WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE MEDCONNECT CONFERENCE 2024 ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16TH!

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MedConnect’s Board of Directors

The MedConnect Conference is being organized by a team of undergraduate students from Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity, Canada Beta Chapter at Simon Fraser University, in collaboration with medical students from the University of British Columbia. Below, you can learn more about our diverse and experienced event team working hard to create another successful MedConnect on November 16th, 2024.

Charlotte Gibson – Executive Director

Charlotte is a third-year Biomedical Physiology student at Simon Fraser University, where she combines her passion for healthcare with leadership and community engagement. She has been an active member of Phi Delta Epsilon Canada Beta Chapter since Fall 2023. In addition to her role as Executive Director of MedConnect 2024, Charlotte also serves as the Professional Development Chair. Beyond her academic and leadership roles with PhiDE, Charlotte is deeply committed to accessibility and education. She is an Event Coordinator for SFU’s American Sign Language Club and serves as the Workshop Coordinator for the Indigenous Tutoring and Mentoring Program, where she recently organized a successful conference introducing Indigenous high school students to the opportunities available to them at SFU. With a strong passion for teaching and working with children, Charlotte has led SFU Science Summer Camps, tutors students in a variety of subjects, and shares her love of music as a violin teacher. In her free time, Charlotte enjoys playing the violin, reading, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Augusto Pinto – Senior Advisor 

Augusto is a third-year Health Science student at SFU. He joined PhiDE in the Fall of 2022 and assumed the role of chair of professional development to become the president of the fraternity later. Augusto is also active in the ALAS club (Association of Latin American Students), in which he enjoys connecting with people who speak Spanish like him. He is also very active playing as a field hockey goalkeeper in the 1st division of Metro Vancouver. He also has experience as a national goalkeeper of field hockey for Peru. He has played in several international tournaments representing Peru and aims to play in the Olympics someday. Still, outside his extracurricular activities, he likes spending quality time with his friends at the SFU residence and hanging out with them. Something he enjoys, as well as playing video games with his friends back home. It’s a great way to keep communication with them. He expects to positively impact the MedConnect team and share his experiences in organizing this type of event. 

Mariana Garcia – Senior Advisor

Mariana is a third-year Behavioural Neuroscience Major at SFU, currently completing a co-op term. She joined Phi Delta Epsilon Canada Beta Chapter in spring 2022 and now holds the position of VP of Programming. Recently, she became a Research Assistant in SFU’s Eyewitness Memory Lab, gaining hands-on experience in experimental psychology. Mariana also volunteers with the Canadian Liver Foundation and for the second year participated in the Liver Beware – FibroScan Screening Project, supporting affordable testing for liver health. Outside of academics, she is passionate about photography and outdoor activities. As MedConnect’s Senior Advisor, she aims to further develop her leadership skills while maintaining a strong medical focus! 

Sherilyn Chung – Internal Director

Sherilyn is a fourth year Biomedical Physiology major at SFU and a past president of Phi Delta Epsilon Canada Beta Chapter. Sherilyn’s interest in science and healthcare led her to work as a clinical research assistant in respiratory diseases at St. Paul’s Hospital, and she currently works the Sensorimotor Neuroscience lab conducting research on the link between vision and motor decisions. She is also a BPK peer mentor and the undergraduate representative of the BPK Student Association, where she collaborates with students and staff in order to improve undergraduate experiences. Outside of school, Sherilyn volunteers her time to coach speed skating and enjoys rock climbing and creating art. As Sherilyn joins the MedConnect team as the internal director for the second year in a row, she strives to ensure that the event runs smoothly and the experience is educational for all.

Ashkan Saffari – Programming Director 

Ashkan is a fourth-year doing Honours in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at SFU. He joined Phi Delta Epsilon Canada Beta Chapter in 2023 and currently serves as Recruitment Chair. Ashkan is an intern in the Storr Lab, focusing on research around the p53 protein aggregation, which plays a critical role in cancer metastasis. Additionally, he is a RA for Maternal and Infant Health in Canada and volunteers with Child Life in the Emergency Department at BC Children’s Hospital. Ashkan is passionate about emergency medicine and aspires to pursue a career in medicine, with a strong commitment to giving back to his community.

Rockcelle Oquendo – Logistics Director

Rockcelle is a second-year Biomedical Physiology student at Simon Fraser University. Alongside serving as one of MedConnect 2024’s Logistics Directors, she also holds the position of Service Chair for Phi Delta Epsilon Canada Beta Chapter. Rockcelle is an Undergraduate RA at the Grow to Care Lab, dedicating her time assisting developmental science and psychology research. She’s also passionate about providing community support and fast-paced crisis intervention as a volunteer Crisis Responder for Kids Help Phone, and as a Child Life – Emergency Department Volunteer at the BC Children’s Hospital. Rockcelle aspires to work towards providing medical treatments in urgent, high-pressure situations as an Emergency Physician, and dedicating her future pursuing oncology research and leading fundraising initiatives to support individuals with cancer nationwide.

