Early Career Sections

Peter Barkett, MD
Internal Medicine, WPMG, Silverdale
Dr. Barkett earned a combined BS/MS in Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics from Yale University. Afterwards he returned to his home state of Michigan to attend medical school at the University of Michigan. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine with the Henry Ford Health System and began work as a hospitalist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, a tertiary care center. He relocated to Washington state with his wife and family to enjoy its natural beauty. After moving, he transitioned to clinic-based medicine with Kaiser Permanente where he sees patients and participates in leadership. Areas of focus include patient safety, quality improvement, medical policy, pharmacy and therapeutics. He currently serves as chief of outpatient Internal Medicine and strives to build effective teams and systems of care. He lives in Bremerton, WA where he raises awareness of health topics with a column in the local pater. When not working he enjoys rowing on the Puget Sound, hiking in Washington’s mountains, biking through our forests and spending time with family.

Amish J. Dave, MD
Rheumatologist, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Seattle
Dr. Dave completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Russian and Eastern European history, biological sciences, and neuroscience. He completed his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and his internal medicine residency training at Stanford. Dr. Dave did his rheumatology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston and completed his master's in public health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Dave is a rheumatologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center practicing in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island. He is a board member of the King County Medical Society Board of Trustees focused on preventing childhood lead exposure and gun violence in Washington state. He is a 2006 Humanity in Action Senior Fellow, a 2007 Sue Mercy Fellow, a member of the Senior Fellows Leadership Council, and a board member of the Humanity in Action Foundation. Dr. Dave is on a member of the Washington Rheumatology Alliance, the American College of Rheumatology, the American College of Physicians, and the Washington State Medical Association.

Jose Carlos Flores Rodarte, MD
Family medicine, HealthPoint at SeaTac, Seattle
I was born in Mexico, grew up in California, attended medical school in New York City, then completed my residency in family medicine at the University of Washington. After completing my Chief Year, I started my National Health Service Corps service at HealthPoint SeaTac, an FQHC where I serve a diverse community including a majority Spanish-speaking panel. Aside from the YPS, I am also involved in the Washington Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians. In my spare time, I enjoy video games, travel, riding my bike, and time with my two dogs and cat.

Kenneth M. Foerster, MD MBA
Family Medicine, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Federal Way
Dr. Foerster is a board-certified family medicine physician focusing in urgent care. He earned a BS in biomedical engineering before going on to complete medical school, both at University of Washington. He completed a University of Washington affiliated family medicine residency program where he was chief resident. In practice he has worked in clinical and leadership roles focusing in urgent care for two of the largest not-for-profit medical groups in the state. He earned his MBA from Oregon Health and Sciences University and is currently the senior medical director overseeing urgent care, prompt care, and occupational medicine clinics for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health throughout the Puget sound region. Dr. Foerster is passionate about physician leadership, equity, access, and quality in healthcare. He enjoys kayaking in the sound, hiking in the cascades, playing board games with friends, and spending time with his family.

Valerie Fredrickson, DO

Kat Jong, MD

Neil Kalariya, MD
Dr. Neil Kalariya is a board certified anesthesiologist with subspecialty training in obstetric anesthesiology in Seattle. He grew up outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania and completed his undergraduate degrees in Biology and Neuroscience at the The University of Scranton. He then went on to attend medical school at Temple University School of Medicine, anesthesiology residency at Allegheny Health Network, and Obstetric anesthesiology fellowship at Stanford University. He is an active member of the Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology and sits on the governance committee as well as the educational track subcommittee on obstetric anesthesia for the American Society of Anesthesiologists. He works with the international organization, Kybele, to partner with hospitals in the Balkans to improve childbirth safety. In his spare time, he likes to cook and travel around the globe.

