OFFICERS 2024-2025
President: Melyssa Karcher
Hi everyone! My name is Melyssa Karcher and I am your 2024-2025 President, alongside my co, Julie!! Last year, I served on the board as one of the advocacy coordinators, responsible for creating volunteer opportunities primarily in partnership with non-profit organizations in Santa Ana and other underserved areas of Orange County. Now, my roles look a little different as I am honored to be leading the Summer medical trip to Nicaragua and the upcoming Spring medical trip!
Here’s a little bit about me! I am a 4th year, first-generation college student from San Bernardino California double-majoring in Public Health Sciences and Political Science. It may seem like an unusual combination to many, but for those who know me, it reflects all that I am. As a Public Health Major interested in global medicine and policy decision making, I am interested in the intersection of health and politics and how the implications of privilege and power deliberately and brutally creates barriers to healthcare access within underserved communities. I chose to become an advocacy coordinator because living in Irvine felt similar to that of living in a bubble, and I recognized that neighboring cities needed support, care, and attention– now that I’m helping extend opportunities abroad, I am both excited and hopeful about what we can accomplish together.
I joined GMT during Fall quarter as a first-year student and immediately knew that I would be in GMT for the long run! Through this club, I have met some of my closest friends, have engaged in interesting discourses through our workshops, and have had the honor of traveling to the Dominican Republic, Peru, and Nicaragua to help provide medical services abroad.
My main interests include reading, discovering new outdoor areas, hiking, trying out new coffee shops, binging crime documenteries, and really just spending time outside. If you also share any of these interests, feel free to message me!! I am looking forward to meeting you all! <3
Vice President: Julie SooHoo
Heyyyyyy guys! My name is Julie, and I’m your new Vice President alongside my co, Melyssa <3. As part of my role, I am in charge of the research team within our board and handling internal and external club affairs.
I am a 4th year Psychology B.S. and Biological Sciences double major (I’ve lost my mind bc of it). I’m from Elk Grove in Sac County. I am also on the pre-med track, hoping to specialize in psychiatry.
I joined GMT during my 1st year because I was struggling to make friends who were like-minded, and everyone here was super nice and friendly and made me feel like I belonged so I wanted to give that feeling back to prospective members who might be feeling the same.
My interests include basketball and watching football, reading, hot girl walking, dancing, singing, study streaming on Twitch, watching anime or Marvel, going to Disneyland (& collecting pins), and having a pre-med TikTok acc… pls don’t try to find me LOL. Feel free to reach out to me anytime about anything!
Workshop Coordinator: Cassandra Medina
Heyyyyy everyone!!! My name is Cassandra Meliza Jequinto Medina, but you all could just call me Cassie. I’m one of the Workshop Coordinators for this year with THE BEST AND THE GREATEST DENA!!! :) By being your workshop coordinators this year, we will be in charge of presenting fun presentations on health-related topics, hosting mock clinics, doing very hands-on workshops, and collaborating with amazing guest speakers!
So…you may be wondering, who is this girl? Well, I’m a third year Biological Sciences major from Sacramento, California. I’m on the pre-med route, hoping to pursue pediatric neurology. The most important thing to know about me is that I LOVE music. I play guitar, piano, ukulele, and the cajon. Fun fact: I love to play the guitar behind my head. Also, btw I love ALL types of music genres so…if you have any good song recs PLEASE EDUCATE ME!!!!
Now, you may be wondering about the Cassie GMT origin story. I joined because I thought it was a cool club at Celebrate UCI. From GMT medical mission trips to workshops to advo events to RAMP to food pantry to fundraisers to socials, I ALWAYS feel the strong community that GMT builds up with people who are always so friendly and ready to talk to everyone. Shoutout to publicity for creating the wonderful flyers, newsletters, and posts letting us all know about upcoming events and recaps that capture the wholesome moments!!! I’ve met so many of my best friends through this club and have made so many fun memories that I would never want to change. I’m looking forward to talking to you all and to making more fun memories with all of you!!! Also, please feel free to reach out! It can be about literally anything, I’d LOVE to get to know you all!!! :)
Workshop Coordinator: Dena Falahati
Hello hello! My name is Dena Falahati and I am one of the Workshop Coordinators this year, alongside my AWESOME co, Cassie <3. As Workshop Coords we get to plan all of the fun presentations and mock clinics during meetings, invite cool guest speakers and host hands-on skills workshops!
