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About

The Medical Student Pride Alliance was founded in 2018 by six medical students at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Louisville, and the University of Vermont. As a new organization, current efforts focus on gathering data, establishing networks, recruiting leadership, and developing organizational sustainability.

In August 2018, in collaboration with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), our survey was launched nationwide: “Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Affinity Groups at U.S. Medical Schools: A Needs-Assessment Towards A National Medical Student Forum.”

 
 

The objectives of MSPA are as follows:

  • Unite all LGBTQ+ medical students   

  • Serve as a forum for discussion on LGBTQ topics in medicine

  • Serve as the voice for LGBTQ+ medical students in national dialogue

  • Increase collaboration among queer medical communities

  • Promote recruitment of queer students into medicine

  • Advocate for the rights of LGBTQ individuals in healthcare

  • Educate medical students on LGBTQ health issues

 

Our Team

Marija Kamceva (she/her) Chair, Outreach Marija (pronounced Maria - surprise silent J!) is a second-year medical student at Stanford University, with an interest in psychiatry, neuroscience, and LGBTQ+ and women's health. She has a background in advocacy work, poverty alleviation and community building. Along with advancing healthcare for LGBTQ+ folks and carving out a space for queer physicians in medicine, her major life goal is proving that yes, she can "have it all," i.e. a successful career as an attentive dog mom. She loves taking care of her wobbly dog, Whipple, an albino Maltese with cerebellar hypoplasia and infinite love. Reach her at mkamceva@stanford.edu.

Marija Kamceva (she/her)

Chair, Outreach

Marija (pronounced Maria - surprise silent J!) is a second-year medical student at Stanford University, with an interest in psychiatry, neuroscience, and LGBTQ+ and women's health. She has a background in advocacy work, poverty alleviation and community building. Along with advancing healthcare for LGBTQ+ folks and carving out a space for queer physicians in medicine, her major life goal is proving that yes, she can "have it all," i.e. a successful career as an attentive dog mom. She loves taking care of her wobbly dog, Whipple, an albino Maltese with cerebellar hypoplasia and infinite love.

Reach her at [email protected]

Tim Keyes (he/him/they/them) Chair, Innovation Tim is a fourth-year MD/PhD student studying Cancer Biology at Stanford University and an aspiring clinical informatician. As a member of MSPA, Tim is primarily interested in leveraging community-based participatory research and public health data to drive LGBTQ+ advocacy in healthcare. Outside of MSPA, Tim is primarily interested in microglia, kickboxing, pop music written for teenage girls, and ruining first dates by being his authentic self. He is the tallest member of the MSPA national leadership. Tim can be reached at tkeyes@stanford.edu.

Tim Keyes (he/him/they/them)

Chair, Innovation

Tim is a fourth-year MD/PhD student studying Cancer Biology at Stanford University and an aspiring clinical informatician. As a member of MSPA, Tim is primarily interested in leveraging community-based participatory research and public health data to drive LGBTQ+ advocacy in healthcare. Outside of MSPA, Tim is primarily interested in microglia, kickboxing, pop music written for teenage girls, and ruining first dates by being his authentic self. He is the tallest member of the MSPA national leadership.

Tim can be reached at [email protected]

Malcolm Matheson (he/him) Chair, Operations Malcolm is a first year medical student at Johns Hopkins University with a background in community health and nonprofit development. Before enrolling at Johns Hopkins, Malcolm served as the founder and executive director of Mass Hike, an award-winning transportation non-profit based in Boston, MA. As a member of MSPA, he works to develop organizational infrastructure that promotes sustainability and operational efficiency. His interests include cleaning, staying hydrated, and walking at a reasonable pace.

Malcolm Matheson (he/him)

Chair, Operations

Malcolm is a first year medical student at Johns Hopkins University with a background in community health and nonprofit development. Before enrolling at Johns Hopkins, Malcolm served as the founder and executive director of Mass Hike, an award-winning transportation non-profit based in Boston, MA. As a member of MSPA, he works to develop organizational infrastructure that promotes sustainability and operational efficiency. His interests include cleaning, staying hydrated, and walking at a reasonable pace.

Taylor Carlsen (he/him) Director, Marketing Taylor is a second-year medical student at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is originally from Utah and is now living for the hustle and bustle of the east coast. His interest lies in plastic and reconstructive surgery and he ultimately wants to provide gender affirmation surgeries to the LGBTQ+ community. He attended graduate school at Rutgers and attained a Master in Biomedical Sciences degree prior to attending medical school. His hobbies include traveling the world, cooking (he even was a guest chef for two episodes on a local cooking show), and belting out Celine Dion in the shower. For marketing or social media inquiries please contact Taylor at tdc52@njms.rutgers.edu

Taylor Carlsen (he/him)

Director, Marketing

Taylor is a second-year medical student at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is originally from Utah and is now living for the hustle and bustle of the east coast. His interest lies in plastic and reconstructive surgery and he ultimately wants to provide gender affirmation surgeries to the LGBTQ+ community. He attended graduate school at Rutgers and attained a Master in Biomedical Sciences degree prior to attending medical school. His hobbies include traveling the world, cooking (he even was a guest chef for two episodes on a local cooking show), and belting out Celine Dion in the shower.

