top of page
2.png)
2023 - 2023 Team
Co-Presidents
Jessica Jiang
Year: 4th
College: Marshall
Major: Human Biology
Hobbies: Traveling, concerts, family walks
Hello! My name is Jessica Jiang and I’m a fourth year at UCSD. I joined PPASO fall quarter of my first year and am honored to be serving once again as one of your Co-Presidents for the 2023-2024 school year! Throughout the past few years, I have had the pleasure to talk with PAs, contact PA programs and host GBMs, and form relationships with fellow pre-PA students. Joining PPASO has reinforced my desire to treat and provide comfort for patients while introducing the variety of benefits that the PA profession offers. I am so grateful for the opportunities and resources that PPASO has provided me with and I hope that PPASO will continue to be a support system that others can utilize as well! I am excited and compassionate about spreading awareness about the PA profession and meeting other driven, like-minded students!
If you're interested in the PA profession or the Pre-Health field but you aren't sure which career path you want to pursue, come out to any of our events and feel free to reach out to us via email or any of our social media platforms!
Favorite PPASO Memory: My favorite PPASO memory was hosting Dine with a PA in April of this year (in-person for the first time since COVID)! We had nearly 20 PAs in attendance and over 70 students got the opportunity to speak to PAs of 14 different specialties. We were able to provide catering, a photo booth, and most importantly allowed students to form connections with peers and PAs alike! Planning for DWPA was also incredibly rewarding as our board got closer and worked well together. I am confident that we'll be able to continue this tradition this year, providing this invaluable opportunity for new and returning members!
Madelene Wang
Year: 4th
College: Marshall
Major: Human Biology
Minor: Global Health
Hobbies: Baking, watching k-dramas, going to concerts, thrifting
Hi everyone! My name is Madelene and I'm excited to be a part of the executive board for PPASO as Co-President. I joined PPASO my first year at UCSD and have since learned a lot about the profession that helped grow my passion in pursuing this career. Being involved in PPASO, both as a general and board member, has taught me important skills in networking, building friendships, and giving back to the community. I've been able to connect with PAs directly through the PA mentorship program and Dine with a PA, our end of the year event. There is also a special community of students who are always willing to provide advice and support. I hope PPASO can continue to act as a resource for pre-PA students to feel comfortable and guided through their time at UCSD. Feel free to reach out to me if you ever have any questions!
Favorite PPASO Memory: The Ice Skating Fundraiser was one of my favorite PPASO memories since I got to connect with more people outside of an academic setting. It was a nice winter festive event that allowed me to bond stronger with the community, especially experiencing ice skating fails with friends!
CO-PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR
Amy Kavi
Year: 3rd
College: Marshall
Major: Neurbiology
Hobbies: Dance, stargazing, and attending live shows
Hey everyone! My name is Amy and I am excited to be a part of the executive board this year! I joined PPASO during my freshman year and ever since my first GBM, I’ve been so happy with the community I’ve found here. PPASO has provided me with a welcoming environment in which I’ve learned more about the PA profession, networked with PAs and students, gained a better understanding of PA school admissions, participated in community service events, and of course, made so many wonderful friends. Whether you’re totally confident about your career plans, or you’re completely lost and don’t know where to start, PPASO is here to support every one of you. I look forward to meeting all of you!
Favorite PPASO Memory: The UCSD x SDSU picnic social! It was super fun getting to know more PPASO members and meeting SDSU students with similar interests.
Tiffany Shao
Year: 2nd
College: Seventh
Major: Global Health/Human Biology
Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, rock climbing, concerts, camping
Hi! My name is Tiffany and I am a second year Global Health/Human Biology double major! As someone with so many interests and hobbies, it’s often surprising even to me to see how sure I am of wanting to become a PA. I’d always loved biology since I first learned about cells in middle school, and with my desire to work with and help people, it naturally got me thinking about a career in healthcare.
Now I am on the journey to becoming a PA, and with so much love and support from the PPASO community I couldn’t ask for more. Getting to hear PAs talk about their love for their work, bonding over struggles and achievements with the PPASO community, and being surrounded by so many awesome pre-PAs has definitely helped me come to the conclusion that becoming PA is the right path for me.
That said, I think balance is so important in the lives of us college kids. In my free time, I love to go to concerts (I’ve been to over 40), read, watch tons of movies, surf, run, rock climb, and hang out with my friends. Thanks for taking some time to get to know me! Feel free to reach out for advice, a study buddy, or just someone to chat with :-)
Favorite PPASO Memory: My favorite PPASO memory was volunteering with a big group of PPASO members at Father Joe’s Village! It was so fun to get to know everyone while serving lunch to the community. I think some of the greatest memories are formed when you work with your friends for a cause.
CO-TREASURER & FUNDRAISER COORDINATOR
Adrian Brosas
Year: 4th
College: Marshall
Major: Human Biology
Hobbies: Watching Donut Media, listening to Twice, playing tennis
Hello everyone! I am Adrian one of the Co-Treasurers on the Executive Board. I am a fourth year here at UCSD and I am excited to connect with everyone this year. I joined PPASO my first year at UC San Diego and being part of this organization has helped me meet Pre-PA students with similar goals and interests as well as become more informed into the opportunities and benefits of becoming a Physician Assistant through the many speakers and events that we host. If you ever have any questions about the path to become a PA or school do not be afraid to reach out to myself or anyone else that is on Board!
Other Things About Me: I like cars, tennis, and learning that the mitochondria is no longer the powerhouse of the cell but the ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation.
Favorite PPASO Memory: Pumpkin Carving Social where I got to meet Jacob and helped hold a flashlight while he carved Kirby into our pumpkin.
Eilleen Shin
Year: 3rd
College: Muir
Major: Clinical Psychology
Hobbies: Gym/yoga, volleyball, shopping, drawing, reading, walking Cloud
Hi! I'm Eilleen, and I joined PPASO last year with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of the PA profession and the process of becoming one. PPASO helped me as a pre-PA because going to all of the GBMs and talking with different members of the club solidified my commitment to pursuing the PA path, helping me reaffirm my choice over other career options. I became set on the pre-PA route after taking various classes that I thought I would be interested in like CS, cog-sci, etc., and eliminated fields that I knew were not right for me. Eventually, it became clear to me that that I wanted to pursue on a career that required a combination of scientific expertise, surgical practice, interpersonal interactions, and the establishment of connections with a diverse patients – all of which perfectly aligned with the role of a PA.
Favorite PPASO Memory: Playing volleyball and the throw throw burrito game at the UCSDxSDSU park social; it was so fun just chasing everyone around and throwing burritos at each other!
CO-PUBLICITY COORDINATOR
Kayleigh Perez
Year: 2nd Year Transfer Student
College: John Muir College
Major: Human Developmental Sciences with a Specialization in Healthy Aging
Hobbies: DIY-ing clothes, being a cat mom, and watching reality TV shows
Hi! My name is Kayleigh Perez and this is my 2nd year involved with PPASO but my 1st year as a board member! I knew I wanted to become a Physician Assistant once I had learned more about the profession. I love that PAs are taught various areas of medicine because as a future medical professional I would love to practice more than one speciality. My specialty interests include Primary Care, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, and Oncology. I joined PPASO to become more involved in UCSD’s pre-PA community and to meet other students that had the same career goals. PPASO has provided me with so many great opportunities that have helped me reach my PA career goals such as having a student mentor, networking with PAs, and learning more about the admissions process from PA programs. I currently work as a Optometrist Assistant and I’m starting my Medical Assistant externship to become a certified MA. Thanks for learning about me and I can’t wait to meet everyone!
Favorite PPASO Memory: When UCSD’s PA program was announced! It was great to see the pre-PA community of staff and students become so excited and eager to get involved with the upcoming PA program.
