Our Speakers

Chair, Department of Neurological Surgery

Professor of Surgery, Radiology and Neurosciences

Alexander A. Khalessi M.D.,

M.B.A

Dr. Alexander Khalessi is a board-certified neurosurgeon specializing in cranial and endovascular surgery. He provides both open surgical and catheter-based approaches to complex neurosurgical problems, including primary and metastatic brain tumors, cavernomas, aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), stroke, Moyamoya disease, and carotid disease.

Dr. Khalessi holds several global and national leadership roles. He is the current President of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the leading academic society for neurosurgical professionals. Dr. Khalessi is in his third term on the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/CNS Washington Committee and sits on the Board of Governors for the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Dr. Khalessi earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and completed his neurosurgical residency at the University of Southern California. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in public policy and master’s degree in health services research from Stanford University, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management.

UC San Diego School of Medicine Dean of Admissions

Kama Galuma, M.D.

Dr. Guluma is board-certified in emergency medicine, and is a Clinical Professor of Emergency
Medicine UC San Diego School of Medicine, where is also the Associate Dean for Admissions
and Student Affairs. He has career experience in pre-clinical and clinical research in the
emergency treatment of acute ischemic stroke, and medical education (from medical school to
residency training in emergency medicine). He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of
Emergency Medicine and is an Oral Examiner with the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

First Year Medical Student at UC San Diego

Cristina Mora, M.S.

Cristina Mora is a first-year medical student (MS1) in the MST program at UC San Diego. She is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and, as a non-traditional student, is passionate about helping others pursue their dreams of getting into medical school. Cristina aspires to make the field of medicine more equitable and hopes to leverage her research to discover the etiologies of neurodevelopmental disorders and ultimately find therapeutics. 

Associate Director of Admissions at St. George University

Emily K. Massimi, M.S.

Emily is an experienced Associate Director Of Admissions with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. She is skilled in College Recruiting, Enrollment Management, Marketing, Student Development, and Admissions. She has a strong education professional with a Bachelor's focused in Psychology from Nazareth College of Rochester.

Associate Director, Pre-Health and Pre-Med at UC San Diego Career Center 

Jade Pearson, M.S.

Jade Pearson is a dedicated higher education professional with a passion for guiding students towards successful careers in healthcare. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from the University of California, Riverside, and a Master's in Counseling with a focus on College Counseling and Student Services from California State University, Northridge, Jade brings a unique blend of scientific knowledge and counseling expertise to the field.

With a diverse background spanning seven years in higher education, Jade has been an advocate for students aspiring to pursue medical education and healthcare careers. Currently serving as a College Counselor at UC San Diego, Jade's commitment to student success is evident in the personalized guidance and support provided to aspiring healthcare professionals.

Jade's journey in higher education has equipped them with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities that students encounter on their path to medical schools and healthcare professions. Drawing from this experience, Jade is excited to share insights, strategies, and valuable information with MEDS conference attendees.

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare education, Jade offers a wealth of information about medical schools and diverse healthcare career paths. Attendees can expect an engaging and informative session that combines academic insight with practical guidance, empowering them to navigate the journey towards fulfilling healthcare careers.

Associate Director, Pre-Health and Pre-Med at UC San Diego Career Center 

Ron Reyes, M.A.

Ron Reyes is higher education professional with almost two decades of higher education experience supporting students. Originally a Fines Arts major from University of California, Santa Cruz, and Master of Arts in Human Behavior, he focuses on finding purposeful and innovative ways to support students throughout their academic and professional journey. Ron draws from years in admissions, alongside worth within academic advisement and healthcare education to support future healthcare professionals. In his current role as Interim Senior Associate Director, he works to support pre-graduate, graduate, and pre-health students at the UC San Diego Career Center. Alongside his colleagues Jade Pearson, they manage Health Beat, the Pre-Health website and programing that provides advise and resources for nine major career pathways in healthcare. Ron works as the chair for the Career Center’s Advocacy and Inclusion Committee, supporting efforts to fosters justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in career services.

He is passionate about innovation, creativity, and adaptability in the ever-changing landscape of higher education and career development. He joins MEDS conference to support students in their further exploration and development towards healthcare.

Chief Medical Officer of Vyluma, Inc.