For marketing or social media inquiries please contact Taylor at [email protected]

Laura Goetz (she/her) Co-Director, Research Laura is second-year medical student at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Previously, she studied biochemistry and gender studies, conducting research on a wide spectrum of biologically- and socially-determined aspects of gender-based health disparities, including developing the first animal model of transgender hormone therapy. Her non-medical interests include long runs, writing, podcasts, hiking, cooking without a recipe, and being the mom-friend. Otherwise enthusiastically friendly, she will fight you defending the superiority of crunchy stir-up peanut butter.

Laura Goetz (she/her)

Co-Director, Research

Laura is second-year medical student at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Previously, she studied biochemistry and gender studies, conducting research on a wide spectrum of biologically- and socially-determined aspects of gender-based health disparities, including developing the first animal model of transgender hormone therapy. Her non-medical interests include long runs, writing, podcasts, hiking, cooking without a recipe, and being the mom-friend. Otherwise enthusiastically friendly, she will fight you defending the superiority of crunchy stir-up peanut butter.

Justin Jia (he/him) Co-Director, Research Justin is a second year student in Stanford’s MD/MS program. His research interests include health disparities among SGM and POC populations, medical anthropology, and improving LGBTQ competency within medical education. Prior to medical school, Justin worked on the Your Voice! Your Health! project which sought to engage and empower LGBTQ POC within healthcare settings through shared decision making. When not working, Justin enjoys backpacking with his partner, doing crossword puzzles, and going to Costco.

Justin Jia (he/him)

Co-Director, Research

Justin is a second year student in Stanford’s MD/MS program. His research interests include health disparities among SGM and POC populations, medical anthropology, and improving LGBTQ competency within medical education. Prior to medical school, Justin worked on the Your Voice! Your Health! project which sought to engage and empower LGBTQ POC within healthcare settings through shared decision making. When not working, Justin enjoys backpacking with his partner, doing crossword puzzles, and going to Costco.

Meghamsh Kanuparthy (he/him) Director, Finance Meghamsh is a second year medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. From Louisville, Kentucky, he graduated from Harvard College with a concentration in Economics and a secondary in Chemistry. Before medical school he worked at Boston Children’s Hospital and was heavily involved in student government and activism. He enjoys reading and baking things and is very proud of having won his medical school bake-off.

Meghamsh Kanuparthy (he/him)

Director, Finance

Meghamsh is a second year medical student at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. From Louisville, Kentucky, he graduated from Harvard College with a concentration in Economics and a secondary in Chemistry. Before medical school he worked at Boston Children’s Hospital and was heavily involved in student government and activism. He enjoys reading and baking things and is very proud of having won his medical school bake-off.

Shana Zucker (she/her) Co-Director, Research Shana is an MD/MPH/MS student at Tulane, where she led the creation of the Queericulum, a series of LGBTQI+ health training modules. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, starting her trend of pursuing too many degrees, majoring in French and Biology and minoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology. Her interests also include MedEd, diversity and inclusion, and Social Medicine, as well as crafting mosaics out of Mardi Gras beads and leaving a trail of origami wherever she goes.

Shana Zucker (she/her)

Co-Director, Research

Shana is an MD/MPH/MS student at Tulane, where she led the creation of the Queericulum, a series of LGBTQI+ health training modules. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, starting her trend of pursuing too many degrees, majoring in French and Biology and minoring in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology. Her interests also include MedEd, diversity and inclusion, and Social Medicine, as well as crafting mosaics out of Mardi Gras beads and leaving a trail of origami wherever she goes.

Jez Marston (he/him) Director, University Partnerships Jez was born in Miami, Florida and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Coming to terms with his sexuality and queer identity in a country often deemed as the “most homophobic place on earth,” he struggled to imagine a future as an out LGTBQ individual. Proudly raised by a single mother, he found a passion for learning and science as a teenager and now plans to dedicate his future to addressing inequities in health care, specifically those facing LGBTQ youth and queer families. In addition, he aims to work toward improved LGBTQ competency training for medical professionals across training institutions.

Jez Marston (he/him)

Director, University Partnerships

Jez was born in Miami, Florida and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Coming to terms with his sexuality and queer identity in a country often deemed as the “most homophobic place on earth,” he struggled to imagine a future as an out LGTBQ individual. Proudly raised by a single mother, he found a passion for learning and science as a teenager and now plans to dedicate his future to addressing inequities in health care, specifically those facing LGBTQ youth and queer families. In addition, he aims to work toward improved LGBTQ competency training for medical professionals across training institutions.

Rodrigo Muñoz (he/him) Director, Administration Rodrigo is a third-year medical student at UAB School of Medicine interested in obstetrics and gynecology. Before his foray into medicine, he studied ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton and worked to expand safe and affordable access to fecal transplants with OpenBiome. Rodrigo uses his advocacy and nonprofit experience to foster partnerships between MSPA and other organizations at the national level. When not in the hospital, he enjoys traveling, trying new recipes in the kitchen, and breaking escape room records with his siblings.

Rodrigo Muñoz (he/him)

Director, Administration

Rodrigo is a third-year medical student at UAB School of Medicine interested in obstetrics and gynecology. Before his foray into medicine, he studied ecology and evolutionary biology at Princeton and worked to expand safe and affordable access to fecal transplants with OpenBiome. Rodrigo uses his advocacy and nonprofit experience to foster partnerships between MSPA and other organizations at the national level. When not in the hospital, he enjoys traveling, trying new recipes in the kitchen, and breaking escape room records with his siblings.