The Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences Student Ambassador Program

During her last year in the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) program, Salma Elsheikh approached the Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences (IMS) Division with the idea of peer mentoring where upper division student IMS students could help guide lower level and new IMS students through the unique challenges of being in an IMS major. The IMS Student Ambassador program officially started in Spring 2020.

An IMS Student Ambassador is a student that has either successfully completed one of the IMS majors or is currently an upperclassman in one of the IMS majors. Ambassadors are students who exemplify success in the IMS Degree Program. Lower-level students can meet with a Student Ambassador to discuss everything related to the IMS student experience. Student Ambassadors can share their experiences with the IMS majors, degree program, courses, and seminars. Additionally, they can provide underclassman helpful insight on course experiences, seminar content, academic success, and community engagement.

The Student Ambassadors are here to serve as a complementary resource to Academic, Experiential Learning, and Pre-Health advising; they are not a replacement for official advising in these areas. The Ambassadors are a resource for current IMS students only.

Current IMS Ambassadors

Meet the 2022-2023 IMS Student & Alumni Ambassadors!

	Emily Alieva Hello! My name is Emily Alieva, and I am currently a junior majoring in Clinical Professions. I am an ophthalmic assistant at Eye Associates of Tallahassee and have worked as a medical assistant in a cardiology clinic. I volunteer with the Alzheimer's Project and with Second Harvest of the Big Bend. I am a D.I.S. student in the Chelko lab at FSU College of Medicine. In the lab, we study a rare and inherited heart disease called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Also, I am a member of the FSU Equestrian Club and serve as the Fundraising Chair. Through my volunteering experiences, working in healthcare, and shadowing multiple physicians, I have developed a passion for giving back to the community in which we live, specifically under-served populations. I plan to graduate in the Fall of 2023 and attend medical school to become a service-orientated primary care physician. I look forward to meeting and assisting underclassmen this year as an IMS ambassador!
	Kaitlyn Barnes Hi! My name is Kaitlyn Barnes, and I am currently a junior in the IMS Program majoring in Clinical Professions. I volunteer at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and Big Bend Hospice every week during Fall and Spring semesters. I have completed General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biology, and Organic Chemistry 1. I am looking forward to completing Organic Chemistry 2 and Physics A in Fall 2022. I am starting MCAT preparation, with hopes to take it next year when I begin the application process for medical school. I am so glad to be a part of the IMS Ambassador program and I am excited to meet you all!
	Sathvik Bilakanti Hello everyone! My name is Sathvik Bilakanti, and I am a senior majoring in Health Management, Policy, and Information with a focus in Health Information Technology at FSU! I have done research at the FSU College of Medicine for 2 years and received an IDEA Grant my sophomore year. I also participated in UROP and will be doing a DIS during Fall 2022 at the College of Medicine. I am the Service Chair for Alpha Epsilon Delta and started a new club at FSU called Orthopedics and Athletic Medicine Club. I also work at TMH as a Tech and have shadowed in numerous places. I have completed all my prerequisites for medical school and finished some upper division science electives. Let me know if you have any questions!
	Alyssa Bran Hello! My name is Alyssa Bran, and I am a junior majoring in Clinical Professions. I plan on becoming a Physician Assistant, hopefully in plastic surgery or pediatrics. I have volunteered with Gadsden Elementary Magnet School mentoring biology students, and I am currently working on my CNA license. I have completed the General Chemistry sequence, General Biology sequence, Analytical Chemistry, and Physics A. I will be completing the Organic Chemistry this school year and finishing Physics B. I am excited to work with all the incoming IMS students!
	Alexandra Brown Hi! My name is Alexandra Brown, and I am a senior in the IMS program majoring in Clinical Professions. I am planning to graduate in Fall 2022 and then will be taking a gap year to work and study for the MCAT before attending medical school. I hope to become an ophthalmologist in the future. I discovered this career through my current job as an OCT Technician at Eye Associates of Tallahassee. I have completed all medical school prerequisites except Biochemistry which I am taking in Fall 2022. I am so excited to serve as an IMS ambassador this year and can't wait to meet all of you!
