Meet our Student and Resident Committees

Conference
Conference leads the development and implementation of CYFAM’s annual conference.

  • Patrick Ancheta

    Co-Coordinator
    MD Candidate
    Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
    Grand Blanc, MI

  • Katherine Chua

    Co-Coordinator
    BS Human Biology and Society
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Jacob Less

    Co-Coordinator
    DO Candidate
    Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Glendale, AZ

  • Jaira Mendoza

    Co-Coordinator
    BS Physiological Science
    University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Isabella Rosenzweig

    Co-Coordinator
    MD Candidate
    Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter School of Medicine
    North Haven, CT

Learn more about the Conference Planning Committee

The Conference Committee consists of further sub-committees to assist, plan, and execute CYFAM’s annual conference.

Community Engagement

Community Engagement focuses on building and maintaining relationships with community stakeholders, organizing health-related events, and collaborating on various projects like volunteer efforts, internships, professional development, fundraisers, and public health advocacy.

  • Sarah Mortero

    Co-Chair

  • Theresa Pasion

    Co-Chair

  • Shaira Gail Ramirez Santos, MS

    Co-Chair
    DO Candidate
    Western University of Health Sciences
    Pomona, CA

  • Lauren Velasquez

    Co-Chair
    DO Candidate
    Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
    New York, NY

Development

Development leads and supports CYFAM growth strategy and organizational development, supports operational and financial functions, and maintains the CYFAM brand.

  • Misha Samonte

    Strategy and Branding
    BS Management
    Ateneo de Manila University
    Manila, Philippines

  • Nina Gutierrez

    Strategy and Branding
    MD Candidate
    Albert Einstein College of Medicine
    New York, NY

  • Neille John Apostol

    Systems and Capital Sourcing
    MPH Candidate
    California State University, Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, CA

Special Sub-Committee on Advancement

The Special Sub-Committee on Advancement assists students in their journey to becoming physicians by offering comprehensive support for standardized tests and medical school applications.

  • Katherine Chua

    BS Human Biology and Society
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Misha Samonte

    BS Management
    Ateneo de Manila University
    Manila, Philippines

  • Sophia Anne Marie B. Villanueva

    BS Physiological Sciences
    University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
    Los Angeles, CA

Education
Education focuses on advancing professional development in medical education for members, maintaining educational avenues for medical degree seekers, and promoting community health outreach and education about Filipinx health disparities in the Philippines and the diaspora.

  • John Roy Lozada

    Co-Chair
    MD/PhD Candidate
    University of Minnesota Medical School
    Minneapolis and Duluth, MN

  • Netanya Flores

    Co-Chair
    DPM Candidate
    Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine & Temple Foot and Ankle Institute
    Philadelphia, PA

  • Graschelle Hipolito

    Co-Chair
    DO Candidate
    Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Kansas City, KS

  • Joshua Dejoya

    Co-Chair
    MD Candidate
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
    Chapel Hill, NC

Membership Engagement
Membership Engagement safeguards the membership directory, engages members through virtual and in-person means in collaboration with other committees, and works on enhancing the directory's security and automation as CYFAM grows.

  • Gelbert Crescencio

    Chair
    BS Candidate
    Amherst College
    Amherst, MA

Mentorship
Mentorship enhances the medical pipeline by connecting community members through mentor-mentee relationships.

  • Denzel Ryan Cruz

    Co-Chair
    MD/PhD Candidate
    University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
    Cincinnati, OH

  • Sophia Anne Marie B. Villanueva

    Co-Chair
    BS Candidate
    University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Monica Villegas

    Co-Chair

Media
Media is responsible for promoting the organization's mission and vision by publicizing its events and programs and collaborating with other committee chairs and senior leadership to maintain professional standards in public engagement.

  • Rod Carlo “Cody” Columbres

    Publicity Co-Chair
    DO Candidate
    William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Hattiesburg, MS
    —

    NIH Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) Fellow

  • Ashlee Joan Macalino

    Publicity Co-Chair
    UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Angeline Blancia

    Webmaster
    BS Candidate - Human Biology and Society
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, CA

Research
Research aims to advance academic research within the Filipinx American medical community, promote relevant research, and organize an annual research symposium aligned with the annual conference.

  • Rovingaile Kriska ("Rovika") Ponce

    Co-Chair
    MD Candidate
    Boston University School of Medicine
    Boston, MA

  • Charles Maniego

    Co-Chair
    DO, MS Candidate
    Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Erie, PA

  • Sophia Anne Marie B. Villanueva

    Co-Chair
    BS Physiological Sciences
    University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Angela David

    Co-Chair

  • Agustin Joshua “AJ” Tongson

    Co-Chair
    MS Global Health
    University of California, San Francisco
    San Francisco, CA

Resident Special Interest
Resident Special Interest represents and promotes interests of the resident community, focusing on advocacy and post-graduate professional development, and creates spaces for residents to connect and engage with each other.

  • Jovy Rex-Al Orbon, DO

    Co-Chair
    Los Angeles General Medical Center/USC Keck Hospital
    Los Angeles, CA

  • Lemuel Vince Rivera, MD

    Co-Chair
    University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
    San Francisco, CA