shaped her love for language, culture, and service, and has allowed her to become fluent in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish, with additional Korean language skills developed through 15 years of obsessing over Korean dramas.

Julie graduated on a full-ride from Rice University as part of the Class of 2025, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biosciences with a concentration in Cell Biology and Genetics, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies with a Spanish certificate. She currently serves on the board of the Vietnamese Culture and Science Association as Program Chair, where she helps lead health and cultural programming for the over 70,000+ Houston community, members who attend the events, including one of the largest Vietnamese festivals in the southern United States.

In addition to her medical training, Julie is involved in research spanning both biomedical science and public health. She works as a medical student researcher in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Houston, focusing on systemic lupus erythematosus research, and also contributes to public health research through Texas A&M, conducting surveys on health issues affecting the Vietnamese nail salon community.

Outside of medicine and research, Julie enjoys teaching Vietnamese to kindergarteners at her local church, dancing to V-pop and K-pop, singing karaoke, and trying out viral cooking recipes at home. Her passions for cultural connection, community service, research, and advocacy all come together in her aspiration to pursue a career in pediatrics and primary care, while also participating in global health missions on a biannual basis.

Francis Khuong is 4th year MD/PhD student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center who, having completed his clinical rotations, is now beginning his PhD research in earnest on Leishmania with the Karamysheva Lab. Before medical school, he obtained his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Dallas and worked at the University of Texas Southwestern as a research technician in the Wetzel Lab. In his free time, Francis likes to play video games, take naps with his cat (Nori), and go hiking/eating around the world.

Kimberly Cang is a first year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Georgia. She currently serves as President of PCOM Georgia’s APAMSA chapter and as a National APAMSA South Regional Director.

Kimberly graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she studied Chemistry and Sociology. She first became involved with APAMSA through the National Pre-Health Committee, where she developed a passion for mentorship, community building, and supporting Asian American students pursuing careers in medicine.

As the child of Cambodian refugees, Kimberly is especially passionate about Southeast Asian advocacy and advancing culturally responsive care that addresses health disparities affecting AANHPI communities. She is currently interested in exploring careers in pediatrics and emergency medicine.

Outside of medicine, Kimberly enjoys weightlifting, making drinks in her home café, and exploring new restaurants.

Shawn Lim is currently a fourth 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 neurology medical assistant and as a dermatology medical assistant before pursing his love for coffee as a barista. He has spent three years involved in APAMSA, serving as the president of UTMB’s APAMSA chapter and as a Region IX Director before taking on his current role as a South Region Director. He is passionate about mentorship and is a strong proponent of paying it forward. Shawn aims to pursue a career as a dermatologist with a special interest in global health. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing flag football, cooking, exploring local restaurants and cafes, and travel hacking.

Samuel Li is a fourth year MD/PhD student at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. He was born in Greensboro, NC before moving to Chapel Hill, NC where he later attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduation, he spent two years doing research in vaccine immunology and pandemic preparedness at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease in the Washington, D.C. metro area. His current research interests are in host-pathogen interactions and emerging infections and hopes to pursue a career in infectious disease. Outside of science/medicine, he enjoys taking care of tropical houseplants, dancing at a local studio, and playing ultimate frisbee and pickleball.
With APAMSA, he has served as local chapter President from 2025-26 and directed the Regional Conference at his school. He is one of the new South Region directors and is excited to serve all chapters of this region!

Daniel Park is a first-year medical student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his B.A. in Psychology and research fellowship at Johns Hopkins University studying risk factors for OCD, Parkinson’s and colon cancer in East Asian populations. Daniel is particularly interested in healthcare support for migrant populations and under-resourced communities abroad given his personal history growing up all over the world. He aims to pursue a career in Ophthalmology and specialize in either Retina or Global Ophthalmology.

Elton Tong is a third-year medical student at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. He has lived across the Southern, Eastern, Midwestern, and Western regions of the United States, as well as in Hong Kong—experiences that have shaped his perspective on culture and community. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University.

Elton has been actively involved with APAMSA, serving as Co-President of his local chapter, a member of the National Leadership Committee, and now Midwest Regional Director. He is passionate about supporting student leadership and strengthening connections across APAMSA.

Outside of medicine, Elton is a music lover, coffee enthusiast, runner, and a diehard LeBron James fan. He is excited to continue bridging the rich cultural identities of the APAMSA community with the world of medicine.

Matthew is a third-year MD/PhD student at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Born and raised near Seoul, South Korea, he immigrated to Minnesota as a teenager. He later moved to California to earn his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Southern California before spending two years as a research associate in San Francisco. Now pursuing his PhD in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology in Dr. R. Stephanie Huang’s lab, Matthew focuses his research on developing computational models to predict cancer treatment outcomes, driven by a passion for translating data-driven insights into targeted clinical therapies.

His APAMSA journey began when he and his classmates revitalized their local chapter during his first year of medical school, leading to his current National Board role. Drawing from his immigrant background, he has a great appreciation for language and culture and is dedicated to empowering AANHPI voices in both clinical settings and the broader community. He looks forward to learning about fellow Midwest chapters this year.

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

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

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