Meet the Committee on Scientific Issues

 
Dan King, Chair

Dan King, Chair
Wayne State University School of Medicine

It is an honor to serve the AMA-MSS this year as Chair of the MSS Committee on Scientific Issues. Over the next year I'd like to work with the committee to further research opportunities for AMA members and expand our preparedness for emerging scientific issues and technology. I am currently in my third year at Wayne State University School of Medicine in downtown Detroit. My career interests are undecided but I'm considering integrating both research and clinical work into my future practice. Come check out the research poster session at the next national convention!

 
Nicholas Brandmeir,
Vice Chair

Nicholas Brandmeir, Vice Chair
Albany Medical College

AMA experience: Secretary of local chapter 2006-7, Treasurer of local chapter 2007-current, Meetings attended: I-06, A-07, Region VII A-07, I-07. I'm a second year medical student at Albany Medical College. I'm originally from Maine, but I've also lived in Colorado and New York. I've been married for 2 years and have a house in Albany. In my free time I like to garden, read, and play softball.

 
Richard Price,
Vice Chair

Richard Price, Vice Chair
Ohio State University College of Medicine

I am a second year MD/PhD student at The Ohio State University. I graduated from OSU with a degree in molecular genetics. Afterwards, before starting medical school, I was awarded a Fulbright Grant to research cancer at the Spanish National Cancer Center in Madrid, Spain. Upon returning to the States, my interest in cancer research increased to the point of me beginning a dual degree. In the future I plan on an academic surgery career with a high emphasis on translational research. I am very excited to help with the CSI to increase of awareness of scientific issues!

 
Joshua Evans

Joshua Evans
Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

I am a MSII at Wright State University and am new to the CSI committee. I received my B.S. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from The Ohio State University in 2005. My research background has been focused on oncology and specifically cancers that develop in the immune compromised. At this early stage of my medical training I am most interested in Hematology/Oncology as a potential career. I look forward to working with the rest of the committee in furthering our understanding of pressing scientific concerns and their effects on policy.

 
Cristos Ifantides

Cristos Ifantides
University of Florida College of Medicine

I am currently an MS2 at the University of Florida (UF). I received my BA in Classics from UF and completed a year of service for AmeriCorps prior to entering medical school. I have worked in basic science, clinical, and translational research labs over the last 5 years at multiple institutions. I am very excited to work on policies that will shape the future of medicine for our nation. My future career interests remain unknown, but will most likely center around academic surgery.

 
Samuel Mackenzie

Samuel Mackenzie
SUNY Upstate Medical University

Sam is a second year student at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, NY (B.A. Cornell '05, M.S. U. Delaware '07). As part of the MD-PhD program at Upstate, he spent his first summer in the 'Cuse learning electrophysiological methods and their studying their application in diagnosing cervical myelopathy. He plans to pursue work in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Sam is excited about getting involved with the AMA-MSS on a national level, specifically through CSI.

 
Michael Milks

Michael Milks
Ohio State University College of Medicine

An MSII, I am serving my first year with the CSI and am VP of our local AMA chapter. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and earned my B.A. in biochemistry and economics from Dartmouth College in 2007. Though my research background is in immunology, I completed a summer research fellowship in cardiovascular medicine and am interested in pursuing a career in interventional cardiology. In my free time I enjoy running, travel, and guitar.

 
Mrinali Patel

Mrinali Patel
Duke University School of Medicine

Mrinali Patel is a fourth year medical student at Duke University. She is from Virginia and graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Duke in 2005. Mrinali spent her third year of medical school doing research at the National Eye Institute through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute - National Institutes of Health Research Scholar Program. Her research background is in basic and translational research in cardiology and age-related macular degeneration. Her career aspirations include being a clinician-scientist in the field of ophthalmology.

 
Youngsin Jung

Youngsin Jung
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

I'm excited to be a new member of CSI. I received my B.S. in biology from University of Portland in Oregon in 2004. I'm currently a fifth year MD/PhD student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. My research focuses on integrin signaling in the CNS. I plan to pursue my career in academic neurology.