Rachana Balakrishna
Year: 3rd
College: Revelle
Major: Neurobiology & a Minor in Literature Writing
Hobbies: Reading, writing, concerts, and overall adventurous
Hi, nice to meet you—my name’s Rachana and being pre-PA has been such a journey. I’m welcome to talk over coffee about the details if you’d like (I enjoy an opportunity to get jittery) but at first, I was pre-med, pre-nursing, and finally stumbled upon being a PA once I had heard of PPASO and gone to a GBM. PPASO really provided much clarity and information on how to start and a reminder that it’s not too late! I really love the goofy yet professional environment that it has and highly encourage you to join if you’re thinking about being a PA, even slightly. While I’m not grinding it out at Geisel or at random coffee shops around San Diego, I love reading and you will always catch me gushing about my latest book/movie obsession. I’m always down for a new adventure and have made it my goal to explore San Diego this year. Inspired by my bio? Send me chocolates :)
Favorite PPASO Memory: Ice skating social! Amy (another board member) helped me out and physically held my hand as I skated for the first time and it was such a cute and fun bonding experience although I fell one too many times.
SOCIAL COORDINATOR
Jacob Wong
Year: 3rd
College: Sixth
Major: Human Biology
Hobbies: Swim/gymming, visiting new places, procrastinating on watching k-dramas
Hi everyone my name is Jacob and it’s great to meet you (soon)!! I joined PPASO last year and enjoyed every moment of it because of the amazing people I have met through friendships and mentoring. I became a pre-PA after realizing how hard pre-Med during my first year and preferred to have more balance in my life when I’m older, but still continue in the path of helping others and medicine lol. PPASO really has it all, and I hope you are able to gain a lot from our club like I did when I first joined! If you guys have any questions please feel free to contact me :D
Other things about me: Outside of school, I like to explore new places and also procrastinating on watching shows like anime and kdramas! I also enjoy going to the gym and swimming :D. Fun fact I never had stuffed crust before.
Favorite PPASO Memory: My favorite PPASO memory has to be the pumpkin carving social because that’s where I first met Adrian who had the same mentor as me, and we made a successful Kirby pumpkin through sweat and tears B)
COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATOR
Amos Yeung
Year: 2nd
College: Muir
Major: Microbiology
Hobbies: Watching K-dramas and anime, making beats, listening to music
My name is Amos Yeung and I joined PPASO last year during winter quarter. PPASO has helped me commit to pursuing the PA profession and given me opportunities to network and communicate with people who share similar aspirations. In addition, PPASO has exposed me to a variety of PA schools and PAs that share their experiences during their career journey. If you ever have any questions about PPASO or want to reach out, feel free to reach out!
Favorite PPASO Memory: My favorite PPASO memory is attending the 2nd GBM of the Spring Quarter last year where Marshall B Ketchum University was presenting. Because I have always felt intimidated by the standards of what makes an ideal applicant and the competitive nature of becoming a PA, I was not sure if this career path was for me since I wouldn't define myself as academically competitive. However, learning more about the admission process such as the importance of character and dedication to giving back to our community solidified my aspirations to pursue becoming a PA.
SECRETARY & WEBMASTER
Martin Rojas
Year: 4th
College: Muir
Major: Human Biology
Hobbies: Escape rooms, gym, guitar, pc games, hiking
Hi! I'm Martin and I first joined PPASO during Winter Quarter of the 2022-2023 school year. In my fourth year now, I realize how much of a journey university has been and how much I've grown through good and bad times! I decided at the start of my 3rd year that I wanted to go down the pre-PA route, and it's been a great time so far. Being a pre-PA student has pushed me out of my comfort zone at times but allowed me to experience wonderful opportunities I would have otherwise missed out on! I'm beyond excited to help out as a PPASO board member this school year, and can't wait to meet all kinds of members new and old! Please feel free to reach out at any time for any reason! I'm always happy to help or provide any advice or support to someone in need.
Favorite PPASO Memory: my entire 3rd year joining PPASO and on was incredibly enjoyable! I met with several PA's, participated in some community service events that made me feel proud to give back to our community, and made some great friends!
bottom of page