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Meet the 2026 GAPPA Board

Meet The 2026 GAPPA Board

SoCal Directors 

Grace Yue, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Director of Program Development

Grace Yue

Grace graduated from UC Irvine in Spring 2025 with a degree in Biological Sciences, and currently works in primary care as a scribe/medical assistant. She is currently planning to take a few gap years before applying to PA school in the near future. Grace hopes to continue supporting medically underserved communities as a future family medicine or surgical PA. In her free time, you can find Grace cafe-hopping throughout Orange County and attempting to knit a sweater. She is excited to continue uplifting the pre-PA community as a GAPPA team member this year!

Mikaela Tagle, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Director of Outreach and Service

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 in San Diego before she transferred schools in 2022. She is currently working as a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic and volunteers as a cope health scholar, in which she is an enrollment coordinator/assistant director of training for the program. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling & trying new cafes to study or just hangout at. Mimi plans on applying to PA school this upcoming 2026-27 cycle but is looking forward to working with the team to bring new and exciting opportunities to GAPPA!

Sophia Welge, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Director of SoCal Operations

Sophia Welge

Sophia graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in human biology. She has experience working as a physical therapy aide and will also pursue medical assisting during her gap years. She is also a Pathmaker intern, where she has gained experience in cardiology, the ICU, and the emergency department. In her free time, she likes to dance, go rock climbing, and spend time outdoors. She plans to apply to PA school in 2027 after her first gap year, where she hopes to become an emergency medicine PA. As the director of SoCal operations, she looks forward to meeting fellow pre-PAs and helping provide resources to support their journey to PA school.

Annabelle Garrison, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Director of Marketing and Resources

Annabelle Garrison

Annabelle is currently a student at UC Irvine studying Public Health Sciences and plans to graduate in September 2026. She serves as a co-coordinator for the Vituity Cares Foundation Santa Ana Clinic and is passionate about improving access to healthcare for underserved populations in Southern California and addressing healthcare barriers. Annabelle is always open to exploring different areas of healthcare, but has developed an interest in dermatology and orthopedics! In her free time, she enjoys painting, scrapbooking, taking walks on the beach, and trying new restaurants and foods. Annabelle is excited to be part of GAPPA and looks forward to continuing to grow the Pre-PA community!

SoCal Board Members

Rosha Broomand, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Co-Public Outreach Coordinator

Rosha Broomand

Rosha is a student at Chapman University majoring in Health Sciences with a minor in Leadership Studies, pursuing a pre-PA track and graduating in May 2027. She previously worked as a Medical Assistant in pain management and currently works as a Physical Therapy Aide at a health and wellness clinic, as well as an EMT for special events. On campus, she serves on the Chapman First Aid Team as a Field Training Officer, where she helps train and support fellow members in emergency response. Beyond her clinical experience, Rosha is actively involved in leadership and service. She serves as the Vice President of Intellectual Development for her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, where she supports members’ academic success and personal growth. She is also involved in research with Chapman’s Physical Therapy program and volunteers with Special Olympics, where she recently founded a campus club to expand student involvement. Outside of academics and work, Rosha enjoys hot yoga and spending time at Disneyland. She plans to apply to PA school in 2027 and is excited to serve as one of the Program Outreach Coordinators for GAPPA this year.

Amy Kavi, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Co-Public Outreach Coordinator

Amy Kavi

Amy graduated from UC San Diego in March 2025 with a major in Neurobiology and a minor in Global Health. She is currently working full-time as a Medical Assistant in Dermatology where she assists in patient care, in-clinic biopsies and other procedures, Mohs skin cancer surgery, and more. She has been an MA since 2023 with previous experience working at a holistic health clinic and a neurosurgery practice. She is also 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 in San Diego, dancing, and trying new coffee shops! She is applying to PA school in 2026 and is excited for another impactful year with GAPPA!

Sandra Ly, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Co-Public Outreach Coordinator

Sandra Ly

Sandra graduated from UCR with a B.S. in Biology in 2024 and has since moved back home to Camarillo, CA. She has experience as a concert MA, ED scribe, OB/GYN MA, and currently works as a PT aide. With plans to reapply for PA school this upcoming cycle, Sandra is excited to continue building lifelong skills to provide compassionate and equitable care, especially to underserved communities. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, reading rom coms or psychological thrillers, listening to R&B, spending too much money on $8 lattes, and volunteering!

