Meet The 2025 GAPPA Board
ExecutiveDirectors
Exeutive Director
Amanda Yee
Graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in Human Biology, Amanda has developed key leadership experience through her organizations and work. Amanda hosts an infinitely kind attitude balanced with practicality that ensures reliable and efficient decision making. She currently has her eyes set on becoming a surgical or primary care PA. ​
Executive Director
Tert Soriano
Tert graduated from University of California San Diego with a degree in General Biology while gathering experience as a CNA. As a quick-witted and outside-the-box thinker, he never failed to make the group atmosphere brighter while maintaining a respectful undertone. Tert's passion lies in one day pushing forward his healthcare knowledge to the younger generation, becoming a PA school educator and mentor.
Directors
Co-Director of Event Coordination
Katy Chen
Katy graduated from UC Irvine in 2024 as a Public Health Sciences major. Right now, she is working as a medical assistant at an internal medicine clinic and is planning to apply to PA school this year. Katy currently has an interest in orthopedic surgery and primary care and hopes to practice in these specialties while serving underserved communities in the future. When she is not trying new restaurants and cafes to review on Instagram, she enjoys weightlifting, spending time outdoors, and exploring different hobbies. Katy is excited to see the PA community grow!
Co-Director of Event Coordination
Trevor Ngyuen
Trevor graduated from UCSD in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in human biology! Currently, he works as an MA at a family clinic in Orange County. For PA school, he is reapplying this upcoming cycle in 2025. Some of his hobbies include hiking, watching and playing basketball, and attending concerts. Trevor looks forward to spending more time with GAPPA members at our events!
Director of Finances
Quang Nguyen
Quang is a UCSD 2023 graduate who majored in general bio and is now working fulltime as a pediatric MA in Newport Beach. His plan for PA school is to apply across the country in 2025 once he takes some remaining prerequisite classes, racks up more PCE and volunteer hours. Quang likes going out to do things like thrifting, exploring new restaurants with friends, and being active through sports or working out. But with that, Quang feels like he always needs the next day to socially recover by chilling at home to sleep, watch anime, or cook. A fun fact is that he has been walking around with a torn ACL a little over a year now and didn't find out until a month ago.
Director of Resources
Anika Madan
Anika graduated in Spring 2024 from UC Irvine, majoring in Public Health Sciences and minoring in Psychology. Currently, she works as a back office MA in ophthalmology. She is still involved in leadership positions with the Pre-PA club at UCI. Previously, she was a part of the skincare interest club and served as an undergraduate researcher and a mentor to undeclared students in college. In her free time, she volunteers at a free clinic. Anika plans on applying to PA school this cycle. She hopes to work with underserved communities as a PA. Her hobbies include cooking and working out.
Director of Marketing
Danielle Salazar
Dani graduated from UCR in 2022 with a degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish (Go Highlanders!). She lives in the Inland Empire and loves collecting Sonny Angels and going to hot yoga. Currently, she works as a medical assistant and scribe in cardiology and aesthetics, and is also enrolled in a course to become a Community Health Worker at her local free clinic. She plans to apply for PA school in the 2025-2026 cycle.
Co-Director of Program Development
Jailine Salazar
Jailine graduated from the University of San Francisco in 2021 with a degree in Environmental Science and a minor in Business Administration. She currently resides in her hometown of Oceanside, CA, working as a medical scribe for an orthopaedic spine surgeon. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, hiking, traveling, and playing the clarinet. Jailine plans to apply to PA school in April 2025 and hopes to one day work with underserved communities as a primary care or emergency medicine PA. She is excited to contribute to GAPPA’s growth and support others on their pre-PA journey.
Co-Director of Program Development
Alison Stotts
As a non-traditional applicant with a degree in aerospace engineering from UC San Diego, Alison brings a unique perspective to healthcare. Working as a pediatric medical assistant, she is passionate about expanding access to quality care, especially for underserved communities. She enjoys reading, hiking, exploring new places, and supporting nonprofit organizations, particularly those focused on animal welfare. With a strong background in leadership, innovation, and compassion, Alison strives to make a lasting impact in everything she does.
Board Members
Co-Public Outreach Chair
Charleen Grace
Charleen Grace Jimenez Pua recently graduated from UC San Diego in June 2024 as a Human Developmental Science major. One of her fondest memories from her undergraduate journey was founding Madhatter Knits at UCSD, an organization dedicated to hand knitting beanies for premature infants in NICUs all across San Diego! Charleen has experience working as a PT aide and is currently working as a float pool medical assistant/scribe in multiple dermatology clinics. She is located in San Marcos, California, and is excited to announce that she will be applying for PA school this cycle (2025). When she is not cutting sutures and working on applications, Charleen loves to kickbox, spend time with her two french bulldogs, and collect Hello Kitty memorabilia. As public outreach coordinator, Charleen can't wait to help others in the GAPPA community explore their passion for the PA profession through building community partnerships and connections!
Co-Public Outreach Chair
Amy Kavi
Amy graduated from UCSD in March 2025 with a major in Neurobiology and a minor in Global Health. She is originally from San Diego, CA, and currently resides there. Amy has been a Medical Assistant since 2023 with experience working at a holistic medicine clinic and a neurosurgery practice. She is also currently interning at Palomar Health, where she rotates through different floors of the hospital. In her free time, Amy enjoys volunteering with local homeless outreach organizations, dancing, and trying new coffee shops! She plans to apply for PA school in 2026, and she is excited for an impactful gap year with GAPPA!
Co-Community Service Coordinator
Tyler Ngyuen
Graduating from the University of California San Diego with a degree in General Biology, Tyler found his passion for the PA career when he involved himself in student orgs. Tyler's gregarious and reliable nature always drove him to make meaningful connections while ensuring lasting relationships are formed. He aspires to one day become an emergency medicine PA with his interest in human physiology.
Co-Community Service Coordinator
Son Tran
Son is a current fourth-year biology major at UC Riverside. He currently lives in Riverside where he goes to school but originates from Garden Grove, CA. He is a current ED scribe at Kaiser Moreno Valley under Vituity and plans to apply to CASPA this 2025 cycle. He is excited to join GAPPA and spend time getting to know everyone!
Co-Community Service Coordinator
Arely Navarro
I graduated from UC Irvine in 2023 as a Public Health Sciences major with a minor in Medical Humanities. I am from Riverside, CA. I have worked as a Medical Assistant at an Occupational Medicine clinic for over a year and a half. I am planning on re-applying to PA schools this 2025-26 cycle. I enjoy trying new coffee shops!
Secretary
Sierra Okamura
Sierra graduated from UCSD in 2023 with a major in psychology specializing in human health and a minor in general biology! She currently works in orthopedics with a spine surgeon and has experience in integrative and functional medicine. She is re-applying to PA school this upcoming cycle. In the future, Sierra would like to work as a PA in emergency medicine. In her free time, she loves to read books, drink boba, and walk her dogs. She looks forward to meeting everyone at future GAPPA events!
Co-Social Media Manager
Rianna Thompson
Rianna graduated from UCSD with a B.S in Public Health in 2024. She lives in Chula Vista and used to be a medical assistant at a private practice. Currently, she works as a PCA at Rady Children’s Hospital in the Emergency Department. Rianna recently started junk journaling this year and also wants to try out ceramics/pottery! She also likes to go to the gym and wants to try out pilates studios. Her plan is to apply for PA school in 2026.
Co-Social Media Manager
Katie Regan
She is a senior at Gettysburg College and will be graduating in May 2025 with a Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences and a minor in Studio Art. For her patient care hours, she has experience working as a vision therapist and an optometric technician. She also manages an online pet portrait business with her twin sister. During her time at Gettysburg, Katie was a member of the field hockey team and Delta Gamma Sorority! She plans to apply to PA school in the upcoming 2025 - 2026 cycle. Originally she is from Millburn, New Jersey, and her hobbies include running, reading, and painting. Katie is excited about the opportunity to continue her journey in healthcare and connect with fellow pre-PA students!"
Video Content Producer
Vinh Nguyen
Vinh is an alumni from UC San Diego who graduated with a bachelor's in general biology in Spring 2023. Currently, Vinh works at a clinic that specializes in pulmonology, sleep, and family care. His goal is to apply to PA school within the next couple of years and specialize in urgent care. Vinh always loves to try new things, but some of his hobbies are gymming, basketball, reading, and cooking new dishes. If there is anything you would like to ask, whether it's related to the PA field or outside of it, he would be more than happy to answer any questions!
Investment + Financial Advisor
Grace Yue
Grace is a third year Biological Sciences major at UCI, and will graduate in June 2024. She currently works as a student assistant at UCI's School of Medicine, and has prior clinical experience as a COPE Health Scholar. After graduation, Grace plans to take a few gap years and apply to PA school in 2027. In her free time, you can find Grace hiking/visiting botanical gardens, cafe-hopping throughout Orange County, and attempting to knit a sweater.
Investment + Finacial Advisor
Rachel Nguyen
Rachel graduated from UCI in 2019 with a degree in biological sciences and has gained valuable patient care experience through medical assisting, contributing to family medicine research, and volunteering in her local hospital’s volunteer programs. Her work extends outside of healthcare as well through her involvement in community college peer programs and working with dog rescue organizations. Rachel is taking some more pre-reqs but plans to apply soon to PA school. Additionally, in her free time, she enjoys taking on DIY projects, baking, and spending time with fur babies! She is so excited to be part of the GAPPA team!
