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Meet The Executive Board

Mary Thomas

B.S Molecular Biochemistry & Biophysics
Co-Founder & President of MEDLIFE-IIT Chapter
Sophomore Year

I have known since high school that I wanted to be a physician.  But, I only recently stumbled upon what being a physician actually entails.  The realization suddenly struck me that doctors do more than wear white lab coats and prescribe medication.  What about having the knowledge of a functioning healthcare infrastructure and why these infrastructures thrive?  What about understanding the environment and circumstances  your patients live in?  Are you aware of food deserts and the fundamentals of healthcare insurance?  How would you handle a patient who knows one language and it is not a language you know?  It was daunting to learn what did not occur to me, let alone how much I had to learn.  After speaking with my peers I realized these concepts were foreign to them as well and stumbled upon another realization:  these concepts apply to every major.  Engineers, business majors, psychology students, everyone needs to know about their clientele in order to provide adequate services. This realization was huge and MEDLIFE had the perfect solution!  Through medical brigades, learning opportunities, and group collaboration, MEDLIFE provides IIT students with the most powerful tool to succeed: knowledge and how to apply it to their life goals.  MEDLIFE puts IIT students at an advantage.




 
Cecilie Tassone 
B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering: Cell & Tissue Track
Co-Founder & Vice President of MEDLIFE-IIT Chapter
Senior Year

I decided to become involved in MEDLIFE because I wanted to dedicate my passion for helping others to a cause that aims to make the world a better place by beginning with listening to those who have not been heard.  As an undergraduate student planning to attend medical school, I wanted to become involved in a club on campus that would expose me to more than just the typical clinical experience.  Through MEDLIFE, we become familiar with the physical as well as monetary need for medical support in under-developed countries.  Although our support is not always represented by our physical presence in the foreign countries, we are learning about the medical infrastructure as well as how it could be improved upon to better meet the needs of the people.  Most importantly, we lend a helping hand.







Sara Iguodala
B.S. Biology
VP of Fundraising of MEDLIFE-IIT Chapter
Sophomore Year


As a student at IIT, I wanted to join an organization that tied into my future endeavors of becoming a medical doctor and so I joined MEDLIFE. Once I got to know more about MEDLIFE, I was very pleased to learn that there was much more to this organization. I was drawn to its mission and what MEDLIFE represented. One of the biggest reasons to why MEDLIFE does what it does, is one of the same reasons why I want to become a doctor, simply to help others.



Roshani Patil
B.S Biochemistry
Secretary of MEDLIFE-IIT Chapter
Junior Year


Coming from a developing country, I am completely aware of ill-effects of poverty and how it affects a person's life. I have grown up seeing my own people starving, defecating and urinating in public in certain rural areas, due to improper sanitation and housing.  This led to many health problems and epidemics.  I always wanted to help such areas by improving sanitation and public health but never got an opportunity!  My whole goal behind joining MEDLIFE is to help people in need and strive; for poor people towards a better and healthier life by providing them with proper treatments and sanitation.  This journey with MEDLIFE will also teach me a lot and give me a good experience, which will one day help me to improve and help my own country. 





Pooja Agarwal
B.S Biochemistry
Clinical Coordinator of MEDLIFE-IIT Chapter
Sophomore Year

 

I was drawn to MEDLIFE because the goals of this organization strongly coincide with my own interests and long-term career goals. As a pre-medical candidate, I plan on pursuing a joint MD/MPH degree in order to work in impoverished communities to deliver quality healthcare and other medical resources to individuals who do not have the financial stability, means, or knowledge of accessing them. I look forward to playing an active role in improving the availability and quality of healthcare and education in these communities. I strive to help the individuals there achieve a greater sense of independence and assurance that they have a support system through the members of MEDLIFE.

 

 

 

 

 
Trevor Wasserzieher
B.S Biomedical Engineering
Publicity Chair of MEDLIFE-IIT Chapter
Sophomore Year

 

 

In the fall of 2012, I took an intensive semester-long course to become a certified Emergency Medical Technician. I have always admired the dedication and care that emergency health care providers willingly do for their communities, sometimes even on a volunteer-basis. Though I have not yet had the chance to work in an ambulance or in a hospital emergency room, I still value the importance of the knowledge I gained. Upon returning to IIT, I came across MEDLIFE and was instantly interested in becoming an active member. This organization highlights the same beliefs that I value, which include providing medical opportunities to those who need and deserve it, as well as spreading practical knowledge of healthcare to communities who currently lack proper education in basic health concerns. The best action one can take is prevention through the means of education. Through IIT’s MEDLIFE chapter, I believe our university can make the difference to instill and spread the importance of proper healthcare before it is too late. 

 

 

Himza Jivani
B.S Aerospace Engineering
Treasurer of MEDLIFE-IIT Chapter
Freshman Year

 

 

 

 

 

Living in many different locations throughout my life has brought me to the realization that there are three main components to a happy life – health, finance, and mental wellbeing. While friends and family can help in psychological, or emotional, contentment, it is possible for anyone to help others in the financial and health aspect, one way or another. My main focus in life is to bring these two components to people everywhere. My entrepreneurship endeavors have allowed me to bring financial stability to many people, but I have yet to work on solving health problems. Being a part of MedLife is helping me learn how to bring healthcare facility to the people in Peru, but more importantly, it is teaching me how to work towards a common goal in a supportive team. As a member of IIT MedLife, I am one step closer to my goal, and I am equipped with an amazing team that is helping me on my way.

 





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