	Samantha Champion Hi everyone! My name is Samantha Champion, and I am a junior majoring in clinical professions. I am from Tampa, Florida and love being outdoors and running. I work at TMH in surgery and work in their oncology and hematology clinic as well. I have my CCMA certification through HSC too. I have completed the Physics and Organic Chemistry sequences and am taking Biochemistry in Fall 2022. I am excited to meet everyone and can't wait for the upcoming year!
	Mikayla Corrigan Hi everyone! My name is Mikayla Corrigan, and I am a junior majoring in Clinical Professions. Starting my freshman year, I planned on majoring in Biology. Once I heard about this program, I immediately switched and have now been in the program for over a year. I have worked as a lifeguard, CNA, and most recently started working as a CCMA through TMH. I'm looking forward to meeting with all of you and hope everyone has a great school year.
	Rocio Diaz Hello! My name is Rocio Diaz, and I am a senior in the IMS program majoring in Clinical Professions. I am Cuban-American and originally from Miami, Florida. At FSU, I've been involved in Global Health research and received an IDEA Grant to further it. I have also volunteered at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Crisis Text Line, the Kearney Center, and Westminster Retirement Community. I recently began working as an Emergency Care Technician. During my time at FSU, I completed my Nursing Assistant certification and have joined the AED Preprofessional Health Honor Society as well as Public Health Brigades on campus. I have finished all core coursework except Physics B which I am completing in Fall 2022. I also completed my Capstone project this summer. After graduation, I plan on taking a gap year and applying to medical school where I aim to become an OB/GYN followed by a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. In my spare time, I enjoy watching Netflix, traveling, and spending time with my family. I am thrilled to be part of this program and excited to meet you all!
	David Hartsfield Hi, my name is David Hartsfield, and I am a third-year student majoring in Clinical Professions. I am a local to the Tallahassee region, growing up in a small town named Wakulla. My career goals are geared towards attending medical school to become a family medicine practitioner and opening my own clinic in a rural county, such as Wakulla. I have completed the biology, general chemistry, and physics sequences. I will be completing my organic chemistry sequence this academic school year, while also studying for the MCAT. I am applying to medical schools in May 2023. Aside from academics, I am a member of Phi Delta Epsilon, which is an international medical student fraternity at FSU. I also work as a medical assistant for Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and a research assistant for the KATLab with Dr. Alex Meyers in the FSU Department of Psychology. I also aid local providers in Wakulla and Tallahassee in providing healthcare screenings and awareness to families in rural areas. In my free time, I run my own photography business and spend time with friends and family. Go Noles!
	Gabby Howard Hi! My name is Gabby Howard, and I’m from Naples, Fl. I’m currently a junior in the Clinical Professions major on a pre-med track. I plan on taking a gap year after graduation to get experience working before applying to medical school. I am interested in dermatology, rheumatology, and pediatrics. This is my first year as an IMS Ambassador, and I’m looking forward to what the experience will bring! I am involved in volunteering for Tallahassee Memorial Hospital’s childcare center and Big Bend Hospice. I am a member of both Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-med fraternity) and NoleMed. I have also received my Clinical Medical Assistant Certification through Health Science Consulting and wish to work as a CCMA during my gap year. Academically, I have completed both general chemistry and biology, as well as organic chemistry 1. I am taking organic chemistry 2 and physics A during the fall of 2022. I’m very excited to be a part of the IMS Ambassadors program, and I can’t wait to meet you all throughout the school year!
	Rachel Jackson Hi, my name is Rachel Jackson, and I am a junior majoring in Health Management, Policy, and Information with a focus in Public Health Administration & Policy! I currently work at TMH as a scribe in the Family Medicine Residency Clinic, and I volunteer in a few medical and non-medical places. I am currently in a pre-medical fraternity on campus called Phi Delta Epsilon and have also gotten into DIS research in health psychology. I have finished my organic chemistry sequence and am taking physics A and biochemistry in Fall 2022. My future plans include applying to medical school, though I have an undecided specialty. I am looking forward to being an ambassador and getting to share my experience with you all!
