Student Healthcare In Practice
Savhanna Pejoro
Co-President
Hello everyone, I am so excited to be serving as one of your Presidents for this term! I joined SHIP Winter Quarter in my first year and ever since then, I’ve grown and learned so many new things from medical staff at the clinic, patients, and many inspiring SHIPmates. SHIP has given me the honor to work and expand on my passions, which is serving and advocating for those who are underserved in healthcare. As of now, I hope to become a physician that advocates for disadvantaged and underserved children in healthcare by working/volunteering closely with UNICEF. I am immensely grateful for the experiences that I have had with SHIP and I’m looking forward to strengthening my relationships with other SHIPmates and serving more at the clinic.
Musab Kazmi
Co-President
Hey everyone, I’m Musab and I am one of the presidents for this term! I have been a part of SHIP since my first quarter of UCI and I can confidently say that it was one of the best decisions I made. I have grown so much in the past years in my confidence, professionalism, and most importantly my resolve to help the underserved. Going to LFC and interacting with our patients with my broken Spanish has given me motivation to further pursue my goal to become a physician and help marginalized populations in the way I feel I can do best. “Healthcare is a right, not a privilege” is a mission I will carry for so long as I am able and I hope you all can do the same!
Aisha Malik
Co-Vice President
Hi everyone! My name is Aisha, and I’m one of the Vice Presidents. When I was younger, my career aspirations ranged from wanting to be a photographer to joining the Hogwarts Quidditch team. Though my affinity for art, fashion, and the Wizarding World lives on, courses in high school and certain experiences ultimately drew me to the field of medicine. My time in SHIP has reaffirmed this passion and has shaped me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. From meeting other SHIPmates to witnessing the direct impact that quality care has on underserved communities, I’ve developed a deeper appreciation for aspects of compassion, equity, and patient care. This coming academic year, I look forward to working with the team to ensure that all individuals in the clinic feel welcome, respected, and heard.
Jennie Nguyen
Co-Vice President
Hi everyone! My name is Jennie and I am one of the Vice Presidents at SHIP for this school year! I have been part of SHIP since Winter 2021, and have had many fulfilling experiences while being in SHIP. I am proud and honored to be part of SHIP not only because of what we stand for as an organization, but also because of what we do to make a positive impact on the underserved community through providing healthcare, health education, doing outreach efforts, and more. Attending clinic and participating in club projects has made me realize how important our work is in improving patient outcomes and helping them lead better and healthier lives. I look forward to continuing to work with fellow SHIPmates in carrying out our mission to make “healthcare a right, not a privilege”!
Navleen Dhot
Secretary
Hi everyone! My name is Navleen, and I am the secretary for this year.
Jocelyn Tran
Medical Clinic Coordinator
Hi everyone!!! I'm Jocelyn, and I'm so excited to be one of your medical clinic coordinators. Joining SHIP during my sophomore year has undoubtedly been a pivotal decision in shaping both my career trajectory and personal journey. Through this incredible club, I have been exposed to many opportunities at UCI that would have otherwise remained unknown to me. However, what truly stands out for me are the phenomenal individuals I have had the privilege of meeting through SHIP. I'm constantly surrounded by friends who inspire me and encourage me to pursue greater things. Moreover, our patients hold a special place in my heart. They are some of the most hardworking, selfless, and kind individuals that I have ever met. Hearing their stories and learning about their struggles serves as a powerful reminder of why I chose to embark on the journey towards medicine. It reinforces that “healthcare is a right, not a privilege” and together, I believe we can turn the SHIP motto into a reality!
Laura Acosta
Medical Clinic Coordinator
Hi everyone :) My name is Laura and I’m beyond excited to be one of SHIP’s Medical Clinic Coordinators this year. I was drawn to SHIP because I resonated deeply with SHIP’s values and overall philosophy. Making an effort to alleviate disparities in access to healthcare is one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had so far, and it makes me even happier that I’m able to have a positive impact on the hispanic community’s experience with healthcare! The way all SHIP volunteers come together at LFC to try to make our motto a reality is truly inspiring, and seeing the difference our work has had in patient experiences is priceless! “Healthcare is a right, not a privilege” has now become a personal mission of mine that I hope to carry throughout my medical training and into my practice!
Sara Saleh
Dental Clinic Coordinator
Hi there! My name is Sara, and I’m a 4th year Biological Sciences major. I'm so excited to be one of your Dental Clinic Coordinators this year and I can't wait to further contribute to SHIP's mission statement of ensuring healthcare is a right and not a privilege!
Alina Yeo
Dental Clinic Coordinator
Hello everyone! I’m Alina and I joined SHIP in my second year. I was inspired to join SHIP because I resonated with the mission statement “Healthcare is a right, not a privilege” and wanted to serve the patients at LFC. Since being a part of SHIP, I was able to see firsthand the extent to which healthcare disparities affect patients. Seeing the providers and staff at LFC treat underserved patients with patience and empathy inspires me to work toward being a healthcare provider that works with underserved communities. This year, I look forward to continuing to serve the patients at clinic and immersing myself in more ways to uphold SHIP’s mission statement.
