President
Joanne Wong
Semesters in PMA: 6
Major: MBB & Public Health
Career Interests: Physician, Pediatrics
Description: I'm a third-year student majoring in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology with a minor in Public Health. Beyond academics, I enjoy going to the beach, journaling, and playing pickleball with friends in my free time. I am passionate about learning and have a curiosity for a variety of interests, from scientific research to community engagement and personal growth. I love exploring new ideas, connecting with others, and finding ways to make a meaningful impact.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? PMA has been a significant part of my pre-med journey—the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had, and the insights I’ve gained have shaped me as a person, student, and role model. Serving on the executive board for the past two years has allowed me to develop interpersonal skills and gain confidence in leading and managing a club. As president, I hope to continue the legacy of our past executive boards and ensure that PMA remains a supportive community that provides valuable opportunities to educate and inspire future healthcare professionals.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? I have been involved in leadership positions within PMA since my freshman year—starting in the Community Service committee, then serving as Director of Community Service, and currently as Secretary. Through these roles, I have gained a deep understanding of the logistics and hard work required to run this club, as well as the behind-the-scenes details that ensure everything runs smoothly for our members.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. Receiving support from previous EB members has been encouraging, and I understand that as president, I don’t need to know how to do everything—just what needs to be done and when. My main goals are to maintain member retention and further increase participation, especially given the significant improvement we’ve seen this semester in the number of active status members.
A specific initiative I’d like to implement is inviting more specific guest speakers to our general meetings. Since attendance at GMs has grown, this would be an effective way to share valuable information with pre-med students. For example, I’d like to invite Dr. Abinsay early in the year, organize a panel of medical students, bring in someone to discuss the MCAT, and host a panel of doctors to provide insights into different medical careers, and so forth.
Vice President
Minami Wada
Semesters in PMA: 4
Major: B.S. Psychology
Career Interests: Doctor of Medicine or Research in Psychology
Description: Aloha! My name is Minami Wada and I am a second year Psychology major here at UH. I am also the current PMA finance director and this is my fourth semester in PMA. In my free time, I love to surf, hang out with friends, and eat!
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? Being a part of PMA has truly allowed me to grow as a student and becoming a part of EB this year has given me the opportunity to grow as a leader. As a Vice President for PMA, I hope to further grow my leadership skills and gain some insight from the President on how a great team leader should be.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? As a current PMA finance director, I’ve had experience collecting membership dues as well as coordinating fundraisers which has strengthened my organization and communication skills. In addition, my employment in athletics as well as in a kindergarten to first grade summer camp has not only allowed me to communicate with people from different ages and backgrounds but has taught me how to deal with stressful situations. I am hoping that I can apply these skills for when the President needs a right hand man.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. As Vice President, I would like to help the team find inspiring guest speakers such as current medical students as well as resources that will allow PMA members to increase their connections and experiences as pre-medical students.
Secretary
Dailin Leong
Semesters in PMA: 1
Major: Psychology B.S. and Spanish Language Minor
Career Interests: Vascular Surgery
Description: Hi everyone!! I'm Dailin, but I also go by Dai! I'm a second year from California and some of my hobbies include volleyball and scrapbooking! This has been my first year in PMA, and one of the things I really love about us is the sense of community and partnership that we have in PMA. It was that reason that I joined the Community Service Committee and it’s why I’m running for EB right now!
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? I have loved being apart of PMA as a member, and serving it through being on the CS committee. Through this position, I have been able to create opportunities for my fellow club members to not only serve our community, but also learn more about each other and really understand what it means to give back their time. I want to continue creating opportunities for us, and I believe the next step for me, is to do that through the Secretary role. Yes, I won’t be able to organize events anymore, but I will be able to help through raising participation and involvement for not just CS events, but all our events! I think we have such a great dynamic of support and community within PMA and I want to be Secretary because, with my skills and my dedication, I believe it’s a is a role where I can keep fostering that dynamic!
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? I see this position as the communication and organization role. The secretary’s role is to send out the weekly newsletter, run the PMA email, be the bridge between EB and its members, and keep track of everyone’s hours and participation. Communication and organization are the traits that will get these tasks done. I believe I am qualified for this role because these are my two greatest strengths. In the past year, I have gotten very comfortable reaching out to outside organizations to set up events, and even more comfortable working with my fellow committee members to finalize them. I have strong problem solving skills and I believe myself to be very dependable as well. Plus, I am an incredibly organized person. I loovee a spreadsheet, and since that’s how we keep track of all our involvement and active status, it’s a project I am really excited to take on!
