About Us – International Health Collective

our team

Faculty Advisors

Weena Joshi is a pediatrician at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and Faculty at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. Weena has been with the International Health Collective since its inception and her experience and guidance has allowed IHC to become what it is today.

Jia Shen is a board-certified cardiologist who specializes in the treatment and prevention of heart disease. As an assistant professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Shen’s research interests include cardiac rehabilitation, global burden of cardiovascular disease and risk factors, distribution of cardiovascular health services in low-resource settings, and biomarkers in cardiovascular disease.

Board of Directors

My name is Mohnish, and I graduated from UC San Diego in December 2023 with a degree in Human Biology. This is my fourth year in IHC and I am dedicated to addressing health inequities in the San Diego-Tijuana region. I have previously served as the Director of Community Health for about two years. Outside of school, I enjoy photographing and reading novels.

Hello, my name is Han! I recently graduated from UC San Diego with a Bachelors of Science in Human Biology and Science Education Studies Minor. This is my third year of involvement in IHC, and I have served as the previous Director of Local Action in supporting our projects that help local San Diego communities. I am passionate about IHC’s mission to provide holistic and sustainable solutions towards alleviating health disparities in the Tijuana/Baja/San Diego regions, and am excited to be working alongside our committed students, volunteers, and community members.

Ramya is a rising fourth year at UCSD pursuing a degree in Human Biology, and loves reading, hiking, trying new recipes, and traveling! She aspires to pursue a career in pediatrics and hopes to continue being involved in Global health initiatives as a physician. Ramya joined IHC because she aligned with IHC’s mission statement of alleviating health disparities in local communities and helping the less fortunate receive the care they deserve. She is honored to serve as Director of Local Action and Stem Education Project Manager for IHC, and she works to foster bonding opportunities for members and help them find their passion within IHC.

Neal is a fourth-year biochemistry major with the future goal of becoming a physician-scientist. Neal joined IHC in 2021, driven by the mission to provide culturally aware service to underserved communities. Over the past three years, Neal has led multiple cross-border initiatives, serving as Project Manager of Electronic Health Records, Project Manager of Harm Reduction, and 2023-24 Secretary. Outside of IHC, Neal conducts neuropharmacology research and works as an emergency department technician. He believes everyone has a special place for them in IHC and is happy to provide individual guidance! During his free time, he enjoys cooking, playing jazz, and exploring nature.

Joseph is a third-year Human Biology major at UCSD. IHC’s mission to advance sustainability and provide resources for a diverse population inspired Joseph to assume involvement in IHC. He has been with IHC for two years, participating in the Nutrition and Fitness Project and Clinic Project. These experiences taught him that being present for people at their lowest moments, while also providing culturally sensitive care is an essential part of health. As Director of Social Media and Marketing, he hopes to advance IHC’s outreach on and off campus to foster leaders striving to serve their community.

Nyle Connolly is a fourth year at UCSD pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology. He aspires to pursue a career in medicine and is interested in surgery along with allergy and immunology. Aside from medicine, he enjoys mountaineering, playing guitar, and going to the beach. Nyle is also one of the project managers for the Community Garden project, in which his team recently built a garden at our TJP clinic. Nyle is proud to serve as the Fundraising Chair for IHC and hopes to see IHC continue to expand and prosper in years to come.

My name is Ian! I’m a master’s student at UC Los Angeles studying Public Health with a specialization in Epidemiology. I’ve been involved with IHC for two years having previously served as the Project Manager of the Clinic Quality Improvement project. I currently serve as the Director of our Community Health Program and am incredibly excited to continue my work for the betterment of our clinic community. In my free time I enjoy archery, Magic the Gathering, and am a long time Star Wars fan!

Shreya is a third-year human biology major at UCSD hoping to pursue a career in healthcare. She has been involved with IHC since her freshman year, as a member and project manager for the Medication Education Project and member of the San Juanico Project. She strongly aligns with IHC’s mission of creating sustainable change locally and globally. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with family and friends. Shreya is excited to serve as the Secretary of IHC this year.

Hailey graduated with degrees in both Biochemistry and Global Health. She aspires to pursue emergency medicine and hopes to continue getting involved in global health projects to promote health equity in the local communities and the global world. Hailey joined IHC because she wanted to be part of this team who are passionate about helping others and creating a positive and lasting impact on people in the local and global community. Hailey is honored to be the Director of TJP Clinic and she hopes to contribute by creating an interactive and comfortable environment where patients feel at home. She is also in charge of IHC’s Scribe / Vitals Training programs and she is one of the Project Managers of the Spanish Interpreter Project. Besides medicine, Hailey is interested in learning about different cultures and languages. She hopes to explore the world, meet people, and learn about different cultures.

Hello my name is Joy! I graduated from UC San Diego in March of 2023 with a degree in Global Health. I was a community college transfer student prior to that and received 3 associate degrees. I have been a part of IHC for 4 years now and this will be my 3rd year as the Director of San Juanico. I am excited about the opportunities to expand our clinic services this year to the community of Mexicali B.C. while maintaining our biannual trips to San Juanico B.C.S.! My most favorite memory of being in IHC was returning to San Juanico after a 4 year hiatus and getting to reconnect with the local community and IHC members. I am passionate about helping underserved communities and providing holistic care that is self-sustaining. I am eager to see what this new year brings us. In my free time I enjoy reading, traveling, and cooking!

Eric is a graduate with degrees in Neurobiology/Music and Psychology minor from UCSD. In his free time, Eric loves to try out new restaurants, explore video games, and learn new instruments. As pharmacy director, Eric oversees the pharmacy in IHC’s monthly clinics in Tijuana, organizes pharmacy inventory, leads the Pharmacy Quality Improvement Project, and assists with other IHC projects, including the Scribe Program. He has been part of several IHC projects since his second year at UCSD. One of his favorite IHC memories was going on the San Juanico trip in 2023 with other IHC members. He strives to continue to serve and support the San Diego-Tijuana community alongside other members.

Hello, my name is Adriana De Paz and I am a fourth year at UCSD. I serve as CO-TJP Clinic Director and one of the Community Engagement Co-Project Managers. I am passionate about actively addressing health disparities through a holistic approach. Hence, joining IHC has had such an impact on my life thus far.

My name is Elaine and I’m the co-director of social media and also co-manager of the Garden Project! This is my 4th year on IHC and I’ve also served as PM for the orphanage project in the past. Outside of school, I love dancing (I’ve been a dancer for 14 years), trying to surf, exploring cafes, and journaling!

Hello! I’m Rocio and I’m a fourth year Human Biology major and Psychology minor at UCSD. I’ve been involved with IHC since my junior year as part of the Clinic Quality Improvement and the San Juanico Clinic projects. I look forward to serving as one of the Directors of the San Juanico/Baja Clinic, and to keep providing a sustainable and holistic care to our patients in those communities. In my free time I enjoy going to the movies, trying new food places, and cooking!

Robert is a second year at UCSD pursuing a B.S. in Neurobiology! He aspires to pursue a career in medicine and is interested in surgery, OB/GYN, and Pediatrics. In addition to his passion for medicine, Robert also is an enthusiast for fitness, fashion, and the application of therapeutic practices for self-healing and growth. Robert joined IHC because he deeply resonated with its mission to work not for material gain, but rather to impact those around us in a positive way. He loves how the organization and the people within it are guided by their own personal humanitarian convictions. He is honored to serve as the very first Recruitment Chair for IHC, and will do all he can to promote IHC’s mission and the growth of the IHC community.

My name is Varsha Mani and I will be serving as IHC’s administrative director as well as being the San Juanico Project Manager this year! In the future, I aspire to pursue emergency medicine. I joined IHC because I wanted to be a part of making sustainable and holistic change toward health disparities in the San Diego-Tijuana region. This is my second year of involvement in IHC and I am inspired by not only the welcoming community but the focus each of the members has towards IHC’s mission. In the past year, I have worked with the Community Garden and Sex Ed Projects. In my free time, I love dancing, swimming at the beach, and playing board games.

Hey, my name is Jackie! I graduated from UC San Diego in December 2022 with a Bachelors in Science in Human Biology and a minor in Global Health. This is my fourth year in IHC and I am grateful for the opportunities in alleviating health disparities and providing sustainable, culturally-sensitive care to communities on both sides of the border. I have previously served as the Administrative Director and Vice President, and am happy to be returning as the Student Advisor. In my free time, I enjoy tennis, learning jazz, and coffee!

Project Managers

My name is Alyx Kuykendoll and I am a second year Human Biology student at UCSD! I am in Eleanor Roosevelt college and will be a Project Manager for the Medication Education project. I joined IHC during my freshman year and worked in the wonderful Clinic Quality Improvement project! In my free time, I like to hike, exercise, and go to concerts. My favorite genres are R&B and Rap! In the future, I hope to go into Pediatric Cardiology because I have a lot of work experience with children and the heart fascinates me. I am thrilled to work with you all and meet the project members!

Ankit Macherla is a 4th year Human Biology major at UCSD’s Sixth College, pursuing a pre-med track. He co-manages the Nutrition and Fitness project where he’s currently working on developing a cookbook of healthier alternatives to common dishes for community distribution.
Ankit believes that good nutrition and regular physical activity play important roles in overall health. This perspective informs his work at IHC, where he aims to make healthy eating more accessible to the communities they serve.
Outside of academics, Ankit enjoys staying active by going to the gym and playing pickup games of basketball, football, or soccer with friends. He also likes keeping up with various sports. These personal interests have helped shape his understanding of fitness and nutrition, complementing his academic studies and his work with IHC.

My name is Kat Messner and I’m a third year majoring in Neurobiology in Marshall College at UCSD. This year, I’ll be a Project Manager for the Suicide Prevention Project at the International Health Collective. In this project, we work to bring awareness and resources regarding suicide prevention and mental health to the San Diego county and beyond. As for me, I enjoy skating, golfing, and baking, especially when trying new recipes!