Pre-Pa Counselor
Hannah Sun
Hannah graduated with her BA in Psychology from UC Berkeley in May 2024. As a San Diego native, she is currently working as a TMS technician at a psychiatry & neurology clinic during her gap year. She is very passionate about integrative mental healthcare, global/public health, and education. In her free time, you can find her reading, listening to music, traveling, spending time in nature, and dancing! She is planning to apply to PA school this year. She can't wait to support pre-PAs along their journey in any way she can!
Pre-PA Counselor
Isabella Kellas
Isabella is a recent Public Health graduate from UC Berkeley. Throughout college, she co-facilitated a student-led course teaching students about the PT, NP, and PA fields and mentored first-generation students on STEM pathways through the Educational Opportunity Program. Isabella’s patient care experience includes working as a medical assistant at an urgent care clinic and as a PT aide at a private practice. She plans to move to Los Angeles for her gap year, where she will work as a medical assistant and hopes to serve Hispanic populations. Besides her PA aspirations, her hobbies include watching reality TV shows, thrifting, and reading. Isabella is super excited to get to know everyone and be a part of the GAPPA team!
Pre-PA Counselor
Sandra Ngo
Sandra graduated in 2023 with a major in Public Health. Currently working as a Medical Assistant. During undergrad she served as the President of the CSULA Pre-PA Association. Sandra plans to apply for PA school in the 2025 cycle. In her free time, she enjoys exploring different restaurants and traveling. She is excited about the opportunities and experiences that GAPPA has in store for the members!
Co-Resource Coordinator
Mimi Tagle
Mimi graduated from CSULB in 2024 as a Biological Sciences major and is currently residing in Los Angeles, CA. She also attended Southwestern College before she transferred schools in 2022. She is currently working as a medical assistant at a cardiovascular clinic and volunteers as a cope health scholar, in which she is an enrollment coordinator for the program. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling & trying new cafes to study or just hangout at. As she continues to work on her application and build her resume, she hopes to apply for PA school in 2026.
Co-Resource Coordinator
Hannah Duat
Hannah is a Psychology major with a Biology minor, who graduated from California State University, Northridge in Spring of 2025. In her free time, she enjoys mind-body exercises like Pilates and watching stand-up comedy on YouTube. Professionally, she has experience in Phlebotomy and as a Medical Lab Assistant in Los Angeles. Currently, Hannah works as a Student Success Mentor on campus, providing resources and academic support to peer mentees. She plans to apply to PA school in the upcoming cycle, with the goal of working in Primary Care and serving underrepresented communities.
CPR/BLS Instructor
Laura Robbins
Laura earned my degree in Human Biology from UC San Diego in 2023. Currently, she works as a Medical Assistant at an urgent care clinic and has previous experience as a CNA. She lives in Oceanside, CA, and in her free time, she enjoys surfing, reading, and hiking with my dog. Laura plans to apply to PA school during the 2025-2026 cycle. She is excited to be a part of GAPPA, where she can connect with fellow pre-PA students and support one another as we work toward our goal of becoming PAs!
CPR/BLS Instructor
Brooke Sanchez
Brooke graduated from UC Davis in 2022 with a major in Global Disease Biology and a minor in Exercise Science. Currently, Brooke works as a rehab aide at a hospital and as a medical assistant/scribe at a regenerative health clinic. In addition to these roles, Brooke dedicates time to volunteer pet therapy with her dog Dante, at a local hospital.
Brooke plans to apply to PA school in April 2025. Outside of healthcare commitments, Brooke enjoys backpacking, camping, running, and karaoke. Brooke is excited about joining GAPPA to help others prepare for PA school and to connect with people who share similar goals and passions.
CPR/BLS Instructor
Chloe Fowler
Chloe graduated from UCSD in 2023 with a B.S. in General Biology. She currently lives in San Diego and works as an EMT but is transitioning to ER Tech very soon! She also works as a medical scribe/ assistant at a Rheumatology Clinic down in La Mesa. When she is not working, she loves to go outside on little nature walks, cook and bake (I have a huge sweet tooth!), and do art. Chloe plans to apply to PA school in 2026, and hopefully will have enough hours by then!
GAPPA Ambassador
Diana Mensah
Diana graduated from CSULB in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology-Fitness. Although she enjoyed her time in Long Beach, she has moved back home to Sacramento to save money. Currently, Diana works as a PT Aide but will soon start an EMT course to diversify her PCEs. In her free time, she enjoys working out, listening to audiobooks, cooking, and doing her nails at home! Diana feels nervous but excited about applying to PA school this upcoming cycle and is also thrilled to be a part of the GAPPA team to help fellow Pre-PAs!