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Meet COLA

Maya Babu, Chair
Harvard Medical School

Maya is a third year student in the combined MD/MBA program at Harvard. Prior to medical school she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. and B.A. in Neuroscience and Psychology. In her native Minnesota, Maya co-chaired the state-wide non-profit Minnesota Alliance with Youth alongside the Lt. Gov. She also served on the Board of Directors for America’s Promise and the Volunteer Resource Center of the Twin Cities, and was appointed to the Minnesota Commission on Out-of-School Time. Maya was active in founding urban debate programs at several schools in Minneapolis and in 2001, was the National Forensic League’s national champion in Lincoln-Douglas debate. She also serves as the student representative to the AMA-Women Physicians Congress, student delegate to her state’s Committee on Legislation, and Vice-Chair of her state’s Medical Student Section.

Erin Schneider, Vice Chair
Oregon Health and Science University

Erin is a fourth year student at Oregon Health and Science University, pursuing a career in emergency medicine. Prior to medical school she graduated from University of Oregon with a BS in Biology and a business minor. Erin was one of the founding members of Health Policy Group, an organization created to involve students in health policy and the state medical association. Through this group she has served as student delegate, trustee, member of the reference committee, and introduced a resolution last year resulting in permanent funding for HPG. She recently helped bring Oregon representation back to the MSS, and co-authored a resolution at A-07. She is active in the Archimedes Movement, a group of community members headed by the former Governor, who meet regularly in cities across Oregon to discuss problems in our health care system and design solutions resulting in access to quality, effective health care for all Oregonians. Erin loves to get other students involved and inspired in health policy and is looking forward to working towards this on the COLA.>

Andrew Landstrom, Vice Chair
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Andrew is starting his 3rd year on COLA and is a 4th year MD/PhD student at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is currently in the Mayo Graduate School, in the Department of Pharmacology, exploring novel mechanisms of the molecular pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In the past, Andrew has served within COLA as the Chair of the Medical Education Subcommittee and the Chair of the Higher Education Act Reauthorization Subcommittee. In addition, Andrew has served as Chair of Minnesota Medical Association (MMA)-Medical Student Section, has served on the Minnesota Medical Association Communications Committee, and the Zumbro Valley Medical Society Commitee on Legislation. He has also been an AMA Chapter Delegate and Delegate to the MMA-MSS Governing Council. He hopes to spend this year increasing the role that the AMA-MSS plays in informing fellow students regarding health care issues critical to future of medicine as well as increasing grassroots advocacy efforts. He enjoys volunteering at Rochester Better Chance and tutoring through Mayo Clinic Social Services, and he hopes to become a pediatric cardiologist.

Kyle Edmonds
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix

Kyle Edmonds is a third-year student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix and is excited to be serving a second term on COLA. His experience in national presidential politics has served to raise his awareness of national needs both in and out of the healthcare field. Kyle is very interested in making health care policy and organized medicine more approachable for the average medical student by using clear and concise policy explanations and keeping members better informed of AMA and MSS positions. He has served on Reference Committees at I-06 and A-07 and as the Legislative Liaison of his local chapter; he looks forward to continuing to serve the profession of medicine. In his free time, Kyle enjoys reading, movies and catching up on current events.

McKinley Glover
Duke University School of Medicine

Tony Hesketh
Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

Tony is a second year student at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio. He received his baccalaureate degree in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame, and his master's in physiology from Georgetown University. He is currently the Wright State AMA Chapter President and member of the AMPAC Student Advisory Board.
In the summer of 2007, Tony was a participant of the Government Relations Internship Program in the AMA's Legislative Counsel office in Washington, DC. His experiences in Washington piqued his interest in health policy, legislation and advocacy, and he is now looking forward to further exploring and sharing these pursuits during his first year on COLA. Although his mind is ever-changing, Tony currently hopes to pursue a career in emergency medicine.

Courtland Keteyian
University of Michigan Medical School

Courtland Keteyian is a second-year MD/MBA student at the University of Michigan, and he is serving his first year on COLA. Courtland completed his undergraduate degree at Yale University, before returning to his native state for medical school. As Chair of the MSMS-MSS Committee on Policy and Education, Courtland has great interest in empowering other medical students to participate in the political process, and believes education is the foundation for involvement. In his spare time, Courtland enjoys running Ann Arbor’s abundant trails, and playing the saxophone.

Woo Jin Kwak
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Woo Jin is a third year DO student from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is on his first year with COLA. He served his AMA chapter as membership coordinator. He graduated from UCLA with a BS in Biochemistry and Minor in Accounting, and from Columbia University with a MS in Nutrition. His interests include medical tort reform, and a sustainable healthcare system that benefits both physicians and patients. He is interested in internal medicine and psychiatry. He enjoys running, reading, and participating in charity construction projects. He has lived in New York, Seoul, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

E. Philip Lehman
Duke University School of Medicine

Hello, my name is E. Philip Lehman, and I am currently within my second year at the Duke University School of Medicine. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, I attended Georgetown University for undergrad, where I was a biology major and a government minor. After graduating in 2005, I deferred entrance to Duke to work as a staffer for the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittees on Health and Trade. Last year, I was a co-chair of the Duke AMA's Health Policy committee. I enjoy all areas within politics and look forward to employing my experience within the legislative branch to educate AMA members of the most critical of health policy topics in America today. When I have free time on my hands, odds have it that I am grilling, golfing, or catching up on current events. It is an honor to be a member of the MSS-Committee on Legislation and Advocacy.

John Ludlow
University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

My name is John, and I’m a second year student at the University of California, Irvine. I completed my undergraduate studies in the greatest city in the nation at UC San Diego, where I majored in Political Science. After graduation I interned for the Health Subcommittee of Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives, and more recently, I interned for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Chief of Staff. I’m currently chapter president of AMA at UC Irvine, and serve on the California Medical Association’s Council on Legislation. I’m looking forward to a great year with COLA!

Adnaan Moin
Jefferson Medical College

Adnaan is a second year medical student from Jefferson Medical College, serving his first term on COLA. He is currently the Legislative Chair for Region VI as well as the Legislative Chair at Jefferson. Adnaan graduated from Penn State and naturally is a huge Nittany Lion football fan. Raised in Newburgh, NY, he was very involved with high school debate through the end of college. He hopes to be deeply involved in politics during his medical career and also aspires to make a film or two. Adnaan is also one of very few New York Met fans.

Nitesh Paryani
University of Florida College of Medicine

Nitesh is a 2nd year medical student at the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he is honored to serve as president of his class. Nitesh graduated with honors with an A.B. in political theory from Princeton University. As an undergraduate, Nitesh was a member of the Princeton University Honor Committee. He also served as an intern for United States Senator Bob Graham. Prior to applying to medical school, Nitesh worked as a management consultant in the federal healthcare and private payor practice of a large multinational consulting firm.
In addition to serving on COLA, Nitesh also serves as Vice Chair of the Florida Medical Association-MSS. He served as a member of the House Coordinating Committee at the 2007 Annual Meeting, and as an AMA Government Relations Intern in the summer of 2007. Nitesh's primary interests lie in healthcare finance and legislative policy.

Despina Siolas
SUNY-Stony Brook School of Medicine

I'm very excited to be a part of the Committee on Legislation and Advocacy. 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. I just finished 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, baking, The Simpsons and the McLaughlin Group. I look forward to working with my fellow commitee members.

Colin Son
University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio

Colin Son is a third year medical student at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He previously graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He's extremely excited to be working with his fellow committee members this year. Along with serving on COLA he is also currently the AMA (MSS) Region III chair and serving on the Texas Medical Assocation's Council on Legislation. In the past he has served on the AMPAC Student Advisory Board, the TEXPAC Board of Directors, and as vice chair of his school's AMA chapter. In his free time he enjoys film, screenwriting and sports.

Sameer S. Vohra
Southern Illinois University Medical School at Springfield

Sameer S. Vohra is currently a fourth year medical and law dual degree student at Southern Illinois University in Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Vohra, a native of Chicago, Illinois, completed his undergraduate work at Northwestern University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with honors and Science in Human Culture. Mr. Vohra had previously served as an Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Engineering Fellow working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Law Program. Mr. Vohra plans to use his dual degree to impact international health policy, specifically children’s health. When not immersed in the world of medicine, Mr. Vohra enjoys the wide world of sports, pop culture in all of its forms, and meeting as many innovative men and women as possible.

Patrick Woodard
University of Nevada School of Medicine

Nevada born and raised, Patrick A. Woodard is a second-year medical student at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. His interest in politics and legislation was codified during his time at Georgetown University, where he successfully lobbied Congress for higher standards for high school science education. As a former GRIP, he wrote policy for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with a focus on rural health. He currently sits on the AMPAC Student Advisory Board, and in the rest of his time, he is a ski patroller at Lake Tahoe and a professional violinist, performing with the Reno Philharmonic, the Reno Chamber Orchestra, and the Nevada Opera.

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