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Meet Our MD Student Ambassadors

If you are a prospective or admitted student and have a question for a current MD student, feel free to contact us!

Get to know our MD student ambassadors: Sort our handy table by class year or other columns, or use the search bar to find specific areas of expertise or interest. If you’d like to get in touch with a particular ambassador, just let us know and we’ll connect you.

 NameClassProgramUndergraduate Institution HometownStudent OrgsSpecialtyAsk Me About
Abhi Manda2027MDEmory UniversityMurfreesboro, TNShade Tree, AAPIO, Intramural SportsOphthalmologyShade-Tree Clinic, Long-Distance Relationships, Having fun during med school,
Abigail Lee2028MDBrigham Young UniversityCedar Hills, UTShade Tree, Social Mission CommitteePediatrics, Dermatology, ENTCurriculum 2.0, wellness, moving across the country
Alex Landry2025MDLouisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge, LouisianaShade Tree Clinic, Curriculum Committee, Vanderbilt Clinical Problem Solvers, Emergency Medicine Interest Group, Point-of-Care Ultrasound Interest Group, Society of Saint Cosmos and Damien Emergency MedicineShade Tree Clinic, FMK Curriculum, Emergency Medicine, Learning Communities & Colleges, Research, Clinical Reasoning, First-Gen MD, Living/Eating in Nashville, Catholic Faith and Medicine, Wellness and All Things Nashville
Annie Shen2028MDEmory UniversityRichland, WashingtonShade TreeSomething surgicalFMK, LC, moving to the south, gap years, food in Nash
Armel Mignondje2027MDNotre DameOmaha, NebraskaMCF and bible study, VMS dance, Shade tree, SSCDPsychiatryLearning communities and colleges, Being Christian ways to be involved like MCF and SSCD, FMK curriculum, Wellness, taking a gap year, Having or not having a car on campus, living in Nashville
Atlee WittG phaseMSTPVanderbilt UniversityDenver, ColoradoCareers in Medicine Co-President, Vanderbilt Women in Radiology, Society of Interventional Radiology Women in IR Committee, Shade Tree Research Co-Director, Vanderbilt In Health Committee MemberInterventional RadiologyDual degrees, moving from the west to Nashville, living in Nashville, taking a gap year, Careers in Medicine
Austin HilvertMBA phase of dual degreeMD/MBAThe Ohio State UniversityBartlett, ILVUSM Cutting Edge, Shade Tree Clinic, the Wond'ry, AANSNeurosurgeryDual degrees, Shade Tree, out of state (Chicago), gap years, research, living in Nashville, pursuing surgery
Brian HouBrian Hou2025MDVanderbilt UniversityMontgomery, NJWellness Committee, Admissions Committee, Robinson College, Shade Tree Ortho Clinic, HEARTOrthopedic SurgeryNashville, research year, ortho, long-distance relationships, fun things to do, curriculum
Channing Chi2027MSTPVanderbilt UniversityDenver, ColoradoShade Tree Clinic, Curriculum CommitteeOncology, PediatricsFMK curriculum, dual degrees (MSTP), living in Nashville, taking multiple gap years, Shade Tree Clinic
Chinonso AniChinonso Ani2025MDUniversity of GeorgiaLawrenceville, GASNMA, IR Interest Group Leader, Vanderbilt Brewing and Fermentation Club, ODAC, POCUS, Shade Tree Clinic, Interventional Radiology, Diagnostic RadiologyCurriculum, Gap Years, College System, SNMA, Wellness, Student Life, Diversity, Global Health, Health Equity Certificate, Anything
Chirag Ram2025MDNew York UniversityPhiladelphia, PAOrgan Donation Awareness Club, Intramural Sports, Surgery Interest GroupGeneral SurgeryCurriculum (all three phases), wellness, research, global health, clubs.
Christian2026MDUniversity of Notre DameSouthampton, NYWilderness Medicine Society, Vanderbilt Educational Garden Initiative (VEGI), Shade Tree Trot Chair, Run ClubInternal Medicine, PediatricsWellness, Learning Communities, Outdoor Activities, Coming from a rural area
CJ Bakle2026MDClemson UniversityCharleston, SCOrthopaedic Surgery Interest Group, Robinson College Student Mentor, Shade Tree Director of Finance, Pickleball Club, VUSM Intramurals, Surgery Interest Group, MD AmbassadorsOrthopaedic Surgery, TraumaFMK curriculum, FCC phase, Learning Communities and colleges, wellness, gap years, ortho, research, Shade Tree, living in Nashville
Connor Charton2028MDWestern UniversityTorontoNone yet but I am looking forward to getting involved with Shade Tree and some interest groups!Surgery? (not totally sure to be honest)Anything really: gap years, research, College system, moving from Canada...
