Staff & Ambassadors

HPAC Staff

Student Staff

Sarah Abu Hijleh

Pre-Med

Major: Biology
Year: Fourth Year
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA

Kathryn Maebori

Pre-Med

Major: Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology
Year: Third Year
Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Aditi Bhat

Major: Psychology
Year: Fourth
Hometown: Union City, CA

Hailey Uyeda

Major: Pre-Business
Year: Second Year
Hometown: San Jose, CA

HPAC Ambassadors:

Successful 3rd and 4th-year pre-health students who are enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with you! The HPAC ambassador cohort represents a wide range of health professions and is highly involved in campus organizations, community programs, and research. They provide guidance, support, and encouragement to help others become well-rounded students and competitive applicants. Ambassadors are available on a 'drop-in' basis throughout the week. If you have questions about health profession requirements, selecting major, on-campus organizations, clinical experiences, research, etc. "drop-in" to speak with an HPAC Ambassador (schedule below).

Dominic Fok

Dominic Fok, 4th Year, BioChemistry

Contact: dfok002@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current UCR SOM Biomedical Sciences Dr. Kaul Lab- HIV Neuroscience Research

Former COPE Health Scholar

Former Future Physician Leader

Current San Bernardino Free Clinic Volunteer

Current Phi Delta Epsilon Member

Current SI Leader

Current CNAS Scholars Peer Academic Leader

Angel Ramnani

Angel Ramnani, 4th Year, Biology

Contact: aramn001@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current Dr. Polly Campbell Lab-Evolution and Ecology Research

Co-founder and Former President of HOSA

Current shadower for Dr. Hajaliloo

Current San Bernardino Free Clinic member-Health and Education committee

Former Medical School Mentorship Director for LMSA+

Former Lifeguard and Camp Counselor for Girl Scouts of America

Current MMS member of Brain Tumors

Former MMS member of Stroke Awareness

Current participant in UC Natural Reserve and CA Ecology Program

Current COPE Health Scholar

Current member of TeachIE

Current member of LMSA+

Neha Naran

Neha Naran, 4th Year, Biology

Contact: nnara004@ucr.edu

Pre-Physician Assistant

Former Physical Therapist Aide

Former Back Office MA

Current Co-Vice President- Shadow MD UCR

Former Public Relations Chair- American Medical Women's Association at UCR

Former Cope Health Scholar

Former Hospital Volunteer- Shriners Hospital for Children

Darren Tran

Darren Tran, 4th Year, Biology

Contact: dtran108@ucr.edu

Pre-Dental

Current UCR Pre-Dental Society (PDS) Programs Coordinator

Current Dental Shadow at Peach Dental OC (California)

Current Dental Shadow at Dental Plus (Nevada)

Current UCR School of Medicine Dean’s Suite Student Assistant

Current UCR Health Clinical & Administrative Program (CAP) Project Management Intern

Current UCR Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Social Media and Marketing Director

Current Delta Epsilon Mu Member

Current Equity Research Analyst at BlueBridge Capital

Current Vietnamese Student Association Member

Former Future Dentists Club (FDC) LULAC Healthcare Dental Volunteer

Former Intramural Basketball Player

Parash Bhakta

Parash Bhakta, 4th Year, Neuroscience

Contact: pbhak007@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current CNAS Science Ambassador

Current President of Delta SIFY

Current Director of Research – UCR SOM Mini-Medical School

Current University Honors

Current Research with Dr. Kendrick Davis - UCR SOM

Current COPE Health Scholars Departments Coordinator

Current COPE Health Scholar

Current Mentor - Mentor Collective

Syreze-Sky San Andres

Syreze-Sky San Andres, 3rd Year, Neuroscience

Contact: ssan007@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current University Honors Student

Current Student Researcher in Dr. Kelly Huffman’s Lab - Psychology

Current Residential Sustainability Student Assistant - UCR Office of Sustainability

