Network Director

My name is Julie Kim and I am a current third year at Nova Southeastern University MD. I grew up in upstate New York, attended Wellesley College, then spent several years before medical school as a behavioral therapist with children with autism and working in a Geropsych research lab in Boston. I am currently involved in raising awareness about racial discrimination and its effects on the AANHPI community’s mental health. In my free time, I like to try new restaurants, take care of my cat, go to pilates, and karaoke!

Hello, my name Stephen Kwong, I’m currently a third year medical student at Texas A&M SOM. I was born in Oakland, CA and grew up in the SF Bay Area until I went to school to get a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at UC Davis. From there I took 2 gap years and worked as a scribe at an ophthalmology practice in Los Angeles before coming to Texas A&M for medical school. I was a co-president of my school’s APAMSA chapter and then became a region IX co-director. My hobbies include: cooking, baking, scuba diving, videogames, reading, and hiking. I hope to match into ophthalmology in this next year. I look forward to serving you as your Bone Marrow Director!

Hello! My name is Rachel and I’m a 3rd year at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). I’m originally from the suburbs of New Jersey and attended undergrad at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences as part of their accelerated BS/DO program. I’ve been a member of APAMSA ever since I started medical school, and this is my second term serving as your Cancer Initiatives Director. I was also president of LECOM’s Oncology Club, during which I hosted guest speaker events with leaders in cancer care, invited researchers for our school’s first ever Cancer Research Symposium, and organized cancer screenings and donation drives to connect our students with the local community. As Cancer Initiatives Director, I’m proud to say that I’ve kickstarting multiple projects, such as a completing a brand new cancer screening toolkit, presenting monthly cancer research updates in our newsletter, and hosting a guest speaker on hepatocellular carcinoma at the Hepatitis Conference. This year, I have big goals for the Cancer Director role, and I’m excited to expand on these projects and more. Outside of academics, I enjoy food in all forms (except olives), knitting/crocheting, and movie nights with friends!

Hannah J. Lee is currently a second-year medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Irvine, Hannah is the eldest daughter of a Korean immigrant family. She concentrated in Public Health (BA) at Brown University and completed her Fulbright Open Study Research Scholarship in South Korea, studying the intersection of autism spectrum disorder, technology, and culture. As of now, Hannah is interested in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, as she is heavily involved in neurodevelopmental research and body empowerment work. More than anything, she is truly passionate about narrative medicine and Asian American representation in medical leadership. During her time in APAMSA, Hannah hopes to expand the scope of community outreach, meeting the unique needs of the diverse groups within the broad AANHPI umbrella.

James “Jameson” Chua, MS is a current first year medical student at Touro University Nevada, College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was born to Chinese-Filipino immigrants in Seattle, Washington, and later moved to San Diego, California, where he spent the majority of his childhood and discovered a love for quesadillas and hip hop dancing. He received his B.A. in Biology from the University of San Diego, during which he became a brother of Sigma Pi fraternity and a coordinating director in charge of hosting a drag show on a religious-affiliated campus. Following graduation in 2019, he worked at The Scripps Research Institute and UC San Diego School of Medicine in Infectious Disease research, more specifically studying COVID-19. His work on SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies has since been published in journals such as Science and Nature Communications. In 2022, he received his M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Drexel University, College of Medicine, and developed a passion for aimless walks and discovering hidden gems all throughout Philly. If he isn’t in the Touro library cramming for his next exam, he can likely be found in one of three places: cooking and baking up a storm in his kitchen, streaming on Twitch to raise money for charity, or watching Rupaul’s Drag Race with his best friend (his Shiba Inu-Beagle pupper). After medical school, he hopes to pursue a career in either Pathology or Psychiatry; stay tuned as a lot more is coming up in his first year! During his time as the 2024-25 Fundraising Director, he hopes to create novel and collaborative ways for members across all of the APAMSA chapters to work together to raise money for new scholarships and the future and longevity of the organization.

Hey y’all! I am a second year MD student at NYU. Originally born and raised in Pittsburgh, I studied psychology and education studies at Yale and, after graduating, worked in education for three years (two of which were spent in Fort Worth). I’m passionate about psychiatry, community- and school-based mental health, and decreasing barriers to quality health care. Outside of medicine, I enjoy learning languages, playing tennis and pickle ball, doing arts and crafts, and exploring new public transport systems.

Hello! My name is Brandon Park, and I am a medical student 6-year BA/MD Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and I am currently serving as the National APAMSA Sponsorship Co-Director! Previously, I was a part of the National APAMSA Leadership Committee last year and my local chapter’s Treasurer the past two years. As a member of APAMSA, I eagerly anticipate the upcoming year, during which we will further extend our influence, collaborate with various organizations to advocate for our community’s needs, and tackle healthcare disparities. During my free time, I enjoy playing sports, especially soccer, hanging out with friends, and listening to pop and hip-hop music.

Hello! My name is Anne Nguyen and I am a medical student at New York Medical College. I first became involved with APAMSA as member of my local chapter and later as a co-Internal President. I had the great opportunity to be a part of the Southeast Asian Committee last year, in which I supported projects aimed at increasing representation of Southeast Asian students and awareness of Southeast Asian health disparities. I am excited to serve as the Women in Medicine Director for this year and work towards fostering mentorship for AANHPI women in medicine, as well as advocate for AANHPI concerns surrounding women’s health. In my free time, I like to knit, draw, and go to the beach!

Hi, my name is Natasha Arief (they/she)! I am currently a medical student at California Northstate University College of Medicine. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and obtained my B.A. in Health and Humanity, as well as an M.S. in Global Medicine, from the University of Southern California. As a non-binary individual trying to navigate the current sociopolitical landscape, I hope to foster a supportive and informed community within APAMSA where queer AANHPI folks can feel safe living as their authentic selves. I’ve been involved in health policy and community organizing since I was an undergraduate, and I look forward to bringing critical LGBTQ+ issues to light this year. Outside of studying and work, I enjoy reading, watching anime, gaming, baking, and thrifting! I’m also trying to learn crochet so that I can self-sustain my plush addiction.

Hello everyone! My name is Kimsa Nguyen and I am the daughter of Vietnamese refugees. I am a student at California Health Sciences University and will be the first in my family to become a physician. Prior to medical school, I received my MPH in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health from University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health and my undergraduate degree from University of California, Davis in Cell Biology. I’m passionate about health equity, social impact, and reproductive justice. I’m enthusiastic about working in the intersection of public health and medicine to address health disparities and engage in meaningful systems-level change to ensure that people can live their best, healthiest lives. Outside of medicine, I love to travel, craft, and cook for my loved ones!