Council of Young
Filipinx Americans in medicine
IMG Conference Committee
Denise Gabrielle Alcasid Sese, MD
(She/Her/Hers)
IMG Committee Mentor
Dr. Sese is an assistant professor from the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. She recently finished her fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio and was chief resident of internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. She is currently practicing as a pulmonary hypertension specialist at MUSC and has a special interest in palliative care. She has been a member of the UPMASA Ohio (Medical Alumni Association of UPCM) and she got involved with CYFAM through Dr. Tony Moya who is a long time friend of hers. She hopes to improve access to resources for the filipino international medical graduates.
Nicolo Cabrera, MD
(He/Him/His)
IMG Committee Mentor
Nico is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. He came to the US for Internal Medicine residency at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago where he was chief resident. He did fellowship training in Infectious Disease in the Immunocompromised Track of University of Texas jointly with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He is now a fellow in Immunocompromised Host/Transplant Infectious Disease in Stanford University.
Ray Ragasa
Head of IMG Committee
Ray is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in Manila. He finished internal medicine residency at the Philippine General Hospital in 2019, and is applying into residency this 2022 match cycle. In his spare time he enjoys yoga, baking, and learning languages, most recently ASL.
Dizarelle Anne Dela Cruz
(She/Her/Hers)
IMG Committee Member
Born in California and raised in the Philippines, Dizarelle moved back to LA when she was 11 and graduated from Narbonne High School and UCLA. She went back to the Philippines for medical school and is now a fourth year medical student at Our Lady of Fatima University. She is currently finishing up her clerkship in Chicago and is hoping to apply in the next residency cycle. Dizarelle first got involved with CYFAM when she attended the first national conference last year, meeting medical students and graduates from the US and outside of it. She wants to be part of a program that is both welcoming to both AMG and IMG communities and to be able to provide some ease to her fellow Filipino IMS/IMGs on how to navigate the US Residency Match process. During her free time, she enjoys exploring the city, reading, and anything music-related such as singing, dancing, and playing the guitar.
Christopher Ansay
(He/Him/His)
IMG Committee Member
Born and raised in the SF Bay Area, Christopher is currently a second year medical student at UCSF School of Medicine. His current interests are in cardiovascular disease and critical care. Prior to medical school, he graduated from UCLA with a degree in Biology. There, he was involved with Pilipinos for Community Health (PCH) as a Health Fairs director. Outside of school, he is a fan of the 49ers and likes to play music.
Joshua Ansay
(He/Him/His)
IMG Committee Member
Joshua graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory and is currently a third year majoring in General Biology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). At UCSD, he is one of the Peer Counselor Co-Directors for Kaibigang Pilipin@ (KP), a Pilipinx student organization. As Peer Counselor Co-Director, Joshua provides resources to UCSD undergraduates and organizes social events that promote mental health. In previous years, Joshua has also served as KP Intern and Peer Counselor. Additionally, he is involved with UCSD BioScholars and the Pilipin@ Undergraduate Society for Health (PUSH), organizations that promote the education and awareness of health issues. During the summers, Joshua volunteers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center as the Simulation Lab Intern, aiding with the mannequin setup for simulations and participating in ACLS simulations with healthcare providers and other staff. A Bay Area native, Joshua is an avid sports fan of the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, and the San Francisco Giants. Joshua joined CYFAM alongside his older brother Christopher in order to connect with other Filipinx Americans in the healthcare profession and create a space where unique ideas and experiences can be shared.
Kristina Cabañez
(She/Her/Hers)
IMG Committee Member
- Stage of training: IMG preparing for USMLE Steps
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- Where you're from: Manila, Philippines
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- Where you are now: Austin, TX - Program (ex: working on BA/BS, MPH, in post-bacc, etc.) or major or specialty/specialty of interest
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- How did you get involved with CYFAM? What are your goals in CYFAM?: My first involvement with CYFAM was through a Zoom meeting with fellow Filipino IMGs several months ago. Since then, I have been involved in helping plan for this year's National Conference, particularly under the "IMG Committee". I would like to continue helping fellow Filipino IMGs who are struggling with the USMLE process and those who need guidance + support. CYFAM is also wonderful platform to connect with other Filipinos who
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-Other involvements you'd like to share :)
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-Hobbies: creating/cooking bento boxes, advocating against domestic abuse, documenting my USMLE journey on Instagram & Youtube, playing tennis and watching thrillers/horror movies
Kevin Ian De Vera Arendon
(He/Him/His)
IMG Committee Member
Kevin is from San Diego, California, and is currently a a fourth year medical student at Our Lady of Fatima University in the Philippines. He is finishing up his core clinical rotations and studying for his board exams in Chicago, Illinois. He is a graduate of the University of California Irvine with a degree in Economics. CYFAM was mentioned to him through word of mouth, and its mission compelled him to join. As an aspiring doctor, he found himself wanting to guide others who were also on the same journey into american medicine. When he has free time, his hobbies include playing music and cooking.