The Speakers

Rubia Khalak, MD

Dr. Khalak received her MD from SUNY HSC in Syracuse, NY. She did her pediatric residency and neonatology fellowship at University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. Dr. Khalak is a Full Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Division of Neonatology. Dr. Khalak’s work with Albany Medical School Admissions began in 2008 followed by selection to the Ranking Committee and Executive Committee. In July 2018, Dr. Khalak became Associate Dean of Enrollment Management and Administration, heading the Admissions Department. Dr. Khalak also serves as an Advising Dean for the medical students. Outside of work, she likes to take walks, go hiking, travel, and spend time with her family.

Julia Saltanovich

Julia Saltanovich is the Director of Enrollment in the Office of Admissions and has been at AMC since 2012. She works closely with the Associate Dean of Enrollment Management, the Admissions team and Admissions Committee members to ensure a fair, unbiased, and inclusive admissions process. What she loves most about her job is connecting with prospective students and helping them navigate the exciting time of entering medical school. She is dedicated to making the admissions process accessible to all, especially underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation students. In her free time, she likes to spend time outdoors hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends, family, and her dog.

Alicia Wiczulis, MD

Dr. Wiczulis is originally from Seattle and moved to Philadelphia for medical school at Sidney Kimmel Medical College. She completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tulane University and joined the faculty at Albany Medical College when she graduated. Her areas of clinical interest include family planning, adolescent gynecology, abnormal uterine bleeding, and general obstetrics. She is passionate about teaching, with an emphasis on compassion, public health, and patient advocacy. As Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, she oversees student services, major events at the college, and the residency application process. She has three young children, an elderly rescue dog, a puppy, six chickens, a cat, an apiary, and an extremely supportive husband.

Monica Minor

Monica D. Minor is the Director of Student Affairs & Wellness at Albany Medical College, a role she has held since 2017. Prior to Albany Med, she spent most of her career working with undergraduate students at Skidmore College. She holds a BS in Psychology from Bowie State University and an MS-Ed in Education from the College of Saint Rose. She believes in the transformative value of education and is a champion for students and student wellness.

Kathleen Whipple

Rebecca Keller, PhD

Dr. Keller is the Assistant Dean of Medical Education for years 1&2. A New York native, Dr. Keller came back to the empire state after receiving her BS, MS, and PhD at the University of Missouri. Since starting at Albany Medical College in 2001, Dr. Keller has enjoyed getting to know the students and guiding them through the start of the medical journey. She looks forward to getting to know you in your first year at AMC. In her free time, she enjoys baking, and spending time with family and friends.

C. Lynn Cabral, MD

C. Lynn Cabral, MD is the Assistant Dean of Medical Education, Years 3&4 and a physician in the division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at AMC. Dr. Cabral was at UPMC from 2004 until she relocated to AMC in 2018. She has long-standing involvement in pediatrics medical education, serving as pediatrics inpatient clerkship leadership for 11 years.

At AMC, Dr. Cabral guides the clinical clerkship faculty in medical education curriculum matters and serves as an Advising Dean to medical students. She completed medical school and pediatrics internship at Drexel University. She completed her pediatrics residency at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Karlyne Massas, EdD, CFP, CPH, MBA

Dr. Karlyne Massas joined Albany Med Health System as the Assistant Dean for Student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OHEDI) in 2021. She has dedicated her professional career to collegiate student success by providing specialized support to underrepresented and historically disadvantaged students. At Albany Medical College (AMC), Dr. Massas provides support to learners who identify with backgrounds historically underrepresented, minoritized, or marginalized in medical education. Her role is designed to ensure that students who identify as Black, African, African American, Latinx, Native American, Indigenous, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex (LGBTQI), Muslim, women, first-generation-college-graduate and/or as socioeconomically disadvantaged receive personalized support along their educational journey in overcoming the unique challenges and barriers that may present with these identities in medical education. Dr. Massas is passionate about student support and promoting the personal and professional success of our future physicians.

