Meet our Core Committees

Co-Chair
Florida International University

Isabel Armedilla is a post-baccalaureate student at Florida International University. She earned her B.S. in Health Education from the University of Florida, where she developed a passion for addressing social determinants of health within patient care through her involvement with UF’s Mobile Outreach Clinic. She plans to apply to medical school next cycle to become a faithful advocate and practitioner of equitable and accessible medicine to underserved and underrepresented communities. She serves as a CYFAM Conference Committee co-chair and is excited to curate the annual conference to reflect the strength of CYFAM’s vibrant and diverse community when together. In her free time, she enjoys practicing her Spanish, cooking, and rollerskating.

Co-Chair
The City University of New York (CUNY) School of Medicine

Pierre Anton Marbid is a third-year undergraduate student in the seven-year Sophie Davis B.S./M.D. Program at the CUNY School of Medicine, pursuing a double major in biomedical sciences and psychology, with a minor in health justice. He currently serves as a Chair for the CYFAM Conference Committee, where he works to uplift Filipinx representation in medicine and build spaces that foster connection, mentorship, and community. Pierre is passionate about the role of policy in delivering equitable and effective healthcare, and is committed to serving the underserved populations of his city. Outside of academics, he enjoys volunteering at community health events and playing piano in Sophie’s Beat, a student-run group that brings live music to local hospitals. A proud native New Yorker, you can find him running in Forest Park, running through Grand Central to catch the train, and running on Dunkin’.

Co-Chair
University of California, Davis (UCD)

Diana Del Rosario (she/her) is a Program Coordinator and Clinical Assistant at a community clinic dedicated to serving unhoused and uninsured populations. Bay Area native and proud graduate of UC Davis, Diana is committed to health equity and creating accessible, compassionate care for marginalized communities. In her current role, she helps manage day-to-day clinic operations and works closely with medical and volunteer teams to ensure continuity and dignity with care for their patients. Outside of her professional life, Diana finds joy in the outdoors, likes to go hiking and camping, and recently picked up golfing. She also loves sharing yummy meals with family and friends and discovering new places to eat!

Co-Chair
University of Pennsylvania

Myka Salvacion is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Molecular & Cell Biology and minors in Anthropology and Chemistry. Born in Manila and raised in Tucson, Arizona, she has served the Filipino community at Penn, Philadelphia, and beyond as the former President of the Penn Philippine Association and Co-Chairperson of FIND District 5. She is taking a gap year to apply for medical school, during which she will serve as Co-Chair of the CYFAM Conference Committee. Since high school, she has been involved in cancer research, developing her passion in pediatric oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as an undergraduate researcher and patient care volunteer. She also actively seeks to better understand the social determinants of health and challenges that marginalized communities face within the U.S. healthcare system. By listening to others’ lived experiences and perspectives, she hopes to become a doctor who practices active empathy and cultural understanding in caring for her patients.

Senior Chair

This bio is coming in Filipino time 🇵🇭

Co-Chair

Neille John Apostol (he/him/his) is excited to serve CYFAM as a returning Development Committee chair. Neille John received his bachelor’s in biochemistry and French from UCLA and completed his master’s in public health from the California State University, Los Angeles. He proudly identifies as a Belgian-born 1.5-generation Filipino immigrant from Los Angeles. Prior to medicine, he worked in education, clinical research, and pharmaceuticals. He completed post-baccalaureate courses at University of California, Berkeley Extension and volunteered throughout the Bay Area in organizations such as Mabuhay Health Center and Clinic by the Bay.

Neille John cares about health advocacy and research. His experience includes collaborations with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the Pennsylvania Office of Health Equity, Filipino Community Health Association, Filipino Migrant Center, and the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. He looks forward to starting his journey to become a physician this upcoming fall.

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

Katherine is a medical student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and part of the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PRIME-US). She is a second-generation Chinese Filipino American from Santa Clarita, California. As a medical student, she has been involved in student organizations that promote health equity in underserved communities across the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and support diverse representation in medicine. She is excited to return to CYFAM to foster a supportive community of Filipinx Americans in medicine and address the health challenges that Filipinx American communities face. Beyond health equity, she is passionate about mentorship, ethnic studies, and expanding educational access. Katherine aspires to become a physician advocate who provides patient-centered care and partners with local leaders to build community-driven programs.

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

Angela Rose David is a first-generation Filipino American, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, with familial ties to the Philippines (Oriental Mindoro and Bulacan). She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a B.S. in Biology and a double minor in Spanish and Public Health. After spending two years interning with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on projects related to public health education and COVID-19 preparedness, she went on to complete a premedical postbaccalaureate program at UCLA, followed by a yearlong NIMHD T37 Minority International Research Training fellowship at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Utilizing these experiences, Angela Rose now works at UCLA full-time as the project manager for a lab that explores health disparities affecting the Filipino immigrant population.

