President

Naoosha Mohammad

Naoosha is a first-year medical student at FSU College of Medicine. She attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree. She graduated with a major in Microbiology, a minor in Visual Arts in Medicine, and a minor in Health Disparities in Society. Naoosha has always had a deep love of the arts and a passion for medicine. It was not until discovering Arts in Medicine in college that Naoosha realized how much her two passions truly interconnected. Naoosha immersed herself in the world of Arts in Medicine, discovering that this field perfectly exemplified the values that she hoped to embody as a healthcare provider. She joined a research lab exploring AIM approaches, enrolled herself in classes for the Visual Arts in Medicine minor, and volunteered with various AIM based organizations. In particular, Naoosha volunteered with Down to Dance, an organization that holds dance workshops for children with Down Syndrome. She also volunteered with the Arts in Medicine program at Shands hospital for four years where she visited patients at the bedside. Through these experiences she was able to see the immense impacts that art can have in healthcare. Naoosha is eager to continue her efforts in AIM through this organization and throughout her future career.

Director of Internal Affairs

Sanjita Choudhary

Sanjita is from Tallahassee and got her undergraduate degree in exercise physiology from FSU. She’s been dancing since she was four and played piano for eight years. Sanjita has choreographed and performed various styles of Indian dance (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Bhangra, and Bollywood) and was part of a competitive hip-hip team at FSU. She’s been able to channel her passion for arts in medicine towards service projects in the Tallahassee community, such as a dance fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and online dance classes for the elderly. Sanjita is excited to be a part of AIM because she truly values music and dance in her life and would love to serve the community by sharing what makes her happiest.

Director of Education

Brittney Jabot

Brittney, currently a first-year medical student at FSU College of Medicine, pursued her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Florida in Health Science and Public Health. During her undergraduate years, she dedicated her time to volunteering at Camp Bogey Creek, a camp tailored for children facing physical or mental challenges, and at UF Health Shands. Throughout her volunteer experiences, she enthusiastically engaged in activities like drawing, crafting beaded jewelry, and singing songs with children who were navigating various health battles. These interactions exposed her to the profound positive impact that art can have on both the mental and physical well-being of these children. Brittney's aspiration is to incorporate art as a therapeutic tool into her future medical practice, recognizing its potential to enhance patient care. Her motivation for joining AIM stems from her desire to further her involvement, expand her knowledge, and connect with like-minded individuals who share her belief in the potent healing qualities of art.

Directors of Visual Arts in Medicine

Paola Piascik

Paola is a first year medical student at FSU College of Medicine. She graduated from the University of Florida with a major in Psychology. Throughout her undergraduate and gap years, she volunteered in different school programs with children of all ages. While making crafts with the kids and helping execute various lesson plans directed by the teachers, she realized how important the arts are in helping students foster their creativity as well as their educational and professional development. While volunteering in the medical field, she saw how art can be used by patients as an outlet for self-expression and emotional processing while experiencing incredibly difficult situations. She hopes to continue AIM’s mission while volunteering with different populations in the Tallahassee community to help everyone enjoy their art and have fun!

LiAna Patterson

LiAna is a first-year medical student at the Florida State University College of Medicine. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, a minor in Healthcare Disparities in Society, and a certificate in Spirituality and Health. During her undergraduate career, she had a wonderful experience as a Child Life volunteer, having fun with pediatric patients each week. LiAna was also one of the founding members of Hope Through Art, an organization leading weekly art projects for residents of Hope Lodge, a temporary residence for those undergoing cancer treatment. In these roles, she gained an immense respect for the impact of simple craft projects as a means of expressing oneself and taking a break from a tough situation. As a Visual Arts Director for AIM, she is grateful for the opportunity to offer this form of joy to the Tallahassee community. 

Directors of Music in Medicine

Edwin Mompremier

Hi, my name is Edwin Mompremier. I am one of the Music Directors for AIM. Music has been an essential part of my life from an early age. This journey through music has supplied a deep understanding, respect, and love for it. I have always had the mindset of music owning the unique power to transcend language, culture, and boundaries, connecting individuals on any level. In playing with a jazz group "The Jazz Bishops", I remember being approached after a recent show by an elderly man who said that the show was therapeutic in which he felt spiritually healed. It is moments like these tied in with my belief and my solid passion for music, that fuels my desire for this position.

Katherine Obiaja Hernandez

Katherine Obiaja Hernandez graduated from Florida State University with a Masters in Biomedical Engineering and a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering. Besides her degrees, Katherine has been a music enthusiast since she was a child. At age 10, she started learning how to play the flute at the Music Conservatory Alejandro Garcia Caturla in Havana, Cuba. When she moved to the US, Katherine continued playing the flute at the Williamsport Youth Symphony Orchestra, and then at the Villages Charter High School, where she was first chair of Concert Band and Woodwind Captain for the Marching Band 2015-16. Katherine has always been inspired by music and believes it can act as therapy. She would like to explore how music can act as therapy, as well as continue to use it to express and share emotions with others via Arts in Medicine at FSU COM. 