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. My main goal for next year is for active status to continue to grow! In this past year it has shown great growth already, and my goal is to keep this trend. Because the secretary has such direct and constant communication with all of our members, I wanted to use this and push participation. I’m thinking of doing this through reminder emails once a month that promote active status and encourage everyone! Another thing I wanted to implement was a strong relationship with outside organizations, whether it’s with other clubs on campus, volunteer groups such as HOME Project, or even JABSOM itself!
Ashlynn Carney
Semesters in PMA: 6
Major: Biology and Psychology
Career Interests: Geriatrician
Description: I am currently a third-year student majoring in Biology and Psychology (BS) with a career interest in Geriatrics. I am further exploring my academic passions through the Honors program in which I get to conduct research on Alzheimer's disease. Since my freshman year, I have been in PMA and have served on the Community Service Committee for two years. Additionally, I am involved in Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology as well as the newly established National Alzheimer's Buddies, where I hold the position of Director of Finance. Outside of school life, I enjoy drawing, painting, listening to music, and playing video games.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? PMA has played a significant part in my pre-med journey, not only opening the door to my specific interest in Geriatrics but also by connecting me with amazing peers who are all on similar paths. This school year has been the most rewarding and engaging compared to all my previous years, and the enthusiasm I've witnessed and shared with fellow members has motivated me to become even more involved. The role of Secretary is integral to the organization and efficiency of the club, as this position requires a lot of behind-the-scenes work. I believe my talents and strengths align well with this position, and I am eager to contribute to fostering the wonderful networking and support system that PMA provides.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? My related qualities include being very organized with a strong attention to detail-- everything is written down, color coded and put into a pretty table, being creative and proficient with technology and design (I think I have more hours logged into Canva than some of my games), as well as being a reliable team member who is committed to maintaining high standards in all aspects of my work. In terms of experience, I have served on PMA’s Community Service Committee for two years in which I have assisted in the coordination and facilitation of events. This experience has given me valuable insight into specific club operations, which would allow me to better support and collaborate with officers in the role of Secretary. One of my most relevant leadership experiences was being a Teaching Intern for Cell and Molecular Biology during my sophomore year. This role required me to create engaging materials, dedicate extensive hours to grading and providing feedback, as well as meticulously ensuring inputted grades were correct. During this time, I monitored class progress and adjusted my teaching methods to best support my students which allowed me to apply my creativity and let me become more flexible in my approach. More recently, I have had the privilege of helping establish the National Alzheimer's Buddies chapter at UH Mānoa, where I currently serve on the executive board as Director of Finance. This role has provided me with firsthand experience in the administrative and technical aspects of running a RIO, allowing me to translate my passion in this field into meaningful action. Additionally, my part-time job as a care aide at a senior care facility has further developed my ability to multitask, track crucial details, and understand the importance of precise documentation—all of which are essential skills for the Secretary position.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. If given the opportunity to serve as Secretary, I would focus on several initiatives aimed at enhancing organization, communication, and outreach within PMA. These are areas where I have seen considerable growth during my time here and I would like to build upon these foundations. One key initiative would be to improve the Points Sheet by leveraging digital tools such as QR codes or Google Forms/Sheets at events instead of paper to streamline tracking attendance and participation hours. Linking these directly to a spreadsheet would help ensure accuracy in members' involvement and eliminate the need for manual input, saving time and reducing errors. While I anticipate that I would still have to oversee everything is correct, having attendance procedures uniform and efficient across all events would still help a lot. Additionally, for the weekly newsletter, because it is a vital form of communication for PMA, I would incorporate new features such as a calendar of upcoming events for an easy visual reference, and perhaps even summaries or member anecdotes from recent events to give our members a chance to voice their experiences. This year, we've had quite a few joint events which I would like to continue in order to promote PMA and expand our resources. Collaboration with other campus organizations would be a great opportunity for new ideas that could be implemented to further improve PMA’s offerings.