	Isabel Jimenez Hello everyone! My name is Isabel Jimenez, and I graduated with a major in Clinical Professions in Spring 2022. I have been part of the IMS Ambassador program for over a year. I plan to complete a DIY post-bacc in Fall 2022 at FSU. I am studying for the MCAT and using a bunch of different services and resources… too many to name! Some of the many experiences and experiential learning activities I have been involved with include volunteering and working as a medical scribe at TMH in the Emergency Department, completing an internship at the TMH Cancer Center, completing a CCMA certification through Health Science Consulting, working as a Medical Assistant for Eye Associates of Tallahassee, and volunteering with Camp Kesem. I look forward to working with you all!
	Raya Kleinbart Hi! My name is Raya Kleinbart, and I am a junior in Clinical Professions on a pre-med track. I have completed 1 DIS and am doing undergraduate research so I am happy to answer questions about that. I have finished Physics and am completing Organic Chemistry 2 and lab in Fall 2022. If anyone has questions, I'd be happy to help!
	Matt Lagana My name is Matt Lagana - I'm a senior from Weston, Connecticut in the IMS program majoring in Clinical Professions. I currently work with FSU Campus Rec as an Intramural Sport Supervisor, and additionally do SAT/math tutoring for high schoolers at Crossroad Academy Charter School. In my free time, I love to play golf, spend time outdoors exploring the local scenery, and watch sports with friends. I have completed all the major science courses in the IMS curriculum, and I am happy to answer any questions regarding these. I recently applied to medical schools and am passionate about finding new approaches to healthcare using modern technology.
	Sydnie Lee My name is Sydnie Lee, and I am a senior majoring in IMS Clinical Professions. I have taken the GRE and the PA-CAT and plan to apply to PA schools this cycle. I hope to attend a PA program in Florida and plan on specializing in dermatology. I have my CNA license and previously worked as a Patient Care Tech at Capital Regional Medical Center (now HCA). I have also worked at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville (per diem) under the same position. In terms of classes, I have finished all the general sciences course sequences, analytical chemistry, combined organic chemistry 1 and 2 (CHM3217) and lab, biochemistry, and the physics sequence. I plan to take prokaryotic biology in Fall 2022 as another prerequisite for PA applications. I am also a part of the Pre-PA club at FSU. I am so excited to meet with incoming students this year!
	Morgan Ling Hi! My name is Morgan Ling, and I am a Senior in the IMS program with a focus in Clinical Professions. I am from Tallahassee and have worked over 3 years at TMH. I worked almost 2.5 years in the Neuro/Trauma ICU and I am currently working in the Bixler ER as an Emergency Care Technician. I also served as one of the interns who run the TMH Junior Volunteer Summer Program for high school students. On campus, I am a member of Garnet & Gold Key and Torchbearer 100. I am involved in Greek Life and have served as the Director of Philanthropy for Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. I was in UROP my freshman year and worked in a biomedical research lab in the FSU College of Medicine before serving as a UROP Leader (TA/instructor) for those classes. I completed all IMS core science courses except Analytical Chemistry by the summer before my junior year but decided I will be taking a gap year before matriculating into medical school. I plan to take the MCAT in September of 2022 and apply to special master’s programs (SMP). Upon graduating in Spring of 2023, I will be applying to medical school for the 2023-2024 cycle. I am very excited to continue serving as an IMS Ambassador and I look forward to meeting you all this year!