Cassandra Ly

Cassandra graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor of science degree in Biomedical Science and a minor in Public Health. Cassandra was involved with an acapella group at USF where she performed with her acapella group at different events such as Relay for Life and assisted living facilities. Cassandra was also a teaching assistant and facilitator for an honors course at USF that partnered with the Tampa Museum of Art. As a TA and facilitator, she worked closely with a group of Alzheimer’s patients implementing Visual Thinking Strategies to spread creativity and arts in medicine.

Katelyn Kirves

Katelyn Kirves graduated from Bryant University in 2022 with a major in biology and a double minor in human resources and psychology. Along with her love of medicine, she has always had a passion for art, including music. Throughout middle and high school, she participated in theatre and thespians where she found a passion for musical theatre. Since she was an adolescent, she also took voice and piano lessons to gain more experience and expertise. She finds being creative to be an essential part of her career in medicine, as well as the wellness of her future patients!

Director of Marketing

Summer Boltz

Summer is a first-year medical student at the FSU College of Medicine, she attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree in biology. Throughout all stages of her life, she has had a passion for creative expression - particularly painting and sewing. During her gap years, she volunteered at the St. Mary’s Quantum House, creating activities and art projects to fill the children’s days in between doctor’s appointments. She has seen the positive effects that engaging in artistic expression can have on anyone and joined AIM to share this outlet with others.

Director of Dance in Medicine

Khloe Dang

Khloe is a University of Florida graduate with a Bachelor of Health Science and a minor in Health Disparities in Society. Throughout her childhood and journey to medical school, dance has always served as an emotional and physical outlet for her. With the Dance in Medicine program, she is excited by the opportunity to bridge her passions for medicine and for dance. Khloe is most eager to build relationships with the Parkinson's community and to share her passion for the healing power of art.

Facilitators of Dance in Medicine

Lydia Colon

Lydia is a first year medical student at FSU College of Medicine. She attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree and graduated with a major in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience and a minor in Theatre. Throughout her undergraduate career she volunteered with the Arts in Medicine program at UF. During this time she facilitated dance workshops with children who have Down syndrome as well as older adults with Alzheimer's. She also volunteered with Tunes in the Tunnel, an organization that works with the musicians in residence at UF Shands Cancer Hospital to perform to patients and healthcare workers in the facility. She joined AIM to continue her volunteering efforts within the Tallahassee community and is excited to continue to grow as a dance facilitator.

Jane Hufnagel

Jane is a first-year medical student at the Florida State University College of medicine. She attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Health Disparities. Throughout her life, Jane has always loved to dance and has appreciated the use of the arts in medicine. While at UF, she was a member of the Footprints Buddy and Support Program, where she volunteered with children in the Pediatric ICU, helping “kids just be kids.” From making crafts to playing games and dancing with the kids, she saw the power that art could have in helping patients’ experiences in the hospital. After becoming a group fitness instructor and participating on dance teams during her undergraduate years, Jane joined AIM to continue working in this aspect of medicine and to expand her reach to the Tallahassee community.  

Kadambari Vyas

Kadambari is a first-year medical student at FSU College of Medicine. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Psychology. As an undergraduate student, she volunteered with the Youth Empowerment Project in Orlando to bring art, music, and dance back into the classroom. By doing art projects and dance workshops with these underrepresented students in her community, she realized the importance of art on students' overall health and well-being. Kadambari hopes to keep working with students and patients in her community at FSU COM to improve their health through art and dance.

Regional Campus Director

Christina Bobrek

Christina Bobrek is from Bradenton, FL and earned a B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Florida. Growing up, she was constantly involved in either music, dance, or sports. At a very young age, she was part of a Ukrainian dancing group, and her mother taught her how to play the piano. These experiences provided her with the opportunity to connect with her Ukrainian culture and served as an outlet during stressful times. More recently, she has learned how to crochet and enjoys making gifts for friends and family. She is very excited to be a part of AIM and help share its mission with FSU’s regional campuses around Florida.

Multimedia Director

Aila Jiang

Aila has always loved art at a young age and continues to incorporate it in her everyday life, whether it is through volunteering to paint with the cancer patients at the Hope Lodge or making art to visualize the newest, cutting-edge research being done at Emory University in undergrad. She has organized and hosted galleries to display such research at large gatherings such as the March for Science in Atlanta and the annual Atlanta Science Festival. In her free time, she practices calligraphy to write letters. Aila is excited to be a part of AIM's mission on sharing the beauty and power of art in clinical practice.