Isabella Krunitzky
Semesters in PMA: 1
Major: Microbiology and Spanish
Career Interests: Medicine and Research
Description: I am a first year Pre-Med from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I first moved to Hawai'i in August, but I've loved it here ever since. During high school, I worked at a hospital in my hometown as a Nurse Assistant, and I hope to eventually take on a similar role here. I currently work in a research lab as an undergraduate assistant, and a restaurant as a hostess. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, and exploring new beaches.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? After being in PMA for the past year, I have found so many resources and gained countless valuable experiences. As a Pre-Med student, I understand how scary and overwhelming this process of becoming a physician really is. The reality is, the path to medicine is so long and many people don't know what they're getting themselves into. That was me, just a few months ago, when I had no idea what the MCAT even was. Thanks to PMA, I've learned so much and built so many valuable connections. Being a member of PMA has helped immensely to prepare me for everything that lies ahead on the road the medicine.
This past year, I've worked as a Medical Education committee member. Under Kendal's guidance, I am able to organize presentations that I'm interested in and learn from those myself. This experience has been really valuable because not only am I getting my questions answered, but other students are as well. For example, during my JABSOM informational session in early March, I was able to ask my question about out of state acceptance rates, and I heard other students asking questions of their own. These responses not only helping the person asking the question, but also the other students who didn't think to ask that. Knowing that other students are benefitting from something I organized, something that I planned, was such an amazing feeling. To be able to share these resources with others the same way I've benefitted from resources shared with me is incredible, and gives me a genuine sense of connection, knowing that these people are now more prepared for their future because I helped them. As an officer, I would be able to have a more direct role in helping other people access these resources. Specifically as the secretary, I would organize all of the information from other officers during both Executive Board and General Assembly meetings. I would be able to share all these opportunities with members through emails, which is something I have extensive experience in. I would be able to fill in the gaps between the other positions and help this organization continue to help Pre-Meds, the same way they've helped me so much this year.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? This past year, I've worked in a very similar position in a different club. I work in the Residence Hall Association (RHA) as the Vice President of Operations. Essentially, my job is to take meeting minutes and send out weekly emails to residents on campus. I also manage the RHA budget and keep our office cleaned. Many of these skills transfer over to the secretary position in PMA (taking meeting minutes, sending out emails, and keeping documents organized). I enjoy handling the logistics of the club, and keeping everything organized so the other officers can focus on their positions. Because of my past experience in similar positions, I believe I would be able to succeed in PMA and help the organization thrive.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. One thing that I have noticed as a Medical Education committee member is that many presenters often have materials they bring with them to present. For both of the events that I organized, the presenters asked me to keep these materials and share them with the rest of the club members that were unable to attend this specific meeting. I found this to be an amazing idea because there are always going to be more interested students that simply cannot attend events due to scheduling conflicts. Ideally, I would like to work with the Director of Multimedia and Publications to create a section on a website that we can dedicate towards a log of handouts that presenters have given us during events or meetings. This way, we could have a digital log available for Pre-meds to look through and learn about more opportunities that they otherwise would have missed out on.
Director of Finance
Alisha Colton
Semesters in PMA: 2
Major: Microbiology
Career Interests: Dermatology
Description: Hi! My name is Alisha, and I was born and raised in Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi! I'm currently a sophomore studying Microbiology and after undergrad, I plan to pursue medical school to receive an MD! Outside of the classroom, I am also very passionate about marine conservation and I actively participate in beach cleanups, coral reef restoration, and invasive algae removal, and volunteer for marine mammal necropsies. During my free time, I enjoy surfing, painting, and music (The Marías are my fav!) As a PMA member and a member of the Community Service Committee, I love being involved in initiatives that make a difference on our campus and our local community!
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position?
PMA has been an amazing experience for me as it allowed me to meet other students of similar interests and journeys, and making a positive impact on the community. I have formed lots of meaningful friendships through the association that made attending events both super fun and impactful! Because of this, I feel strongly about the success of this club, and I want to contribute to its growth in a meaningful way. As Treasurer, I would love to have direct input in the club's achievements and growth. The financial pillar is an often over-looked but important backbone to any club and I want to ensure that PMA has the resources needed to thrive. I feel that I have fresh new ideas to bring to the table in terms of fundraising to make participation in these events more rewarding and engaging for all of our members!
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position?
I have prior experience with finances as I was the treasurer of my high school's UNICEF club,
where I was responsible for budgeting, accounting for club expenses, and maintaining financial stability for the club events. I advanced my financial planning skills, as well as promoted a strong sense of responsibility, and good organizational and pressure management skills from that experience. Moreover, I am an active member of the PMA and have actively participated in planning various community service events as a member of the community service committee. I was one of two club members responsible for planning the February community service events, where I worked with the logistics of the finances handling ingredients for the Ronald McDonald House meal project, making sure no meal exceeded reasonable budgets, acting quickly in purchasing ingredients and supplies that were not signed up for, and made sure everything went well in execution. With my strong math skills, attention to detail, and quick decision-making abilities under pressure, I think I have what it takes to be in the Treasurer's position. In addition to handling finances, my dedication to PMA and to serve is what drives me to go out of my way to do whatever I can to see the club succeed!
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue.
As Treasurer, I want to create more fun and interesting ways to raise funds that will support PMA but also help our members to come together as a community. For instance, we can do more social fundraising like fundraising nights with a theme, trivia nights or bonding nights which proceeds go towards PMA. I also think it would be great to do fundraising at farmers’ markets to help raise money for the club while also helping to support local businesses. I also would love to explore fundraising on campus, outside of bake sales or collaborating with other clubs, I thought there were lots of fun fundraising opportunities like a “Med School Prep Challenge”, students will pay a fee to take part in several fun, relevant activities like suturing, a trivia contest, etc. and small prizes for winners. I would like to make fundraising enjoyable and meaningful to the members while securing the resources for PMA to flourish!
Salus Vankayapati
Semesters in PMA: 1
Major: Biochemistry
Career Interests: Anesthesiologist
Description: My name is Salus Vankayalapati, I am 19 years old, I graduated from Moanalua High School with the passion to pursue getting into the medical field. I work on cars and motorcycles for fun and I “allegedly” street race them. I spent last semester on the Community Service Committee and I’m ready to make a positive change in PMA.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? I want to take the Treasurer role in PMA because although I have only been in PMA for 1 semester I have shown lots of dedication to this club as well as other branches of PMA and medical related clubs outside of PMA. I believe the medical field is a place where people can seek help to stop their suffering and pain, no child or adult or should have to be forced to go through torture just because they cannot afford healthcare. The quality of healthcare provided should not be based on how much money you have and I want to change that because I have personally seen this discrimination first hand. I believe the dedication I have towards this club and the medical field can help this club take the next step forward in becoming more well known and connect to other organizations that are bigger than PMA and help us all come closer to our end goal of our medical journey. I want this club to remain dynamic for both personal and professional growth.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? I helped establish the National Alzheimer's Buddies Chapter (NAB) here at UH Manoa, I was on the Executive Board (EB) for the NAB, and our Community Service Committee in so I know how RIOs work and what it is like being on an EB. So far things have been running very smoothly and everything is where it’s supposed to be. I think the leadership skills I've gained from these experiences will help me be an amazing Treasurer for PMA.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. Next year, I plan to pursue some initiatives to further improve our PMA community. I can see us in the future expanding our networking by organizing regular events with alumni who have went through the path we are on right now or healthcare professionals, as well as making workshops that help both our academic and soft skills that we need for us to be successful in the medical field. Also I want to launch a structured mentorship program that pairs experienced members with newcomers. I also hope to create collaborations with local hospitals for research and shadowing opportunities, while making our digital presence wider through regular social media updates and an keeping our interactive newsletter to keep everyone informed and engaged.
Jennifer Arca
Semesters in PMA: 4
Major: Microbiology
Career Interests: MD/DO/MD-PhD
Description: Hello! I'm Jennifer Arca, a 2nd year student studying Microbiology. I was born and raised in Los Angeles but have family here, which makes Hawai'i feel like home. Back in L.A., I have 2 younger brothers and 2 chihuahua puppies that I miss dearly. In my free time, I love reading, scrapbooking, drawing, as well as discovering new music and going on long drives. Nature adventures are my favorite way to recharge after a long well. I enjoy helping others and finding ways to share and create opportunities with friends and peers.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? I'm interested in serving as the Treasurer of the Pre-Medical Association because I'd love to incorporate my passion for event planning and fundraisers to provide great opportunities to support both our organization and local businesses. I'm excited about the opportunity to bring fresh ideas to our fundraising efforts, and ensure financial stability so we can continue providing valuable resources, networking events, and service opportunities for aspiring medical professionals.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? Having worked with the finance committee for the past two years, I have gained valuable experience in managing and organizing fundraisers, and ensuring successful fundraising efforts. Now, I'd love to take a more active role in shaping the types of fundraisers we host. By stepping into this position, I hope to contribute my skills to enhance our financial sustainability and create engaging opportunities that benefit both our members and the community.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. I would like to pursue a few initiatives to encourage a stronger sense of community among our members. One of my main goals is to incorporate more fundraisers in collaboration with small businesses. Additionally, I would like to introduce more social fundraisers that encourage member engagement, such as bracelet or crochet workshops. Lastly, I want to diversify our fundraisers by exploring new and creative ideas. For example, this could look like a thrift store fundraiser to promote sustainability, or organizing themed gift basket sales during the holidays. By implementing a variety of fundraisers, this keeps our events exciting and meaningful.