Catherine Luu , GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Co-Community Service Coordinator 

Catherine Luu

Catherine recently graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in biology. She currently works as a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic. Catherine enjoys exploring the different sectors of healthcare but is particularly interested in surgery and women’s health. In her free time, she loves to explore beaches, play volleyball, try new restaurants, and pursue new hobbies. Catherine plans on applying to PA school during the 2027-2028 cycle and is beyond excited to be a part of the GAPPA community!

Naomi, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Co-Community Service Coordinator 

Naomi Ortiz

Noami is a fourth-year student at UC Berkeley, studying sociology. She currently lives in Berkeley, CA, but plans to move back to San Diego in May. Noami loves thrifting, exploring new coffee shops, going to national parks, and playing pickleball! Currently, she works at the Basic Needs Center at UC Berkeley in efforts to combat food injustice. She plans to apply to UCSD, La Jolla, Boston University, A.T. Still University, and more!

Juliana Lane, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Co-Community Service Coordinator 

Juliana Lane

Juliana recently graduated from CSULB with a B.S. in Health Science. She currently works as a medical assistant at a gastroenterology clinic and is involved with a nonprofit promoting community health and education. She’s had the chance to explore specialties including cardiac telemetry, orthopedics, emergency medicine, and urology, but is excited to see where her PA journey takes her! Juliana is finishing up her prerequisites for PA school and is looking forward to surfing, crocheting, and doing even more hot yoga once they’re done! She is thrilled to be a part of GAPPA and excited for what this next year will bring.

Rianna Thompson, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Video Content Producer

Rianna Thompson

Rianna graduated from UCSD with B.S. in Public Health in 2024. She lives in Chula Vista and has experience as 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 learning how to play the  guitar and also likes to junk journal. She plans to apply to PA school in 2026 and is excited to continue supporting the Pre-PA community through GAPPA!

Emily Lun, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Co-Social Media Manager

Emily Lun

Emily graduated from UC Irvine in 2025 with a B.S. in Public Health Sciences and Minor in Health Informatics. Previously, she held leadership positions with the pre-PA club (PACT) and the American Red Cross Club (RCC) on campus. She has also interned for Associated Students-UCI under the Chief Media & Technology Office. Outside of school, she was also a COPE Health Scholar at Kaiser Permanente-Irvine, rotating on the Med Surg/Tele & Family Centered Postpartum floors. She also has experience as a medical assistant in family medicine, internal medicine, and podiatry. Currently, she works at a dermatology, reconstructive surgery, and plastic surgery office. In her free time, she loves trying out new cafes, going to concerts, and traveling! Emily is excited to apply for PA school this coming cycle and to help contribute to the GAPPA community!

Alma Hernandez, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Co-Social Media Manager

Alma Hernandez

Alma graduated from the University of Southern California in 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Sciences. She currently works as a back office medical assistant in a dermatology clinic and has previous clinical experience in orthopedics. Alma volunteers at a hospital and food bank in Los Angeles, as well as local free health screening events serving underserved communities. She is passionate about addressing healthcare disparities and expanding access to care for marginalized communities. In her free time, Alma enjoys working out, cooking, exploring new places in nature, catching up with friends, and trying new coffee shops. She is excited to be part of GAPPA and looks forward to contributing to a supportive community of aspiring physician assistants while growing as a future leader dedicated to improving healthcare accessibility.

Rachel Nguyen, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Investment 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!

Anvi, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Pre-Pa Counselor 

An-vi Bui

An-vi graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 2022 with a Health Science degree. She currently works at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County as a Lead Medical Scribe in the Endocrinology department. Her past patient experiences include dental assistant, pediatric medical assistant, and ophthalmic technician. An-vi served as a past board member of PACT at her university and has a passion for mentoring others. In her free time, An-vi enjoys dancing, trying new cafes.  An-vi has been accepted into PA school and will be starting this upcoming year! She is looking forward to using her experiences to support and guide others in the Pre-PA Community!

Meghan Hammi, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Pre-PA Counselor 

Meghan Hammi

Meghan recently graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Biology. She currently lives in San Diego and works as a back office medical assistant in dermatology. She is also a Pathmaker intern at Palomar Health, where she has completed rotations in the Orthopedic Acute Care Unit, ICU, Pre-Op/PACU, and is currently serving in the Surgery department. Meghan is passionate about mentoring and supporting first generation students, especially those navigating the pre-health pathway. In her free time, she enjoys baking, trying new restaurants, and going on walks around San Diego! Meghan plans to apply to PA school in the 2026 cycle and is excited to be part of GAPPA, where she looks forward to supporting the pre-PA community this year!