Ishbel Correa Narvaez

Ishbel Correa Narvaez is a Puerto Rican native who was raised in Florida. She went to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) for her undergraduate education with the goal of becoming an Occupational Therapist. After receiving her B.S. in Community Health with a concentration in Human Occupations, she worked in administration at a small physical therapy clinic. She then went on to receive her M.Ed. in Higher Education from Penn State where she worked as the Graduate Assistant for the Paul Robeson Cultural Center. Within her role, she incorporated the use of programming and curriculum design to develop various approaches focused on helping the professional and personal development of students while creating an inclusive environment to help support students of color at a Primary White Institution. She currently works as the Program Coordinator for the Office of Health Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Albany Med where she aims to ensure the institutional inclusion priorities, goals, and outcomes are incorporated into all experiences to nurture a generation of ethical and knowledgeable healthcare leaders. Ishbel also serves on the Multicultural Alumni Network for FGCU as the Events and Programming Chair where she is currently working on the establishment of the network to help alumni of color feel connected and supported as they embark on their post-graduate experiences.

Kara Burke, MPH

Kara Burke is the Director for Community Engagement in the Division of Community Outreach and Medical Education at Albany Medical College (AMC). She has a B.A. from Skidmore College and an M.P.H. with a concentration in Social Behavior and Community Health from the University at Albany School of Public Health. In her role at AMC Ms. Burke collaborates with community members, local organizations, and medical students on activities and education related to service learning, public health, and advocacy.

Angela Antonikowski, PhD, MA

Dr. Antonikowski is the Associate Dean of the Division of Community Outreach and Medical Education where she focuses on addressing the equity, diversity and inclusion needs within higher education, the workforce, and community. Dr. Antonikowski is a proud 3-time graduate of SUNY-Albany receiving their bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate Degrees from SUNY-Albany. As a clinical psychologist, she supports the mental health and professional development of medical and other graduate students and specialized in the treatment of chronic pain in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Antonikowski’s research and grantwriting focuses on educational factors associated with health equity such as mentoring, pathway and pipeline education, and training faculty in inclusion-minded leadership and mentoring practices.

Heather Frenz

Heather Frenz is the Executive Director of the Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center at Albany Medical College. She is responsible for the oversight of all daily PSCCC activities and staff. She works with Albany Medical College faculty and leadership, Graduate Medical Education, and hospital staff to plan and develop simulation exercises to effectively utilize simulation throughout the Albany Medical College and Hospital. Heather is also responsible for SP case development and SP training for both case portrayal and learner feedback.

Heather came to the field of Standardized Patient work from an acting background. She has a BA from the State University of New York at Potsdam College and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Bioethics from the Alden March Institute at Albany Medical College.

Mandeep Sidhu, MD

Dr. Mandeep Sidhu serves as Assistant Dean for Research and Scholarly Activity for Students at Albany Medical College. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at Albany Medical College and Staff Cardiologist at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Dr. Sidhu is active in mentoring students in the combined MD/MS and MBA program between Union College, Clarkson University, and Albany Medical College. Dr. Sidhu is involved with multiple areas of clinical research, including serving as a Co-Investigator, Regional Leader (US North) and Faculty in the Clinical Coordinating Center for the NIH/NHLBI-funded ISCHEMIA and ISCHEMIA-CKD trials. Prior to joining Albany Medical College, Dr. Sidhu was a Staff Cardiologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, NH, as well as Course Director/Instructor for Introduction to Healthcare Policy and Economics, Clinical Instructor in Medicine, and Instructor in Scientific Basis of Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth from 2006 to 2012.

Kevin Dipalma

Kevin Dipalma is the Director of Financial Aid at Albany Medical College. He recieved his Bachelor of Science in Business. He has been in the world of finance his entire career, of which 14 years has been concentrated in the field of Financial Aid. As the Director of Financial Aid he has enjoyed assisting students to obtain funding to cover the expense of medical school.

Student Groups

Student National Medical Association (SNMA)

The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) at Albany Medical College (AMC) is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians.

