Student and Trainee Executive Board

The mission of the ACLM Trainee Executive Board is to advance the field of lifestyle medicine through the establishment of Lifestyle Medicine Interest Groups and Trainee lifestyle medicine education, leadership, scholarship, mentoring, and networking opportunities across the health professional education continuum. If you are interested in becoming involved with the ACLM Trainee E-Board and/or would like to learn more about Trainee-led initiatives, please reach out to trainees@lifestylemedicine.org.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Herzberg Family Wellness Foundation for generously supporting ACLM Student and Trainee Executive Board conference scholarships. Their contribution enables our dedicated board members to connect, share accomplishments, network for career development, and learn from leaders in the field of lifestyle medicine, fostering the growth of future healthcare leaders.

BECOME AN ACLM TRAINEE

Meet the 2024 Trainee Executive Board Members

Co-President

Yoav Jacob

Co-President

Madeline Wong

Secretary

Brittney Collins

Trainee VP of Research

Joeita Macfield, BS

Trainee VP of Research

Ryan Arboleda, MPH

Trainee VP of Education

Emily Jumo

Trainee VP of Education

Kriti Devkota

Trainee VP of Education, Health Systems Council

Bundu Ezenwukwa

Trainee VP of Education, Academic Pathways

Elena Colussi-Pelaez, MD

Trainee VP of Development

John Babich

Trainee VP of Development

Paige Stearn

Trainee VP of Development, HEAL

Lucia Duenas-Bianchi

Trainee VP of Communications

Kasandra Sanidad

Trainee VP of Communications

Amanda Orme

Trainee Executive President — Brent Gawey MD, MSCR

Trainee Executive Vice President — Lauren Vanderpool

Trainee Secretary — Madeline Wong

Trainee VP of Development — Laila Abujuma, CPT

Trainee VP of Development — Liz Marcedes

Trainee VP of Development — Emily Ubbens

Trainee VP of Communications — Amanda Orme

Trainee VP of Communications — Kasandra Sanidad

Trainee VP of Education — Nate Gottfredson

Trainee VP of Education — Yoav Jacob

Trainee VP of Research — Kenny Kusnadi

Justin Charles, MD – Trainee Executive President

Madeline Wong – Trainee Secretary

Thea Lananh Swenson – Trainee VP of Partnerships

Abby Joy Garcia – Trainee VP of LMIG Development

Nilofer Khan Habibullah, MD, MA, DipIBLM – Trainee VP of LMIG Development

Lauren Vanderpool – Trainee VP of Research

Elena Colussi-Pelaez – Trainee VP of Communications

Annika Lintvedt-Miller – Trainee VP of Communications

Tyler Anderson – Trainee VP of Education

Brent Gawey, MD, MS – Trainee VP of Education

Nathan Gottfredson – Trainee VP of Education

Jasmin Hundal MS, MD – Trainee VP of Education

Laila Abujuma, CPT – Trainee MIG Liaison

Matthew Zahn – Trainee MIG Liaision

Jadon Neuendorf – Trainee Executive VP of Education

Stas Amato – Trainee Executive VP of Research

Abby Joy Garcia – Trainee Executive VP of LMIG Development

Lora Stoianova – Trainee HEAL Liaison

Justin Charles, MD – Trainee Executive VP of Partnerships

Rianna Goetting Capelj – Trainee Executive VP of Communications

Leonie Dupuis – Trainee VP of Communications

Gabriella Hall – Trainee VP of Communications

Jasmin Aldridge – Trainee VP of Communications

Albert Barrera – Trainee Executive VP of Research

Stas Amato – Trainee VP of Research

Ashten Duncan – Trainee VP of Research

Megan Alexander – Trainee Executive VP of Education

Alexander Teshon – Trainee VP of Education

Kelsea Sendefur – Trainee VP of Education

Jadon Nuendorf – Trainee VP of Education

Robert Bhatia – Trainee VP of Development

Alyssa Kramer – Trainee VP of Development

Emmanuel Akpan Jr. – Trainee VP of Development

Ryan Herring – Trainee Residency Liaison

Richard Wolferz – Trainee Residency Liaison

Alex Kees – Trainee Co-president

Renae Thomas – Trainee Co-president

Renae Thomas – Trainee President

Ryan Herring – Trainee Executive Vice President

Alexandra Kees – Trainee Executive Vice President

Zach Burns – Trainee VP of Development

Tatiana Znayenko-Miller – Trainee VP of Development

Genevieve Saliuk – Trainee VP of Development

Aneeha Dalal – Trainee Executive Assistant

Megan Alexander – Trainee VP of Communications

Taylor Collignon – Trainee VP of Communications

Stephanie Looi – Trainee VP of Communications

Andrew Mock – Trainee VP of Education

Erica Veazey – Trainee VP of Education

Rianna Goetting – Trainee VP of Education

Joshika Money – Trainee Secretary

Albert Barrera – Trainee VP of Research

Trainees@lifesytlemedicine.org

Yoav Jacob is a third-year medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he’s excited to be serving as Co-President for this year. Before medical school, Yoav attended a culinary program to receive a health-supportive culinary arts diploma. He loves exploring other cultures through their cuisine and hopes to build a future where the values of preventive and lifestyle medicine are engrained in both the health and food systems. He’s excited to work on furthering lifestyle medicine and promote its recognition in medicine system-wide.

