AMSA Executive Board 2018-2019: Here To Help
President: Tyler Johnson
Vice President: April Feist
Treasurer: Ashish Varma
Secretary: Maya Santosuosso
Events Coordinator: Praticha Jagdish
Volunteer Coordinator: Sydney Grubb
Health Advocate: Regan Bradley
Public Relations: James Walters
Travel Coordinator: Daphne Blount
2017 – 2018 AMSA Executive Board
Name: Sena Uzunlar
Position: President
Year: Junior
Major: Neuroscience Minor: English
I currently work as a research assistant at HCMC in the ENT department. I worked as a cave tour guide for the past two summers and I am currently a member of the Black Hills Caving Group! I have not decided to take a gap year, but if I choose to, I plan on doing something Art History related 🙂
Hobbies: I love hiking, painting, rock climbing, swimming, reading, and caving!
Specialty of interest: Surgery
Contact: uzunl001@umn.edu
Name: Kelsey Ward
Position: Vice President
Year: Junior
Major: Microbiology Minor: Public Health
Currently, I am a tour guide at University of Minnesota Visit Office, a Zebrafish TA for Biology 3004, a volunteer at HCMC in Emergency Department, and the Director of Mission for Colleges Against Cancer.
Hobbies: Being outside, hiking, camping, painting, reading, spending time with family
Specialty of interest: Family Medicine 🙂
Contact: wardx490@umn.edu
Name: Karla Rodriguez-Naranjo
Position: Treasurer
Year: Junior
Major: French Studies
I am fluent in 3 languages, and my hometown in San Diego, CA. I love to stay in touch with my heritage, culture, and language – I do so through community involvement, cooking, and traveling.
Specialty of interest: I’m not sure what specialty I’d like to pursue but I am currently fascinated by the work psychiatrists do 🙂
Contact: rodri952@umn.edu
Name: Henri Swanson
Position: Secretary
Year: Junior
Major: Biology, Society, Environment (BSE) Minor: Public Health
Currently, I am a researcher within the Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. However, I continue to work in many labs on campus including the Lab for Udder Health and the Snell-Rood Butterfly Lab. Also, I am a Board Member serving for Youth Epilepsy & Successful Self-Management (YESS). After graduation, I want to take a gap year before pursuing my goal of attending the University of Minnesota Medical School to become a successful surgeon. During my gap year, I want to travel to Tokyo, Australia and complete a deployment with the Peace Corps.
When I’m not working or studying, you can find me exploring the city of Minneapolis with friends trying to find the next greatest coffee shop or restaurant.
Specialty of Interest: Surgery in Orthopedic, Cardiothoracic or Neuro subspecialties
Hobbies: Photography, traveling, fishing, boating, listening to music, hanging out with friends, and trying new things
Contact: swan2107@umn.edu
Name: Megan Olson
Position: Events Coordinator
Year: Senior
Major: Microbiology Minor: History
I currently work in the surgery department at Masonic as well as spend time volunteering in a cancer research lab and the child family life department at Masonic. After graduation, I plan on taking a gap year or two to pursue research and spend time traveling before applying to medical school.
Hobbies: I am part of Minnesotap, a tap dance company here at the U, and I also enjoy reading, photography, and traveling in my spare time.
Specialty of interest: I hope to one day pursue a career in the field of pediatric oncology and BMT both in research and in clinical practice.
Contact: olso6786@umn.edu
Name: Tyler Johnson
Position: Volunteer Coordinator
Year: Junior
Major: Biology Minors: Public Health, Pharmacology, and Coaching
On campus, I am on the girl’s basketball scout team, a part of the ALS Association, and am a scribe and nutrition services aid at HealthEast locations! I currently am studying tropical wildlife conservation in Malaysia, but have also done a medical trip to Uganda/Rwanda, and ocean acidification in the islands of Belize. I plan to take a gap year to hopefully head back to my friends and doctors in Uganda for a few months after graduation and do other various travels.
Hobbies: In the summer, I umpire little kids and stay busy with working at HealthEast and playing on an amateur baseball team!
Specialty of interest: I would love to specialize in family or peds medicine.
Contact: joh12395@umn.edu
Name: Ashish Varma
Position: Travel Coordinator
Year: Junior
Major: Neuroscience Minor: Pharmacology and Public Health
When I’m not working, volunteering, or studying I like to spend my free time playing a board game known as Go!
Fun Fact: After high school, I took a gap year to travel the lower 48!
Specialty of interest: I’ve always been fascinated with the brain and how/why it works the way it does. I’m planning on going to medical school and choosing a specialty that deals with the CNS.
Contact: varma020@umn.edu
Name: April Feist
Position: Public Relations
Year: Sophomore
Major: Ecology, Evolution & Behavior Minor: Leadership
This fall I am working as a Sophmore Guild Leader for the College of Biological Sciences. I also volunteer as a Big Sister in the BBBS program, work in childcare and am an active member of the academic sorority, Lambda Delta Phi.
Hobbies: I love running, and I am involved in the University Running Club where I compete D2/D3 in Cross Country. I also love singing, and I am a member of the Campus Singers Choir.
Specialty of interest: Pediatrics
Contact: feist047@umn.edu
Name: Maya Santosuosso
Position: Health Advocate
Year: Senior
Major: Neuroscience Minors: Psychology
I am a medical scribe in the ED. I am also interested in education and public health and would somehow like to combine these interests into my future medical career as well. After graduation, I plan to take a few gap years to pursue other interests and go to graduate school prior to applying to medical school.
Hobbies: Outside of classwork and her job, I enjoy watching Netflix, going out with friends, discovering new music, and fitness.
Specialty of interest: I would one day enjoy a specialty in Emergency Medicine or Neurology with a focus on pediatrics.
Contact: santo195@umn.edu
2016-2017 Previous Board Members
Olivia Schneider – President
Alex Khan – Vice President
Jun Chen – Treasurer
Samar Shahid – Secretary
Sena Uzunlar – Events Coordinator
Karla Rodriguez-Naranjo – Travel Coordinator
Jonah Kuske – volunteer Coordinator
Jacqueline Cassman – Health Advocate
