Our Executive Board

Neil Chaoui —Co-president

I’m Neil and I’m a senior majoring in Allied Health Sciences with a minor in Molecular and Cellular Biology. I have joined KDSAP my freshman year of college because I had a strong interest in learning about kidney health as well as being able to help the community I had just joined. The more meetings I attended, the more interested and passionate I became! This club has taught me so much about what serving our community looks like and how important it is to raise awareness about the things we care about. The work that KDSAP does is incredibly important and impactful and I am glad to be able to take a part of it!

Riddhi Bansal—Co-president

Hey! My name is Riddhi and I am a junior double majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and Neuroscience. I am on the pre-med track and am also apart of the Special Program in Medicine! I joined KDSAP my freshman year because I have always had a passion for nephrology and I wanted to become more involved in college. I really liked how KDSAP was able to make an real impact on the community and thought all the work being done by members was incredibly meaningful. Through KDSAP I have been able to give back to underserved communities and I am extremely excited to continue that in these following years!

Allyson McCormick—Secretary

Hi! My name is Allyson, and I’m a senior majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Physiology and Neurobiology. I’m from Northborough, MA, and I work as a CNA outside of school. I became involved with KDSAP because of its combination of health education and community outreach. This experience has provided valuable clinical exposure, service opportunities, and further knowledge about chronic kidney disease. KDSAP was the first organization I joined at UConn my freshman year, and it’s been a very rewarding part of my college experience. I’m excited to give back through my role this year!

Nitya Tarala—Treasurer

Hi! My name is Nitya, and I am a sophomore double majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and Healthcare Systems, Policy, and Equity. I am on the pre-med track and am also a part of the Special Program in Medicine! KDSAP was the first organization I joined at UConn, and it has allowed me to explore my long-standing passion for promoting health equity and increasing access to preventative care. Through community outreach and kidney health education, I’ve seen firsthand how meaningful it is to empower others with knowledge about their health. I’m excited to continue growing with KDSAP and making a lasting impact alongside such a passionate team!

Brennan Smith—Director of Programming

Hello! My name is Brennan and I am a Junior majoring in Physiology & Neurobiology (and also starting a master's in Developmental Psychology) on the pre-medical track. After hearing about KDSAP from my RA Freshman year, I decided to get involved in the program to get hands-on volunteer/clinical experience and help serve CT's underserved communities. Having been able to grow in my role the past few years in KDSAP, I hope to help design and deliver useful meetings this year in pre-professional preparation, CKD awareness, and hands-on pre-medical trainings.

Daniela del Mar Abreu Rodriguez—Co-community outreach Chair

Hello! I'm a sophomore in the Honors Program and the Special Program in Medicine, majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and minoring in Physiology and Neurobiology. I joined KDSAP during my freshman year and quickly found it to be a meaningful way to get involved in the community. Volunteering at health screenings has allowed me to use my Spanish skills to help educate patients about kidney health and connect with people from underserved backgrounds. As co-community outreach chair this year, I’m excited to keep raising awareness about kidney disease and contributing to a cause I care about.

Kevin O'Neill—Co-community outreach chair

Hey guys! My name is Kevin O’Neill and I am a junior majoring in physiology and neurobiology with a minor in personal brand entrepreneurship on the pre-dental track. I decided to join this club my freshman year to get hands-on volunteer/clinical experience and also give back to my community. This program offers and teaches about preventative healthcare, which is a critical component of modern day healthcare. Through KDSAP I hope to inspire others and create a meaningful impact to my community.

Alana Modi—Co-awareness chair

Hello everyone! I am a sophomore in the honors college majoring in physiology and neurobiology on the pre-med track. I joined KDSAP my freshman year of college and fell in love with the club and organization as a whole after my first meeting. Having the opportunity to physically go into the local community and run screenings for underserved populations has allowed me to meet so many new people and also utilize my Spanish skills when translating and educating individuals about kidney disease. Being part of KDSAP, I have also had the opportunity to meet many physicians who have their own stories and connections to nephrology. I am so excited to continue raising awareness for kidney disease through my role as co-awareness chair this year!

Ella Kijak—Co-awareness Chair

Hello! I am a sophomore honors student at the University of Connecticut, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences with a double minor in Spanish and Molecular & Cellular Biology. I am deeply passionate about promoting health equity and improving care for underserved and marginalized populations. That passion is what drew me to KDSAP, as providing free CKD screenings and expanding access to care for vulnerable communities strongly resonates with me. Outside of academics, I work as an optical technician and volunteer with the National Crisis Text Line, where I’ve gained valuable experience supporting others with compassion and empathy. I’m excited to bring that perspective to KDSAP and help expand care and awareness around CKD!

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse