AMSA Executive Board 2020-2021: We’re Here To Help!
President: Daphne Blount
Vice President: Rachel Keenan
Secretary: Vanessa Bradfish
Treasurer: Lindsey Flieth
Public Relations: Sarah Gonsalves
Health Advocate: Andrew Johnson
Volunteer Coordinator: Katherine (Kay) Rusch
Events Coordinator: Rhea Sharma
Travel Coordinator: Kirstin Knutson
Name: Daphne Blount
Position: President
Year: Senior
Major: Cellular and Organismal Physiology
Hobbies and involvement: Scribing with EPPA, working in the PAEL lab, finding new coffee shops, yoga, food, walks, trying to keep my house plants alive
Most treasured AMSA memories: I am still friends with some of the first people I met in AMSA my first year of school. It has been so inspiring watching them grow as individuals, explore medicine, and pursue their passions.
Contact: bloun025@umn.edu
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Name: rachel keenan
Position: Vice President
Year: senior (kinda)
Major: biochemistry with german minor
hobbies/involvement: Alpha Gamma Delta- Director of Leadership, SGL/Grader for NOL, BBBS volunteer, ACR Homes, Research with the Department of Anesthesiology! Outside of premed things I like to look at tik toks of dogs, run, travel to new places, and bake lots of cookies!
Most treasured AMSA memories: Getting to interact with all of you and the physicians! It truly is incredible having and sharing a commonality between many people. I love learning and hearing what makes everyone passionate about medicine!
Contact: keena194@umn.edu
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Name: Vanessa Bradfish
Position: Secretary
Year: senior
Major: neuroscience
hobbies/involvement: Research assistant in Knights Lab; CNA at assisted living facility; reading, watching movies, thrifting, and hiking!
Most treasured AMSA memories: Volunteering in the community! I have gotten to meet many fellow AMSA members while volunteering at places like Second Harvest Heartland, Feed My Starving Children, and the Ronald McDonald House. I’m hopeful that we’ll have in-person volunteering events again soon!
Contact: bradf127@umn.edu
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Name: lindsey flieth
Position: Treasurer
Year: junior
Major: Human Physiology and Spanish with Minors in Pharmacology, Neuroscience, and Public Health
hobbies/involvement: VP of MinnesoTap, volunteer at MHealth Children’s Masonic, CNA at a nursing home, and tutor with RISE tutor program. I also love dancing, playing tennis, spending time with friends, watching Netflix, and eating ice cream 🙂
Most treasured AMSA memories: All of the incredible people that I have gotten to meet! Through AMSA’s many opportunities, I have gotten to meet physicians, get a med student mentor, and meet some of my closest friends!
Contact: fliet006@umn.edu
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Name: sarah gonsalves
Position: Public Relations
Year: Sophomore
Major: psychology with minors in business management and neuroscience
hobbies/involvement: I dance recreationally, spend a lot of time with my friends and family. I love trying new coffee shops, traveling to new places, listening to music, taking long drives and reading. Alpha gamma delta director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, hospital volunteer at ridgeview waconia, member of salt, and lab member in the aulakh lab WVU!
Most treasured AMSA memories: My favorite has to be hearing the guest physicians talk about why they love medicine! I also love the other exec board members, it wouldn’t be the same without them!
Contact: gonsa024@umn.edu
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Name: andrew johnson
Position: Health Advocate
Year: junior
Major: biology with minors in accounting and sociology
hobbies/involvement: I love being active so any type of sport is awesome! Ice cream is dope. I also enjoy cooking even though I usually end up having Ramen several nights a week!
Most treasured AMSA memories: The weekly meetings are pretty awesome because you get to talk with older classmates about what their plans are! Plus you get some free food!
Contact: joh14207@umn.edu
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Name: katherine (kay) rusch
Position: Volunteer Coordinator
Year: junior
Major: microbiology with minor in health psychology
hobbies/involvement: Membership Chair for CASA, JGL for CBS, volunteer at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital. My favorite hobbies are art, baking, and cross stitching!
Most treasured AMSA memories: Volunteering was the way that I met lots of other people in AMSA, and volunteering as a group gave me a lot of the confidence needed to volunteer on my own! Hopefully we can do some group volunteering soon, or at least provide some encourage for those wanting to volunteer individually.
Contact:rusch146@umn.edu
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Name: rhea sharma
Position: Events Coordinator
Year: sophomore
Major: human physiology with minor in health services management
hobbies/ involvement:American Red Cross volunteer, UMN COVID Vaccination Team, and research in Department of Radiation Oncology! Hobbies include traveling, poetry, and going to new coffee shops 🙂
Most treasured AMSA memories:Networking with physicians via weekly meetings and Pre-Med Dinner. Reach out to receive shadowing and research opportunities! Also, meeting my closest friends, great for pre-med advice!!
Contact: sharm672@umn.edu
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Name: kirstin knutson
Position: Travel Coordinator
Year: Sophomore
Major: psychology with minor in public health
hobbies/ involvement: Alpha Omicron Pi-Freshman Standards, Volunteering at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Yoga, Ballet, listening to new music, and watching New Girl
Most treasured AMSA memories: To have such a supportive group of people surrounding me! It’s also an amazing resource for inspiration and connections to the healthcare field
Contact: knuds311@umn.edu
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2019-2020 Previous Board Members
President: Praticha Jagdish
Vice President: Daphne Blount
Secretary: Alisha Relan
Treasurer: Regan Bradley
Public Relations: Lindsey Flieth
Health Advocate: Michael Dahl
Volunteer Coordinator: Madeline Lawrence
Events Coordinator: Jessica Haines
Travel Coordinator: Rachel Keenan