Jennifer Maxwell MD, MPH, FAAP
Family Medicine, Yakima Valley Farmworkers Medical-Dental Clinic, Yakima
Jennifer Maxwell MD, MPH, FAAP, is a family physician, national health service corps scholar and mother of three. She completed her MD/MPH at the University of Toledo. She then attended residency at the University of Washington where she also completed a fellowship through the Teaching Scholars program in medical education. She currently works at the Yakima Valley Farmworker’s clinic in Yakima where she serves as the clinical medical director and teaches in the Sollus Northwest Nurse Practioner Residency program. She is passionate about health equity and providing healthcare to those most in need. She is excited to be able to support new physicians entering into practice. In her spare time, she enjoys playing board games, hiking, and inventing new games with her kids.

Jeremy Oulton, MD
Family Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Washington, Seattle Dr. Oulton is dedicated to strengthening primary care and addressing the unique needs of geriatric patients. He advocates for physician well-being, LGBTQI healthcare inclusivity, and equitable access to care. With a focus on advancing healthcare policy, Dr. Oulton actively works to improve patient outcomes and support the profession. He fosters collaboration among healthcare providers and policymakers, promoting innovation and enhancing the quality of care.

Elizabeth (Libby) Parker, MD
Anatomic Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle
Dr. Parker is from Alaska, studied biology at Dartmouth College, graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and is currently an Acting Assistant Professor with UW Medicine Laboratory Medicine & Pathology.

John Rambo, MD
Dr. John Rambo is originally from Gurnee, Illinois and completed his undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis. He stayed close to home and completed his medical degree at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. He jumped at the chance to head west for residency and was part of the inaugural class at Northwest Washington Family Medicine Residency in Bremerton, where he served as chief resident in his final year. After residency he joined the faculty at NWFMR and continues to practice full scope family medicine. He is deeply grateful for the opportunity to keep working with learners while growing in his own practice. His particular clinical interests lie in behavioral health and addiction medicine. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his partner, caring for their animals, road trips, competitive trivia, and St. Louis Cardinals baseball.

Matthew Smith, MD

Gergana Stancheva, MD
Dr. Gera Stancheva was born in Sofia, Bulgaria and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She graduated with a BS in Life Sciences from the University of British Columbia and received her medical degree from Ross University of Medicine in Dominica. She completed her Family Medicine residency training at the Northwest WA Family Medicine Residency in Bremerton, WA where she remained after graduation to serve as core faculty. Her interests in medicine include obstetrics, reproductive medicine, pediatrics and partnering with her patients to deliver individualized care across all life stages. Outside of work, Dr. Stancheva enjoys jigsaw puzzles, playing tennis & soccer and traveling to new places.

Zoe (Sansted) Taylor, MD
Zoe Taylor is a family doctor and clinical informaticist at the Lummi Nation Health Center near Bellingham. She earned an MD/MBA from Columbia University and completed residency and was Chief Resident at the University of Washington Family Medicine Residency in Seattle. She practices broad-spectrum primary care and her clinical passions include substance use disorder treatment and reproductive medicine. She is passionate about closing gaps in access to reproductive care (including abortion) for Alaska Native and Native American patients, as well as pregnancy and reproductive care in patients with substance use disorders. In her administrative role, she is a clinical informaticist and Epic Physician Builder.

Mark Tom, MD
Dr. Tom hails from Chicago but traded Midwest winters for the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where he completed his bachelor’s in physiology at Seattle Pacific University. Before medical school, he gained invaluable experience at Fred Hutch, working in cancer care research and getting to know cancer survivors through the Survivorship clinic. Dr. Tom earned his MD at the University of Washington and completed his residency in Family Medicine at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene. He currently serves as an urgent care physician with Providence Medical Group and locums’ physician at regional critical access hospitals doing full spectrum family medicine through Docs Who Care. When he’s not in the clinic, you’ll find him outdoors adventuring alongside his wife and pup backcountry skiing, mountain biking and trail running.

Matthew Watson, DO
Matthew J. Watson, DO is a board-certified Urologist practicing at Swedish Edmonds. Dr. Watson holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Society and the Environment from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He attended medical school at Michigan State University, during which time he was selected to participate in the National Institute of Health Medical Research Scholars Program. He then went on to finish a Cancer Research Training Award Fellowship within the NIH Urological Oncology Branch. He completed his Urological Surgery Residency at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, during which time he was involved in the American Urological Association Policy and Advocacy Resident Workgroup. An active member of the American Urological Association, Dr. Watson has published numerous papers and book chapters and has presented at numerous national and international conferences. Outside his practice, Dr. Watson enjoys traveling, trying new foods, being outdoors, and philosophical conversations.

Nicolai Wohns, MD

Matthew Grierson, MD
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, Seattle
WSMA Speaker of the House and AMA Delegate
Dr. Grierson is a board-certified physiatrist with subspecialty board certification in sports medicine. Dr. Grierson earned his medical degree from Boston University and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington, where he also served as chief resident. Having experienced his fair share of dance-related injuries, Dr. Grierson appreciates the importance of finding a physician who understands the functional impact of an injury. He is medical director of the Clinic for Performing Artists (CoPA) at Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine and is committed to helping all patients across the spectrum of age, ability, and function. Outside of work, Dr. Grierson assists in shaping health care policy through his work with the WSMA and the American Medical Association. He co-founded a local non-profit (SeaPAM) that provides treatment to local performing artists who otherwise would not have access to care. When he has time, he loves spending time hiking or skiing in the mountains or baking decadent desserts in the kitchen.

Alex Hamling, MD
Pediatrics, Pacific Medical Center Canyon Park, Bothell
Liaison from WSMA Board of Trustees
Dr. Hamling is a board-certified pediatrician working at Pacific Medical Centers at their Bothell campus. He obtained his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and his MBA in Healthcare Management from the Fox School of Business at Temple University. He completed his general pediatric residency at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medicine Center. Dr. Hamling serves as PacMed's Culture of Disclosure Physician Champion for process resolution for unexpected medical outcomes during care. He is also active in quality improvement projects focused on pediatric care, including vaccination safety and screening for pediatric obesity and its related diseases. He served two years as the vice chair of the WSMA Young Physicians Section Governing Council, prior to being elected chair in 2017. He also serves on the WSMA CME Program Committee and Bylaws Committee. During his off time, he enjoys geocaching, gardening, walking with his daughter to local coffee shops and dancing (salsa, swing, tango, etc.)

Nariman Heshmati, MD
Obstetrics/gynecology, The Everett Clinic, Everett
Liaison from WSMA Executive Committee and AMA Alternate Delegate
Dr. Heshmati is a board-certified OB-GYN in Everett. He completed his residency at Vanderbilt University and now practices at The Everett Clinic, where he has served on numerous committees and retains one of the highest-volume clinical practices with a focus on high-risk obstetrics and minimally invasive surgery. He also serves as the medical director for Providence Regional Medical Center's obstetrics unit, which manages 5,000 deliveries per year. He strongly believes that physicians must stay active in advocacy and serves on WSMA's board and as chair of the Washington Medical Political Action Committee. In addition, he serves as vice chair of the Washington Section of the American College of OB-GYNs (ACOG) and is a graduate of ACOG's Cefalo Leadership Institute at UNC. Through these positions he advocates for many pieces of health care legislation.

Tony Quang, MD, JD
Radiology oncology, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
Liaison from WSMA Board of Trustees
Dr. Quang is a board-certified radiation oncologist who has been practicing medicine for 15 years. He treats cancer patients, teaches medical students and residents, conducts research, and reviews clinical protocols as chairman of the VA IRB. He takes care of patients at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. He provides consulting services for risk management, medical malpractice, hospital quality improvement/peer review, entrepreneurial IT, and biotechnology start-ups working with clients to address regulatory issues in the health care community to position companies in compliance with national standards and emerging trends. As an attorney, his areas of interest include medical malpractice, contracts, clinical trials protocols, FDA regulation, and intellectual property law.

Bridget Bush, MD
Anesthesiologist, Island Hospital and Providence Regional Medical Center, Anacortes
At large
Dr. Bush is a board-certified anesthesiologist. She was born and raised in Reno, NV, completing her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Nevada Reno. She worked for the government through the Department of Energy with the Yucca Mountain Project during college and in their High-Level Nuclear Waste Engineering at the Savannah River Site, SC before entering medical school at Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans. She graduated in 2006 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and started her Internship with the US Navy at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va. After internship, she attended Flight School with the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Fla. She then worked as a Flight Surgeon with the Electronic Attack squadrons VAQ-138/133/132 out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., where she completed deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. Upon resigning her active duty commission, she finally got to find a home in the Evergreen State, completing her anesthesiology residency at the Virginia Mason Medical Center. She is passionate about patient safety and appropriate reporting of unusual occurrences. When not working she enjoys reading, playing the piano, pole dancing, skiing and hiking with her husband and Greater Swiss Mountain dogs.

Brett Collins, MD
Dr. Collins was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, and grew up in Boise, Idaho. After earning his B.S. in molecular biology from Colorado State University, he began his medical journey at UW School Of Medicine. Now a third-year anesthesiology resident at the University of Washington, he is engaged in anesthesiology quality improvement initiatives and health advocacy at the state and national levels. He believes strongly in the importance of DEI, harm reduction, and scope of practice. Outside of medicine, he enjoys hiking, gardening, and playing the cello.

Taseen Haque, MD
Taseen Haque is originally from Northern Virginia and attended Duke University for his undergraduate degree, graduating with a B.A. in Public Policy Studies. Afterwards, he spent two years as a Business Analyst at Capital One. He then went to the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism honor societies. He was a research assistant for the Hung Robotics Lab, which helped inspire his interest in urology. Dr. Haque's research interests include applications of machine learning in the assessment of robotic surgery and the delivery of urologic oncology care in the United States. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding, exploring nature in and around Seattle, and traveling with his family.

Kelania Jimenez, MD

Jacob Leary, MD
Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
Dr. Leary is a native of Greencastle, Pennsylvania. He studied Psychology and Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by an Intramural Research Training Award fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. He then completed his post-baccalaureate studies at Bryn Mawr College, and earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, CO. As a current Internal Medicine resident at the University of Washington, his academic interests include drug development and clinical trials in oncology as well as gun violence prevention. Outside of medicine, he enjoys hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing, and finding any excuse to travel to a new country.

Ricardo Pulido, MD
Otolaryngology, University of Washington, Seattle
I was born in Neptune, New Jersey and I am the first member of my immediate family to go to college. I went to Rutgers University - New Brunswick where I majored in biological sciences. I then went to New York University School of Medicine for medical school where I earned my M.D. I am currently an Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery resident at the University of Washington where I am currently devoting 1 year research time in machine learning in sinus and skull base surgery. I enjoy playing soccer and traveling in my free time. I plan on pursuing an academic career and promoting the underserved community.

Matthew Grierson, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, Seattle
WSMA Speaker of the House and AMA Delegate
Dr. Grierson is a board-certified physiatrist with subspecialty board certification in sports medicine. Dr. Grierson earned his medical degree from Boston University and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington, where he also served as chief resident. Having experienced his fair share of dance-related injuries, Dr. Grierson appreciates the importance of finding a physician who understands the functional impact of an injury. He is medical director of the Clinic for Performing Artists (CoPA) at Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine and is committed to helping all patients across the spectrum of age, ability, and function. Outside of work, Dr. Grierson assists in shaping health care policy through his work with the WSMA and the American Medical Association. He co-founded a local non-profit (SeaPAM) that provides treatment to local performing artists who otherwise would not have access to care. When he has time, he loves spending time hiking or skiing in the mountains or b g decadent desserts in the kitchen.

Rasheed Durowoju, MD
At large and Liaison from WSMA Board of Trustees
Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
Dr. Durowoju grew up in Toronto, Canada. He earned his medical degree at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, prior to joining the internal medicine residency program at University of Washington. Before medical school, he obtained a master’s in global medicine at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. He has strong interests in global health, health policy, and ensuring appropriate baseline healthcare needs of communities are met by the systems that serve them. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Evan Thomas
Chair
Evan is a proud husband and father. Prior to medical school, he worked in EMS both internationally and domestically, and then enjoyed a six-year career as a critical care nurse, mainly working in the state of Washington. Evan decided to pursue medicine, in part, to use his past experience in various healthcare settings to advocate, via policymaking, for positive changes for patients, allied-health professionals, and physicians. He believes that while there are many challenges to overcome, it's important to remember that there are amazing people working in healthcare and there are many positive aspects to our health system.

Courtney Batts
Courtney grew up in the small town of Sultan and later a6ended Washington State University in Pullman where she received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a minor in psychology. She has a diverse work history prior to starting medical school that helped her develop a unique perspective on the intricacies of delivering quality care. She spent two years managing a rural dental clinic where she gained valuable insight into the operational side of medicine while witnessing the impact that compassionate, patient- centered care can have on individuals in underserved communities. That experience established her love for patient advocacy and as she continues her medical education, she hopes to work collaboratively with others to bridge the gap between health disparities and providing care to those who need it most. Currently, she is a second-year medical student at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine – she is an inaugural member of the Student Learning Center’s advisory board, serves as ESFCOM’s OSR representative for the AAMC, and is a co-lead tutor for the school’s SCOPE program. She is excited to work with like-minded peers across the state and bring a fresh perspective to help address the unique challenges and concerns faced by medical students today. Through her role with the WSMA’s Medical Student Section Governing Council, she wants to learn how she can be a vital advocate for positive change within the healthcare landscape.

Natalie Fuller

Nicola Gerbino
Nicola grew up in Shoreline and received her undergraduate degree in public health and Spanish studies from Santa Clara University. After college, she worked on an opioid education project for primary care physicians in San Francisco, where she developed an interest in harm reduction and addiction medicine. She then spent her pre-clerkship years with UWSOM in Spokane. She is now completing clerkships throughout various regions of Washington State. Witnessing diversity in access to care, continuing education, and medical resources across the state has fostered a deeper understanding of the intricacies of medical practice and fostered an interest in working to improve health inequities and patient care on a broader scale. Nicola is excited to work with other medical students from Washington and learn more about health care advocacy and policy with the WSMA’s Medical Student Section Governing Council. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and cooking with family and friends.

Patrick Hewes

Myranda Nguyen
Myranda immigrated from Vietnam to Washington with her family in 2016. She is currently a second-year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Spokane. Her journey into medicine is deeply rooted in personal experiences accessing healthcare as an immigrant and her service as an AmeriCorps member, where she participated in campaigns and initiatives that addressed food insecurity in underserved communities across King County. Myranda is passionate about addressing healthcare disparities through advocacy, leadership, and health equity research. As a representative on the Service Learning Advisory Committee for the Spokane cohort of UWSOM and a member of the Governing Council on the Medical Student Section of WSMA, she hopes to contribute her skills, experience, and background to support WSMA’s mission and initiatives, promoting equitable, sustainable, and comprehensive healthcare.

Noushyar Panahpour Eslami
Noushyar grew up in Edmonds, where he served as the student representative to the Edmonds City Council during his senior year of high school, before attending the University of Washington for his undergraduate degrees in chemistry and biochemistry. His journey to medicine began toward the end of his time at UW when he started working at Harborview Medical Center, researching the non-medical factors that affect both individual health and physician decision-making. This experience sparked a desire to understand the role of policy in medicine, which led him to pursue an MPH in Health Policy at the Yale School of Public Health. While in Connecticut, Noushyar completed a practicum course working in the Connecticut State Legislature, focusing on bills addressing the opioid crisis. He is currently a second-year medical student at WSU, where he also serves as the President of the Medical Student Council. Having returned home to Washington for medical school, he hopes to continue learning more about health policy and applying his prior experience to address healthcare needs in the state.

Emily Simmons
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima
Emily grew up in rural Nebraska and attended college at the Universities of Wyoming, Alabama, and Nebraska-Lincoln. She received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish with minors in Economics and Psychology. Leading up to medical school, she worked as the lead anesthesia technician at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Omaha, as a volunteer Spanish medical interpreter at Healing Gift Free Clinic, and as a critical care patient care technician at Nebraska Medicine. Through these roles, she gained an appreciation for interprofessional collaboration, clinical education and mentorship, and the unique challenges present when caring for underserved communities. Her past volunteer roles include serving as an ESL citizenship course tutor, in-patient children’s rehab aide, elementary student mentor, therapeutic riding aide, and adapted athlete CrossFit coach. As a physician, she hopes to make a positive and meaningful impact in the lives of others. She is passionate about physical rehabilitation, language access, preventive care, patient education, and mentorship. As a first-year medical student at Pacific Northwest University, she is excited to advocate for fellow medical students across Washington and learn more about healthcare policy through her role with the WSMA’s Medical Student Council. Prior to medical school, she enjoyed working at a winery and as an interior design assistant. Now living in Yakima, WA, and in the midst of medical school, she enjoys biking, hiking, trying new restaurants, and traveling.

Jamie Spawn

Johan Velo

Tara Wilfert
Tara was raised on the outskirts of London, growing up in a multicultural family with roots in Lebanon and Germany. A graduate of Wellesley College and now a second-year medical student at UWSOM, she previously worked in healthcare consulting at Accenture, where she developed a passion for quality improvement and enhancing patient care systems. As Vice-President for her medical school class, Tara is committed to supporting her peers and advocating for her community. Her involvement with WSMA began in attending WSMA’s 2024 Legislative Summit and Leadership Development Conference, and she loved being surrounded by physicians passionate about shaping health policy and furthering WSMA’s vision. Grateful for the opportunity to contribute, she is excited to bring her enthusiasm for community involvement and healthcare advocacy to the Medical Student Section governing council and looks forward to collaborating with the other council members to support the next generation of healthcare leaders in Washington.

Matthew Grierson, MD
Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, Seattle
WSMA Speaker of the House and AMA Delegate
Dr. Grierson is a board-certified physiatrist with subspecialty board certification in sports medicine. Dr. Grierson earned his medical degree from Boston University and completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington, where he also served as chief resident. Having experienced his fair share of dance-related injuries, Dr. Grierson appreciates the importance of finding a physician who understands the functional impact of an injury. He is medical director of the Clinic for Performing Artists (CoPA) at Seattle Spine and Sports Medicine and is committed to helping all patients across the spectrum of age, ability, and function. Outside of work, Dr. Grierson assists in shaping health care policy through his work with the WSMA and the American Medical Association. He co-founded a local non-profit (SeaPAM) that provides treatment to local performing artists who otherwise would not have access to care. When he has time, he loves spending time hiking or skiing in the mountains or baking decadent desserts in the kitchen.

Tianfu "Andy" Shang
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, Yakima
Student trustee liaison from the BOT
Andy’s journey to medicine started as a child watching his grandparents care for their community in China. After relocating and graduating from high school in medically underserved Idaho, he spent a year in Germany as a junior ambassador which sparked his interest in political advocacy. After graduating from the University of Washington, he took a career detour at Amazon before being pulled back to medicine through Search and Rescue. Before matriculating to medical school, Andy worked in the emergency department at Swedish Ballard and saw first-hand the necessity to have community-based healthcare and the challenges faced by those from socially disadvantaged and minority backgrounds. He currently serves as Executive President of Student Government Association, mentors and tutored first year students, and coaches for Special Olympics in his free time. He is dedicated to advocating for the needs of medical students and pre-medical students at the local, state, and national level.