Hannah Duat, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Resource Coordinator

Hannah Duat

Hannah Duat is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she earned a BA in Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys archery, weightlifting, playing with her Westiepoo, and watching stand-up comedy on YouTube. Professionally, she has experience in phlebotomy, as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, and currently works as a Medical Assistant at a gynecology clinic. She plans to apply to PA school in the next cycle, with the goal of working in primary care and serving underrepresented communities.

Catalina Nguyen, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

CPR/BLS Instructor

Catalina Nguyen

 A UC San Diego alumni from 2023 with a degree in Global Health, Catalina is happy to be back in SoCal after moving home to Sacramento after graduation. She has gained diverse patient care experience as an orthopedic MA, EMT, and currently as an ER tech, where she continues to pursue her passion for emergency medicine and patient advocacy. Through GAPPA, she hopes to empower aspiring healthcare professionals with the knowledge and confidence to respond in emergencies and provide life-saving care. In her free time, Catalina enjoys working out, going to the beach, and exploring new coffee and food spots throughout Orange County. 

Frank Cortes, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

CPR/BLS Instructor

Frank Cortez

Frank graduated from Cal State San Marcos in 2022 with a degree in Kinesiology. He gained clinical experience working in a sports medicine PT clinic as an aide and is now working as a medical assistant in family medicine. In his free time he can be found exploring the outdoors through hiking, camping, or enjoying the ocean and learning how to surf! He is reapplying to the 2026-2027 cycle and looks forward to growing within a diverse pre-PA community with GAPPA. He aspires to become a mentor to pre-PA students as a PA and strives to make a lasting impact with peers and patients, in any field of medicine he has the opportunity to work in.

Chloe Fowler, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

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 ER Tech in National City. When she is not working, she loves to be in nature, cook, bake, and make floral arrangements. Chloe plans to apply to PA school during the 2026-2027 cycle. She loves being a part of GAPPA and teaching CPR classes as BLS Instructor. She is genuinely passionate about mentoring pre-PA students and loves sharing tips to help others navigate the pre-PA path.

SoCal Float Team

Eileen Nguyen, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Float

Eileen Nguyen

Eileen is a recent graduate from UCSD (Spring 2025) who majored in Human Biology. She is finishing up PA school prerequisites at Palomar College; this fall semester will be her last. Currently, she resides in La Jolla, CA, but is originally from Los Angeles and has family there. Eileen is working as a part-time caregiver and is planning to transition into medical assisting by the beginning of next year after completing an online certification course. Some hobbies she enjoys are golfing (been doing it for 11 years!), trying new food/boba spots, caring for her fur babies, taking on random craft projects, and watching shows/movies/anime! Lastly, she plans to apply for PA school during the 2027-2028 cycle.

Kai Gan, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Float

Kai Gan

Kai graduated from UC San Diego this spring with a B.S. in Public Health with a Concentration in Medicine Sciences and a minor in General Biology. Currently, he still stays in San Diego, around the Mira Mesa area, working as a medical assistant/technician for a specialty otoneurology clinic in Kearny Mesa. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports with his friends, specifically tennis, basketball, and pickleball. Additionally, he likes to cook and play music! Kai has been playing piano for over 15 years now and has been slowly teaching himself guitar and music production. He is torn between applying this upcoming 2026 cycle or waiting another year, but is currently pushing himself to apply early, so he plans to apply in 2026.

Michelle Hong, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Float

Michelle Hong

Michelle graduated from UC Irvine in Spring 2025, majoring in Biological Sciences. She currently resides in the San Gabriel Valley, working as a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering at her local food drive and going on little errand runs with her family. She also loves to bake, play pickleball, and explore cafes and restaurants with friends! Michelle plans to apply for PA school in the 2027-28 cycle, and she’s so excited to be a part of GAPPA! 

Brooklyn Duran, GAPPA Board Member is in this picture

Float

Brooklyn Duran

Brooklyn is a third-year Psychobiology major at the University of California, Los Angeles with a minor in Public Health. She has gained clinical experience working as a CNA, an MA in dermatology, and as a Patient Care Navigator with COPE Health Solutions. Brooklyn loves working with children and volunteers with The Painted Turtle, supporting pediatric patients through both inpatient hospital visits and outpatient camp programs. She is also the president of UCLA’s Global Brigades chapter and participated in a medical mission trip to Guatemala, where she helped support patient care in underserved communities. Brooklyn hopes to become a pediatric Physician Assistant in the future. Outside of healthcare, she loves dinosaurs!

