Welcome to the UConn

Premedical Society!

Mission Statement

• “We strive to be a resource for students who are looking to pursue a career in the medical profession, providing opportunities to participate in educational, community and social activities that will enhance their knowledge of the profession while actively being of benefit to the community.”

Membership Benefits

• UCHC Mentoring Program with UConn Medical School

• Discounts on Kaplan MCAT courses – Whitney Myers, Kaplan Representative

• Information related to medicine and medical school

• Networking• Tips on MCAT

Active Membership Requirements

REQUIREMENTS for active membership benefits:• $10 Annual Dues• Attending at least 3 Pre-Med events or

meetings per SEMESTER• 2 community service events per YEAR– 1 community service event must be hosted by Pre-

Med Society

Past Events• Relay for Life• Hartford Heart Walk• Mock Admissions

Workshops• Huskython• Special Olympics• Health Professions

Conference• CPR Certification• End of the year banquet

Past Community Service

• Huskython• Blood Drives• Relay for Life• Rare Disease Day • Special Olympics• Camp Horizons• Cancer Walk: Light the

Campus• And more!

Upcoming Events

• MSM Program• Alt. Break Application • Newsletters Series• Blood Drive• Ice Cream Social• CPR Class• And more

Meet the Medical Students

MSM• Objectives:

1. A personal relationship between mentor and mentee.2. Continuity with a mentor who is accessible and is a useful resource for the mentee.3. Expose mentee to medicine to confirm medicine as his/her vocation.4. Develop the necessary skill set to apply to medical school.

Mission Statement:"To bridge the gap between undergraduates and medical students by providing a continuous mentor-ship program that identifies available resources, provides guidance, and affirms interest in a medical education."

Meet the 2015-2016 E-board!

Co-PresidentAustin Lin is a senior Molecular & Cellular Biology Major with minors in Mathematics and Chemistry. Austin is an undergraduate teaching assistant for PNB 2264 & PNB 2265. Also, Austin is involved in researching in the Genetics and Developmental Biology Department. Austin enjoys hiking and traveling, but will actively avoid locations with a body of water. Also, his is willing to try new foods. Additionally, Austin enjoys good games of Smash Bros. 4. Please email him at yu.lin@uconn.edu if you want a match.

Message: Sorry, I cannot be here tonight; I have a RA meeting. If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to get to know me, please feel free to contact me. I’ll see you all next time.

Austin Lin

Co-PresidentHello everyone, my name is Matt Somerville and I will be one of the co-presidents this year for the UConn Pre-Medical Society. I am currently a senior here at UConn, which means that I am in the middle of the medical school application process. I am a biological sciences major with minors in psychology and neuroscience. In my free time, I enjoy playing softball, football, and going to the hockey rink to ice skate. I hope to get to know all of you throughout the year as you all take an active role in making the pre-medical society more engaging and hands-on for everyone .

Matt Somerville

Vice PresidentIsabel is a junior with a major in molecular and cell biology and aspires to pursue a M.D./Ph.D. degree. She currently conducts research on the underlying causes of Parkinson’s disease in Dr. Campellone’s lab and is also a member of the CLAS Leadership Board. Also, Isabel traveled to the Dominican Republic with the Pre-Medical Society in the summer of 2014 and volunteers at the UConn Health Center John Dempsey Hospital. Besides the academics, she is an accomplished pianist, plays clarinet, sings, and is skillful in Chinese yoyo. A member of Asian Performing Arts, Isabel performs Dragon Dance and other traditional Chinese dances every year at the Dragon Boat and Asian Festival at the Hartford Riverfront Recapture in August.

Isabel Nip

Membership ChairHi Premed Society! I’m Spo, a junior molecular and cell biology major here at UConn. I love to travel; in this picture I’m in the Dominican Republic, where I went with the Premed Society alt break group. This school year, I’m looking forward to doing microbiology research in the Graf lab, taking classes in my women’s, gender, and sexuality studies minor, and working for you all as your Membership Chair.

Spo Sampath

TreasurerMy name is Lyudmyla Susla. I will serve as a Treasure of Pre-Medical Society for 2015-2016 year. I am a senior, majoring in Allied Health Sciences and Finance. I am originally from Ukraine and am also a member of Ukrainian Student Association on campus. Aside from studying and volunteering I love to hike and eat lots of chocolate.

Lyudmyla Susla

UC Med RepHello everyone! I am a junior, Physiology and Neurobiology major, with a double minor in Psychology and Anthropology. I find the intersection between clinical medicine, health, and human rights fascinating and want to work in the field of pediatrics, somewhere on the West Coast. My goal here at UConn has been to diversify my education and extracurriculars as much as possible by getting involved in a variety of things, from undergraduate research to mock trial, which has been an adventure. On the board I serve as the Medical School Mentors (MSM) coordinator, so when you all apply, I will be matching you with your mentor, organizing get togethers, and working the medical school students to have Q and A panels over the course of the year.

Aiden Ford

Community Service ChairHi Everyone! My name is Danni Dong and I’m a sophomore. My major is Physiology and Neurobiology and I am currently doing research in a Neuroscience Lab. For fun I like to kickbox, try new foods, and interior decorate. This year I am excited to organize a Pre-Med Society team for Huskython. I love meeting new people so please feel free to introduce yourself and chat with me anytime!