Director of Community Service
Catherine Mattson
Semesters in PMA: 1
Major: B.S. Biology, minor in Public Health
Career Interests: Cardiologist, Pediatrics
Description: Hi! I'm Catherine Mattson & I'm entering my third year as a Pre-Med, Biology major. I grew up in upstate New York, but have a lot of family here in Hawai'i. I really love meeting new people, making new experiences, and learning new things! My life always revolved around the water, I swam on varsity in high school, was a lifeguard, and swim coach. I love nature and getting out in the beautiful world that awaits. I also enjoy quality time with friends, loved ones, and also making music with them. I’m excited to pursue medicine and to continue to do more for the people in our communities! Fun fact: In high school I made 2 short films for my Latin class! ;D
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? Service has always been a huge part of my life! Seeing my own family take charge in giving to our community has always inspired me to do the same. I want to continue that legacy of service as CS Director, and I know that I can offer a lot of ideas and resources from my previous experiences! I'm was very active in my community in upstate New York (where I grew up) and Hawai'i (where my roots are). I value quality work and believe it's my kuleana to offer kokua to the community that does so much for us!
I know that I have the capability and experiences to take on the commitments of PMA’s CS Director! I hope that I can pay that service forward through taking on this leadership position in PMA :))
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? I really love people and making them feel welcome! I'm very patient and a good listener. When I have my mind set on something, I like to make it happen. I have a lot of spirit & passion in my interests and the projects that I take on. I hope to take this onto EB!
I've been volunteering for the community all my life: reading & distributing free books to kids/promoting literacy, entertaining at senior centers, taking care of our ʻāina, attending summer service camps, honoring veterans, being a swim coach for adaptive kids, helping at animal shelters, and more. I've been involved with the nonprofit-organization Ohana 100, DKAFF since 2015- throughout my formative years I was volunteering in Hawai'i and New York. I've worked with so many different people of different backgrounds, ages, and missions over the years. I've been to several camps at the US Air Force Academy, JABSOM, The Pearl Harbor Museum, Moku o Loʻe, and Houston, Texas for various STEM experiences working in diverse groups. I know how to work as a team and how to collaborate & plan with my peers towards a collective goal!
I currently work as an Learning Assistant (LA) for MATH 241: Calculus 1. This is my second semester as an LA for the math department at UHM- I schedule my own office hours, meetings with students, and helping during recitation hours. I previously worked as a seasonal lifeguard at my high school & as a lifeguard/swim coach for the Learn to Swim Program and Adaptive Swim Program where I coached kids with disabilities/adaptive needs. I have experience in observation and education on different topics and have had many different students and coworkers.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. For the CS, I hope to provide more connections & opportunities through local schools, programs, and even medical mentors. Hopefully we can get into different schools to read to kids in person! Also, creating partnerships with programs and connecting with doctors (active/retired) to promote health literacy in our community. We, as aspiring doctors, can learn from and talk story with experienced doctors of various specialties.
For PMA as a whole, I hope to do more collaborative events with other committees (like above, promoting Health Literacy/doc talk story). I hope PMA continues to grow their network and work on more promotional content like video work (interactive) with its members & especially with EB next year! (Ex. GRWM/what to bring to volunteer at the Lyon Arboretum; fun little PMA member interviews)
George Ishigooka
Semesters in PMA: 1
Major: B.S. Biology
Career Interests: Orthopedic Surgeon
Description: My name is George Ishigooka, and I am a freshman from Tokyo pursuing a degree in Biology at UH Mānoa. I’m passionate about community service, healthcare, and building meaningful connections through volunteering. My experiences—from working with nonprofits like River of Life Mission to assisting at an ophthalmology clinic—have shaped my understanding of service and strengthened my commitment to making a difference. As a candidate for the Community Service Executive Board position, I hope to expand PMA’s outreach, create more impactful volunteer opportunities, and help members connect with the communities we serve.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? After settling down in Honolulu for 6 (ish) months, one of the first things I took initiative to do was to volunteer. I chose to help at River of Life Mission where they serve the homeless in multiple ways such as providing food, housing, helping with tax forms, and even cutting hair. After almost 200 hours of volunteering with them, I realized that the most important thing to me was the stories and the connections I have made.
