Meet the RITForce

Chirag Patel, Chair
University of Texas - Houston Medical School
chirag3@gmail.com
Mobile: (832) 620-2701

I am a MD/PhD student at the University of Texas - Houston. I graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2001 with a BS in Biomedical Engineering and in 2003 with an MSE in Biomedical Engineering. My research interests include medical imaging, specifically MRI of the CNS. My other current involvement within the AMA-MSS includes membership on the MIC. I've previously served as chair of the CSI and the MSS Research Poster Session, and on COLRP. I am interested in the care of the underserved and the role of cultural competency and medical ethics in the patient-physician encounter. I am pleased to again chair this RIT Force, working with medical student leaders from around the country to critically assess our regional infrastructure within the MSS. Please bookmark and continue to check back for updates to this page. As the RITForce looks towards A-07 in Chicago, I welcome your comments on our "six proposals" document– please e-mail me with your feedback and suggestions by no later than April 1, 2007.

Jessica Nguyen-Trong, Vice-Chair
University of Texas - Southwestern Medical School (Dallas)

I would like to welcome everyone to the RITForce. I'm excited that all four of our reports passed at Chicago A-06 and we can build on them to ensure that the regional structure best reflect our membership. I'm returning to second year at UT Southwestern in Dallas from a year-long fellowship in Washington, DC. For my undergrad studies, I attended Texas A&M University and majored in Biology with a Business minor. I also explored acting and theatre as an education tool. This stayed with me and I really enjoy mentoring. This summer, I taught biochemistry to incoming MS1s again and enjoy sharing this first experience into medical school with them. Some of my other involvement this year will be as the TMA (Texas Medical Association) Delegate Co-Leader, on the TMA physician Council on Health Promotion, and COLRP.

Evan Tobin
Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

I think it is safe to say that I'm an extrovert. My energy and enthusiasm is typically derived from being around others. Although my attention is classically in more than one place at the same time, it usually focused outward in some kind of optimistic expression. It is uncommon to see me not smiling. I love meeting new people, although names are not my forte, I will always remember a conversation. Among many other things, I like dominoes, chess, spontaneous adventures, singing in my car, flip-flops, and a fine barbeque. To relieve stress, I usually close the blinds and rock out to old school tracks. If you're lucky, you might catch me doing the same at a late night social.

Heather Brislen
University of New Mexico Medical School

Heather Brislen here, a 4th year student at the U of New Mexico. Outside of school work, I work with various educational and curricular committees at UNM, and also with the New Mexico Medical Society. Lately, I have been particularly fond of arranging educational events for the school community on organized medicine, current events, financial planning/debt management, etc. Last year we piloted an AMSA-MSS cooperative through which I organize seminars and lectures aimed at both groups together. Last year I took a leave of absence from my rotations schedule, in order to complete work on a project on institutional change, essentially how a public teaching hospital works and negotiates a political and financial overhaul. I am also a soccer player, history major, decent cook, and proud dog owner (of Wyatt, a labradoodle). I am really looking forward to continue working with the RITForce. I am a loyal native of the West, devoted to my region's growth and future, and I am hoping to learn from all of you other members what it is that makes your home turf tick.

Hans Arora
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Equal representation among all of our members is a vital component in the everlasting goal to strengthen and unify ourselves as an organization. The goals of the RITForce are concurrent with those of the AMA-MSS Committee on Membership Retention & Recruitment, of which I am serving as Vice-Chair this year as well. I am currently a 2nd year MD/PhD student at Northwestern University (i.e. I am going to be in school for a long time) hailing from Bethesda, MD, home of the NIH. I can't wait to see where this year brings us and I'm excited to see what we on the RITForce can do to make our AMA-MSS even better!

Will Filer
St. Louis University School of Medicine

I'm a 3rd year medical student at St. Louis University - originally from Seattle. I'm thinking of going into family or internal medicine or ophthalmology. I have been involved in my AMA chapter by attending three national meetings and being editor of our chapter newsletter and heading the Committee on Legislative Affairs (COLA). I am currently on the Missouri COLA. My main interests are public health policy and international health. I think the goal for this task force should be a lasting solution that will not have to be revisited too often, providing stability within the MSS. Outside of medicine I like to have fun playing sports and music (rocking out).

Matt Eakins
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

I am a second year student at Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, but I will always be a Minnesota boy at heart. I was born and raised on the lakes around the Twin Cities, and majored in mathematics at Boston College in Massachusetts. Currently, I am a member of the COLA standing committee and serving as the medical student representative on the Illinois State Medical Society Council on Economics. I am also quite active in Northwestern's AMA chapter as vice-chair. I love to golf and ski (snow & water), and I have become a big fan of car racing. I am very excited to be working on this project!