Danni Dong

Publicity ChairHi everyone, I’m Sarah Van Antwerp! I’m a sophomore majoring in Human Development and Family Studies with a plan to concentrate on childhood and adolescent development. I hope to one day be a pediatric oncologist. In my free time, I enjoy lifeguarding in Matunuck, Rhode Island, brunching with friends, and relaxing by the ocean. This year I’m looking forward to getting more involved in campus activities, not being a freshman, HuskyThon 2016, and taking classes oriented towards my major.

Sarah Van Antwerp

Secretary

I’m a senior at UConn, and I’m majoring in biological sciences. I like being social, so I tend to enjoy company of my friends a lot. I am kind of a fitness enthusiast, so I like to go to the gym. I’m usually a motivated person. I love watching TV shows!

Rutvi Shah

IT Chair

I’m a junior double majoring in PNB and MCB. I'm going to be a surgeon one day, as is obvious by how weird I am when you get to know me. Whenever I need to relax, I read a book, cook, or do some kind of DIY project. I'm looking forward to finishing all of my premed classes and getting my MCAT's over soon!

Katherine Kashinsky

Co-Trip CoordinatorMelissa Kenney is a senior in the Honors program with a PNB major and a minor in Spanish. This upcoming trip will be her fourth time in the Dominican Republic whereas before, she has gone once as a participant, once as a Co-Trip Leader, and once as part of a collaboration with Engineering Without Borders. In addition, she studied abroad in Granada, Spain last Fall, is a member of the UConn Club Swim Team, works in a PNB research lab, and is taking a class to be an EMT.

Melissa Kenney

Co-Trip CoordinatorNicholas Arisco is a senior Honors Biological Sciences student here at UConn. He has been one of the alternative break trip coordinators for three years, with the 2016 trip being his third trip to the Dominican Republic. Additionally, Nick is involved in disease ecology research in the EEB department. He is an avid photographer, piano player and skateboarder as well.

Nick Arisco

Alt Break to the Dominican Republic

New E-Board Positions

Diversity Chair Newsletter Editor Chair

Diversity ChairThe Diversity Chair will help develop and implement programs and strategies to build a diverse and inclusive environment for the Uconn Pre-Med Society. Also, the Diversity Chair will serve as the voice of the members when injustice occurs within the society. Additionally, the Diversity Chair will collaborate with the advisor(s) to bring medical school tour opportunities to the members.

Eligibility: Open to all active society members. However, unlike traditional election (elected by the majority of the active members), this position will be elected via the interview process for this year.

To be elected

Newsletter Editor ChairThe Newsletter Editor Chair will supervise the newsletter committee, and edited the monthly premedical newsletter. Also, the Newsletter Editor Chair will need to input two current medical news articles into the monthly newsletter. Finally, the Newsletter Editor Chair will work with Daily Campus to release the newsletter.

Eligibility: Open to all active society members. However, unlike traditional election (elected by the majority of the active members), this position will be elected via the interview process for this year.

To be elected

Newsletter CommitteeThe newsletter committee is designed for members that are interested in writing current medical or diversity news for the society. If you are interested in joining the committee, it is required that you write at least one article per month and submit it to Newsletter Editor Chair. Additionally, you will need to attend two meetings per month that are hosted by the Newsletter Editor Chair.

Eligibility: Open to all inactive and active society members.

Benefit: In the following year, the Newsletter Editor Chair will be elected from members that are in the newsletter committee.

Meet Your Advisor

Meet Dr. Crivello

• Pre-Med Advisor• PNB Professor• Location: TLS Building Room

113• Phone: 860-486-5415• Email:

Joseph.Crivello@uconn.edu• Appointment:

https://web2.uconn.edu/advapp/app/?dept=12

Meet Dr. Sanford• Pre-Med advisor• Former dean of

admissions at UCHC• Location: CUE Building

Room 407• Phone: 860-486-1655• Email:

Keat.Sanford@uconn.edu• Appointment:

https://web2.uconn.edu/advapp/app/?dept=9

Why Your Premed Advisors Are Your Great Friends

• Your advisor can help you on:– Specific input on volunteer and service opportunities– Contact information for the premedical society on

campus– Professors who have conducted research with other

premedical students– Help from academic advising for scheduling courses to

ensure that you complete the required premedical coursework in a timely and rational manner

– Advice on collecting letters of recommendation and course evaluations from your premedical courses

Source: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions-doctor/2011/11/28/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-premed-adviser

A Few More Tips

Tip 1: You Can Be Any Major

Tip 2

A strong commitment to 2 or 3 unique activities will be more

highly valued and more personally rewarding than superficial

involvement in a dozen conventional ones.

Tip 3

The value of an excellent mentor

cannot be overstated.

Contact Information• Visit the Pre-Med Society website for all updated info:

– www.uconnpremed.com• To schedule appointments with Dr. Crivello or Dr.

Sanford:– http://premed.uconn.edu/advising-appointments/

• Contact Minnie Yordon about the Medical Student Mentoring Program:– myordon@uchc.edu

• To contact Sylvia DeLavalle about the Kaplan discounts or Kaplan practice exams:– Sylvia.delavalle@kaplan.com