NorCal Directors

Andrew Arboleda - Director of Community Engagement.jpg

 Director of Community Engagement

Andrew Arboleda 

Andrew graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in Integrative Human Biology in May 2025. He lives in Berkeley, CA, and currently works as a Medical Assistant in UCSF Dermatologic Surgery. At UC Berkeley, he independently taught a Medical Microbiology course, which deepened his passion for education and mentorship. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys mentoring students, volunteering with Street Medicine Outreach, hiking scenic trails, visiting museums, and exploring new eateries around the Bay Area. He plans to apply for Physician Assistant programs in the 2026–2027 application cycle and is genuinely excited to join the GAPPA Board to help support and connect with fellow pre-PA students across the community.

Kiara Beltran - Director of Public Outreach.JPG

Director of Public Outreach

Kiara Beltran 

Kiara is a graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, where she earned a B.S. in Biopsychology. She currently lives in the East Bay area and has previous experience working as an EMT in Alameda County. She is currently working as an ED Tech. Kiara also volunteers at Bay Area Community Health and Open Heart Kitchen, where she continues to follow her passion for serving underserved populations in her community. As a first-generation student, she is passionate about creating resources for other first-gen students and helping guide and mentor others throughout their pre-PA and pre-health journeys. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and trying new restaurants. Kiara is currently applying to PA school during the 2026 cycle and is excited to be part of building GAPPA’s new Northern California branch. She looks forward to growing this community and creating a strong support system for everyone during this exciting time.

Megha Nair - Director of Finances.JPG

Director of Finances

Megha Nair 

Megha recently graduated from the UC Berkeley in May 2026, where she earned a B.S. in Nutrition & Metabolic Biology. She currently lives in San Jose and plans to work as a Medical Assistant. Megha loves to volunteer and enjoys supporting her community through healthcare, education, and service. In her free time, she loves traveling and hopes to explore even more after graduation. She also enjoys cooking, watching TV shows and movies, and exploring different cafes as a huge coffee lover. Megha is super excited to join GAPPA, connect with new people and help build a strong community in NorCal.  

Emma Kawashiri - Co-Director of Resources.jpg

Co-Director of Resources

Emma Kawashiri 

Emma graduated from University of California, Davis in 2025 with a Clinical Nutrition degree. She currently works as a medical assistant for a urology clinic at Dignity Health in Redwood City, CA. During undergrad, she worked as a certified nursing assistant and was also Vice President at the UCD Pre-PA club for two years. Aside from clinical experience, she was involved in two research labs at Davis and would like to contribute to public health initiatives and community-based research while working as a PA! In her free time, she enjoys hot yoga, pilates, and making her own bread and pressed juice. As the new chapter of GAPPA begins in Norcal, she is very much excited to meet and connect with other aspiring PAs who have a passion for medicine.

Charlize-Jade Francisco - Co-Director of Resources.JPG

Co-Director of Resources

Charlize-Jade Francisco

Charlize is graduating from the University of California, San Diego this spring with a B.S. in Human Biology and a Minor in Sociology. She currently lives in San Diego, but plans to move back to the Bay Area later this year. During her time at UCSD, she gained patient care experience as a Scribe and Medical Assistant, and she plans to gain her MA certification this summer. For the past two years, she has also served as Co-Social Coordinator for UCSD's Pre-Physician Assistant Student Organization (PPASO) Executive Board, where she helped foster community and engagement among pre-PA students. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach, doing yoga, and trying new restaurants/cafes. She is eager to join Norcal GAPPA and continue supporting her peers throughout their pre-PA journey!

Norris Aquinde - Co-Director of Marketing.jpg

Co-Director of Marketing

Norris Aquinde

Norris graduated from San Jose State University in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology. He currently works as a medical assistant in urgent care and has previous patient care experience in orthopedics, urgent care/primary care, and as a mobile COVID-19 tester across the Bay Area. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering with low income and unhoused  communities, going to the gym, baking, listening to music, and exploring different cafes. He is applying to PA school this cycle and is interested in becoming a PA in acute care. Norris is excited to be part of GAPPA NorCal’s executive board and hopes to help expand its services across the pre-PA community in Northern California!

Rita Wango - Co-Director of Marketing.jpg

Co-Director of Marketing

Rita Wango

Rita graduated from San Diego State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. During her undergraduate studies, she worked for the local children’s hospital. Upon graduation, she returned home and currently works as a medical assistant and scribe at a primary care office. Rita is currently completing her remaining prerequisites for PA school at her local community college and plans to apply for PA school this academic year. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new coffee shops, going to the gym, and spending time with her family and friends. She is enthusiastic about contributing to the establishment of Norcal GAPPA to support the future pre-medical students in the area.

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