Daniel Larson2027MDUniversity of RichmondPhiladelphia, PAAPAMSA, Social Mission Committee, Vanderbilt Letter Project, soccerUnsure, but leaning ENTGap year, wellness, the College system
David Hanna2026MDUNC Chapel HillFayetteville, NCCoptic Medical Student AssociationPediatric Emergency MedicineGap years! (I took two)
Denise Shkurovich2027MDDuke UniversityLos Angeles, CaliforniaCCO, Shade Tree, MaimonidesUnsureCalifornia->Nashville, gap years, life in Nashville, hiking + running
Drew Hines2028MDCedarville UniversitySyracuse, NYShade Tree Clinic, Medical Christian FellowshipNeurosurgery, General Surgery, OncologyFMK Curriculum, Shade Tree Clinic, Medical Christian Fellowship, taking a gap year, anything about the first year!
Emma Stimpfl2028MDHarvard UniversityBaudette, MinnesotaShade Tree, that's pretty much all since we just got hereSurgery, ENT, OB/GYN, etc. I have many interestsmoving from east coast (NYC) to the south, taking 3 gap years and moving from a corporate job (consulting) back into med school, coming from an extremely remote/rural part of America (which is Baudette MN)
Emma Ye2026MIDPUC BerkeleyHoustonShade treeNeurosurgeryGap years; wellness; research; living/eating in Nashville;
Esha Chawla2028MDUCLAPleasanton, CAShade Tree ClinicUnsure!FMK Curriculum, Learning Community and College System, Moving across the Nation, Shade Tree Clinic, Gap Years, Wellness
Gauri Garg2028MDUniversity of UtahLogan, UTNothing yet but I am going to join Shade tree and hopefully student council and MIDPDermatology or plastic surgeryMoving across the country, coming from an unranked public school, MD/MPH (potentially), Colleges
Jack Lin2028MDEmory UniversityBirmingham, ALShade Tree Clinic, Medical Christian FellowshipUnsureFMK curriculum, Learning Communities & Colleges, Welness, Student Life, Life in Nashville and the South
Jake Manuel2027MDRhodes CollegeMemphisIntramural Sports, Shade Tree, PM&R interest group!PM&R, Neurology, Anesthesiology FMK, learning communities, and life in Nashville
James Bathon2026MDUniversity of Notre DamePleasantvilleWellness Committee (Co-President), Careers in Medicine (Vice President), Shade Tree Clinic, Social Mission Committee, Medical Christian Fellowship/Society of Saint Cosmas&Damian (Catholic Student Org), Meharry-Vanderbilt Student Alliance, KERN National Network (Co-President), History of Medicine and Surgery Club (Co-President) Planning to do Orthopedics or General Surgery. I do have a strong interest in sub-specializing in pediatrics long term.I feel I could speak well on curriculum (I understand it very well) and I also love talking about Shade Tree Clinic. I can also talk on the Council of Class Officers, Wellness Committee, Social Mission Committee, Student Life, Gap Year before Medical School, being Christian/Catholic at VUSM, etc. I am open to talking about almost anything.
