Social Committee Chair
Lauren BUchman
Email: lbuchman@student.touro.edu
"Hi! My name is Lauren Buchman, and I’m from Novi, Michigan. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, where I majored in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. Go Blue! I then completed my master's degree here at TouroCOM. A fun fact about me is that I went on a mission trip to Guatemala with my dad and had the opportunity to watch him perform surgery. I’m so excited to serve as Head of the Social Committee this year! I truly love planning events that bring people together in meaningful, fun, and memorable ways. From “Pie a Professor” to Spooktacular to Formal, I can’t wait to create moments that help our students connect, de-stress, and enjoy the journey of medical school together."
About the Committee:
The Social Committee is the group responsible for planning and organizing events for the entire touro community to enjoy. Our annual event events include the formal, Halloween Spooktacular, and other community related events.
Public relations committee chair
Rachael WIldman
Email: rwildman@student.touro.edu
"Hello everyone, my name is Rachael Wildman! The public relations committee serves to keep the Touro community and beyond informed via social media posts, monthly newsletters, website updates, and more! The goal is to have fun and get more people to know what we are all about here at Touro! I am excited to work with students and faculty this year!"
T.O.U.C.H. Committee Chair Meghana Ganjam
Email: [email protected]
"Hi everyone, my name is Meghana! Congrats on starting your amazing journey to become a doctor! The T.O.U.C.H. committee's role will be to help you get connected to our Middletown community by organizing service activities and ensuring that you are recognized for your commitment to service. In Osteopathic schools, service hours are called T.O.U.C.H. hours. Check out our SGA website to learn more! I’m excited about the new platform we’re transitioning to this year, and I’m also really looking forward to seeing how many of you get involved in serving our community beyond Touro. This is such a great way to explore your interests, give back, and make a difference while connecting with your classmates and the world around you."
Global health and community Committee chair
Allyson Varcoe
Email: [email protected]
"Hi all! My name is Allyson Varcoe and I am the committee chair for the Global Health Committee. I am from Scottsdale, Arizona, and graduated with my Bachelor's of Science in Public Health from the University of Arizona in 2023. A fun fact about me is that, if I wasn't interested in medicine, I would have gone to cosmetology school for professional hair and makeup. I am very excited for our annual spring health fair where we focus on health promotion to better our community. Excited to meet all of you and talk about my committee!"
student ambassadors Committee chair
Tyler Vanorden
Email: tvanorde@student.touro.edu
"Hi everyone! My name is Tyler! I grew up in Syracuse, NY, but I'm originally from Poughkeepsie. I graduated from Marist University in 2021 with a degree in Biomedical Sciences. Before starting at Touro, I worked as a medical scribe in both Poughkeepsie and Syracuse, eventually becoming the Regional Manager of Scribes for the Northeast. I enjoy playing football (I play every Sunday—let me know if you're interested!), playing basketball, hiking, and cooking. I'm most excited to meet more prospective students and help support them through the med school application process!"
About the Committee:
Remember when you were interviewing and had wonderful students providing tours and amazing advice? This committee provides the opportunity for you to show this year’s interviewees how much of a family we are at Touro! Ambassadors are responsible for joining (minimum of 2 per semester) weekly interview sessions to host a student-led Q and A, as well as assist in shadowing requests from incoming/prospective students. Student Ambassadors also have the opportunity to help host the Annual TouroCom Open House by offering tours of the facilities and leading different stations throughout the building. As a member of this committee you are in the unique position to help guide new students in making one of the most important decisions in their academic and professional careers!
CONTINUING PHYSICAL EDUCATION Committee chair
Katryna Dukehart
Email: kdukehart@student.touro.edu
"My name is Katryna Dukehart and I am from Somers, CT! I completed my undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College. A fun fact about me is I have a pet bunny! One thing I am excited about for the committee this year is Field Day!"
About the Committee:
The Continuing Physical Education Committee is committed to providing students with resources and events to maintain their physical health and wellness during the school year. We enable students with similar interests to engage with each other by creating GroupMe chats for different sports, games, and fitness activities. We host our annual Field Day in the early Fall where students and faculty come together to play large team games and lawn games at a nearby park. Additionally, we plan to host a Super Bowl watch party during the Spring semester on-campus for students to come and watch together. We are open to adding new events and ideas to our current list and look forward to meeting you!”
WELLNESS Committee chair Nicole Albdewi
Email: [email protected]
"Hi! My name is Nicole and I am from Brooklyn, NY. I completed my undergraduate degree at the Stony Brook University. A fun fact about me is that I've won tickets to concerts on the radio twice! I’m really looking forward to welcoming new members and seeing the fresh ideas and energy they’ll bring. I’m especially excited about finding meaningful ways to collaborate with other committees and hearing directly from the new class about what wellness looks like for them."
About the Committee:
Managing the stressors of academic life is ongoing. Regularly reducing stress levels is necessary to ensure mental and emotional longevity and sustainability, especially in a rigorous field like medicine. What does wellness mean to you? What does it look like in practice? How do you keep up with your practices of wellness? These are just some questions to encourage reflection about implementing wellness into our daily lives. The commitment to being well extends beyond an event or a committee. We are all responsible for taking care of ourselves, and when we can, take care of each other. Each person may practice wellness differently; what works for one person may not work for another. Moreover, our needs are subject to change from day-to-day, week-to-week, year-to-year. On behalf of the Wellness Committee, I encourage you to think about and practice self-listening and self-compassion. Balance this with the various events on campus to foster community and prosocial engagements. This way, when we take care of ourselves, we become better at taking care of others.
Unity in Medicine committee chair
Greg CHang
Email: [email protected]
"My name is Greg Chang and I am from New City, New York! I completed my undergraduate degree at Binghamton College. A fun fact about me is I can squat 500 pounds! I’m excited to bring back the fashion show — a vibrant event where students can proudly showcase their cultural attire and express their talents through performances like dance, music, or spoken word. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate the diversity and creativity within our community."
About the Committee:
Diversity Committee is committed to supporting current and future underserved, underrepresented, and minority medical students, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent, and socially conscious physicians. They host events to highlight the diversity on our campus and the surrounding Middletown community. This year, they will host their 3rd Annual Diversity Fashion Show at the Paramount Theater in Middletown.
CLINICAL ROTATIONS Committee
Sameer Jafri
Email: sjafri@student.touro.edu
"My name is Sameer Jafri and I am originally from Monroe, New York. I attended Ramapo College of New Jersey for my undergraduate degree. A fun fact about me is that I spent a summer teaching English to a class of elementary students in Beijing! One thing I am excited about for the committee this year is the chance to get to help my fellow classmates confidently navigate the transition into their clinical years by gathering insight and resources from current third and fourth year students. I look forward to improving the structure and clarity of rotation site selections and expectations."
About the Committee:
The clinical rotations committee works together to ensure rising OMS-II students have the proper information before choosing their rotation sites in the spring. The main event the group organizes is the clinical rotations panel where OMS-III students from each clinical site share their experiences and students have the opportunity to ask them questions. Outside of that, the clinical rotations committee is the main point of contact to address students' concerns, and if needed, committee members will contact the school's rotation coordinators or the clinical sites directly for clarification.