Jerry Ngo
Community Outreach Committee Leader
Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well! My name is Jerry and I am very excited to work with you all this upcoming year. Some quick things to know about me are that I love to travel and try out new foods. My goal for this upcoming year is to try my best to stay away from the library and live life a little more! I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of SHIP and volunteer at Lesonact Free Clinic. Coming from a country like Vietnam, I have a strong understanding of the effects of an inadequate healthcare system. Because of this experience, I really resonate with SHIP’s message and purpose in giving back to the underserved community.
Derek Chang
Research & Development Committee Leader
Hey everyone, I’m Derek and I'm beyond excited to work and connect with you all this year. I joined SHIP during my second year because I am passionate about reducing the unmet needs among underserved communities. Through SHIP, not only was I able to develop important clinical and research skills, I also had the pleasure of working with a group of passionate, like-minded people. As the R&D chair, I hope to further SHIP’s mission with studies that help us better support the community. I want to become an epidemiologist because I am interested in using research methods and data to reduce health burden and inequities at the population level.
Lauren Kim
Patient Education & Resources (PEAR) Committee Leader
Hi everyone! I’m Lauren and I’m super excited for this year with you all in SHIP :) I joined SHIP during my first year because I had always loved volunteering within local underserved communities. I was also unsure about my career path and what specifically I wanted to do within healthcare. Through SHIP, I have gained an up-close perspective of the healthcare system and its shortcomings for underserved populations. I’ve also been able to talk to and work with so many people passionate about healthcare in different ways. Through PEAR, I hope to advocate preventative lifestyle changes to promote community health. Outside of school, I enjoy exploring coffee shops/ restaurants, as well as reading.
Quangminh Tang
Patient Education & Resources (PEAR) Committee Leader
Hello everyone, my name’s Quangminh and I am excited to work with you all this year! I joined SHIP during my third year and met so many kind and hardworking individuals who share the goal of helping the underserved. Healthcare should be a fundamental human right because everyone’s life matters, and I believe a person’s socioeconomic status or background shouldn’t determine whether or not they have access to healthcare. As such, volunteering at the free clinic is fulfilling because I get to alleviate some of the healthcare disparities in my community. The inclusive environment at SHIP makes volunteering at the clinic and events even more memorable. Through PEAR, I hope to raise awareness about healthcare disparities while encouraging others to make healthy lifestyle choices. During my free time, I enjoy playing basketball and tennis and watching movies with my friends.
Miranda Cepkinian
Mentorship Committee Leader
Hello Everyone! My name is Miranda and I am thrilled to work alongside you all this year! I joined SHIP in the winter quarter of my first year. I am passionate about healthcare and aspire to work in the medical field. I want to become a physician not only to help others, but to provide care to those who it is not readily accessible to. I hope that one day as a physician I am able to bridge the gap for accessibility of healthcare between those who may have access to complete and top of the line care and to those who do not. My time spent volunteering for SHIP has been such a fulfilling experience. It makes me happy to know that I work alongside others who are willing to go the extra mile in order to work toward the betterment of healthcare and who have the drive to serve the underserved.
During my free time I enjoy playing volleyball, roller skating(and seasonally ice skating), listening to music, painting, watching movies, and hanging out with my friends.
Allison Kim
Mentorship Committee Leader
Hello, my name is Allison and I’m a 4th year Biological Sciences major. I'm excited to serve as one of your Mentorship Committee Leaders this year!
Jagveer Takhar
Finance & Fundraising Committee Leader
I joined SHIP during the spring quarter of my freshmen year as I wanted to work with the underserved community to make sure they meet the basic need of healthcare. It feels good to know that I am working with like minded people and striving towards the same goal of becoming healthcare professionals that will continue to innovate the field of medicine.
Jadyn Lontoc
Marketing Director
Hi everyone! My name is Jadyn and I'm a 2nd year Biological Sciences major. I'm so excited to serve as your Marketing Director for this year! I joined SHIP as a first year during Winter Quarter, and this organization has definitely become one of my highlights of being a UCI student thus far. Being a part of this organization really helped solidify my "why" in pursuing the healthcare field. Every patient I've interacted with and helped at the clinic had their own story — their unique background and struggles. Their perseverance to overcome any adversity serves as inspiration and fuel for my passion for pursuing the healthcare field — to help break down these obstacles in the first place and achieve health equity for all. SHIP has been an amazing opportunity for me to work toward this passion of mine, and I am forever thankful for everyone I've met through this organization and the skills I've been able to gain! Together through all of our work, I firmly believe that we are contributing toward SHIP's mission statement in ensuring healthcare is a right, not a privilege.