A little bit about me, I am a third year Microbiology & Immunology Major, originally from right here in Irvine :) I am on the pre-med track and am currently the most interested in pediatrics or women’s health, but knowing me, that’s probably going to change. If I’m not studying, you can find me hanging out with my closest friends. I’m really big on quality time, so going out to eat with friends, or just having long, random conversations is my favorite form of self care! I also love reading and listening to new music, like pop, kpop (especially txt), rnb, and latin (I would love some new recs, my playlists need an update)! I also discovered the joy of matcha this past year, so cafe hopping has drained my bank account, but anything for matcha :)
I joined GMT my first year here at UCI, when I was really nervous about coming to a university so large. Being a commuter made me feel less like I would be able to find a community on campus, but GMT quickly proved me wrong. The warm atmosphere was so welcoming, and all the people here have become some of my closest friends. Also getting the opportunity to work with underserved communities here in OC and abroad on mission trips really made my first and second year experience at UCI incredible. I am so so excited to get to share this experience and GMT love with y’all this upcoming year!
Advocacy Coordinator: Paul Ranta
Bunǎ ziua! My name is Paul Ranta, and I will be one of the new advocacy coordinators alongside the one and only Shivani!! I can’t wait to see what this year brings and am super excited to create and share volunteering opportunities with you all!
After making my way to UCI all the way from Naples, Florida, I now find myself as a third-year Human Biology major. I am on a Pre-Med track with broad interests in cardiology and orthopedics, but I am keeping my options open. When I’m not stressing about school, I enjoy finding new places to eat, exploring new music by having the people I drive take aux, and staying active like playing soccer or hiking.
I heard rumors about a club called GMT, so a friend and I decided to find them at the AIF in the beginning of my second year. This ended up being an amazing decision because I was exposed to so many new opportunities and people! Fast-forward a few months, I had the chance to go on the recent 2024 spring mission trip to Panama, an impactful experience that involves many stories which I would love to share (so reach out if you need anything or just want to talk!).
To sum it up, I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to continue spreading the impact of GMT locally and abroad as a new board member. I hope you 🫵 make the most out of the opportunities we provide so that we all can continue to create great memories while simultaneously helping communities in need!
Advocacy Coordinator: Shivani Venkateswaran
Hey guys! My name is Shivani Venkateswaran and I am excited to be one of your new advocacy coordinators for the 2024-2025 school year. I’ll be working alongside my amazing co-coordinator, Paul to host some fun volunteering events every week!
A little bit about me, I am a 3rd year Biological Sciences major specializing in Human Biology! I am on the pre-med track with a keen interest in Emergency Medicine and Trauma Surgery, but exploring other specialties as well. I am originally from Chicago, but I have been all over the place (ask me about my moving story). Some hobbies of mine include reading, classical Indian singing, ballet, and baking (cupcakes, pastries, cakes…you name it!).
My first year at UCI was a bit tough, as I had recently moved from Texas. Coming to a new state, everything was completely new and I thought I wouldn’t find my community. However, I knew I wanted to join a pre-health club to find like-minded people, and that’s when I found GMT! I joined my fall quarter of freshman year, and I couldn’t have made a better decision looking back. I absolutely loved the volunteering events, workshops, socials, etc…as well as the chance to go on clinic trips! This was something near to my heart as I had always wanted to travel and provide in underprivileged areas. Apart from these amazing opportunities, I found some of my closest friends that I couldn’t imagine life without, and GMT became my second home.
I am honored to give back to GMT, and hope to give y’all an amazing experience just like I did! I am always down to hang out, so feel free to reach out if you need a baking buddy, or just want to talk!
Project Coordinator: Jocelyn Vielma
Hi everyone! My name is Jocelyn and I am one of this years Projects Coordinators alongside my co, Arqui. We are in charge of leading the weekly food pantries at the Boys and Girls club to help combat food disparities in the community as well as RAMP where we encourage kids from underserved communities to explore STEM fields by having fun with science.
