Co-President
Eden Engel-Rebitzer (she · her · hers) · Co-President
Hi there! I’m Eden and I grew up in Northeast Ohio and Boston, MA. I went to Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT where I majored in psychology. After college I spent a few years studying post-combat mental health outcomes and racial disparities in VA disability claims as a research assistant at the National Center for PTSD. From there, I completed a post-bacc at Tufts University and then worked as a barista while I applied to medical school. At Penn, I’ve been involved in research focused on health services and healthcare disparities and I am currently taking a research year out to pursue those interests! I have also been involved in medical education and community outreach projects, including, most recently, a COVID-relief project to deliver groceries to medically-complex, homebound patients. In my free time I love to cook, eat, and hang with my sweet dog, Manchas!
Co-President
Joia Brosco (she • her • hers )· Co-President
Hello hello, I’m Joia! I grew up in the sweet islands of Trinidad and Tobago and moved to Philly as an eighteen year old, college bound for UPenn. I completed my studies in Public Health and then escaped the winters to return to T&T. Back home I worked on my family’s farm, sewed for Carnival costume production, and taught part-time, all before returning once again to Philly for medical school. Here I’ve been happy to serve as an advocate for Students Opposing Racism in Medicine (StORM), a yoga instructor for Penn Med Yoga and a coordinator/enthused participant for Dance for Health, a community dance class. As a current MS4, I am applying into Emergency Medicine, with plans to move back home to work through the challenges of the lower resourced public health system. Outside the hospital, you can find me frolicking in my vegetable garden shooing away squirrels, playing cricket with my husband or watching the day go by from our West Philly stoop.
Chair of Patient and Community Engagement
Michael Perez (he · him · his) · Chair of Patient and Community Outreach
Hi, I’m Michael! I grew up in Miami, Fl and studied Biology and Chemistry at Florida International University. Since matriculating at Penn, I’ve spent much of my time volunteering at Puentes de Salud, a health clinic serving South Philadelphia’s Latinx population. Furthermore, I’ve served as the co-chair for our Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) where I advocated for the recruitment and support of Latinx students. In addition, I’ve worked closely with several of my peers to co-found Penn Med FGLI. Most recently, I’ve served as the translator for Puentes de Salud and Penn Medicine’s COVID text bot programs aimed to support patients with symptoms and/or confirmed COVID-19. During my free time, I’m usually experimenting with making new ice cream flavors, going running, or watching new romantic comedies on Netflix! Professionally, I am pursuing a career in Neurology and hope to research and address challenges in accessing treatments for autoimmune conditions.
Chair of Student Wellness
Jeremy Wortzel (he · him · his) · Chair of Student Wellness
Hi! My name is Jeremy and I’m an MS4 planning for a career in psychiatry with the goal to work with a child and adolescent population. I had a winding path to medicine that started with studying geology and biology at Brown University. There, I worked with non-profits and the local government to help improve the state of healthy and sustainable housing for low-income and immigrant families. I then started at Perelman after a pit stop in England to learn about clinical research. With a passion for social justice and environmental health, I worked at the Covenant House Clinic and conducted research on socioeconomic disparity and asbestos exposure with the Center for Excellence in Environmental Toxicology. Next year I will pursue an MPH to better hone my interests at the intersection of toxic environmental stress, trauma, and pediatric development. Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing my guitar around various campfires across America’s national parks, running along the Schuylkill bike trail, and playing board games with friends. This year, I am trying to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.
Chair of Media
Cheyenne Williams (she · her · hers) Chair of Media
Hi, I’m Cheyenne! I grew up in Northern Virginia and studied Biology at the College of William and Mary. Since coming to medical school, I have enjoyed getting involved in the Penn community through participating in the Diversity and Inclusion Student Advisory Committee (DISAC), SNMA, and Penn FGLI (First-Generation, Low-Income student affinity group). I’ve also had the opportunity to engage with amazing students throughout Philadelphia public schools as a high-school tutor and sexual health educator. Professionally, I am pursuing a career in Urology and hope to utilize my certificates in Medical Education and Academic Surgery in my career. I look forward to working on projects that increase access to professional schools for underrepresented and first-generation students while promoting an inclusive medical school community. Outside of school, I enjoy playing tennis, being outdoors, laughing at puns, and spending time with my puppy, Penny!
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.