If it was not for serving this organization long-term, I wouldn't have learnt first-hand on how individuals end up homeless and what its like surviving on the streets. I would have never crossed paths with the head chef (Hilda Gibson) and how she turned her life around from being a homeless convict to a chef of a NPO serving almost 20,000 meals a year. My whole view on volunteering has changed since coming here. It's not just about the hours, or the warm feeling after serving the community, but it's a way to connect with people from various backgrounds. Through these experiences, I’ve come to believe that volunteering is about building relationships, understanding different perspectives, and growing personally and professionally.
As a member of PMA, I want to bring this mindset to our organization—focusing on meaningful, long-term service that not only benefits the community but also enriches our own experiences. Whether it’s through inter-club collaborations, internships with nonprofits, or finding new ways to engage, I hope to help PMA members create lasting connections that extend far beyond just checking off hours.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position?
- Community service committee of the Pre-med association
- Volunteering at River of Life ~250 hours
- PMA related volunteering with Aloha Books, Special Olympics, Pride Run, and many more ~40 hours
- Executive board member the of publicity and social engagement for National Alzheimer's Buddies (leadership experience)
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue.
The main focus of my proposals is to develop and maintain deeper connections among PMA members, volunteering organizations, and members outside of the PMA by...
1. Expanding PMA’s involvement with JABSOM’s HOME Project to give members more hands-on medical volunteering experience. This would provide opportunities to interact with patients, assist medical students, and gain insight into real-world healthcare while making a direct impact on the community.
2. Providing long term volunteering opportunities to PMA members such as an intern at a non-profit organization, a social media manager for a NPO, or a volunteer event coordinator. These roles allow members to build meaningful relationships within the community while also gaining valuable leadership and professional experience.
3. Partnering with other student organizations to co-host service events that align with our mission. This not only provides PMA members with more opportunities to earn SR and CS hours but also fosters meaningful relationships with students with totally different future goals, broadening our perspectives and strengthening our impact as future healthcare professionals.
Director of Medical Education
Kayla Mishima
Semesters in PMA: 2
Major: B.S. Psychology (Honors)
Career Interests: Neurology, Pediatrics
Description: My name is Kayla Mishima, and I will be a junior this upcoming Fall 2025 semester! I went to Pearl City High School where I was enrolled in their Health Sciences academy due to my early interest in medicine. During this time, I became curious about neurology and later on pediatrics as well. This interest followed me to my current undergraduate years where I pursue research on autism spectrum disorder in relation to the gut microbiome. By the end of this semester, I will have completed most of my pre-med prerequisites, but I am planning on taking a gap year (or two) to better prepare myself for medical school. In the meantime, I am slowly navigating through my pre-med journey and am very excited for how PMA will look like in next semester!
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? As a first generation college student and the first to pursue medicine in my family, I had a difficult time navigating through this journey without much guidance. Now that I will be in my third year of undergraduate, I can say I have learnt a lot since my freshman year. Through these challenges, I became passionate about becoming a person that my younger self would have appreciated, and hope to accomplish this goal through the position of Med Ed director. Being a part of PMA has allowed for a community where I could share these struggles while also gaining experience on the Med Ed committee. I believe that I can now step up to the director role for PMA as a way to provide back what I was given.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? As a Pre-Health Peer Advisor at PAC, I am trained in holding workshops - open to the whole student body - and networking with healthcare professionals. My job requires me to oversee communications between guest speakers and the students themselves while fostering an environment for individuals to learn of new resources/opportunities. I also volunteer for the JABSOM Huakaʻi Initiative where I assist the lead physician in designing/writing newsletters that enlist upcoming opportunities for educators and students in Hawai’i. These responsibilities overlap with the duties of a Med Ed director and in general, a member of the EB. Thanks to this experience in leadership, I am capable of taking over the responsibilities that will be handed down to me if I were to become Med Ed director.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. As director of Med Ed, I would hold more interactive workshops. Currently, we hold a lot of informative workshops for programs/schools of interest to our members. I would continue holding these as they are important for finding out about specific information; however, I would argue that networking (especially with healthcare professionals in their respective fields) is extremely crucial for pre-med students as well. As someone who had no connections to the health field, finding mentors/advisors were difficult for me. Through the Med Ed position, I would work on bridging that gap between students and professionals to build these connections early on. A goal PMA currently pursues is to provide a healthy support system for pre-med students (and fight against the toxic pre-med culture) -- this is one that I plan on continue upholding as a Med Ed director.
