2013-14 Officers

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President

Chelsea Director

 Hello, my name is Chelsea Director. I am a fourth year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology student. I was on the Pre-Dental Society's board last year and now serve as your President. I have been a Pre-Health Peer Advisor at the Career Center for three years now so if you have any questions about your academic plan or goals in the health field, or simply need any advise you can always come to me! I have participated and/or helped support such programs as VIDA, Global Medical Brigades, and Gap Medics which are all health and community serviced based mission trips. I am also mentoring a pre-teen girl in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. My goal for my dental career is to one day serve as a certified dentist in countries that have poor health care. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to come up to me and ask me about anything! I’m always here to help!

Vice-President

 John Sy

Hello, my name is John Sy. I am a fourth year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major. I am a transfer student from Grossmont College in San Diego, CA. I was the Pre-Dental Society’s Shadowing Program Coordinator last year, and I was a peer mentor with the VETS on campus. I am participating with the Global Medical/Dental Brigades where we have gone to Honduras this past summer to help under-resourced communities. I am an eight-year Navy veteran that worked as a field Corpsman with the Marines. I have also volunteered with the military for joint medical and dental humanitarian missions to Mozambique, Africa and Agadir, Morocco. My goal is to return to the military and become a Navy dentist. I look forward to getting to know our PDS members. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Treasurer

Katherine Panopio

My name is Katherine Panopio or Kat for short. I’m a fourth-year Human Biology major, affiliated with College Ten. I’m from Daly City, California. I’ve been in the Pre-Dental Society since my second year of college. The Pre-Dental Society has given me the opportunity to learn how to make myself a stronger candidate for dental school and I hope you find this club just as helpful. I want to be a dentist because I have a close relationship with my dentist and I really appreciate all the work they have done for me. Maintaining oral health is very important and I want to provide dental care to others in the future. Aside from PDS, I am a part of a hip hop dance team in UCSC called Haluan and the Santa Cruz Dragon Boat team. My interests also include playing tennis, hiking, jogging and swimming. I love working with people. During the summer I was a swim instructor for all ages. I’m also a lifeguard at OPERS so if you see me around say hi!

Secretary

 Renzo Noratto

Hello Pre-Dents! My name is Renzo Noratto and I am a current junior affiliated with Stevenson College. I have been a part of the Pre-Dental Society since last spring and I will be your Secretary for the 2013-2014 school year. I initially was interested in becoming a dentist my senior year of high school. During high school I was part of many clubs where I have participated in positions like secretary, treasurer, and historian. I am a very reliable person and if something is required for me to be done IT WILL be done no matter the circumstances. I have had multiple internships and volunteer programs in the past. Some of them being at UCSF and UCLA where I have interned during various summers. I am familiar with some faculty at both Schools of Dentistry. So I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about the schools. I look forward to assisting the club as best I can and provide helpful information to anyone interested in the field of dentistry. Look forward to meeting you all! 

Historian

 Geraldine O'Mara

 

Hello, my name is Geraldine O’Mara. I’m currently a third year MCD Biology major, affiliated with Cowell College. I have been a part of the Pre-Dental Society since the beginning of my second year and will be serving as Historian this year. My passion for dentistry started when I began volunteering at a local dental office in my hometown during my freshmen year of high school. As of now, I have been dental assisting for five years and have grown to love everything about the field of dentistry. In the future, I hope to join the Navy as a dentist and contribute to humanitarian relief efforts in different countries. In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, and spending time with family & friends. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to ask!

Webmaster

Joseph Eusebio

Hello, my name is Joseph Eusebio. I am a fourth year Biology major affiliated with College Ten. I joined the Pre-Dental Society my freshman year, became the Volunteer Coordinator during my third year, and currently hold the Webmaster position. I volunteered as a chair side assistant at a Student-Run Free Clinic in San Diego during my first summer of college.  I also went to Asia on a humanitarian mission with the US Navy during my second summer. These past experiences shaped my passion for dentistry because of the way it bridges the gap between people despite differences in society, culture, and language. I dream that one day, I'll be able to help contribute and serve those in need.

Social and Outreach Coordinator

 Peter Shaaf

Peter Shaaf is a fourth-year Chemistry major and the Social and Outreach Coordinator of the UCSC Pre-Dental Society. He grew up in Little Rock, AR before moving to Palm Desert, CA at 16. Growing up, Peter was always interested in the medical field but didn't realize how boring a doctor's day-to-day job can be until he went along with a doctor and a dentist to Tecate, Mexico for a full day. During that day, Peter paid close attention to what the doctor did with each patient but found himself being more and more drawn to what the dentist was extracting. At the end of the day, Peter realized that he wasn't as interested in medicine as he had originally thought. After a couple days of shadowing dentists in his community he realized that the dental field was his true calling. As the Social and Outreach Coordinator, Peter is in charge of organizing meetings and events to get the word out about the Pre-Dental Society, if you are interested in volunteering or promoting the club on campus, feel free to let him know!

Email Coordinator

Stacy Suen

 

Hi! My name is Stacy Suen and I am a second year Neuroscience major. I am from Yuba City, which is about an hour up north of Sacramento. My college affiliation is Cowell, but it was originally OOAKESSS. I am currently the Member at Large of the Pre-Dental Society, organizing all the e-mails received through our account. Dentistry interests me because of carrying the ability to improve a smile on someone’s face and also improving oral health. I hope that one day I will be able to put a smile to more people in my community and to improve their overall health. I have a passion for volunteering and helping those in need, such as volunteering at the Relay for Life, and also a passion for tennis and music. Feel free to contact me for any questions or to even say hi!

Shadowing Program Coordinator

 Rigel Smart

My name is Rigel Smart, and I'm the current Shadowing Coordinator for UCSC's Pre-Dental Society.

I am a fourth year English Literature major, and although my major is unorthodox for an aspiring dentist, I am passionate and motivated in the pursuit of my career. I am grateful to be a member and officer of PDS, a club that not only helps shape my path and offers me self-development, but has brought me to meet its talented and friendly members. Socialization and the experiences and opportunities it provides has always been a special topic to me, which is why I'm excited about my position in our club. I will do my best to network and reach out to local dentists, organize shadowing, and assist our members.

Volunteer Coordinator

 Steven Lu

 

Hello Pre-Dental Society! I am a third-year MCD Biology B.S. major from the bay area. I was not always interested in dentistry, but after joining PDS and volunteering at CDA cares, I started to set my foot into a door that turned out to be a passion of mine. I was always fascinated by the human body and it’s biomechanics ever since I started working out. In the summer of 2013, I had the wonderful opportunity of being a dental assistant intern at North Jackson Dental group in San Jose.