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AMWA 2022-23 Board
Co-President
My name is Rebekah Alfred, and I am one of the Co-Presidents for AMWA! I’m a fourth-year Human Biology and Society major with an interest in global health. In my free time, I love trying out new recipes, spending time with my friends and family, and exploring places around Los Angeles. AMWA holds a special place in my heart because it was the first club I joined at UCLA. Thinking back to the first AMWA meeting I attended, I remember being unsure of what to expect, but this feeling quickly dissipated as I was greeted with warm smiles and friendly faces. Over the years, I have seen how special this organization is. Our events are the perfect mix of educating members while also being a forum for members to make genuine connections in a non-competitive environment. During my term, I’m excited to work with our wonderful board and interact more with our amazing members! Outside of AMWA, I'm part of the Neonatal/Congenital Heart Lab and Carceral Ecologies Lab. I also volunteer with different organizations, one of which I volunteer as a baking/cooking teacher for kids with disabilities!
Rebekah Alfred | Human Biology & Society
Co-President
Hi! My name is Amy Pham and I am one of this year's Co-Presidents. I am a 4th year student majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and minoring in Film, Television, and Digital Media, also in the process of applying to medical school to matriculate in Fall 2023! I have been part of AMWA since my freshman year, when I joined to find a network of pre-health resources in the huge institution that is UCLA. Since then, AMWA has become of the most influential organizations in my undergraduate experience connecting me with some of my favorite people at UCLA, and I can't wait to lead the organization in continuing this impact in my final year. Outside of AMWA I am also involved in glioblastoma research with the Kornblum Lab, volunteering with Vietnamese Community Health and my local hospital's Emergency Department, dancing with VSU Modern, and coordinating spotlights for national AMWA's Dance, Theater, and Medicine Taskforce. In my free time, I enjoy watching films, choreography-style dancing, and spending quality time with my friends.
Amy Pham | Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology/ Film, Television, and Digital Media Minor
Vice-President
My name is Brittany Tran, and I am the AMWA Vice President! I joined AMWA in my freshman year as a way to engage with a supportive community of women who are equally as passionate about healthcare. AMWA has helped me explore my interests in healthcare, further my passion for the advancement of women in medicine, and provided opportunities for me to give back to my community. Outside of AMWA, I am involved in Asian Pacific Health Corps, Medical Experience through Service in Healthcare, and Care Extenders at Ronald Reagan Medical Center. I also participate in cancer research as a member of Dr. Radu's Molecular and Medical Pharmacology Lab. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, watching F1, and baking.
Brittany Tran | Physiological Sciences
Soriendo con el Corazon
Co-Director
Hi, my name is Kavee Dodampahala and I am a fourth-year Neuroscience major and Statistics minor. Currently I am the Co-director for Sonriendo con el Corazón, a non-profit organization that works to aid communities in need in Tijuana, Mexico. As Co-director, I look forward to creating meaningful volunteer opportunities for our members to participate in. I joined AMWA my first quarter at UCLA because I was drawn to the emphasis this organization places on collaboration and community among women in STEM. Over the past two years, I have gained a lot of insight about pursuing a career in a variety of healthcare industries by interacting with other undergrads and healthcare professionals through AMWA. Outside of AMWA I am a Care Extender for UCLA Health and participate in undergraduate research. In my free time I enjoy running, painting, and exploring LA with my friends.
Kavee Dodampahala | Neuroscience, Statistics Minor
Soriendo con el Corazon
Co-Director
My name is Annie and I am AMWA’s Sonriendo con el Corazon Director this year! I am a 4th year Biology major and Global Health minor. I joined AMWA during my 2nd year because I wanted to find a supportive community that can provide guidance to women in the healthcare field. As a first-generation student, I was impelled to join AMWA because it is a community that enriches the experiences of women pursuing a degree in the healthcare field and enables women to create strong friendships with other like-minded individuals! Outside of AMWA, I am a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic and pediatrics clinic. I have also been enjoying my experience in a research lab that focuses on ARDS. During my free time, I love to going on cute picnics, thrifting, finding stunning viewpoints, and exploring the food in LA and beyond!
Annie Ye | Biology, Global Health Minor
Publicity
Marketing Director
Hi! My name is Kiana Mikami and I am a 3rd year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology! I am the Publicity Marketing Director for the 2022-2023 year! I joined AMWA my freshman year because of the close-knit community that I could tell AMWA was fostering. These are all intelligent, driven, and like-minded women in pre-med who not only want to help each other succeed, but uplift one another in the process. I have made so many countless memories since joining this club and I hope to continue to make many more! Outside of AMWA, I am also involved in BFPC, which is a pediatric cancer club, and I hope to also join Crocheting for Smiles this year! I also shadowed at a private doctor’s office over the summer where I gained real world experience in healthcare. In my free time, I love to read cheesy romance books, watch trending tv shows, hike, and go to concerts!