Director of Student Relations
Saya Gordon
Semesters in PMA: 2
Major: B.S. Biology, B.A. Japanese, Minor in UHM Honors Program
Career Interests: Cardiologist or OBGYN
Description: Hello, I am Saya Gordon, currently a rising third-year undergraduate student at UHM, double majoring in Biology and Japanese, and minoring in the UHM Honors Program. I was born and raised in Oahu, and am an alumna of Roosevelt High School. My interest in medicine developed in high school and grew over the years. I participated in the Health Services pathway and clubs in high school, including the Red Cross. Currently, I am active in various extracurriculars, including being active in organizations including PMA, College of Natural Science Ambassador, volunteering at a local hospital, working at a bakery, and more. I aspire to become a physician and specialize in either cardiovascular medicine or OB-GYN. Outside of academics, I enjoy listening to music, spending time with family and friends, and baking.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? I am interested in serving PMA as Director of Student Relations to foster a positive and supportive environment for PMA members. The journey to medicine is demanding, and I believe receiving support from peers can help make balancing academics, extracurriculars and personal life seem less tough. While serving PMA as a Student Relations Committee member, I developed a deeper passion for creating and organizing fun, engaging events where members can connect. As Director of Student Relations, I will strive to keep the welcoming and supportive environment in PMA and help members feel comfortable and supported as they navigate through their journey to medicine.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? My qualifications include having leadership experience in various roles. In high school, I served as Red Cross Club Historian for two years, President for one year, and the Class of 2023 Corresponding Secretary for two years. At UHM, I have been active in the Japanese Culture Club, a College of Natural Sciences Student Ambassador, and a part of the Student Relations Committee. Through these roles, I have strengthened my communication, collaboration, and event planning. I aim to apply these skills as the Director of Student Relations when organizing the monthly events and the Banquets, and upholding my responsibilities for the committee and club.
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. As Director of Student Relations, I would like to host more events that promote support and interaction among peers. When I hosted the DIY Flower Bouquets, I got to witness people interacting with each other, sharing their life stories, classes they're taking, and more. I quickly realized that the type of interaction is the type of environment I would like to help strengthen in PMA.
I would like to host more events such as game nights, vision board making, or an advice night, where people can come and give or take advice on courses or extracurriculars. I think sometimes the hardest part of being a pre-medical student is learning where to start. An event where people share what they're doing can help guide others in the direction they need to go. I am open to member suggestions and will do my best to maintain a supportive environment in PMA.
Iliana Macias
Semesters in PMA: 5
Major: Biology Major, Minor Spanish
Career Interests: MD Pediatrics
Description: I am a third-year Pre-Medical student at UHM studying Biology with a Minor in Spanish. I am from Southern California, and my favorite foods consist of sushi and pasta. I am currently a Chemistry Lab TA on campus for CHEM161L, and an online tutor for a local tutoring organization. I love to meet new people, go paddle boarding, and am passionate about pursuing medicine. I am patient, organized, and motivated to contribute beneficially to PMA in running for this position.
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? I am interested in serving PMA as I have been involved with this club since I was a freshman. Growing alongside and getting to know the members of PMA has led me to make wonderful friendships and get to know fellow pre-med students. Coming from out of state, this was a great opportunity for me to make new friends with similar interests. I plan to bring that feeling to Student Relations events to bring community and allow members to socialize and develop interpersonal relationships within their respective field/interests within PMA.
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? I have been a member of the student relations committee since 2023 and have worked directly with the wonderful previous presidents RJ Dinulong and Kayla Lum. I have experienced the responsibilities of the committee and am eager to contribute beneficially and guide the development of events. I am equally qualified in leadership as I have begun a non-profit Chapter named Health Link Society at the University, motivating students to become involved in their community. I learned how to work directly with peers in the leadership setting and look forward to bringing new ideas to bring PMA members together while equally motivating the development of meaningful connections with one another!
