ABOUT OUR TEAM
AMSA FAU and everything that it represents and makes happen is due to the diligent and hard work of its leadership team. This academic year, we are happy to bring you a team of 30 fantastic people to serve as your AMSA FAU leaders. Within this FAU organization, many positions are available for numerous interests! Along with all the other advantages of being and AMSA FAU member, members are also able to earn leadership positions! More information about this will be given towards the end of each academic year.
2022-2023 OFFICER TEAM
Hannah Wahba - President
Hello AMSA! My name is Hannah Wahba and I have the pleasure to be serving as your president for the 22-23 academic year. This is my third year being involved with AMSA and I served as the Co-director of Specialties in Medicine last year. I’m currently a senior here at FAU and will be graduating in the Spring of 2023 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences, a B.S. in Neuroscience and Behavior and a minor in sociology. I conduct research in the College of Medicine with Dr. Andrew Oleinikov and currently work as a certified medical assistant in a pediatric office here in Boca Raton.
Saachi Mody - Vice President
Hi FAMSA! My name is Saachi and I will be serving as AMSA's Vice President for the 2022-2023 academic year. You may recognize me from your weekly emails! This is my second year as an officer for AMSA, and last year I served as your Fundraising Co-Director! I'm currently a Junior double majoring in Neuroscience and Interdisciplinary Mathematics, and I conduct research under Dr. David Fitzpatrick at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience! Besides serving as your Vice President, my hobbies include reading, dancing, and travelling! Please feel free to email me at smody2019@fau.edu if you have any questions! Go AMSA!
Karla Menchu-Saban - Secretary
Hello FAMSA! My name is Karla Menchu-Saban and I will be serving as your Secretary for the 2022-2023 academic year. This upcoming Fall semester marks my fourth year of being involved with AMSA@FAU and my third year on the leadership team! I’m currently in my final year in my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Health Administration.
Aside from my academic endeavors and AMSA responsibilities, I am currently working with the School District of Palm Beach County as a Substitute Teacher and do Afterschool. I am also a certified Medical Interpreter and CPR/First Aid. Outside of school, I like to volunteer, travel whenever I can, and spend time with my fiancé and family.
I am so excited and looking forward to meeting all of our members and to carrying out any requests, duties, and tasks that may be placed upon me. I can assure you that this year will be filled with informative meetings, awesome events, and professional discussions.
If you have any questions or concerns, even if it's just to say hello, don't hesitate to contact me! I'm looking forward to another fantastic AMSA@FAU year with all of you! Email: kmenchusaban2017@fau.edu
Srihith Narahari - Treasurer
Hey FAMSA! My name is Srihith Narahari and I will be serving as your Treasurer for the 2022-2023 academic year! I am a junior at Florida Atlantic University and am majoring in Biological Sciences. I joined AMSA in my freshman year to learn more about the field of medicine and to meet other pre-med students. Last year, I served as the Co-Director of Specialties in Medicine, where I invited physicians and other healthcare professionals to speak about their careers. I am very thankful for the opportunities that AMSA has given me and I hope to provide a similarly engaging experience this upcoming year.
Outside of AMSA, I am involved in other organizations and activities on campus. In addition, I enjoy playing soccer, working out, and experiencing new things. I can't wait to start this upcoming year as your treasurer and I look forward to meeting everyone!
Email: snarahari2020@fau.edu
David Plata - Sergeant-at-Arms
Hello, my name is David Plata and I am your Sergeant at Arms for the 2022-2023 school year! I am currently working towards my post-bacc in biology and graduated previously with my degree in Neuroscience and Behavior. My interests are fishing, working out, and hanging with my friends. If you ever need help with anything, feel free to reach out! Looking forward to an amazing year! Email: dplata2019@fau.edu
Brittany Berlin - Advocacy, Healthcare, Admin
Hello AMSA members! My name is Brittany Berlin, and I am honored to be serving as one of your directors of Advocacy, Health Administration, and Public Health in Medicine for the 2022-2023 academic year! I am a sophomore at FAU High School and am planning on double-majoring in chemistry and mathematics. Outside of school, I enjoy practicing piano, acting, reading, swimming, and playing with my Siberian cat, Basil. Additionally, I am a vegetarian and love experimenting with different plant-based recipes.
Ever since my grandfather enrolled in a life-saving clinical trial through Harvard University, I have been fascinated by the field of healthcare. Within the past year, I have had the pleasure of participating in health conferences at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Washington. Moreover, I recently participated in the Yale International Relations Leadership Institute and vow to translate the skills learned through these events into AMSA.
I am looking forward to a FANTASTIC year with all of the AMAZING AMSA members, and feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or book recommendations at bberlin2021@fau.edu.
Devi Dhanekula - Advocacy, Healthcare, Admin
Hello everyone! My name is Devi Dhanekula and I am so excited and grateful to serve as one of your Directors of Advocacy, Healthcare Administration, and Public Health in Medicine. I’m currently a Senior at FAU and I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Psychology. After FAU, I plan on applying to a Master’s program before attending medical school to pursue my dream of becoming a physician. Aside from AMSA, I enjoy volunteering within the community and working as an instructor for a math learning center. I also assist Dr. Besser in her research, where we investigate the associations between Alzheimer's disease/cognitive decline, greenspace, socioeconomic status, and its impact on social groups.
My goal is to inform our AMSA community of patient advocacy, the importance of addressing the disparities in healthcare, the inner workings of healthcare administration, healthcare laws, systems, and policies, as well as other public health topics. I am highly thankful for AMSA, as it has educated me on several topics and introduced me to wonderful opportunities. In my free time, I enjoy reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and binging TV shows (please let me know if you have any good book/show recommendations, I’d love to hear them!). Feel free to reach out via email or at any of our meetings if you have any questions about our Interest group or if you just want to chat. I look forward to meeting you all!
Email: ddhanekula2019@fau.edu
Christophe Saint-Pierre - Clinical Skills
Hey hey hey AMSA! My name is Christophe and I am immensely grateful to serve as one of your wonderful co-directors of Clinical Skills. I am currently a senior at Florida Atlantic University and I aim to graduate with a degree in Biological Sciences. As one of your co-directors of Clinical skills, my goals are to help you learn why medicine can be fun through hands-on activities such as suturing and taking blood pressure as well as gain a deeper appreciation for the world of medicine as a whole. In addition to serving in AMSA, I am currently an emergency department medical scribe as well as involved in undergraduate biochemistry research with Drs. Weissbach and Allani where I analyze drug interactions with certain cancer cell lines. I aspire to apply to medical school after taking a gap year and hope to become an emergency medicine physician! In my spare time, I enjoy playing Cities Skylines, listening to Kanye West and Tyler, the Creator and reading fashion magazines.
Email: csaintpierre2019@fau.edu
Monica Silva - Clinical Skills
Hello everyone! My name is Monica Silva and I am incredibly honored to serve as one of your co-directors of Clinical Skills for this upcoming academic year. I was born in Brazil and moved to Florida in 2016 with my family for a better education and more opportunities. I am currently a sophomore at FAU and majoring in Biological Sciences. From a very early age I knew I wanted to become a physician, so I work hard every day to make my dreams come true. I plan on taking a gap year after I graduate to gather more experience before attending medical school. I hope to one day become an OB/GYN and change the lives of many amazing women.
In my free time I enjoy reading books, watching shows, cooking and baking, going to the beach, playing with my dog, and spending time with my family. I can’t wait to meet you all and to have an amazing time during my first year with AMSA. Feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions, concerns, or if you just need a friend!