Co-Chair
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine

Jaira Mendoza is an incoming medical student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine and the Program in Medical Education for Leadership and Advocacy (PRIME-LA). She is a returning co-chair for the Development Committee and has previously served CYFAM as a Conference Coordinator and Membership Engagement co-chair. She is excited to begin her medical education and expand on her passion for improving sustainable, dignified, and equitable access to care, especially within underserved communities. As a first-generation Filipina immigrant, she is also dedicated to supporting college access initiatives by mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds throughout their college and pre-medical journey. In her free time, you’ll likely find her reading a new book, playing video games, or sharing a warm, hearty meal with loved ones.

Co-Chair
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix

Misha Samonte is currently a 2nd-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. He has been serving as the CYFAM Fundraising/Development Chair since 2022. Misha is passionate about providing patient-centered accessible healthcare, especially to underserved communities. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, dancing, and climbing plastic rocks.

Co-Chair
Western University of Health Sciences — College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Annalyn Diaz is a third-year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences — College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. She has been a member of CYFAM since its inaugural conference in 2020 and currently serves as a CYFAM Mentorship Committee Co-Chair. She is passionate about community work, education, and mentorship, and strives to cultivate spaces where members feel supported, connected, and empowered. During her days off, Annalyn enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing board games, and challenging her wits in escape rooms.

Co-Chair
Penn State College of Medicine

Katrina Gonzales is currently a medical student at Penn State College of Medicine. Originally from Arizona, she graduated from the University of California–Berkeley in 2021 with a degree in Public Health. She is interested in pursuing a career in internal medicine or pediatrics, with a possible future fellowship in rheumatology. In her spare time, she enjoys working out, making matcha and fun drinks, and spending time with her loved ones. Katrina is excited to join CYFAM as the Co-Mentorship Chair to advocate for passionate Filipino students and mentors, empowering them to become empathetic providers and strong advocates for patients in their communities while learning from the inspiring members of this organization.

Co-Chair
University of California, San Diego

Monique is a third-year undergraduate student studying Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, and Global Health at the University of California, San Diego. She serves as the CYFAM Mentorship Committee co-chair and is excited to embark on a new journey connecting her to the greater Filipino community in medicine! She is interested in pursuing a career in neurology or psychiatry and hopes to serve populations affected by neurological trauma and diseases. She looks forward to expanding her passions for mentorship, outreach, and giving back to the community that has helped shape her into who she is today. In her free time, she loves to explore various cultural foods, trending matcha creations, and taking long walks around the beach and local farmers' markets.

Co-Chair • Education Pillar
A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine

Elizabeth Sangalang Foster is a fourth-year medical student at A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. Originally from the Bay Area, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at California State University, East Bay. Committed to fostering Filipinx representation in medicine, she has held numerous leadership and service roles supporting the Filipinx community, including her work with the Mabuhay Health Center in San Francisco and the Council of Young Filipinx Americans in Medicine.

Co-Chair • Education Pillar
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Giuliana Lee is a 4th year medical student at UCSF. She is passionate about cardiology research, addressing disparities in healthcare, and supporting a more diverse physician workforce. She looks forward to continuing to work in the Education Committee to create inclusive learning spaces and mentorship opportunities that empower future generations of Filipino American physicians. Outside of school you can find her singing with her med school cover band and taking dance classes, in classic Bay Area fashion.

Co-Chair • Education Pillar
Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

Jacob Less is a fourth-year medical student at Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. He serves his second year as CYFAM Education Committee co-chair and remains passionate about intersecting academic medicine and cultural health. Jacob has previously served as co-chair of CYFAM's Research Committee and is a previous conference coordinator. He looks forward to building long-term relationships with patients, advocating for underserved communities (especially unhoused folks), and practicing with cultural humility as a Filipino-American future physician. Outside of medicine, you can find him taking a pilates class, playing pickleball, or listening to BTS.

Co-Chair • Research Pillar
University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Gabriel Pe Manuel Ordonez is a Staff Research Associate in the Nguyen and Tontonoz Labs at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA with publications in lipid metabolism. He graduated from UCLA in 2023 cum laude with a BS in Physiological Science and studied in-utero neurodevelopment at Cambridge University. He is applying for MD-PhD programs to research the metabolism of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases—hoping to champion in therapeutic advancements. He is particularly interested in ALS and terminal conditions. Having been a servant leader, he hopes to pursue a physician-scientist career where community engagement, medicine, and basic science are reciprocally informed to better treat patients. He is committed to life-long learning in the sciences and arts. He is also an Inaugural CYFAM Ramos Conference Scholar. In his free time, you can find him working out, traveling, gaming, and attending music festivals with close friends.

Co-Chair • Education Pillar
Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine

Isabella (Isa) Rosenzweig is a third-year medical student at Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine. She is originally from New York and completed her undergraduate degree in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California Los Angeles with a minor in Global Health. Serving as a CYFAM Education Committee co-chair, one of her favorite committee duties is as a facilitator and writer for CYFAM Evening Report, a case-based educational space that parallels clinical and cultural learning in a multi-training level environment. This role has cultivated her strong interest in medical education and fascination with the complexities and elegance of clinical decision-making, hoping to incorporate teaching in her medical career. She is currently interested in Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology.