Candidates for Region V Representative

Areebah Ahmed, OMS I, Rocky Vista University Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine              

Hello! My name is Areebah Ahmed and I am excited to be running for Region V Representative for NSOIMA! I am passionate about the vast field of internal medicine and all it has to offer, and appreciate the opportunity to run for this position. As the newly elected Vice President of my school’s Internal Medicine Club, I plan to bring in engaging speakers, create mentorship opportunities, and help fellow students get excited about internal medicine.

This role has only intrigued me more into the diverse field of internal medicine and I look forward to immersing myself in the speciality on a larger scale. If elected, I hope to foster a collaborative nature among Region V by increasing mentorship and beneficial opportunities for our members to network and amplify fellow student voices. Thank you for your consideration!

Robert Burns, OMS II, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine             

Hello everyone! My name is Robert Burns, and I am an OMS-II at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM). SOIMA is an incredible organization that I’ve had the privilege of participating in—as both a member and in various leadership roles. I served as the ICOM chapter SOIMA president for the 2024–2025 academic year and am currently serving as the medical student representative for the ACOI Physician Wellness Committee. This organization has had a significant impact on my medical school journey and helped me discover my passion for internal medicine. I hope to help students in Region V experience what I have through three main initiatives:

Equip – Especially during the preclinical years, OMS students can feel overwhelmed about where to get involved or which organizations to join. At ICOM, we aimed to get students engaged early in the semester. We accomplished this through a club fair, a fall flu shot clinic, and guest speaker events. I hope to share these and other event ideas with Region V COMs. I also want to make local SOIMA chapters aware of the many resources ACOI offers, such as free merchandise, traveling guest speakers, and mentorship opportunities.

Advocate – I want to hear from all of you about how national SOIMA can better drive interest in internal medicine at your COM. Each school has its own unique culture, and I want to collaborate with you to find the best ways to support your efforts. I’ll gather ideas from each school and bring them to the national organization to help create meaningful change. I’ve already begun this work by coordinating the student and resident wellness sessions for the ACOI 2025 conference.

Inspire – An early, positive experience with a specialty is crucial in shaping one’s career path. By promoting existing events—such as the monthly virtual lecture series—and helping coordinate additional events at your COM, I hope to spark a passion for internal medicine at your school.

Candice Lao, OMS II, Western University of Health Sciences/ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific              

Hi everyone, my name is Candice Lao, and I’m currently an OMS-II at Western University of Health Sciences – COMP. I’m excited to announce my candidacy for Region V Representative.

Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of serving as president of my local SOIMA chapter, where I organized workshops and speaker events such as patient care workshops on Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Code Blue scenarios. These events helped my classmates hone their clinical skills within Internal Medicine and has deepened my passion for creating opportunities that empower students.

As Region V Representative, my goal is to foster professional development by promoting opportunities for local-level research presentations and mentorship, encouraging stronger networking between SOIMA chapters, and supporting clubs with the resources they need to thrive.

I’m committed to being a strong liaison between our local chapters and the national board, ensuring that your voices are heard and your needs are met. I truly appreciate your time and consideration, and I would be honored to serve Region V.

Lucia Liu, OMS II, California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine              

I am honored to apply for a leadership position within the National Student Osteopathic Internal Medicine Association (NSOIMA). My passion for internal medicine, combined with my dedication to the principles of osteopathic medicine, has driven me to seek opportunities where I can support fellow students in their professional and academic journeys.

As a leader within NSOIMA and a representative of Region V, I will work to enhance educational initiatives, expand mentorship opportunities, and strengthen the national network of osteopathic medical students pursuing internal medicine. My goal is to provide guidance and resources that will help students navigate their careers, from early exposure to internal medicine to residency preparation. Additionally, I aim to collaborate with osteopathic internal medicine clubs across the country, providing them with structured support, leadership development tools, and opportunities for joint programming.

To continue the growth and development of NSOIMA, I would focus on strengthening national collaboration. I aim to create a centralized platform to facilitate communication between NSOIMA chapters and student leaders, promoting the exchange of ideas and best practices. Moreover, I aim to improve and enhance mentorship & residency guidance. Providing opportunities for medical students with internal medicine physicians, residents, and alumni will provide insight into career pathways and residency applications. I also want to provide more advocacy & research opportunities by encouraging involvement in research, policy discussions, and leadership within the osteopathic internal medicine community. The most important goal of mine is to expand educational resources for medical students. Organizing webinars, guest speaker events, and clinical case discussions can enrich students’ understanding of internal medicine. I want to help create and improve a more structured mentorship pipeline that connects students with internal medicine residents, fellows, and practicing physicians for one-on-one guidance. I also want to create a more elaborated resource hub for internal medicine residency. This hub would have sample personal statements, interview tips, and insights into the Match process, tailored for osteopathic students applying to internal medicine. I would also love to have more medical students connecting with faculty and professional organizations to help them find research opportunities, present at conferences, and strengthen their residency applications.

I am committed to ensuring that NSOIMA continues to grow as a dynamic and supportive community for students nationwide. With my leadership experience, enthusiasm for internal medicine, and collaborative approach, I look forward to serving my peers and contributing meaningfully to this organization.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Looking forward to serving you.

Lucia Liu, OMS-II
CHSU-COM

Maria Nguyen, OMS II, California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine              

I am interested in the role of Region V representative because I am passionate about developing strong connections among the chapters in the ACOI and with the national SOIMA. As Vice President of the Internal Medicine Interest Group at my school, I have been fortunate to develop relationships with ACOI representatives and further nurture a strong passion for internal medicine within my school through guest speaker events, presentations, and clinical skills practice events. I would love the opportunity to get to know and collaborate with other students interested in internal medicine in other chapters to become their voice and advocate to further empower students in pursuing their medical career passions. I would also love to host events that all chapters in my region and beyond could benefit from. For example, I have hosted a virtual presentation to improve clinical skills and OSCE exams for the American College of Physicians for Internal Medicine. I believe hosting virtual discussions like these for all chapters can benefit students and allow students from various chapters to interact with one another. We could expand these talks to include guest speakers to build on mentorship and passion for internal medicine. I have experience working with other chapters in the California Medical Association as the Vice Chair of Chapter Development in the Medical Student Section of the CMA. I believe this experience will lend important communication and collaboration skills necessary to being a good Region Representative. Thank you for your consideration.

Yadesh Ramdihal, OMS II, Midwestern University/ Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine          

I have an interest in internal medicine, and how different osteopathic techniques are used to treat different patient conditions and help manage their pain. I feel that it is a great resource to have to be able to treat different patient populations, and to avoid the need for any potential surgeries or medications which can have a harmful effect on the body.

I'm interested in serving as a regional representative because I would like an opportunity to able to connect the chapters in my region, and to also be able to spread information-current and correct up to date information on internal medicine and osteopathic medicine as that might impact how people view the profession and field. I would like to be able to be a resource for my medical school, and other medical schools in the current region.

Additionally, support, and community are important in this journey. I would like to be able to unite different medical schools and to be able to do different collaboration events if possible to show case the internal medicine field as an osteopathic physician. Everyone's journey to medicine is unique, and different. Sometimes, it helps having a mentor or even connecting with other individuals who might have a similar story or background, as yourself. Lastly, it is important to also be aware of changes/updates in the field and different careers/ pathways in internal medicine. Some schools might not have access to the most up to date/current information on the field.