Email: murbinosilva2020@fau.edu
Kailyn Mooklal - Diversity in Medicine
Hello! My name is Kailyn Mooklal, and I am your co-director of Diversity in Medicine for the 2022-2023 school year. I am a Senior at FAU and am currently working towards a Medical Biology degree. I like to spend my time volunteering, trying new foods, and hanging out with friends. This year I hope to use my position as co-director of Diversity in Medicine to have fun with you all while exploring the importance of minorities in medicine. I look forward to a year full of learning and meeting new people. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me.
Email: kmooklal2019@fau.edu
Sarah Abu Mohd - Diversity in Medicine
Hello FAMSA! It’s Sarah Abu Mohd here, it is my pleasure to serve as your co-director of Diversity in Medicine for the year of 2022-2023! I am currently a junior pursuing my B.S degree in Biological Sciences as a premed major. My parents migrated from Jordan to help us seek the best education and make use of opportunities we get in life. I would like to become a doctor to help the sick recover and save lives, to that, I intend to work hard and focus on my studies, taking advantage of what I possess and the support system I can get. Aside from school, I am a certified pharmacy technician and an EKG technician. My hobbies are reading novels and traveling whenever I get a chance. Looking forward to a great year filled with activities and educational events for both us and our students!
Do not hesitate to reach out at sabumohd2020@fau.edu
Gianncarlo Mendoza - Exercise, Lifestyle, and Nutrition
Hello to everybody! It gives me great pleasure to serve as your Co-Director of Exercise, Lifestyle, and Nutrition. My name is Giancarlo Mendoza. I'm a junior at Florida Atlantic University who is pursuing a degree in medical biology. I am of Colombian descent and was born in the US, more precisely in Queens, New York. Aside from school, I enjoy going dancing in Miami and listening to music of all genres. I also take pleasure in living an active lifestyle, working out at the gym and enjoying sports. I enjoy traveling whenever I have the chance. I'm excited to be one of your co-directors this year as we all continue on our incredible journeys in the medical industry!
Email: gmendoza2019@fau.edu
Julia McDuffee - Exercise, Lifestyle, and Nutrition
My name is Julia McDuffee and I am one of the exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle co-directors for AMSA this year. Currently, I am a junior at the Wilkes Honors College pursuing a degree in cellular neuroscience. After the completion of my undergraduate degree, I hope to pursue an MD-PhD to further my research education and become a neurosurgeon. My research interests include synaptic plasticity and calcium imaging using fluorescence microscopy. In my free time I like to run and create embroidery projects.
Alicia Szymezak - Fundraising
Hey guys! My name is Alicia Szymezak and I’m so excited to serve as your Co-director of fundraising. I’m currently a junior here at FAU studying biological sciences. I hope to one day become an orthodontist and help people feel more confident. When I’m not studying I enjoy volunteering at a local animal rescue, horse riding, crocheting, trying new food, reading manga, and watching anime. I hope I can spread my love for business and medicine with all of you during my time here in AMSA. I look forward to meeting you guys at events, meetings, and labeling this year. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or simply if you need a friend!
Email: aszymezak2020@fau.edu
David Maldonado - Fundraising
Hello everyone! My name is David Maldonado and I am very excited to be part of the AMSA family for the 2022-2023 year. I am currently a Biological Science major senior at FAU! I am graduating this Fall and I would like to start my masters degree next year. Science and healthcare have always been my passion and I am pursuing a career in this field. I enjoy keeping an active lifestyle, traveling and play Tennis!
I hope I can contribute many things to this big family and make this upcoming year one of the bests for AMSA.
Eric Morales - International Outreach
Hey everyone! My name is Eric Morales, and I’m excited to serve as one of your directors of International Outreach. I’m currently a junior at FAU, and majoring in biological sciences. After graduating from FAU, I plan on attending medical school to become a radiologist or anesthesiologist. In my free time, I like to play video games, practice piano, and take care of my growing (ha, get it?) collection of plants, and read as much as I can about the many topics that interest me.
I hope I can help to make this another incredible year for AMSA. Please reach out to me if you want advice or have any questions. I look forward to meeting you all!
Email: ericmorales2019@fau.edu
Hailey Sarria - International Outreach
Hi FAMSA! My name is Hailey Sarria and I am excited to be serving as one of your co-directors for International Outreach! I am currently a senior at Florida Atlantic University pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. After graduation, I plan to attend an in-state accelerated nursing program in order to obtain my second bachelor’s degree in nursing with the end goal of becoming a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP).
Aside from school, I am currently working for Baptist Health at the Lynn Cancer Institute connected to Boca Regional Hospital. I also enjoy spending time with my crazy Colombian family, hanging out with friends, playing soccer, & I’m always up for spending the day at the beach!
Medicine is something I have always been very passionate about. What I enjoy most about AMSA is how we can all come together and learn from each other as we each go down our own individual medical path. I’d like to encourage you to join us on our mission trips! If you have any questions or are seeking any advice, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to a great year with all of you!
Email: hsarria2020@fau.edu
Julianna Gregory - Marketing
Hello all! My name Is Julianna Gregory and I can’t wait to be working as your Co-Director of Marketing! My first degree was a Bachelors in Nursing and I look forward to finishing up my post-bacc work here at FAU! If I’m not on campus you can find me volunteering at Boca Helping Hands, Mentoring America, or the Neighborhood Clinic! I have gained so much from being in AMSA, great friends, clinical experiences, and most of all finding my research lab (that I LOVE)!
I know being on the pre-med track can be a bumpy road but please feel free to reach out to me at any time. Can’t wait to see us all treating patients someday because there isn’t a more special relationship than the one we develop with patients!
Matthew Acs - Communication
Hello! My name is Matthew Acs, and I will be your director of communications for the 2022-2023 year. I am excited to be working on updating the AMSA website and introducing other tech-based upgrades to AMSA. I am a senior and will be graduating from FAU with my bachelor’s in computer science this coming spring. I plan to pursue a research-based master’s degree in artificial intelligence and a master’s degree in biomedical engineering at FAU before going to medical school. I am interested in applying modern machine learning and other AI techniques to the field of medicine. Besides my studies at FAU, I will be working as a medical scribe and on research projects under the guidance of Dr. Marques.
Despite my technology-heavy background, I am an outdoor person. I like playing guitar by a campfire, scuba diving, rock climbing, and hiking. I have recently failed an attempt to summit Mount Whitney, but I am attempting the Mount Everest base camp trek next spring. If you have any questions or need a dive buddy or rock-climbing belay, feel free to reach out!
Email: macs2019@fau.edu
Marilyn Fiallos - Mental Health
Hello guys! My name is Marilyn Fiallos and I’ll be your Co-Director for Mental Health this year at AMSA. I’m super excited to start this new semester with you all.
A little bit about myself is that I am currently a sophomore majoring in Health Science. My plan is to graduate and attend medical school for general surgery. In my free time, I love hanging out with friends, visiting museums, and traveling. I enjoy reading and cooking as well.
In the past year, everyone has been through a lot, from the global pandemic to online school. Hopefully, through our resources, we can help you de-stress and have connections to help in our school. A lot of people are approaching stressful times through the medical school application, and I just hope we can show you techniques to de-stress safely so that you can put your best self out there. Again, I am excited to begin this community with you all, so please if you have any questions simply reach out at anytime!
Karis Hong - Mental Health
Hello everyone! My name is Karis Hong, and I am very happy to serve as your Co-director for Mental Health in Medicine and Research for the 2022-23 school year! I am currently a junior at FAU, majoring in Neuroscience, and I plan to attend medical school to become a psychiatrist or pediatrician. As a side note, I enjoy spending time with my friends and visiting local cafés in my free time. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to not only educate members about mental health, but also to help them maintain their own mental health. Mental health can be a sensitive topic for many reasons, so creating a safe environment for members to discuss these issues freely is our top priority. I hope to provide members with tips and tricks to manage stress and their mental health, and I am very excited to make wonderful memories and grow with the members this year! Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have, whether it be through email or anywhere on campus!
Email: khong2019@fau.edu
Matthew Araujo - Pre-Med Affairs
Hi FAMSA! My name is Matthew Araujo and it is my pleasure to serve as one of your 2022-2023 Directors of Pre-Medical Affairs. I have previously served as a Director of Pre-Medical Affairs for AMSA alongside Linden Bravo for the 2020-2021 academic year and on the Executive Board as Sergeant-at-Arms for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Additionally, I am an alumnus of FAU, having graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Biological Sciences, a B.S in Neuroscience & Behavior, and a B.A. in Psychology in the Summer of 2021. I am also currently a graduate student, pursuing an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering as well as an M.S. in Biomedical Science as part of the thesis track. It is my hope to one day attend medical school on an Air Force HPSP scholarship and serve in a medical specialty which brings me both joy and fulfillment.
Aside from my academic endeavors and AMSA responsibilities, I am currently a Medical Assistant at a pediatrics office, a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the College of Science, a Graduate Research Assistant at the College of Medicine, and President of the Scientific Mentoring for Academic Research Training (S.M.A.R.T.) Club. Outside of school, I enjoy spending my free time with my girlfriend, friends, and family.
Whether you have questions relating to AMSA, school, or anything in general, please feel free to reach out to me! It would be my pleasure to help you as much as I can in your journey as a Pre-Medical/Pre-Health student and through life. I look forward to meeting you all and am excited to see what this year's team has in store!
Email: maraujo2017@fau.edu
Retlaw Dunn - Pre-Med Affairs
Hey everyone! My name is Retlaw Dunn and I have the honor of serving as your Co-Director of Premedical Affairs for this 2022-2023 academic school year under AMSA. My first semester participating in this organization was during the Fall of 2021. What drew me to the organization was the hope that I would be with like-minded individuals, all of whom would exemplify the drive that I also have for medicine. However, what I found was a genuine atmosphere that yes, included like-minded people, but more importantly, included individuals who wanted to make a difference while they had the opportunity to do so. As far as my collegiate achievements I have graduated with a dual degree in Biological Sciences and Neuroscience and Behavior with a minor in Psychology from FAU. Im currently taking courses as a non-degree seeking student here to finish my premedical requirements and will be going to EMT school in the near future. I spend my free time playing basketball, weightlifting, socializing, and in the SLC. So If you ever need any help with Organic Chemistry or Biological Bases of Behavior I’d be more than willing to assist. As far as medicine goes, I’m sure my interests will change the more I’m exposed to different specialties, so my focus currently is just to get in the door so to speak. I’m thrilled for the entire organization getting back to full in-person meetings and activities and I look forward to being even a minuscule part of your premedical journey. Let’s get to it!
Email: Rdunn15@fau.edu
Aisha Bashir - Records
Hello there! My name is Aisha Bashir and I am so excited to be on the AMSA board! To tell you a little bit about myself, I am a rising senior at FAU working towards a B.S. in Medical Biology. I love volunteering, reading, playing sports, and most of all, learning - and not just academic learning - all types of learning; this is why, one of my main goals from AMSA this year is to expand my knowledge!
If anyone has any questions regarding classes, schedules, and school in general, you can always come to me! I have learned a lot from my freshman to almost senior year! I am looking forward to meeting you all in our upcoming events. Here is my email if you ever need to contact me
Email: abashir2020@fau.edu
Ayam Suleiman - Records
Hello FAMSA! My name is Ayam Suleiman and I am excitingly honored to serve you as one of your Co Directors of Records for the 2022-2023 academic year! I am a sophomore student at FAU pursuing a bachelors in Biological Sciences. I was born in the U.S., raised in Brazil and I am of Palestinian origin! My future plans are to graduate a year less than I was supposed to, get into medical school and achieve my career goal to be a doctor in the surgery field. Outside of college, I love to be active, specially to spend time with my family, friends and cat, to drive to new places, to swim and to connect with Islam. AMSA enlightened my first year with knowledge, people and inspiration for my passion in medicine. I hope to serve you the same because it is amazing to learn and connect with what you love. Feel free to contact me or my Co Director Aisha with any doubts you might have, including attendance, volunteer hours, or tracking points. I cannot wait to meet you all!
Email: asuleiman2021@fau.edu
Ritvik Kesharaju - Research
Hey everyone! My name is Ritvik Kesharaju and I am honored to be serving as your Co-director of Research for this 2022-2023 school year. I am currently a rising senior at FAU and I am working towards my degree in Biochemistry. After I get my degree, I plan on applying to medical school at some point to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor that improves the lives of others. Apart from school, I enjoy spending my free time reading, playing video games, hanging out with friends, and playing basketball. With my position as Co-director of Research, I aim to help others meet their research goals such as finding a mentor, joining labs, writing grants, etc. As a current researcher myself, I hope to share my knowledge and explore the field of research with you all. If anyone ever has any questions please feel free to reach out and I am excited to work together with everyone in AMSA this year!
Email: rkesharaju2019@fau.edu
Rachel Kavalakatt - Research
Hi everyone! My name is Rachel Kavalakatt, and I am extremely excited to serve as your Co-director of Research for the 2022-2023 academic year. I am a sophomore at FAU majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Data Science. I am originally from California, and I spent my freshman year at the Honors College conducting neuroscience research at the Max Planck institute. I am pursuing a career as a physician-scientist and want to work towards bridging the gap between the bench and the bedside. In my free time, I like to go to the beach, write poetry, and go on road trips to explore new places in Florida! As your Co-director of Research, my goal is to make research accessible and approachable to all of you, no matter your background or what you are interested in. I hope to help you spark your own research interests, identify the fields that excite you and the questions that intrigue you, and give you the tools to conduct research and find answers!
I am very excited to meet each of you, and please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns, or just want to talk! Email: rkavalakatt2021@fau.edu
Reem Mazloum - Specialities in Medicine
Greeting FAMSA!! My name is Reem Mazloum, and it is my honor to be serving as the director of 2022 – 2023 Specialties in Medicine. I am originally Lebanese and currently a Biological Science major senior at FAU. I plan on applying to PA school and pursuing a career in the health field. My grandparents passed away while fighting a number of diseases, in return this led me to want to educate myself more about the healthcare industry. Aside from school I enjoy cooking, teaching Arabic, meeting new people, reading, and working surprisingly. Recently I have earned cognitive and skills evaluations in accordance with the curriculum of the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR and AED) Program. I hope you allow me to assist you with any questions or concerns you might have.
Feel free to contact: rmazloum2020@fau.edu
Nicole Sanchez - Volunteering
Hello FAMSA! My name is Nicole Sanchez, and I will be serving as your 2022-2023 co-director of volunteering. I will be a junior this upcoming fall semester, and I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior. I am currently interested in becoming a Physicians Assistant, and plan on graduating Spring of 2024. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, painting, and learning French.
I look forward to an amazing year, and can’t wait to meet all of you! Email: sanchezn2020@fau.edu
Emilia Tapia - Volunteering
Hello! My name is Emilia Tapia and I am honored to announce that I am the co-director of Volunteering for the 2022-2023 year. I am a senior here at FAU and will be graduating in Fall with my Bachelors in Neuroscience and Behavior. I completed my EMT certification at Broward College and have been able to help the community while training on the ambulance. Currently, I am a Medical Assistant at a pediatrics office in Boca. I have always loved health sciences and learning about the human body, and knew that helping others was very important to me. I am working towards becoming an Anesthesiologist in the future. Outside of school and work, I enjoy being outdoors, bike riding, hiking, traveling, going to the gym, watching scary movies, and crocheting.
I look forward to getting to know everyone! Feel free to reach out to me for any advice, questions, or just need someone to talk to. Email: Etapia2021@fau.edu