Madeline Wong is a third year osteopathic medical student at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is honored to be serving as the Co-President of the Trainee Executive Board and is looking forward to furthering the mission of the ACLM. Her lifestyle medicine journey began witnessing firsthand the impact that lifestyle choices on family members. She is also passionate about spreading the message of lifestyle medicine and promoting the health of marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Brittney Collins is a second year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the current president of her LMIG chapter, and will be serving as Secretary of the Trainee Executive board. She first started diving into lifestyle medicine while working with multiple organizations that focus on food insecurity and the power of nutrition. Since then, she has been able to see firsthand the affects that chronic (usually preventable!) diseases have on the patient populations in her community and family. She has seen this especially in her work with Grand Rapids Street Medicine and while working abroad in West Africa.

Outside of school, she enjoys reading fiction novels, watching movies, camping, traveling, skiing, and basically anything outdoors. She is still exploring specialties, but hopes that whatever she lands on she will be able to incorporate the pillars of lifestyle medicine into. She can’t wait to take on this next year with the team!

Joeita Macfield, BS is a third-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, completing my clinical rotations at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. I am excited to serve as one of the Vice Presidents of Research! My passion for Lifestyle Medicine was sparked during college, where I learned that half of all premature deaths in the US are driven by health behaviors, yet only 4% of our health expenditures address these behaviors. I believe that true health extends beyond addressing immediate physiological symptoms and requires a focus on prevention and sustainable lifestyle practices. In my own life, I enjoy integrating these principles into a personal “Dopamine Menu” of activities that support my well-being, including exercise classes and exploring new restaurants in Detroit as an avid Yelp Elite member.

Ryan Arboleda, MPH serves as the Trainee VP of Research at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. With a BS in Biology and a Master of Public Health, Ryan is currently pursuing a medical degree at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. His research experience spans a range of topics including COVID-19, particulate matter exposure, vaccine perceptions, sports medicine, and lifestyle medicine.

Ryan is also proudly commissioned as a medical officer in the United States Navy. His passion for lifestyle medicine stemmed from his experiences in military medicine, focusing on force readiness, performance optimization, and long-term health outcomes. Driven by a mission to promote holistic wellness, Ryan contributes to advancing the field of lifestyle medicine through research, education, and collaboration.

Emily Ubbens is a third year medical student at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she is the founder and outgoing president of the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group. She has always been obsessed with all things Lifestyle Medicine, including plant-based cooking, yoga, meditation, and community service, and as soon as she found out it was a career path in 2019, she knew it would be a big part of her future. She hopes to be able to complete the lifestyle medicine residency curriculum upon graduation from MSUCOM. Emily is currently serving as a VP of Trainee Development on the ACLM Trainee E-Board.

Kriti Devkota is a second-year medical student at Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, where she serves as chapter president for the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group. Prior to medical school, Kriti graduated from Brown University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Public Health and worked in the Medicare-Medicaid sector. Kriti has struggled with chronic pain and has found Lifestyle Medicine to be foundational to her wellbeing and hopes to share the pillars of lifestyle medicine with her peers and patients alike. Kriti is passionate about women’s health and caring for underserved populations and intends to integrate lifestyle medicine in her future practice as a physician. As Trainee VP of Education, Kriti is eager to increase awareness of lifestyle medicine among medical students.

Bundu Ezenwukwa is a 3rd year medical student at UT Southwestern Medical Center and will be serving as a e-board liaison for ACLM’s Health Systems Council. Bundu’s enthusiasm for lifestyle medicine was sparked through participation in her institution’s culinary medicine program, which involves hands-on workshops that integrate nutrition science with practical cooking techniques. Through these classes, Bundu has been able to educate community members on the impact that diet can make on one’s health and pass along easy ways to implement healthy habits. Through consistent volunteering within culinary medicine and later assuming a leadership position in her school’s PLMIG, Bundu has become passionate about advocating for preventive health strategies and empowering patients to take control of their health through sustainable lifestyle changes. Bundu has also maintained healthy habits in her own life, and in her free time enjoys weightlifting, crocheting, and spending time with family and friends.