James Kristell2026MDCase Western Reserve UniversityAurora, OHCurriculum Committee, Shade Tree Clinic (Patient Health Educator during first year), Community Circles, Wond'ry Innovation Consulting Program, Health Equity CertificateAnesthesiology or Internal MedicineCurriculum (FMK, FCC, or Immersion Phase), taking a gap year, first-generation MD student, long-distance relationships, Learning Communities and the college system, moving to the South from the Midwest (spent my entire life in Cleveland, OH, prior to moving to Nashville), coming to medical school with a public health background (completed an MPH prior to applying to medical school)
Jennifer Kong2027MDVanderbilt UniversityRiver Edge, NJShade Tree, SMC, SLW Committee, Medical Students For ChoiceUnsure - thinking OBGYN/ENTFMK curriculum, Learning Communities, Shade Tree, living in Nashville, Vanderbilt undergrad going to VUSM, going straight through
Jessica McDonald2025MDBrown UniversityTiverton, RIChapman SAA, Pathology Interest Group, Rock Climbing, STCPathologyCurriculum, LC + Colleges, STC, Nashville Life, Pathology
Jessica Quintos2025MDUniversity of California Santa BarbaraGilroy, CAShade Tree Clinic, OBGYN Interest Group, Wellness CommitteeOBGYNLearning communities & our colleges, moving across the nation, Shade Tree Clinic, taking gap years, FMK curriculum
Jessica SimsMed Scholars YearMDUCLABrookline, MAWellness Committee, Surgery Interest Group, Association of Women Surgeons, Future is NOW, Shade TreePediatric Surgery, Trauma/Acute Care Surgerygap years, wellness, curriculum 2.0, research years, Shade Tree
Jon Spallino2028MDBYUSouth Jordan, UtahNone right now, but hoping to get involved in a fewOrthopedic SurgeryHaving a family (with kids), hitting the gym, Robinson College (Caw caw), mountain biking, country music, memes
Joy Justice2026MDUniversity of VirginiaPoca, West VirginiaShade Tree Clinic, Wellness, Vanderbilt Community Circles, SMC, Shade Tree Benefit, Dermatology Interest Group, Nashville Masters SwimmingDermatology, Internal Medicine, ENT Wellness, Research, Nashville Living, Coming from a Rural Area
Julia Hong2026MDWashUWayland, MAOrtho interest group, APAMSA, Batson Student Affiliate Advisor (SAA), VU/VUSM Mentorship Program, Shade Tree ClinicOrthopaedicsFMK curriculum, Learning Communities & our Colleges, moving across the nation, wellness, research, Shade Tree Clinic, living/eating in Nashville
Kaitlyn Mi2027MDBrown UniversityBrentwood, TNhade Tree Clinic, APAMSA, VUSM/VU Undergraduate PreMed Mentoring ProgramInternal MedicineLiving/eating in Nashville, first-gen MD, FMK curriculum, relationships during medical school, gap year, research
Kaitlyn Ortgiesen2027MDUniversity of IllinoisDixon, ILWellness Junior Mentor, PM&R Interest Group, Radiology Interest Group, PM&R, Radiology, or AnesthesiologyComing from a rural area, first-gen college and medical student, learning communities
Karishma Muthukumar2028MDUC IrvineLos Angelesneurology, surgery, still exploringfirst year curriculum, moving across the nation, gap year/masters programs abroad,
Kiran Depala2028MDSaint Louis UniversityTemecula, CAShade Tree ClinicInterested in Ophthalmology, ENT, Orthopedics, and Radiology, but largely undecided and keeping an open mind.Living in Nashville, moving across nation, pick-up sports
Kirsten Nguyen2025MDUC BerkeleyLaguna HillsShade Tree, APAMSA (local and national), SMC, Meharry Vanderbilt AllianceInternal Medicine (primary care, oncology)moving from CA to TN, nature/fitness, long-distance relationships, Asian communities in Nashville, doing research with little undergrad experience
Kyoko Kohno2026MDNorthwestern UniversityTokyo, Japan1GMD, Music in Medicine, Neurology Interest Group, APAMSA, Shade Tree ClinicNeurologyEating in Nashville, wellness, classical music
Lena Khanolkar2025MDWashington University in St. LouisPlano, TXSocial Mission Committee, Careers in Medicine, Radiology Interest Group, Vanderbilt Community Circles, Shade Tree, Students as Teachers, Gabbe SAAs, Medical Students for Sustainable FuturesRadiologyFMK curriculum, moving to Nashville, Shade Tree, service in Nashville, mentorship opportunities, first gen MD, anything really
Lily Bai2027MDUniv of Southern CaliforniaBellevue, WAMed students for choice, VUSM GolfUnsureHappy to to chat about anything (curriculum, moving across the country, where to eat, Gabbe college)
Lily Campbell Lewis2027MDBoston UniversityLos AngelesMS4SF, SMC, Maimonides, general surgery interest groupTrauma surgeryFMK curriculum, LC, MS4SF, gap years, first-gen MD, Nashville
Logan Locascio2026MDUniversity of FloridaGainesville, FLKern National Network for Flourishing in Medicine, Shade Tree Clinic, Wellness Committee, Social Mission Committee MentorshipOrthopaedic SurgeryLearning Communities/Colleges, happy to talk about anything!
