Co-President
Alexandra Miller (she · her · hers)
Hi! I'm Alex, an MS3 planning to apply in psychiatry, with an interest in working with adolescents. I took the long way to medical school; I was an English major at Harvard, and I taught middle school English for six years before I realized I wanted to be a doctor. I did my post-bac at Penn while working in pediatric oncology research at CHOP. During medical school, I've been involved in Covenant House, SNMA, and the first-year Doctoring course, and I spent the summer after first year working on an urban farm. Outside of medicine, I enjoy singing in an a cappella group, making quilts and various crafts, and bringing my dog on therapy dog visits to the VA. This year, I'm trying to maintain a healthy balance between work life and personal life.
Co-President
Emily Rider-Longmaid (she · her · hers) 🌈
Hi! I’m a current MS3 from Boston and graduated from Smith College with degrees in Chemistry and the Study of Women and Gender. Afterwards, I lived in Costa Rica and then worked to implement the Affordable Care Act in Washington, D.C. I later moved to New Orleans to research the relationship between HIV medications and cardiovascular disease. I completed a postbac at Bryn Mawr before coming to Penn, where I have loved being a part of Covenant House and Students Opposing Racism in Medicine. Outside of school, I love potlucks, period pieces, and road trips/travel adventures. This year, I’m looking forward to reading for fun, and further investing in the people and projects that sustain me.
Chair of Patient and Community Engagement
Joy Obayemi (she • her • hers)
Hi, I’m Joy! I’m an MS3 planning to apply for a general surgery residency. I was born in Brooklyn and raised in North Jersey by my always loud and always dancing Nigerian family. I went to Stanford University, where I majored in sociology with a minor in biology. After undergrad, I spent a year conducting sociology research and completing a Master’s degree in social sciences in France as a Fulbright scholar. At Penn, I have been involved with SNMA and Cut Hypertension, Dance for Health, Project Home Street Outreach, and have served as a representative on the Diversity & Inclusion Student Advisory Committee (DISAC) and the Center for Student Life executive committee. Professionally, I plan to pursue a career in transplant surgery and hope to work towards increasing access and improving outcomes for surgical care among marginalized communities. This year, I want to work on being present in every moment and doing things that keep me grounded in positive energy (reading, dancing, playing music, volunteering).
Chair of Student Wellness
Elizabeth (Ducky) Duckworth (she · her · hers)
I went to Claremont McKenna College where I studied Science and Management with a Biotechnology Sequence (aka economics, biology, and computer science). At CMC, I was a Consultant at the Center for Writing and Public Discourse for three years and served as a Senior Interviewer for the Office of Admissions. Following graduation, I moved to Baltimore to work at a biomedical device startup and shadow an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon. In medical school, I have been involved with a number of student organizations. Serving two terms as President of Medical Student Government, my primary passion is to advocate for institutional change to buttress the mental health of my classmates. Currently, I am finishing a combined MD/MBA at the Wharton School of Business. In a few months, I will apply for residency in Orthopaedic Surgery with the hopes of developing my interests in global surgery, trauma care, patient centered care models, and the interaction of clinicians with the broader healthcare system. This year I am striving to foster interclass community and destigmatize failing with an emphasis on times of transition.
Faculty Advisor
Julie Uspal, M.D. • Assistant Professor Of Clinical Emergency Medicine (she · her · hers)
Dr. Uspal is our newly appointed faculty advisor and an Emergency Medicine physician at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Associate Director, Office of Student Affairs
Carrie Renner (she · her · hers)
Students at Perelman know me as a go-to person in the Office of Student Affairs. After all, I am the main administrator for Perelman students applying to residency through ERAS. But I do so much more! I coach exercise classes at Pottruck Gym, organize house events at the medical school, and last but not least I am the associate faculty director of the the Perelman GHHS chapter.