Current Promotions Lead - UCR Health Clinical and Administrative Program

Current Marketing Intern - UCR Health

Current CNAS Science Ambassador

Verena Awadallah

Verena Awadallah, 4th Year, Biology

Contact: vawad001@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current Member Shadow MD

Current Member Unheard Cries Charity

Former Member Mini-Medical School -Weight Loss

Current Member Riverside Health Connect

Current HPAC Student Worker

Former COPE Health Scholar

Former Dr. Meng Chen Lab Undergraduate Assistant

Current Coptic Club Member

Former Scout Leader

Current Sunday School Teacher

Current Honors Program Student

Former Archangel Michael Free Clinic Volunteer

Current Mentor Collective Peer Mentor

Current Mini-Medical School Project Leader -Choosing the Right Medications

Neha Sharma

Neha Sharma, 3rd Year, BioChemistry

Contact: nshar031@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current Undergraduate Researcher - Dr. Eulgem Lab

Current Secretary - American Medical Student Association

Current Secretary - Fight for Autism

Current Member - Mini Medical School

Current Member - BPSHI Mobile Clinic

Current Mentor - UCR SOM Health Sciences Partnership

Current Member - Phi Delta Epsilon

Current Peer Educator - UCR ARC Early Assist Program

Current Psychiatry Suite Intern - UCR Health CAP

Current University Honors Student

Former COPE Health Scholar at Riverside Community Hospital

Former ERASE Member - UCR Healthy Hearts

Sydney Trieu

Sydney Trieu, 3rd Year, Biology (Transfer Student)

Contact: strie006@ucr.edu

Pre-Physician Assistant

Current Licensed Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Current President of Activate at UCR

Current Founder of San Diego Cabbie Nonprofit Organization

Current Planned Parenthood Volunteer

Current San Diego Food Bank Volunteer

Current Kappa Kappa Gamma Member

Current Physician Assistants of Tomorrow Member

Former Subacute and Rehab Externship CNA Shadow

Former Dental Receptionist

Former Pathmaker Intern at Palomar Medical Center

Sommer Rowell

Sommer Rowell, 4th year, Biochemistry (Transfer Student)

Contact: srowe003@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current Dr. Larsen Lab- Biochemistry Research

Current University Honors Member

Current Volunteer and Team Lead at St. Mary's Medical Center

Current Research Team Volunteer for San Bernardino Free Clinic

Current SI leader

Current Tau Sigma Member

Current Sunday School Teacher

Current Swim Instructor

Former Pediatrician Shadow

Former STEM Tutor

Former Future Physician Leader

Former ARMC Emergency Department Physician Shadow

Former RISE Research Scholar

Former Biology Research Assistant- Victor Valley College

Former HOSA Member

Current Phi Beta Kappa Member

Samantha Perez

Samantha Maeve Perez, 4th Year, Biochemistry

Contact: spere070@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Former San Bernardino Free Clinic Secretary

Current San Bernardino Free Clinic Clinic Coordinator

Current Supplemental Instruction Leader

Current CNAS Science Ambassador

Current Delta Epsilon Mu Member

Current Delta Epsilon Mu Executive Vice President

Former Crosstraining Ministry Volunteer

Licensed EMT

Current Highlander EMS Member

Current Shadow MD Member

Former HOSA at UCR Treasurer

Gabriella Moussa

Gabriella Moussa, 4th year, Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology

Contact: gmous003@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current University Honors Student

Current University Honors Outreach Leader

Current Undergraduate Researcher - Dr. Yamanaka Lab

Current Supplemental Instruction Leader and Mentor

Current CNAS Science Ambassador

Former Board Member - American Medical Student Association at UCR

Current President - American Medical Student Association at UCR

Former Cope Health Scholar

Current Women’s Health Clinic Intern - UCR Health Clinical and Administrative Program

Current UCR Orchestra Leader and Member

Former Camp Counselor, Camp St. Nicholas Summers 2019 and 2020

Current Heart Health Group Leader - UCR Mini-Medical School

Former Mentor and Group Leader - UCR SOM Health Science Partnership

Former Learning Assistant - Organic Chemistry, Dr. Casselman

Former Shadow, Dr. Sunil K Patel - UCR Health Clinical and Administrative Program

Former KGI ABC Program Participant

Jessalyn Yam

Jessalyn Yam, 4th Year, Biochemistry

Contact: jyam002@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current Supplemental Instruction Leader

Current UCR Health Clinical & Administrative Program (CAP) Project Management Intern

Current Delta Epsilon Mu Member

Current Licensed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Current San Bernardino Free Clinic Volunteer

Current COPE Health Scholars Projects

Current Best Buddies Member

Current Student Researcher in Dr. Ana Bahamonde’s Lab - Physical Organic and Organometallic Chemistry

Current Vice President of Finance of Delta Epsilon Mu

Current Public Relations Officer of Highlander Emergency Medical Services (HEMS)

Current Training Coordinator of San Bernardino Free Clinic

Current Pianist in UCR Ensembles

Current Vietnamese Student Association Member

Former Student Researcher in Dr. Katayoon Dehesh's Lab - Botany & Plant Sciences

Former Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) Scholar

Former COPE Health Scholars Projects Coordinator

Vivian Ha

Vivian Ha, 3rd Year, Neuroscience

Contact: vha006@ucr.edu

Pre-Dental
Current PA for Residential Services

Current Lab Leader and Reader for ARC35

Current Student Mentor for UCR Mentor Collective

Current Member of Future Dentist Club

Former Dental Assistant at Mai Dental Specialists

Former General Dentist, Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon, and Orthodontist Shadow

Former Math Instructor at Mathnasium

Former Tutor at UECC

Yuma Miyake

Yuma Miyake, 3rd Year, Biology

Contact: ymiya016@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current Undergraduate Research for Dr. Zhou - Cardiovascular Diseases

Current Supplemental Instruction Leader

Current Patient Care Technician at Riverside Community Hospital

Current Mentor - Freshmen Mentor Collective

Current UCR Biomedical Ethics Club Member

Current Private Violin Tutor

Current UCR Men’s Soccer Club Member

Former Undergraduate Research Assistant - Dr. Rosenbaum

Former UCSF Summer Research Internship Program

Former Volunteer at Mills Peninsula Hospital

Thaniya Shankar

Thaniya Shankar, 3rd Year, Neuroscience

Contact: tshan012@ucr.edu

Pre-Medicine

Current Research Assistant at Social Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience Lab

Current Chancellor's Research Fellow

Current Supplemental Instruction Leader

Current CNAS Science Ambassador

Current Fight For Autism President

Current Crisis Text Line Counselor

Current COPE Health Scholar

Current COPE Registration Intern

Current San Bernardino Free Clinic Volunteer

Current Shadow M.D. Member

Current Mini Medical School Member

Current Healthy Hearts ERASE Scholar

Former Medical Emergency Education Project Marketing Coordinator

Health Professions Advising Center

Location: Rivera Library, B03 (Lower Level) | Tel: (951)888-1290 | Email: hpac@ucr.edu

Student Engagement

Staff & Ambassadors

HPAC Staff

Student Staff

Sarah Abu Hijleh

Kathryn Maebori

Aditi Bhat

Hailey Uyeda

HPAC Ambassadors:

Dominic Fok

Angel Ramnani

Neha Naran

Darren Tran

Parash Bhakta

Syreze-Sky San Andres

Verena Awadallah

Neha Sharma

Sydney Trieu

Sommer Rowell

Samantha Perez

Gabriella Moussa

Jessalyn Yam

Vivian Ha

Yuma Miyake

Thaniya Shankar

Health Professions Advising Center

Student Engagement (Undergraduate Education)