	Bailey Maholm Hi everyone! My name is Bailey Maholm, and I am a senior majoring in Clinical Professions. I am originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL and my future career goals are to attend PA school and work in the field of Dermatology. With the time I’ve spent at FSU, I have been involved in various activities on and off campus such as psychology and neuroscience research via DIS (Directed Individual Study), Big Bend Hospice volunteering, the Executive Board of Alpha Epsilon Delta, S.O.A.R. Tutoring Program, TMH childcare center volunteering, and the UROP Program. I am in the Honors Program, and my relevant coursework includes biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, calculus, biochemistry, and various psychology courses. I received my Medical Assistant certification from Health Science Consulting and completed an internship at Dermatology Associates followed by a job opportunity that will lead to a DRAP position (Dermatology Rotation and Practice Scholar) working alongside a Mohs surgeon. I am so excited to meet you all as one of your IMS ambassadors and I wish you luck this year!
	Hunter McLaughlin My name is Hunter McLaughlin, and I am a senior majoring in Clinical Professions. I plan on taking the MCAT in January 2023 and applying to medical school. I am a member of the Medical Response Unit and the Marching Chiefs here at Florida State. I attended EMT school and work as a responder at the Civic Center. I also worked at TMH as a surgical support technician and a patient sitter at a local hospital in Naples. I have completed Physics and Biochemistry and will take Organic Chemistry lab and Analytical Chemistry this school year. I look forward to being an ambassador again this year and am eager to meet all of you!
	Brooke Morgan Hi! My name is Brooke Morgan. I am from South Florida and graduated from FSU in Spring of 2022. I finished all the prerequisites to apply to Physician Assistant school and decided to also apply to Anesthesiologist Assistant school. Throughout my time at FSU, I was involved with leadership positions in my sorority and other clubs, such as the pre-PA club. I completed my CNA (certified nursing assistant) certification in January 2020, then worked as a CNA at Centre Pointe Rehabilitation Facility for about a year and a half after that. I volunteer on my spare time with the Florida Coalition to End Homelessness and Guardian ad Litem. I have experience with almost everything you might think of and am so eager to lend a helping hand if you need me to!
	Amanda Nunez Hi! My name is Amanda Nunez, and I am a junior majoring in Clinical Professions. I am highly interested in pediatrics and aspire to become a pediatrician in the future. I was a part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program and work as a research assistant at the Autism Institute in the College of Medicine. I am a volunteer at FSU’s Childcare and Early Learning Program and am also involved in AMSA. Additionally, I have earned my CNA certification at UF’s GatorCNA program and have shadowing experience. I have finished the Biology and General Chemistry sequences, Physics A, Analytical Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry 1. I will be finishing up Physics in Fall 2022. I am looking forward to this year and meeting you all!
	Haley Preston Hi, my name is Haley Preston. I'm a senior majoring in IMS: Clinical Professions. I am from the Tallahassee area, and I have applied for the Medical School 2023 cycle! I don't plan on taking a gap year and have taken all prerequisites for medical school. I plan on becoming a double board-certified Dermatologist and Immunologist. I currently volunteer at TMH and the Leon County Library system. I am a part of the AMWA, Pre Health, and Phi Eta Sigma club. I changed into this major as a junior so I'm here to help those who don't exactly have a set plan. I look forward to meeting you all this year!
	Emily Sanudo Hi! My name is Emily Sanudo, and I am currently a senior in the IMS program majoring in Clinical Professions. In Fall 2022, I am taking Biochemistry to finish off my core science requirements. I am Vice President of NoleMed, a pre-health organization on campus, as well as a trained volunteer for both Big Bend Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Project. I have participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) in the past, and I am a research assistant for one of my professors on campus which has given me the opportunity to conduct my own research with him as well. This past summer, I participated in Florida State’s Study Abroad Program in London and shadowed doctors in the dermatology and plastic surgery specialties. My goal for the future is to specialize in dermatology or OB/GYN. I will be taking a gap year after my undergraduate career to gain clinical experience and prepare myself to apply to medical school in the following application cycle. In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with friends and family, traveling, listening to music, working out, and eating yummy food. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions at all. I would love to share my own experiences from what I’ve learned thus far. I am so excited to be an IMS ambassador and I look forward to meeting you all!
	Neha Shete Hi, my name is Neha Shete! I'm from Tampa, Florida and am a senior majoring in Clinical Professions on a pre-med track. I have been involved in the Honors Medical Scholars Society, Medical Brigades, Book It, the South Asian Student Association, and the Honors Program. I have also completed my clinical medical assistant certification as well as a related internship in a family medicine office in Tallahassee. During my time at FSU, I have worked to get involved in community service activities including volunteering as an elementary school tutor through the SSTRIDE program and as an aid at the Big Bend Homeless Coalition. In terms of academics, I have completed general chemistry, general biology, organic chemistry 1, and physics courses. Outside of school, I enjoy exploring Tallahassee and traveling. I'm very excited to be part of the IMS Ambassadors program and to have the opportunity to help other students!
	Claudia Silver Hi! My name is Claudia Silver, and I am a senior majoring in Clinical Professions. I am applying to medical school and have finished all the pre-medical pre-requisite courses. I am a member of the FSU Medical Response Unit, volunteer with Big Bend Hospice, and have been participating in biology research the past two years allowing me to complete Honors in the Major. I am also a member of the FSU Honors Program and am serving as Vice President for Alpha Epsilon Delta this year. This past summer, I shadowed a family medicine doctor and worked on my application. I am looking forward to another year of being an ambassador and can't wait to meet you all!
	Emily Southwell Hi, my name is Emily Southwell, and I am a junior majoring in Clinical Professions. I am from Tallahassee and have lived here for my entire life. I plan on taking my MCAT in the Spring of 2024 and then taking a gap year before matriculation the following year. In the future, I hope to practice medicine in a small, rural town with lots of access to the outdoors. I love hiking, reading and listening to music. I have served as President of Student United Way as well as been a member of Phi Delta Epsilon (a premedical Fraternity). I work at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital as well as volunteer with Reading Pals and the GEMS program. I also started participating in research with a DIS this past summer, and I have earned both my EMR and CCMA certifications. I am very excited to meet you all and help you to reach your full potential within the IMS program!
	Audrey Steadman Hello! My name is Audrey Steadman, and I am a junior from Tampa, FL majoring in Clinical Professions through the IMS program. I aspire to become an OB/GYN and plan to take a gap year after graduating undergrad before applying to medical school. I am currently part of the FSU Honors College, Chi Omega Fraternity, and American Medical Women’s Association. Additionally, I have completed a Medical Assistant program through Health Science Consulting and plan to intern as a CMA in a cardiology office in Fall 2022. I will also be continuing my work in a cellular oncology lab for the duration of my college career. Finally, I am very involved with FSU Relay for Life and will also be a Community Ambassador for this school year. In terms of classes, I have completed the Physics, General Chemistry, and General Biology sequences and will be taking Organic Chemistry 1 & 2 this year. I am so excited to work with all the new IMS students this year! Best of luck to you all!
	Madison Watkivs Hi everyone! My name is Madison Watkivs, and I am a senior majoring in Clinical Professions. I will be studying for the MCAT this year and applying to medical school in the upcoming cycle. Since I have already received my medical assistant certification, I plan on utilizing my certification while working in a healthcare setting and participating in many medical mission trips during my gap year to gain more clinical experiences. Throughout my time at Florida State University, I have been involved in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), both as a student and as a UROP Leader where I taught a science-based research colloquium. I have also mentored underserved middle school students in biology and worked as a behavioral technician implementing therapy plans for children with autism. I am involved in the American Medical Student Association where I was fundraising chair this past year and hold an executive position for Light the Night. I currently work as a medical scribe at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency Clinic, and I am also a research assistant for a neuroscience lab where our aim is to understand spatial orientation in Alzheimer’s Disease. Regarding my completed coursework, I have finished the general biology sequence, general chemistry sequence, organic chemistry sequence, analytical chemistry, and physics A & B. I’m so excited to meet you all this year!