AMC's SNMA chapter is one of many at allopathic and osteopathic medical schools throughout the nation. SNMA programs are designed to serve the health needs of underserved communities and communities of color. In addition, SNMA is dedicated both to ensuring that medical education and services are culturally sensitive to the needs of diverse populations and to increasing the number of African-American, Latino, and other students of color entering and completing medical school.

Latinx Medical Student Association (LMSA)

The Latinx Medical Student Association (LMSA) unites and empowers medical students through service, mentorship and education to advocate for the health of the Latino community.

The Latino Medical Student Association was first founded in principal as a national collection of like-minded but separate Latinx student groups in 1987. The network was created through collaboration between regional Latinx medical student groups and the need for a central national core for unified targeted efforts. As the regions became more developed, the complexity of the network demanded further sophistication.

Our vision is: Unifying Medical Students to promote Latino health.

Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA)

The Medical Student Pride Alliance (MSPA) at Albany Medical College is an activist and social organization at Albany Medical College that is committed to empowering sexual and gender minority medical students and allies, increasing the number of physicians trained in LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare, and addressing the unique needs of LGBTQ+ communities through research, advocacy, and service.

MSPA started at Albany Medical College as LGBTQ+ People in Medicine, a student interest group that promoted the welfare, representation, and visibility of LGBTQ+ students and patients. The group offered interview skills workshops that addressed gender and sexual identity, advocated for admissions policies that valued diversity, and encouraged greater inclusion of LGTBQ+ health in medical education curricula. In 2002, LGBTQ+ People in Medicine was recognized with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Health Achievement Award from the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) and the American Medical Student Association (AMSA).

Muslim Student Association (MSA)

The mission of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) is to serve Muslim students and alumni and facilitate their efforts to establish, develop, and maintain professionally-supported chapters of Muslim Student Associations. Emphasis is placed on the spiritual, religious, and social, civic growth and well-being of students.

Established in January 1963, the Muslim Students Association of the U.S. & Canada (MSA National) continues to serve Muslim students during their college and university careers by facilitating their efforts to establish, maintain and develop local MSA chapters. MSA National was first established on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by a conference of Muslim students from around the U.S. and Canada, MSA National has been a uniting forum for Muslim students from diverse backgrounds over 50 years.

American Medical Women's Association (AMWA)

The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) is a professional advocacy and educational organization of women physicians and medical students. The mission of (AMWA) is to advance women in medicine, advocate for equity, and ensure excellence in health care.The vision of AMWA is to create a healthier world where women physicians achieve equity in the medical profession and realize their full potential.

AMWA's involvement in the Albany Medical College Community dates back to at least 1978, when AMWA hosted one of their earliest events at the College. Since then, AMWA has been a leading voice and home for female identified persons at AMC.

First Generation and Low Income Medical Student Association (FGLIMed)

The overall mission of FGLIMed is to establish a connection between first generation medical students (students whose parents did not graduate college) at Albany Medical College and the community through outreach programs. It also seeks to provide an opportunity for mentors, future students, and alumni of the organization to interact. It also serves as an emotional and academic support system for first generation students. The goals of FGLIMed are to celebrate, build community, as well as facilitate and highlight the success of the first-generation students in the AMC community!

Building the Next Generation of Physician Scientists (BNGAP)

The mission of Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP) is to help diverse medical students and residents become aware of academic medicine as a career option and to provide them with the resources to further explore and potentially embark on an academic medicine career. The club has hosted a variety of workshops, including CV Workshops, Mentorship Panels, and Research Workshops. In addition to helping increase the involvement of underrepresented students involvement in academic medicine, the Albany Medical College chapter had 5 National Award winners at the BNGAP 10th Anniversary/2nd Pre-Faculty Conference in January 2020.

Middle Eastern and North African Student Association (MENASA)

MENASA is dedicated to building a community and support system for students of MENA descent and anyone interested in the MENA region and culture. Our goal is to encourage dialogue on topics pertaining to MENA health in the medical community, with an emphasis on the importance of recognition as an ethnic group, and to identify opportunities for service and advocacy. MENASA does not cater to a specific collection of countries, instead focuses on cultural similarities and mutual experiences while celebrating and respecting our differences.

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