Kiana Mikami | Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Publicity
Media Director
Hello! My name is Eva Danesh and I am a third-year psychobiology major and public health minor from Los Angeles. This is my third year involved in AMWA and second on Board! I joined AMWA at the start of my freshmen year and found a group that was welcoming, encouraging, and fun. I was looking for a group that would both motivate me during my time as a pre-med and also inspire me to explore opportunities and careers in healthcare – I have been able to find that and more in AMWA! Outside of this club, I am part of a research lab and am a writer for Morning Sign Out, a health-information site. I also love my work as a staff writer for the Daily Bruin, UCLA’s newspaper, where I write mostly for the Science & Health and Features & Student Life beats. As a Publicity Director this year, I am excited to continue sharing all the wonderful things we do throughout the year! :)
Eva Danesh | Psychobiology/ Public Health Minor
Social Director
Hi! My name is Sydney Vigil and I will be the Social Director for AMWA this year! I am a third year majoring in psychobiology and planning to apply to medical school after I graduate. I joined AMWA my freshman year at UCLA and was excited to have found a pre-med organization with a non-toxic, encouraging environment of like-minded women. Outside of AMWA, I am working on getting in hours of shadowing and volunteering at my local hospital. I also recently joined the a cappella group, Cadenza, at UCLA! In my free time I love baking, singing, reading, thrifting, and obsessing over movies and animated series. I look forward to getting to know everyone at our socials this year!
Sydney Vigil | Psychobiology
Co-Professional Development Director
Hi! My name is Ramya Paravastu and I'm a second year Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics major. I joined AMWA last year in order to meet people with similar academic and professional interests as me and to be part of a supportive community among peers and healthcare professionals. I've been lucky to meet some amazing people and have access to incredibly useful pre-health resources in AMWA since then! Outside of AMWA, I'm involved with Altus Initiative and the Arumugaswami Lab at UCLA. For fun, I love listening to music, hiking, and spending time with friends and family! I'm excited to meet all of our members and work with our amazing board this year!
Ramya Paravastu | Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics
Co-Professional Development Director
Hi! My name is Lucy Wang and I’m one of the Co-Professional Development Directors. I’m a third-year majoring in Human Biology and Society. I joined AMWA my sophomore year and loved the wonderful and supportive community it provided me. AMWA has offered me so many opportunities and I am incredibly grateful to be a part of it. Outside of AMWA, I volunteer at Cedars Sinai in the Cardiac Surgery ICU and am a member of the Community Service Commission. I am also an LA for Physics 5A! In my free time I like to read books, make new foods, eat new foods, go to the beach and hangout with my friends!
Lucy Wang | Human Biology & Society
Community Service Director
I'm Katrina! I'm a fourth year Biology major and this year's community service director. I joined AMWA my freshman year because I had no clue what it was like to be pre-health and I thought that it would be good to get some guidance on the process. The experiences and friends that I've made in AMWA have been priceless, and I am so grateful to be apart of such an impactful club. Outside of AMWA I am in Flying Samaritans, which is a club that assists at a clinic in Mexico. I also do addiction research at Semel, which I absolutely love! In my free time I love being a girlboss, making jewelry, thrifting, cooking, and decorating.
Katrina Winata | Physiological Science
Mentorship Director
My name is Sa and I am the Mentorship Director! I am a fourth year majoring in Physiological Science and minoring in Music Industry. I joined AMWA in my second year hoping to find new friends and guidance from other women who want to pursue medicine and I was delighted to find out that AMWA gave me just that! The club is so welcoming and feels almost like a second family to me. Along with AMWA, I work as a student athletic trainer for club sports & as a medical assistant/surgery scheduler for a cardiology office. I additionally volunteer a lot with children as a current YEP youth mentor and former UCLA Jumpstart Corps Member where I serve the underserved local communities by helping children build their educational foundation. As UCLA's GPI US fellow, I also help with programs and work with Japanese high school students pursuing STEM. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, songwriting, and cooking.
Sa Nguyen | Physiological Science/ Music Industry Minor
Finance Director
My name is Bella Adorable and I am currently a fourth-year Biochemistry major with a minor in film. I am so excited to be AMWA’s Finance Director this 2022-2023 school year! I joined AMWA because I wanted to be part of a supportive, uplifting community of inspiring young women who have a passion for healthcare and helping those in need. I’m so glad to be connected with a welcoming group of women whose goals align with mine. AMWA has also given me countless resources and information that have been incredibly invaluable to me as I navigate my path to becoming a doctor. Outside of AMWA, I am a member of BruinCorps, which provides educational support to underserved K-8 students in the Los Angeles area. In my free time, I love to watch movies, read, and go on adventures with my friends (whether it be sightseeing, traveling, hiking, etc!)
Bella Adorable | Biochemistry
Secretary
Hi everyone! My name is Amber Esqueda and I am your Secretary for the upcoming school year! I am currently a third-year Human Biology and Society major with a concentration in Medicine and Public Health. I joined AMWA my Freshman year because I wanted to connect with individuals who shared the same goals and values at me. AMWA has also provided me with a community and an environment where I am encouraged to explore different healthcare interests and professions. Outside of AMWA, I am involved in clubs such as AIM, CMLA, CampMed, and also serve as the Secretary for Teens for Screens! In addition to being a part of those organizations, I am completing research regarding the role of genetic counseling in student-run free clinics. During my free time I enjoy thrifting, exploring cute coffee shops, and hanging out with my loved ones!
Amber Esqueda | Human Biology and Society B.S.
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