	Madalyn Werd Hi, my name is Madalyn Werd, and I recently graduated from Florida State University with my bachelor’s degree in Clinical Professions. I was a part of the Honors Program and have been an IMS student ambassador for over two years now. It is my goal to become a physician, and I will be working as a certified medical assistant as I apply to medical school. Along with completing all the required courses for IMS, I have volunteered at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, interned at Patients First as a medical assistant, performed research, and have had various leadership positions. I am very passionate about the IMS program and am looking forward to meeting you all. Good luck this year and go Noles!
	Rachel Weronik Hi! My name is Rachel Weronik, and I am a senior majoring in Clinical Professions. I am active on campus through the Pre-PA club, Chi Omega sorority, Phi Eta Sigma honor society, and off campus as a Leon County Humane Society volunteer. I recently obtained my Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification through Health Science Consulting. I will be applying to Physician Assistant schools for the 2023 cycle, and I hope to someday work as an emergency room PA. I have completed the Physics sequence, Organic Chemistry 1 & 2, and Analytical Chemistry. I will be completing Organic Chemistry Lab and Biochemistry this year. I am excited to get the chance to meet you all – as always, go Noles!
	Karina Zack Hi, my name is Karina Zack! I am originally from Miami, FL and am a senior majoring in Clinical Professions on a pre-med track. This is my second year as an IMS Ambassador, and I am very excited for what’s to come. After graduating, I plan on taking a gap year and then applying to medical school. I am still unsure of what specialty I will go into, but I am currently interested in OB/GYN or Pediatrics. At FSU, I have been involved in NoleMed as well as AED, the Pre-Health Professional Honor Society on campus. I previously held a leadership position for AED as the Mentor Program Director. I have also shadowed various physicians in different specialties and worked at an Ear, Nose, and Throat practice. Additionally, I have been volunteering at TMH on the Orthopedic floor. At this point, I have completed all core sciences except analytical chemistry, which I will take in Fall 2022. I am very excited to meet you all, and I wish you luck this year!
	Silvia Zervos Hello! My name is Silvia Zervos, I am currently a junior in the IMS: Clinical Professions major on a pre-med track. On campus, I am involved with American Sign Language, research through the College of Medicine (DIS), Dance Marathon, American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), and Greek Life. I have served as President of AMWA and a Recruitment Coordinator for Dance Marathon. Off campus, I work as a PCA at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare and as a Student Brand Ambassador for La Colombe Coffee Roasters. One of my biggest passions is helping others so I find myself doing a lot of volunteer work in my free time. My current healthcare interests include going to Medical School out of state and becoming a Pediatric Neurosurgeon/Oncologist, but I have an open mind! In terms of classes, I have completed the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics sequences. I have taken a variety of IMS electives and have also completed Organic Chemistry 1. There are so many resources IMS provides; it is truly a great program for students interested in healthcare. I look forward to meeting incoming students! Have a great year!
	Charmaline Zilea Hello everyone, my name is Charmaline Zilea, and I am a senior majoring in IMS: Clinical Professions. Beyond my academics, I work at TMH as a patient technician and volunteer with Hearts for Homeless Tallahassee. I am an active member of USSTRIDE and the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students. My goal is to become an allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) physician to provide care for underprivileged populations. I finished Organic Chemistry Lab and Biochemistry this past summer and plan to apply to medical schools for the 2023 cycle. In Fall 2022, I will be working towards obtaining my Clinical Medical Assistant Certification. I love speaking and connecting with students. As an IMS ambassador, I hope to help students strive.

Schedule an Appointment

If an appointment with an ambassador is required for your seminar course, please refer to your seminar's Canvas page for instructions.
Currently we are not able to offer one on one appointments for students not enrolled in a seminar. This page will be updated when we are able to do so.
If you have any questions, please email IMSadvising@med.fsu.edu

Apply to be an Student Ambassador

The application cycle is currently closed.
If you have any questions, please contact us at IMSadvising@med.fsu.edu