Luke Jones2028MDBaylor UniversityGlen Spey, NYMedical Christian Fellowship, Shade Tree ClinicAnesthesiologyFMK curriculum, being married in medical school, case-based learning
Lynnea Doshi2028MDUCLASan Jose, CaliforniaWould like to participate in the Social Mission Committee, acapella, and Siloam ClinicOBGYN, Pediatrics, with possible surgical subspecialtyTaking gap years, living/eating in Nashville if you have dietary restrictions (I'm vegan, so can definitely speak to that!), FMK curriculum (especially giving students a better idea of what the day-to-day of medical school looks like, which I wish I had been told about too), living alone for the first time, Siloam Clinic, opportunities in global health
Maro Doce2026MDJohns Hopkins UniversityNashville, TNAMA-TMA, Shade Tree, Coptic Medical Student Association, HEART, Global Surgery Student Alliance, VU-VUSM Mentorship Program, REMEDYGeneral SurgeryFirst Generation MD
Living in Nashville
Shade Tree Clinic
Wellness in Medicine
Naadir Jamal2025MDRice UniversityYorba Linda, CAClass Council, Shade Tree Clinic, American Muslim Medical Student AssociationOrthopaedic Surgerymoving from California, wellness, research, shade tree, living/eating in nashville
Olivia Prosak2025MDBrown UniversityArlington, VAShade Tree, Social Mission Committee, Assoc. of Women Surgeons, Ultimate Frisbee, Pre-med mentoring, Students as TeachersENTCurriculum, college system, gap years, wellness, research, shade tree, first-gen, life in Nashville
Paul Soliman2028MDBrown UniversityRochesterTunes for change (organizing charity concerts), Orthodox Christian FellowshipENT, Ortho, unsureLiving/Eating in Nashville, How to Study, Benefits of our Curriculum
Riley Gilbertson2027MDUCLASan DiegoClass Council, Shade Tree, Street Medicine, Wilderness Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, ENT, EMMoving to the south/Nashville, long-distance relationships, wellness, LC, anything!
Roma Kankaria2026MDVirginia Commonwealth UniversityLeonardtown, MarylandAAPIO, SMC, MS4SF, Wellness Committee, LMSA, Asylum Clinic, STCHematology/oncologyI can speak to prospective students about the curriculum, the Health Equity certificate, Shade Tree Clinic, coming in from a rural area, AAPIO, LMSA, SMC, and MS4SF.
Samuel Le2028MDUC San DiegoMaumee, OH and Fountain Valley, CANone yet, but I am excited to join!Med-Peds right now, but very unsure!First-generation college and MD student, low-income student, 3 gap years, and wellness
Shahar Hartman2028MDVanderbilt UniversityBrookline, MAVUMS Running clubInterested in everything right nowLC and Colleges, Double Dore, Gap year, Long distance relaitonships, Wellness, Food in Nashville, First gen MD
Sherwin Newton2028MDBaylor UniversityBloomington, IllinoisMedical Christian Fellowship, Basketball and Pickleball groups as well!Hem/Onc, IM, AnesthesiologistI would love the opportunity to speak about the FMK curriculum! As someone who recently went through the process of learning more about Vandy’s curriculum, I can attest that it was hard to understand what my day-to-day routine was going to be. I want to be as transparent as possible with interested students! I also would like to talk about Learning Communities and how FPR is integrated into FMK.
Stephen ChenardMDQueen's UniversityCorvallis, OregonOrthopedics research (in the divisions of pediatrics, oncology, and adult reconstruction), Shade Tree, Orthopedics interest group, POCUSOrthopedic SurgeryResearch during medical school, Shade Tree, gym
Stirling ArgabrightG phaseMSTPUniversity of PennsylvaniaAnnapolis, MDMedical Students for a Sustainable Future, Social Mission Committee, Wellness Committee, Vanderbilt Asylum Collaborative, Vanderbilt Street Medicine Initiative, 1GMDNeurology, PsychiatryDual degrees, service and equity work, first-gen MD, curriculum, colleges, community, moving to Nashville from the Northeast
Tori Tong2026MDHarvardSydney, AustraliaPride in Medicine, Gabbe College Co-Lead SAA, Plastic Surgery Interest Group, CCO, AAMC OSR, APAMSA, Radial Grooves, Shade Tree Clinic, Careers in MedicinePlastic surgeryPride in Medicine, international student, gap years, wellness