Executive Board Members

KKI[:en]

CO-PRESIDENTS

Lynn-Chi Nguyen | HEAL/NEUR/MDHM ’25

2024-25 Co-President, Shift Leader

Hi! My name is Lynn-Chi, and I’m a shift leader and your 2023-24 Co-President! I’m originally from New Orleans, LA and am a junior majoring in Health Sciences, minoring in Medical Humanities. I joined PDI to broaden my knowledge and learn how to close the health disparity gap through service and education. Specifically, I found a passion for making patients feel more comfortable through providing them with valuable information and lending a helping, approachable hand. Outside of PDI, I love baking, meeting new people, and being involved in my residential college, Baker!

SHIFT LEADERS & COMMITTEE HEADS

Nikhil Mummaneni | CSCI/SPAN ’25

2024-25 Recruitment Co-Head, Shift Leader

Hi! My name is Nikhil, and I am a Senior at McMurtry majoring in Cognitive Sciences with a minor in Spanish and Portuguese. I am passionate about health policy and helping non-native speakers navigate the healthcare system. I joined PDI to improve patients’ healthcare experiences while learning more about social determinants of health. In my free time, I love to fix up old cars and play basketball.

Karen Zheng | BIOS ’25

2024-25 Recruitment Co-Head, Shift Leader

Hi! I’m a senior at Baker College majoring in Cell Bio and Genetics. I joined PDI to directly help and learn firsthand about the shortcomings of our healthcare systems so that I can be a culturally competent provider in the future. I am passionate about helping PDI grow and positively impacting the people we meet! My hobbies include volleyball, art, and lion dance.

Elizabeth Pan | KINE/BIOS ’25

2024-25 Research Committee Co-Head, Shift Leader

Hello! My name is Liz, and I’m a senior at Sid Rich college majoring in Sports Medicine & Exercise Physiology. As the Research Committee co-head and a shift leader for PDI, I’m excited to continue engaging with our wonderful volunteers to evaluate ways we can improve how we serve the wellbeing and unique social needs of Houston’s patient populations. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going on runs, and trying new foods!

Rohan Palavali | BIOS/GLHT/SPAN ’26

2024-25 Research Committee Co-Head, Shift Leader

Hi! My name is Rohan Palavali and I’m from Dallas, Texas. I’m a junior from Hanszen College, studying Biochemistry and Global Health Technologies. I joined PDI because I believe that social issues are a key aspect in issues of health and medicine. The healthcare system is incredibly complex and inextricably linked with countless other societal issues that make up the social determinants of health. I’m excited to use my position in PDI to help in any way I can! In my free time, I like to draw and explore the amazing food scene here in Houston.

Dillan Patel | NEUR ’26

2024-25 Health Policy Committee Co-Head

Hi, I’m Dillan Patel, a Junior from Duncan college studying Neuroscience. I am passionate about health policy and first got involved with PDI through organizing our annual Health Policy Hackathon. As co-head of the Health Policy Committee, I work to continue hosting the hackathon as well as Health Policy week. Outside of PDI, I love to ski, play pickleball, and explore restaurants in Houston.

Eunbi Chung | SOPA/BIOS ’26

2024-25 Healthy Policy Committee Co-Head

Hello! My name is Eunbi Chung, and I am a junior from Lovett majoring in Social Policy Analysis on the pre-med track. As one of the Co-Heads of the Health Policy Committee, I work to host the annual Health Policy Hackathon and Health Policy Week at Rice. Outside of PDI, you can find me hanging around the RMC with Chaus in hand, lifting at the rec, or working at Fondy!

Sebastian Spataro | HEAL/BIOS ’26

2024-25 Expansion Committee Co-Head

Sebastian is interested in doing health economics research with an end goal of policy. Therefore, his involvement in the expansion committee will allow him to get an informed perspective on what it takes to navigate the implementation of new programs in the U.S. healthcare systems.