Dani Goertzen – Logistics Director

Dani is in her second-year, majoring in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at Simon Fraser University. In addition to one of MedConnect 2024’s Logistics Directors, she is also the current Historian for Phi Delta Epsilon’s Canada Beta Chapter, being an active member since the 2023 Fall semester. Outside of PHIDE, Dani is also the founder and president of Students4EquitableEducation, a foundation striving to provide more equitable opportunities to students who have faced systemic inequalities. Dani is committed to making a difference in her community, striving to educate herself and others on systemic issues and their implications. She is also extremely passionate about science and its medical applications, aspiring to become a surgeon. In her free time, Dani enjoys doing yoga, listening to music, spending time with her family and friends, and appreciating nature. 

Chanelle Wong – Senior Marketing Advisor 

Chanelle Wong is a third-year Behavioural Neuroscience student at Simon Fraser University (SFU) with a passion for healthcare and marketing. She joined Phi Delta Epsilon (PhiDE) Canada Beta Chapter in Fall 2022 and currently serves as VP Finance. Chanelle has honed her leadership and design skills through various roles, including Marketing Director for MedConnect 2023 and VP Communications and Marketing for the Science Undergraduate Society (SUS) in 2023-2024, where she now serves as President. Currently, she is continuing her involvement with her internship at Vancouver General Hospital with the Azar Lab, conducting research in addiction psychiatry, which aims find innovative solutions for the opioid crisis. Aspiring to pursue a career in psychiatry, Chanelle is passionate about mental health advocacy and the biological basis of behaviour. She aims to leverage her research experience and leadership skills to make a meaningful impact in the field of mental health. In her free time, she enjoys paddleboarding, spending time with her dog, listening to music, working out, and reading.

Sumaiyah Ali – Marketing Director 

Sumaiyah is a fourth-year psychology student at Simon Fraser University (SFU), where she is an active member  of Phi Delta Epsilon Canada Beta Chapter and serves as  the Marketing Chair as well as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Psychology Student Union. In addition, Sumaiyah is co-founding an Islamic Relief SFU team, building on her prior experience volunteering in Malaysia with Islamic Relief Canada, where she provided food, hygiene supplies, and psychosocial support to Rohingya orphans. She also volunteers as an emergency department volunteer at Royal Columbian Hospital. Passionate about mental health advocacy and substance abuse, Sumaiyah dedicates her time to supporting vulnerable communities, including handing out food in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Sumaiyah is also passionate about playing and watching rugby. In her free time, she enjoys pilates, baking, going for drives and spending time with friends.

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Danica Dorey-Havens – Marketing Director 

Danica Dorey-Havens is a third year Health Science student at Simon Fraser University. She is in her third year as a Phi Delta Epsilon Canada Beta Chapter Member and serves as a marketing director for MedConnect 2024. Passionate about giving back to her community, Danica volunteers at her local community centre at a Dementia Day Program called “My Parkgate Break”. There, she spends the day with seniors with dementia ensuring they have a fun filled day while their caregivers have some time to themselves. Danica is a new volunteer at the BC Crisis Centre where she is a responder for those calling while they are having a mental health crisis. Danica also works as a server at a restaurant and enjoys spending her free time watching basketball and spending time with her friends.

Mahan Bagherikashani – Communications and Plenary Director 

Mahan is a third-year Kinesiology student at SFU, and has been an active member of the Phi Delta Epsilon Canada Beta Chapter since Fall 2023. Currently serving as the Philanthropy chair and the Communications and Plenary Director for this year’s MedConnect. During his summer internship at Moresports, Mahan oversaw sports coaches and volunteers, designed and implemented youth sports programs, and led outreach initiatives to promote summer activities. Additionally, he volunteered at Eagle Ridge Hospital Manor, where he provided hands-on support to elderly residents, and also served as a physiotherapist assistant at Trailside physio. This fall, Mahan is working with SFU varsity athletes as a strength and conditioning intern. Mahan is passionate about sports medicine and is dedicated to share his passion with his community.

MedConnect’s Past Event Directors

Our Board of Directors for the MedConnect Conference 2022 are listed below:

Executive Director: Yasmin Harden

Jody Tao: Programming Director

Emma Uphill: Communications and Plenary Director

Selena Karmali: Marketing Director

Ashwini Kashyap: Marketing Director

Gurpreet Moroak: Internal Director

Jocelyn Visser: Health and Safety Director, Marketing

Our Board of Directors for the MedConnect Conference 2019 are captured below.

[Top Left to Bottom Right] Taranjot Kaur (Logistics Director), Jessica Seemann (Executive Director), Maya Naidu (Communications and Plenary Director), Elyssa Bingham (Marketing Director), Daria Elrick  (Senior Advisor), and Vanessa Kelly (Programming Director)

Our Event Directors for the MedConnect Conference 2018 are captured below.

Our Official Event Directors for the MedConnect Conference 2016 can be seen below. Special thanks to the Interactive Challenge Coordinators, Alli Jussila and Valeriya Zaborska, and the Alpha-Epsilon Class of Phi Delta Epsilon SFU.