About Us
Get to know our amazing team!
Ozichi Amobi
4th year Neuroscience student: UC Riverside
Hello, I joined Future Physician Leaders because I want to serve the community. For me, this starts with educating as many people as possible about any health-related topics or issues that are currently affecting the community or may affect the community in the future. This said, HIV and mental health seem to be important topics that are often ignored or neglected.
Mary Rached
3rd year Biology student: UC Riverside
My choice for joining Future Physician Leaders (FPL) stems from my passion for aiding medically underserved communities and advocating for the lives of those who cannot. I wanted to put the knowledge that I gained in the classroom to practical application by educating the community, providing resources, and minimizing stigma in order to achieve optimal health for all.
Manuel Cruz
2nd year Biology student: UC Riverside
I joined Future Physician Leaders (FPL) at the University of California-Riverside because I wanted to be involve in mentorship programs for prospective healthcare students such as my group and I. As a pre-medical student, I desire to fullfill my mission of service to my community. In this case, I want to help fight the stigma against HIV and Mental Health because I believe these are two important, yet overlooked, topics.
Darshi Vadher
4th Year Biology Student: UC Riverside
Hello, I joined Future Physician Leaders because I'm passionate about service to communities and using my skills and knowledge to improve healthcare access. I believe that education is one of the most important factors in promoting healthy communities because it allows individuals to stay informed and empowers communities to maintain healthier lifestyles. This program would allow me to not only expand my knowledge but also work on improving community health and educating communities. I hope to gain experience working with underserved communities, get a chance to educate, expand my knowledge on healthcare topics and public health, and be connected to a community of like-minded individuals.
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Oscar Mena
3rd year Biomedical science student: California Baptist University
Hello, I joined Future Physician Leaders (FPL) seeking an experience that would provide me valuable insight into the community I live in and one day hope to serve. Additionally, my goal is for a group that can provide comprehensive resources that will contribute to our community's overall welfare. Furthermore, interacting with the local underserved population can help determine what advancements can be applied to institute greater care. Finally, this program will develop a foundation for resolving healthcare dilemmas and establish future physicians that are prepared for the issues impacting the community.
Edward Choi
UCR Biology Alumni
Hello! I joined Future Physician Leaders following a passion in healthcare, with the addition of wanting to explore ways to serve the community I grew up in. Focusing on the health issues that affect our neighbors, HIV disproportionally affects our local community (Inland Empire) at a higher rate vs the U.S, our team aims to aid those suffering from mental issues within this patient population which is poorly represented in a county where there is a dire need of skilled healthcare workers. I also serve my community by working as an EMT part of American Medical Response (AMR) and volunteering at Kaiser Permanente Riverside & Corona.
Thank you!
Veena Reddy
4th year student: UC Riverside
Hello! I joined Future Physician Leaders (FPL) because I wanted to learn how to better work with my community to solve chronic health problems in the Inland Empire. The health disparities research I am involved in helped me understand prominent issues my community currently faces. I wanted to do more than research these problems, but actually step in to resolve them. I believe FPL gives me the proper support and resources to do this, and I am so excited to work with my group to make positive changes in the region!
Our Vision
As we educate our community about the effects of HIV have on mental health, we hope to help people understand how they can help break HIV stigma. We want people to understand the importance of mental health and help lessen the struggles people often face regarding mental health by encouraging people to seek help using the resources we provide. You can find these resources here. If you have any questions about our work, please contact us here.