Anish Attarde | BIOS/KINE/SPAN ’25

2024-25 Expansion Committee Co-Head, Shift Leader

Hello! I’m Anish Attarde and I am a senior at Lovett College studying Biosciences and Sports Medicine. I deeply value being able to serve the Houston community through PDI and am passionate about working with underserved populations in an effort to address discrepancies that exist in healthcare between social groups. Outside of PDI, I am involved in Ophthalmological research, KAST, and serve as a Peer Academic Advisor. In my free time you can find me biking around campus, playing basketball, or finding new places to eat out around Houston!

Aryana Suhartono | PSYC/ANTH/MDHM ’25

2024-25 Community Outreach Committee Head, Shift Leader

Hi everyone! My name is Aryana, and I am a junior at Hanszen studying Psychology, Medical Humanities, and Anthropology on the Pre-Health track. I am particularly interested in improving social and health equity in vulnerable populations, and I am excited to do so by gaining a better understanding of patient experiences through PDI. In my free time, I enjoy food blogging, playing Just Dance, and binging movies (especially horror)!

Cayla Xue | BIOS/HEAL/GLHT ’26

2024-25 Community Outreach Committee Head, Shift Leader

Hi! My name is Cayla, and I am a sophomore at Sid interested in healthcare and public health. I love being a part of PDI because of our focus on working with underserved communities, providing excellent patient care, and promoting health and socioeconomic equity. This year I’m excited to be serving as a shift leader and the co-head of the Community Outreach committee. In my free time I love thrifting, taking photos, and biking/hiking!

Stephanie Agu | BIOS/HEAL/PLST ’25

2024-25 Presence Committee Co-Head

Hello! My name is Stephanie Agu and I am the presence co-committee leader for the 2022-2023 school year. I joined PDI because I have a passion for health policy and its intersection with race and gender. I thought PDI was the perfect place to explore my public health career interests, and it has given me a lot of newfound knowledge in the field. On campus, you can usually find me hanging out with friends, casually strolling to class, or taking my frequent naps in the Fondren library!

Catherine Zhou | COMP/BIOS/RELI ’27

2024-2025 Presence Committee Co-Head, Shift Leader

Hi! I’m Catherine, a sophomore at Will Rice majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Biochemistry. I joined PDI to help tackle health disparities in our local community and gain hands-on experience in healthcare, especially concerning to socioeconomic barriers to healthcare. In my free time, I love doing outdoorsy activities, drawing, and eating noodles.

Sydney Lagard | BIOS/MDHM/AAAS ’26

2024-25 Shift Manager, Shift Leader

Hi! My name is Sydney Lagard, and I am a junior at Duncan, majoring in the Biosciences and double minoring in African and African American Studies and Medical Humanities. I joined PDI during the fall of my freshman year as a result of my passion for better understanding and resolving healthcare disparities. In my free time, I love exploring museums, doing anything art related, and binge-watching reality TV!

Ana Letca | BIOS ’26

2024-2025 Treasurer, Shift Leader

Leora Maksoud | BIOS/GLHT/SPAN ’25

2024-25 Co-Webmaster, Shift Leader

Hey everyone! My name is Leora Maksoud, and I am currently a senior at Hanszen College. I joined PDI my freshman year because I have always been passionate about studying the social determinants of health and implementing methods to expand access to resources such as health insurance, housing, food, and transportation. I know that PDI shares this same mission with the goal of improving patient outcomes and long-term well-being. In my free time I love watching movies, singing karaoke with friends, and trying new foods!

Mary Perez | NEUR/BIOS ’26

2024-25 Co-Webmaster

Hi y’all!! I’m a junior from Sid Rich, majoring in Neuroscience and Biosciences with a concentration in Biochemistry. This is my second year on PDI and I’ll be serving as the Webmaster this year. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, I’m super excited for this up coming year!

Elie Wang | HEAL/BIOS/ENGL ’26

2024-2025 Office Manager, Shift Leader

Hello! My name is Elie Wang, and I’m a junior at Brown College majoring in Health Sciences and minoring in Biosciences and English. As someone passionate about addressing health disparities, I appreciate how PDI aims to support patients from underserved communities while allowing volunteers to gain firsthand experience of the intersections between social determinants of health and patient outcomes. In my free time, I love to read, play volleyball, and watch movies!

George Tataris | BIOS/MDHM/SPAN ’26

2024-25 Shift Leader

Milton Nguyen | HEAL ’26

2024-2025 Shift Leader

Hi! I’m Milton, and I am a junior at Wiess College majoring in Health Sciences. I am very passionate about incorporating a public health approach into healthcare delivery and developing a more holistic view of health. I am looking forward to working this year as a Shift Leader for PDI and helping to mentor new members. In my free time, I really enjoy exploring Houston through running and cycling.

Sofia Lopez | BIOE ’26

2024-25 Shift Leader

Hello! I’m Sofia, one of the shift leaders at PDI. I’m a junior studying Bioengineering, and I joined PDI in the Fall of 2023 because I wanted the opportunity to connect with patients from all walks of life and help them feel safe and cared for in the medical setting. Growing up in El Salvador, I have a special place in my heart for interacting with the different Latin patients, and it’s truly meaningful for me to bring a bit of comfort and warmth to those who share a bit of my cultural background.

Esha Shenoy | HEAL ’25

2024-2025 Shift Leader

Hi! My name is Esha and I am an incoming shift leader 🙂 I joined PDI to determine how the social determinants of health impact patients and the healthcare system. Through volunteering, I was able to gain insight through invaluable patient and staff interaction. In my free time, I enjoy baking, spending time in nature, and painting.

Olivia Chang | HEAL/MDHM ’26

2024-2025 Shift Leader

Hi! My name is Olivia, and I am serving as a shift leader for PDI this year. I’m a junior at Martel studying Health Sciences and minoring in Medical Humanities with a language certificate in Spanish. I am grateful that PDI has allowed me to connect with a diverse patient population and learn more about improving health equity for underserved populations. Outside of PDI, I love composing music and playing board games with friends.

Ona Isiofia | HEAL/BIOS/ENGL ’25

2024-2025 Shift Leader

Greetings! My name is Ona, and I am excited to be a shift leader this school year. I am currently a senior at Will Rice, majoring in Health Sciences. Growing up in South Texas, I often witnessed how social determinants of health can affect people’s health outcomes and their ability to navigate health resources. I joined PDI to explore how, as a community member, I can help bridge health disparities in my local community.

Anagha Alapati | BIOS/NEUR ’25

2024-2025 Shift Leader

Hi everyone! My name is Anagha Alapati and I am a shift leader for this upcoming year. I am a senior at Hanszen majoring in biochemistry and minoring in neuroscience. I joined PDI to better understand how to serve patients facing a unique social determinants of health and empower patients to take care of their health outside of hospital walls. In my free time, I love running, playing the piano, and baking!

Abishai Rajan | BIOS/SPAN ’26

2024-2025 Shift Leader

Hello! My name is Abishai and I’m a Junior at Martel. I’m majoring in Biosciences and minoring in Spanish. Throughout my time at Rice, I’ve been passionate about the language barrier in medicine, and PDI has been a means by which I’ve explored my passions. Connecting Limited English Proficiency (LEP) patients to essential resources and educating them has been more than fulfilling, allowing me to more deeply understand the healthcare disparities that impact Harris County. In my free time, I love watching and critiquing TV shows, cooking, and traveling. I look forward to being a Shift Leader!

Ellen Kang | BIOS/SPAN/MDHM ’26

2024-2025 Shift Leader

Hi! My name is Ellen, and I’m a junior at Martel studying Biosciences with minors in Medical Humanities and Spanish. I love working with PDI because of the club’s focus on directly supporting underserved patients in our community. In my free time, I enjoy baking and figure skating!

Alumni[:]