Student-Alums Help Lead Way on Campus
5 from MSMHS Class of 2023 earn spots as Vice Presidents on Student Government Association
Graduates of the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s master’s degree program are helping to lead their peers this year as members of both the College and campus student government groups.
Five members of the Master of Science-Medical Health Sciences Class of 2023 were elected in the spring semester to the Student Government Association to help lead the student body at Touro University California until early 2025.
The Student Doctors make up nearly half of the SGA, something campus officials say they can’t recall ever happening.
Trevor Chan-Sevilla serves as Vice President of Alumni Relations while Phebe Chang is Vice President of Communications. Harsimran Kaur serves as Vice President of Online Content. Sonya Patel is Vice President of Student Health and Wellness. Devin Bruce serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs.
They began their SGA roles in mid-February. Kaur has completed her first year in the Dual Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine-Master of Public Health program at the Mare Island campus. The others have completed their first year in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program.
Aspirations to Serve Fellow Students
Chan-Sevilla says one of the best things about TUC is its strong sense of community. He seeks to uphold and strengthen the University’s ties with its Alumni, who he describes as an integral part of the University community.
Chang has attended small schools in the past and says it’s a blessing to attend a small University, where students are able to become close to their classmates and peers and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
Kaur wants to build connections within the Touro community. She serves as a Student Ambassador and authors a blog: https://mysimplicities.com. She served as publicity director for several clubs as an undergraduate.
Patel aims to implement initiatives to address physical, mental, and emotional health. This includes stress management workshops, promoting healthy lifestyles, and advocating for resources supporting the overall well-being of her peers. Her goal is to collaborate with students and faculty to tailor programs to the needs of the University’s diverse student body.
Bruce brings his experience in bridging communication with administrative and academic bodies as an undergraduate to his new role at TUC. His work in an emergency department taught him patience, resilience, to think on his feet, and to adapt to the changing needs of a fast-paced environment.
A Strong Legacy
This year’s MSMHS Alumni representation on the Student Government Association nearly doubles last year’s representation and more than doubles that of the previous two years.
Three MSMHS alums were Vice Presidents of the outgoing 2023 SGA: Sarah Maple (Class of 2021), Grace Hwang (Class of 2022), and Kathy Lau (Class of 2022). Two were Vice Presidents in 2022: Shalaya Yazdi (Class of 2021), and Akashdeep Gill (Class of 2021); and two served in 2021: Avleen Gill (Class of 2020), who was SGA President, and Sukaynah Khetani (Class of 2020), who was a Vice President.