I’m from San Diego, CA and I’m a 4th year Public Health Sciences major on the pre-med track. As a future Doctor, I hope to help reduce health disparities and continue to advocate for health equity. I find myself being very passionate about becoming a Vascular Surgeon and connecting it to Public Health to help educate individuals on disease prevention and medical access to marganalized communities.
I love listening to music, going to concerts, dancing, and baking/cooking. I joined GMT my second year and was welcomed with open arms immediately. I feel so lucky to have found a special group of people, who have quickly become some of my closest friends!
Project Coordinator: Arquimides Lopez
Hello everyone! My name is Arquimides, and I will be one of your Project Coordinators alongside my co, Jocelyn. Together, we help run weekly food pantries and lead RAMP once a month at the Boys and Girls Club in Santa Ana. Through these projects, we aim to alleviate food insecurity as well as help underserved families be more involved in STEM-related activities!
A little more about myself: I am a 3rd year Pharmaceutical Science major with a Health Informatics minor on the Pre-Pharm track. My current goal is to attend a pharmacy school with the hope of becoming a pediatric pharmacist. I was born in El Salvador but moved to South Central LA when I was around 8 years old. I enjoy going on hiking trails, exploring coffee shops, and listening to music (mostly reggaeton). Also, if you have any coffee shop or music recommendations, please let me know! Apart from my involvement in GMT, I will be the Community Outreach Intern at the Latinx Resource Center (Rise Suite, Student Center, 4th floor), so feel free to stop by and say hi!
This will be my second year being part of GMT, and I couldn’t be more grateful for joining. I had a rough first year when it came to socializing, as I wasn’t involved with campus organizations as much. However, after joining GMT in my second year, I was able to find a sense of community and make new friends along the way. I enjoyed that everyone was open to converse with you and created a very welcoming environment. I can’t wait to see y'all at our next events! :)
Financial Coordinator: Kellie Takai
Hiii!! My name is Kellie Takai and I’m one of your financial coordinators for the 2024-2025 school year. I’ll be working alongside my co-coordinator, Shooka, to host different fundraising events, manage and lower GMT’s expenses, and create cost friendly budgets :o
About me <33 I’m currently a fourth-year biological sciences major from Pearl City, Hawai’i. I am hoping to pursue a career in the medical field with an interest in pediatrics :) I love iced matcha tea lattes, debriefing MCU movies, binge-watching k-dramas, taking pics on my digicam, & reading at the beach!
I joined GMT after hearing about their opportunity to provide clinical services in underserved communities and to gain some guidance on the healthcare path. Though, I discovered so much more that came with the club such as volunteering projects, socials, informative workshops, and a lil community with the best people. GMT was the first club that provided me with a wholesome environment of like-minded individuals and opportunities to help others. I can’t wait to meet you all 🫶
Financial Coordinator: Shooka Falahati
Hi y’all! My name is Shooka Falahati and I’m going to be one of GMT’s Financial Coordinators this year, along with my amazing co, Kellie <3 This year, I’ll be working to manage GMT’s finances and ensure our budgets are sustainable, but I’m most excited to host fundraisers throughout the year!
Some info about me, I’m a third year Genetics Major from Irvine, California. I am currently pre-health and considering careers in medicine, PA, or genetic counseling, but that might change in a couple of years :) I’m also a huge bookworm (follow me on Goodreads lol), and I love watching rom-coms or k-dramas when I have the time to binge them! I also consider myself somewhat of a foodie, so if y’all have good places I need to try, let me know!
When it comes to GMT, I joined fall quarter of my first year and it has honestly been one of the best decisions I made at UCI. The community here is so welcoming, and I have felt at home since my first meeting! As an introvert, GMT has helped me come out of my shell, try new things, and give back to my community with amazing people by my side. I have learned so much from our workshops, advocacy and projects events, and mission trips and I hope this space also provides that for someone this coming year! I can’t wait to get to know all of y’all and make amazing memories!!
Social Coordinator: Faizah Ahmed
Hiiii GMT Fam! My name is Faizah Ahmed and I am one of the new social coordinators for the 2024-2025 year. I’m so excited to be able to work alongside my co, Julia, to plan some fun socials for yall!
I am a 4th year Public Health Sciences major from Inglewood, aka where the Forum and SoFi stadium are. I am on a pre-PA path and plan to become a pediatric Physician’s Assistant and pull up in my Porsche 911.