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue. I would like to make a goal to initiate more types of study based events, as pre-med courses can be rigorous and help from peers is always beneficial for each student. I would like to push our current Study sessions to the next level, and propose new sessions that are themed by heavy pre-medical courses such as Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, where students can help one another or connect about the topics they are learning actively. With this, our events can bring more students together ad increase the frequency of events providing opportunities for members of PMA to connect and helpful advice.
Director of Multimedia and Publications
Storm Nakamoto
Semesters in PMA: 4
Major: B.S. Biology
Career Interests: Pediatrics
Description: Hi! My name is Storm Nakamoto and I am currently a sophomore pursuing a B.S. Biology. Like many of us, I aspire to become a working physician in Hawai’i, more specifically pediatrics. I was born and raised here on Oahu on the North Shore and in my free time I love spending time with family and friends, playing video games, going to the beach, fishing, and watching the sunset!
Why are you interested in serving PMA in your respective officer position? In any previous leadership positions I’ve held, I’ve always held a strong virtue of creating a strong sense of community and creating a comfortable environment for its people. Upon joining PMA and seeing how it prioritizes that same virtue of fostering relationships amongst its members, while providing numerous resources that aligns with our career goals, I knew I wanted to stay and mostly definitely wanted to contribute more. Now being in my 4th semester of PMA and working with the SR Committee, I want to further be a resource for it’s members as Director of Multimedia and Publications to promote engagement and participation in club and while further encouraging our sense of community! I aim to utilize my skills and experience with graphic design and leadership with PMA’s website and social media presence to support and show appreciation towards our members. The possibilities with social media are endless and I hope to explore the utilization of its outlet with the committee to create reminders, appreciation posts, engagement activites, and more!
What are your qualifications (qualities and experiences) for this position? Currently this is my 4th semester in PMA, and over these 4 semesters I’ve gladly been participating in the numerous opportunities PMA has to offer whether it’s community service, Med-Ed, or social networking events. This year in particular I joined the SR committee which allowed me to work closer with other members and get a gauge of how the background efforts of planning and holding events in PMA work. I’ve chaired SR events and assisted other committee members whenever I can.
Leadership experience in general, in high school I was Class President, Band President, and Yearbook Editor-in-Chief. Across all three positions I’ve had to coordinate with my board to organize, coordinate, and manage events. Across the three positions for four years I’ve had to manage their respective social media pages creating consistent posts to promote engagement.
My most relevant experience in correlation to Multimedia and Publications would be my time in Yearbook as well as holding Editor-in-Chief. I spent three years creating yearbook pages utilizing graphics, and upon being Editor-in-Chief, I was responsible for creating the topic for each page for the entirety of the book as well as overseeing and editing everyone’s individual pages. Capturing every event school-wide also meant sorting through a lot of pictures, I am experienced in getting large amounts of photos and content and being responsible for sorting and organizing them, which would directly translate into one of the responsibilities as Director of MM&P. I also loved being able to coordinate with the yearbook staff to create graphics that encapsulates the memories of the students school-wide. I hope to translate that passion of creation and collaboration into PMA as Director of MM&P and the committee I’ll work with to capture the moments of club while promoting engagement to encourage participation amongst the club!
For your respective position, are there any initiatives you would like to pursue next year? Please list any directions or goals you would like PMA to pursue.
What I love about PMA is its mission to serve as a resource for Pre-Medical Students, and I hope to further perpetuate its mission. But some further initiatives I personally hope to prioritize are:
- Be a resource for other Pre-Medical Students to be someone they can confide in and talk to. This one is a little more personal to me because sometimes the process in its entirety being a pre-med student can be kinda lonely and with such a long journey ahead it’s important to have a strong support system. I want to further promote a safe environment that members feel comfortable speaking to all board members for anything, pre-med related or not!
- Create posts to capture memories and efforts of its members. PMA members dedicate a lot of time attending events, I hope to utilize its platforms like its website or instagram as a place to hold and display their efforts. Whether it’s a story post of a monthly recap of all the events held, or a designated area on the website, having a place where we can “show off” our members can be one of our ways of showing our appreciation into the efforts they put in.
- Continue to post reminders of upcoming events. I personally can attest to how helpful posts and reminders for the day of events have been to me and I would like to further be of help to those who may also need a reminder of when events are occurring. Sometimes people may forget to put something in their calendar, or are just unsure if they’re able to attend until the day of the event. These little reminder posts can be the difference of whether or not people attend the event as Instagram can be commonly looked at and referred to.
PMA is such a special resource for students interested in healthcare and I hope to further support and be a resource for such like-minded individuals!