Paul Ikemire
Tulane University Medical School

Born and raised in Sacramento, CA with strong ties to Illinois, New York, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Much of my family lives in Dallas and my father graduated from Tulane Medical School in the early 70s. I majored in biology and minored in Political Science at the University of California, San Diego. The fusion of medicine, business and politics is a concert of necessary and unnecessary evils that I look forward to restructuring or improving throughout my medical career. The pure practice of medicine will touch a panel of 2000 well deserving patients but the involvement in the greater provisions of public health and stabilization of healthcare in America will touch millions. In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, I dove into the role of AMA Region Chair-elect for Region 3 and I look forward to using my skills as a non-profit director and political science student to create a regional infrastructure that can be sustainable, useful and beneficial to the greater AMA student body.

Travis Bias
University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

I'm a third year at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Worth, TX. My B.A. in Biology (minor in Political Science) is from Southwestern University where I was on the tennis team, and did a few other things such as serving on the University Committee on Discipline and being the Social Chair of my fraternity. While at TCOM, I've enjoyed working on the AMA-MSS Committee on Medical Ethics, the AMPAC Student Advisory Board, and the TMA-MSS Executive Council. In addition to school, I enjoy tennis, politics, traveling, and I value my time with family and friends.

Kristie Appelgren
Medical University of South Carolina

Hi everyone! I am a fourth year med student, but will spend next year getting an MS in Clinical Research before heading to a Pediatrics residency. My other projects this year include chairing IHP and leading the MUSC Alliance for Hispanic Health. I will also be working on mental health issues faced by the children of migrant workers via a grant that I recently got funded! In my spare time I enjoy reading fiction, hiking, and going out dancing with Richard, my husband of two years.

Kristen Spisak
Indiana University School of Medicine

I am currently a fourth year at Indiana University School of Medicine. I went to Notre Dame for my undergraduate years, where I majored in Science Pre-Professional Studies and minored in French. I was also a member of the women's Varsity Crew Team. From ND, I got my MS in Cellular and Integrative Physiology from Indiana Univesity before starting medical school. My AMA involvement in school has included serving as Class of 2007 Representative during my first 2 years, IU Chapter Chair, Indiana State Chair, and I was on the Hospitality Committee at I-05. I have attended the last 3 Annual Meetings and Lobby Days. Currently, I am applying for residency in anesthesia. I have been married for over 3 years to my husband Jeff, and we have 2 awesome pugs named Gary and Corndog.

Joe Goodman
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

It's a real privilege to be able to serve on the RITForce this year. I hope we can offer a solution to the MSS Assembly that honors the unique circumstances of every Region while fairly representing larger medical schools. I am a fourth-year student at Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine; currently Vice-Chair of Michigan's MSS Governing Council; past member of the Michigan Delegation to the AMA; attendee at every AMA-MSS annual and interim meeting since A-04; have served on Convention Committees, including RefCom and Credentials.

Mark Pascua
Jefferson Medical College

My name is Mark Pascua, and I serve as the Region 6 Chair. I live in southeastern Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia and have for most of my life. I graduated from Penn State University and currently attend Jefferson Medical College in Philly. In the AMA, I've previously held positions of chapter president, state vice-chair, Philadelphia County Medical Society executive board member, state membership chair, Region 6 Secretary-Treasurer, and served on the Membership Recruitment and Retention committee and some convention committees including Logistics and the HCC. Regarding my future, I see myself in GI or Radiology, but I've done a lot of research in Neurology. During my free time, among many things, I like to run, rock climb, play golf, or follow Philly sports teams. Having served on the exec board of my region for two straight years, I'm excited to work and help out with the RIT Force!

Mike Chapman
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Hi everyone! My name is Michael Chapman, and for those of you who don't know me, I'm just starting my second year at the University of Pittsburgh SOM and am planning on doing something surgical with my life. My folks are from Georgia, but I mostly grew up overseas in Iceland and Scotland. My background is strictly science and engineering, but at least half of the reason I changed careers to come to med school was to work in healthcare policy and take on the challenge of leaving our profession better than we found it. I have had some wonderful opportunities in my brief time with the AMA, and now serve as the Washington Office GRIP as well as on COLA, AMPAC's SAB, and, of course, RITForce. It has been a genuine privilege to work with so many incredible people who share a common vision and to call many of you my friends. I'm very much looking forward to working in the RITForce on the vital nuts-and-bolts issues that keep our section going and growing stronger!

Katherine Harvey
University of Connecticut Medical School

I'm a third-year student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. I currently serve the AMA as Chapter Chair, Region VII Regional Delegate, and Region VII Vice-chair. Much of my work has focused on restarting a previously inactive chapter here at UConn, and I'm looking to take what I've learned to reach out to other smaller and inactive chapters in our region. In my (rapidly diminishing) free time I enjoy hiking, skiing, swimming, kayaking, and rock climbing.

Despina Siolas
SUNY-Stony Brook School of Medicine

I'm very excited to play a role in enhancing our regions. I'm a MD/PhD student at SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine in Long Island and am currently conducting my thesis research in cancer genetics at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. This is my second term as the Student Councilor on the AMA Council for Long Range Planning and Development. In the past I have been Chair of Region 7 (Northeast), Region 7 Alternate Delegate and have served on the AMA MSS Committee on Scientific Issues and AMPAC Student Advisory Board. I enjoy kickboxing, running, movies, The Simpsons and the McLaughlin Group.