Some things I love to do are taking pictures of cars on the streets of Irvine, being a cat mom, and going to the beach. Growing up in LA, there were a bunch of fun things to do such as going to the beach, concerts, amusement parks, and being a big back with all the amazing food around.
I joined GMT two years ago because I wanted to make friends and I’m so glad to say I’ve met the most amazing people ever. What made GMT stand out to me was the fact that everyone was so welcoming and sweet; it truly felt like a family away from home.
One of the reasons why I was able to make such strong connections was because of the various socials held throughout the year. That is why I am so excited to be one of your social coordinators. I want to help other UCI students find their home and make long lasting friendships.
That’s it for me but if you ever see me around campus, feel free to say hi. If you wanna get to know me better, just send me a DM and I’d love to have a coffee yapping session. I’m so excited to see y’all soon and can’t wait for another amazing year!
Social Coordinator: Julia Goffard
Hi everyone! I’m Julia, and I’m so excited to be your social coordinator this year alongside my co, Faizah!
I joined GMT as a first year student at UCI. I started attending a lot of the workshops and a couple RAMPs, and I found so much joy in learning about healthcare and volunteering at various local non-profits. When my class schedule permits, I try to attend the food pantry every Thursday! It is one of my favorite regularly scheduled events!
I love GMT because there is a space for everyone. At its core, GMT is about bringing students together to make a positive difference in our community. I appreciate how being social coordinator lets me contribute to an inclusive, supportive, and inspiring community for pre-healthcare students! Healthcare can be a daunting field to break into and I want everyone to feel welcome!
I am a third year majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I am also pre-med. I chose this major because I have a passion for environmental science, and this degree provides a good foundation for medical school. Learning about biology and the human body is incredible! One fun fact about me is that I’m an EMT. Being an EMT has given me many meaningful experiences that have strengthened my love for medicine. I am incredibly proud to serve my community.
In my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors and working on small art projects. Also I am a coffee enthusiast!
Let’s make this year a great one! We hope to see everyone at our events <3
Internal Publicity Coordinator: Britney Tran
Hey yall’s! My name is Britney Tran and I am excited to be your internal publicity coordinator for the 24’-25’ academic year! That’s right, all those flyers, apparel, pictures, and design related content you see are going to be handled by me and the best, the greatest, the silliest co, sir Cyril Sumarinas.
So who is this girl who was named after Britney Spears because her father was a fanboy? Well, I am a 4th year biological science major that inhabits a rat hole in Garden Grove. I recently decided to go the pre-PA track (hopefully I don’t change my mind again) and I am aiming to apply in the upcoming cycle. I LOVE traveling and going on photography adventures. Aside from traveling, you’ll never catch me outside because I’m a homebody. I’m also a matcha fan and like listening to kpop (especially TXT) and watching kdramas. Most importantly, I like Remy from Ratatoullie. It’s very obvious :D
So how did this homebody make it out her rat hole to GMT? It all started with a stroll down ring road when I felt the presence of one of the coolest people I know. I looked to the right to see my friend from high school boothing at the GMT Portos fundraiser and she introduced me to GMT and what the organization strived for. In all honesty, I joined because my friend was so cool, but I stayed because of the welcoming environment and the care that goes into serving the underserved locally and globally. GMT has become one of my best experiences in college and I am so excited to meet everyone and welcome you all to our family!
External Publicity Coordinator: Cyril Sumarinas
Sup Gangsters :)
My name is Cyril Sumarinas and I am going to be your new external publicity coordinator for the 2024-2025 academic year :D. I will be the one handling the newsletter, instagram, website, and working alongside the one and only Ms. Britney Tran. We are in charge of making everything look pretty so I hope to see you soon!
A little bit about myself, I am a pre-med 4th year biological sciences major. I served as the previous year’s workshop coordinator, and now I have the honor of being the external publicity coordinator. I like going outside, taking some dumb photos with the roster, playing UNO at Fresh Brother’s, and hiking trails! I like putting myself into an unknown environment and changing myself for that.
I joined GMT last year without a clue what the club was about, but after getting to know everyone in the club and making some new friends, I can say that I am so glad that I did. The club helped me break out of a little egg shell and hatch into this new duckling. I hope to see more of you in the upcoming year!