Hi my name is Fiza and I graduated UCSD with a B.S. in Human Biology during Fall 2023! Since then I have been working full time as a medical scribe and assistant for a pain management clinic. This will be my third year serving as a STEM Education Co-PM and I am so excited to see how this project continues to grow. In my free time I love to go on hikes and play volleyball.

Hello, my name is Adriana Medina and I am a second year molecular and cell biology major at UCSD. This is my second year being a part of IHC, and in the past I was on a breast cancer subcommittee of the Sex Education Project and a member of the Motherhood Project, and now am now a co-project manager on the Sex Education Project. I aspire to pursue a career in medicine and am particularly interested in obstetrics and gynecology. Within my role at IHC, I hope to promote conversations surrounding sex education and bring a positive impact to the communities around me!

Kavya is a Biology major with a Specialization in Bioinformatics. She is a pre-med and aspires to pursue medicine in the future. Recognizing that Sex Ed can be very taboo, she strives to break barriers to engage and educate our local San Diego, Tijuana, and San Juanico communities about sexual health. She hopes to normalize conversations around sexual health and education. In her free time, she loves to go hiking, running and playing video games, particularly Stardew Valley.

Zainab is a fourth-year Molecular and Cell Biology major and Global Health minor at UCSD. She aspires to be a physician and is dedicated to addressing health disparities in maternal and children’s health within underserved communities. For the past three years, she has been involved in IHC as a co-Project Manager for the Motherhood Project and as a previous member of the Clinic Project. In her free time, Zainab enjoys reading and playing tennis.

Hi everyone, my name is Nandita! I am a second-year molecular and cell biology major at UCSD and this is my second year being a part of IHC. In the past, I was on the design team and am now a co-project manager on the Motherhood Project. I am interested in pursuing a career as a physician specializing in Pediatrics and Child Development. In my free time, I like doing word puzzles, reading, going on walks, and going to the beach

Hi! I’m Esther Na, and I’m the Clinic Quality Improvement Project Manager for 2024-25! I’m a second year undergraduate, and I’ve been in IHC since fall of my first year! I’ve previously been involved in the Clinic QI Project in the Vision Care and CPR/BLS Workgroups, the Community Garden Project, and the San Juanico Project as one of the Team Leads for the Mexicali Needs Assessment team. I love black coffee, early morning walks/runs, and curling up with a good book when time permits.

Hello! My name is Yamilet Gonzalez , I am a rising 4th year at UCSD as a human development science major w/ a concentration in healthy aging. I am the Co-project manager for community engagement and hope to become a physician in the future! I joined IHC last year, as a transfer student and I have loved it so far! So many great opportunities and I love hosting the English classes in Tijuana. I currently work as a Medical assistant in a clinic and as an undergraduate research assistant. In my free time, I like to work out or go on runs!

HiI My name is Suhana and I am a 3rd year Global Health major. I joined IHC my freshman year and had the opportunity to create the Sister League project during my second year! I am passionate about IHC’s various Global Health initiatives. Outside of school, I love playing soccer and spending time with my family and friends.

Pranav is a 4th year biochemistry major at UCSD. He hopes to one day enter the medical field as a physician in internal medicine. Pranav has been a member of the EHR team since his freshman year and as project manager, he plans to extend the work done in previous years to analyze data and create meaningful reports of IHC’s clinic activities. These reports will ultimately provide insight into the patient base and share our impact with providers, donors, and the general public. In his free time, Pranav enjoys watching/playing sports and spending time with friends.

My name is Alejandra Sanchez. I am a graduate of Swarthmore College with a degree in Spanish Literature and Psychology. Prior to being a project manager, my involvement with the IHC included volunteering as a Spanish Interpreter at the Tijuana-Progreso Clinic and participating in the Sister League Project. I am passionate about helping provide medical care to underserved communities in my professional and personal pursuits. In my free time I enjoy reading National Geographic, running, and spending time with friends.

My name is Kylee Siapuatco. I am in my second year at UCSD as a cognitive and behavioral neuroscience major, and I am a co-project manager for the Nutrition and Fitness project! In the future I hope to pursue a career in medicine, pharmacy, or healthcare that focuses on caring for elders or neurological disabilities. In my free time, I enjoy collecting Mofusand items, exercising (especially Zumba), and watching mukbangs. I’ve been a part of IHC since my first year at UCSD as a member of the Sister League project. Throughout my time as an IHC member, I’ve always enjoyed participating in workshops, collaborating with other members, and overall contributing to the cause of alleviating health disparities and spreading awareness.

Hi! My name is Saurabi Sakthivel, I’m a second year student at UCSD pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. For this year, I’ll be the Project Manager for the Suicide Prevention Project, aiming to make a meaningful impact in mental health. I joined IHC in fall 2023, where I was a part of the Pharmacy QI project, particularly with the Vision Care team. I was deeply inspired by IHC’s mission to address global health disparities, which inspired me to play a more active role in its community-driven health initiatives. I love spending time by the beach, discovering new foods, reading a good book, and baking with friends!

See above

Faculty Advisors

Weena Joshi, MD

Jia Shen, MD, MPH

Board of Directors

Project Managers

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