Collegia President

Hello, my name is Austin Erickson. I am a MS2 from Tampa, Florida, and I received my Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Florida in 2024. While I was at the University of Florida, I worked for two years as a medical assistant in primary care and addiction medicine. I am interested in surgery, although I am still unsure about a specific field. In my free time, I enjoy working out, cooking, and spending time with my friends and family.

Collegia Director

Hey everyone! My name is Alexis Hernandez-Flores, and I am an MS2 born and raised in Clearwater, Florida. I graduated with a degree in Anthropology: Global Health and Environment from Washington University in St. Louis and also swam in college. Here at MCOM I am the VP of the American Sign Language Club and patient coordinator for Tampa Bay Street Medicine. I’m not set on a specialty yet, but I am interested in dermatology and pathology. Outside of school I like going on walks and listening to podcasts, swimming, and reading.

Collegia Events Director

Hello! My name is Mihir Kulkarni, and I am a proud Tampa native. I went to undergrad here at the University of South Florida, where I majored in biomedical sciences. Currently, I am interested in pursuing a surgical residency. Here at MCOM, I am involved in the class council, Plastic Surgery Interest Group, and the BRIDGE Clinic. I look forward to serving the Collegia board this year to help plan our wonderful events, especially the Collegia Olympics (go Paracelsus!).

Collegia Treasurer

I am an MS2 originally from the Boston area but spent most of my upbringing in southern Connecticut. I studied biophysics at Johns Hopkins for my undergraduate degree before spending my gap years back in Boston as a clinical researcher. I like to spend school breaks in the outdoors, and during the school year, I am also president of MCOM running club. I am looking forward to helping coordinate all of this year’s Collegia events!

Chair, Bourne

Hello everyone! My name is Isabella Bustillos. I was born in Rota, Spain and have lived many places over the years as a military child. I went to USF for my undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences and am grateful to stay in Tampa for medical school. I am interested in women’s health issues particularly access to healthcare. I enjoy volunteering at free clinics, and I am also involved in OBIG, AMWA, and PLEXUS. Outside of medical school I love getting coffee, reading new books, and going for walks with my dog!

Chair, Debakey

My name is Grace Silva, and I am a MS2 born and raised in Reno, NV. I went to the University of Nevada, Reno where I graduated with degrees in Biochemistry and Spanish. I am currently involved in the American Association of Neurological Surgeons –USF, Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group, RJOS, Project World Health, BRIDGE clinic and Tampa Bay Street Medicine. I love traveling, running, playing pickleball and trying new coffee shops!

Chair, Farmer

My name is Andrew Bedard, and I am a MS2 from Tampa, FL. I went to the University of Florida for undergraduate where I majored in biochemistry. After graduation, I took a gap year where I worked as a medical assistant. I am not completely sure what specialty I will go into, but I have been most interested in surgery so far. I am also involved in the Bridge Clinic, Tampa Bay Street Medicine, and the ENT interest group. Outside of school, I enjoy going to the gym, spending time with my dog Pluto, and playing pickup basketball.

Chair, Galen

Hey everyone! My name is Quint Gfroerer. I was born in raised in Atlanta, GA, I received my Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience at Vanderbilt, and I am now an MS2 at USF MCOM. After graduating college, I took a gap year where I worked as a research assistant in clinical trials in psychiatry and neurology. I am still deciding what specialty I want to go into, but currently I am leaning towards psychiatry. Other organizations I’m involved with include the Ybor Youth Clinic, Let’s P.L.A.Y., and the MCOM Run Club. I enjoy hiking, finding new music to listen to, cooking, and photography. Looking forward to meeting y’all!

Chair, Hippocrates

Hello everyone! My name is Leena Wajahat, and I am an MS2 from Tampa. I went to USF for undergrad (go bulls!) where I majored in Biomedical Sciences and minored in Forensic Behavioral Health. After graduation, I worked as a medical scribe in a med/peds clinic. I am currently the secretary of the Student Interest Group in Neurology, and I am also involved with some of our student-run volunteer clinics such as BRIDGE and Red Crescent. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, traveling, doing yoga, and listening to music. This year, I’m really looking forward to meeting all of our incoming M1s and making sure Hippocrates carries on its legacy as Collegia Olympics champions!

Chair, Koch

Hi, everyone! My name is Carolyne Plansky, and I’m an MSII from West Palm Beach, FL. I graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a B.A. & Sc. in Anthropology and Biology. I’m currently the President of our Pediatrics Interest Group and Co-Pres of our Medical Education Outreach Program. In my spare time I play the flute in UT’s Symphony Orchestra, bake, and watch movies with my two cats!

Chair, Lower

My name is Randy Aziz and I am an MS2 from Long Island, NY. I like to make espresso and I can juggle large items. I’m interested in ophthalmology and I like to volunteer with Canine Companions in my free time (join the Collar Scholars club if you like dogs and want to volunteer). Looking forward to meeting everyone.

Chair, Osler

Hi everyone! My name is Vaishnavi, and I’m an MS2 originally from Tampa, Florida. I graduated from USF with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Sociology. I’m currently exploring different specialties and pursuing a scholarly concentration in Law and Medicine. I serve as the Career Advising Liaison for my class and have volunteered at the Judeo Christian Clinic, Red Crescent Clinic, and BRIDGE Clinic. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and watching new TV shows. Looking forward to a great year—go Osler!

Chair, Paracelsus

Hi! My name is Alexander (Alex) Klug and I am a current MS2 from Tampa, FL. I graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Biochemistry. For specialty interest, I would like to pursue a career in internal medicine, ideally specializing in a field like cardiology or nephrology. I am the secretary of MCOM Running Club, treasurer of the American Sign Language Club, and chair of the greatest Collegia at MCOM – Paracelsus. I enjoy running, going to the gym, reading science fiction, watching soccer, and playing with my two Havanese puppies, Bennie and Coco. My main goal this year as chair is to make sure Paracelsus does NOT finish in last place at the Collegia Olympics...even if it means finishing second-to-last.