Elena Colussi-Pelaez, MD is a Canadian-born physician with a passion for Preventive Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and Longevity. Currently a PGY1 Preventive Medicine Resident and MPH candidate at Loma Linda University Health, and Chief Resident of the Transitional Year Residency.

Recent graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Class of 2024). Proud to serve as the 2025 Trainee Vice President of Education and Academic Advancement for the Executive Board of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Beyond the clinical setting, I volunteer at NutritionFacts.org, stay grounded through yoga and meditation, and continually learn through reading. Fluent in Spanish and dedicated to advancing health and wellness at the population level.

John Babich is a third-year medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine and is excited to serve on the 2025 American College of Lifestyle Medicine Trainee Executive Board as Vice President of Development. John’s interest in lifestyle medicine was sparked in 2015 after reading Dr. Michael Greger’s How Not to Die which inspired him to adopt a whole-food, plant-based diet. This passion deepened during his time as a volunteer and advisor with the NYC Health+Hospitals/Bellevue Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program, where he witnessed firsthand the power of lifestyle medicine to prevent, treat, and remit chronic disease.

As a medical student, John founded the Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group at SUNY Upstate almost two years ago. He has been involved in advocacy efforts to increase the availability of plant-based foods for staff, students, and patients, as well as integrate lifestyle medicine topics further into the medical student curriculum. He believes lifestyle medicine is a transformative approach that integrates root-cause solutions, patient empowerment, and public health principles.

John looks forward to using his role on the ACLM Trainee Executive Board to help expand access to educational resources, foster innovation, and support trainees in their lifestyle medicine journeys.

Paige Stearn is a second-year medical student at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is currently serving as the president of her Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group and is thrilled to be a part of the advancement of lifestyle medicine! Paige utilizes lifestyle medicine, both in her approach to patient care as well as in her personal health journey. Paige actively advocates for the progression of evidence based preventative and sustainable healthcare. In her free time, Paige loves cooking plant-based meals, teaching and practicing yoga, and playing with her kitties: Luna and Maple!

Lucia Duenas-Bianchi is an MD/MPH candidate at the University of Connecticut (UConn). She serves as Vice President of Development on the Trainee E-Board with a focus on the HEAL initiative, a role that reflects her enthusiasm for advancing Lifestyle Medicine (LM) principles. Her prior experience on the E-Board of the UConn LMIG has been instrumental in her professional development, fostering a passion for integrating LM into medical education and community initiatives.

Throughout her involvement and training, Lucia has gained valuable insights into promoting LM as a cornerstone of prevention-focused healthcare and health equity. She is committed to incorporating LM into her career to reduce the burden of chronic diseases and empower patients to achieve optimal well-being.

Kasandra Sanidad OMS-II, ACLM Trainees VP of Communication. D.O. Candidate, Class of 2026 at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. As a dedicated second-year medical student with a passion for lifestyle medicine, I am thrilled to be part of something much greater than myself. Within my family, I have seen heart disease and other chronic ailments harm the people I love most. I now know that many of these conditions could have been improved, prevented, or even reversed by Lifestyle Medicine. It has been a privilege to learn alongside such caring individuals in the lifestyle medicine community and it is my hope that I will be able to teach my family, future patients, and the world about all there is to know about ACLM and all we have to offer!

Amanda Orme is a second-year medical student at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine in New Jersey and will be serving on the VP of Communications team this year. Her experience with lifestyle medicine started in March of 2023 when she first learned of the ACLM, and her involvement in the organization has rapidly accelerated ever since. That same month, she founded an LMIG at her medical school and is serving as the president for the 2023-2024 academic year. Before starting an LMIG, Amanda had been involved in the wellness space for many years as a fitness instructor, intern with the Food and Wellness Network of Philadelphia, and volunteer at a local health clinic, Bienestar Pharmacy and Wellness Center.

As a result of her leadership in these programs and establishment of an LMIG, she was awarded the 2023 Donald A. Pegg Student Leadership Award. This gave her the incredible opportunity to attend the 2023 Lifestyle Medicine conference in Denver, Colorado which inspired her to apply for the 2024 Trainee Executive Board.

While she is still exploring residency options and future directions, Amanda cares most about providing specific, whole-person care to patients with an emphasis on meeting patients where they are at and helping them incorporate lifestyle medicine into their lives at their own pace.

Amanda lives in South Jersey with her husband Christopher, who is an organic chemist, and their dog Otis. She enjoys playing with her pup, going on daily runs (currently on a streak of over 1 year running every day!), and crocheting stuffed animals. She is also currently pursuing a RYT-200 certification.

Follow the ACLM Trainees on Instagram!

@aclmtrainees