Region IV Directors
Andy Lai, Saint George’s University
My name is Andy Lai; I am a 3rd year medical student at Saint George’s University. It is my honor to be a part of this amazing team at APAMSA National. A little background about me, I was born and raised in NYC and currently home in NYC preparing for Step One and my clinical rotations. Prior to medical school, I attended Syracuse University for undergraduate majoring in nutrition, then completed my dietetic internship at Stony Brook Medicine prior to working as a Registered Dietitian for 2 years in the Surgery ICU department. My interest in medicine grew while working with the critical care interdisciplinary teams at my hospital managing patients on IV nutrition. Through my nontraditional pathway to medicine and as a first generation college graduate and medical school student in my family I was lost during my first year of medical school. Luckily, I was able to find new friends and mentors through our APAMSA chapter at SGU to help me throughout my basic sciences. I am forever thankful for the opportunities that APAMSA have provided me and the friendships that I have made through APAMSA at SGU. I look forward to meeting new APAMSA members and to work with the national board in providing more opportunities for APAMSA chapters to participate in.
Rod Carlo Columbres, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
My name is Rod Carlo Columbres. I am a first year medical student at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. I was born and raised in the Philippines, and moved to the US at age 16. I graduated from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in spring of 2018 with a BS in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology. I am currently the President and founder of the APAMSA Chapter at my COM (the first in the state of Mississippi). I am looking forward to be more involved in APAMSA, and continue my work in advocacy for health equity and justice for the AANHPI communities.
Aliasger Ezzi, Florida International University
Hello, my name is Aliasger Ezzi! I am a medical student at FIU College of Medicine. I served as the President of our local chapter. I also received my bachelors in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida. I enjoy skateboarding and digital painting. I look forward to a great year!