Houman David Hemmati, M.D.,

PhD

Houman David Hemmati, M.D., PhD. is Chief Medical Officer of Vyluma, Inc., which is developing pharmacologic treatments for nearsightedness (myopia) and other refractive indications of the eye. Houman is a Board-Certified ophthalmologist, and is also presently Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at USC Keck School of Medicine, where he serves as Attending Physician at LA County USC Medical Center. Houman was a voting member of the UCLA admissions committee and co-authored the book "Get Into Medical School: A Strategic Approach”. In his scientific career, Houman has co-discovered fetal blood-forming stem cells with Dr. Irv Weissman at Stanford, discovered cancer stem cells in the brain at Caltech, and invented a hydrogel for sustained-release topical drug delivery to the eye with Dr. Robert Langer at MIT. Houman earned an B.S. in Biological Sciences at Stanford, an M.D. from UCLA , a Ph.D. in Biology from Caltech, and completed an Internal Medicine internship at Stanford Hospital, an ophthalmology residency at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital, a postdoctoral fellowship in Chemical Engineering and Drug Delivery at MIT, and a clinical fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School. Houman has received numerous awards and honors including The Alcon Research Scholar Award, and the Everhart Presidential Distinguished Lectureship from Caltech.

CEO of ReelDx

Rob Humbracht

I love to solve hard problems. Whether it's serving as CEO, taking the standardized tests for fun (yep), or even just navigating the waters of fatherhood, I enjoy finding patterns, pushing myself, and seeing possibilities where none previously existed. 

My career in education started as a tutor and trainer at The Princeton Review. When my students began to ask for help on their application essays, my boss (lovingly) kicked me out. Since 2007, I’ve built Passport Admissions from a one-man shop to a diverse team of educators, working with thousands of students on their path to college and graduate school. Along the way, I built the technology and systems to manage the students and allow the team to run the business, eventually weaning myself from the day-to-day.

When pre-health students were stuck at home during the pandemic, Janet Snoyer and I co-founded the HEAL Clinical Education Network. Using real patient video cases from ReelDx, HEAL preceptors taught pre-health students to think like a clinician, building their understanding of a life in medicine and helping to make shadowing more accessible for everyone. Working with a shoe-string budget and a small team, I helped grow HEAL from a mere idea to a thriving community of over 24,000 students.

Through my work at HEAL, I was selected to become the CEO of ReelDx. I love building a tool that makes health care education more compelling and realistic. ReelDx provides a library over 700 real patient-doctor interactions, which form a crucial building block for PA’s, nurses, doctors, and EMS professionals. It’s possibly the biggest problem I’ve worked on yet: how to make health care education better for all.

Director of the Insomnia Program and Co-Director of the Circadian Rhythm and Chronotherapy Clinic at the Scripps Clinic Sleep Center

Derek Leowy, PhD

Dr. Derek Loewy is a licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified sleep
medicine specialist. He is the Director of the Insomnia Program and Co-Director of
the Circadian Rhythm and Chronotherapy Clinic at the Scripps Clinic Sleep Center
in La Jolla, CA. In his clinical role, he could be described as a “sleep psychologist”.
In addition to seeing patients with sleep disorders, he is involved in sleep
research, teaching, and sleep-related consulting. He obtained his doctoral degree
at the University of Ottawa in Canada and completed post-doctoral training at the
University of Arizona and Stanford University.

Physical Therapist, Emergency Response Instructor, and Chief Operating Officer of UpDoc, Inc.

Ben Fung, D.P.T., P.T., M.B.A

Ben Fung is a physical therapist turned business officer and consultant, currently serving as chief operating officer of UpDoc, Inc.; a business development firm specializing in health care, education, and technology. He also serves as chief financial officer of Recharge, a modern health and fitness company and Restore Pelvic Physical Therapy, a women's health specialty clinic. As a physical therapist, he has experience in various clinical settings, including acute care hospitals, community wellness, and rural home health.

His current professional focus is on the space of business intelligence, workforce development, human capital, and marketing strategy. Ben’s most recent area of emphasis includes talent retention and employee happiness.

Fung received a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and psychology at the University of California, San Diego, a master’s degree in business administration at the University of Michigan, and a doctor of physical therapy degree at Azusa Pacific University. Fung is also a research pioneer of contemporary kettlebell exercise, popularly seen in boot camps and CrossFit gyms. He also has a passion for at-home movement programs, surfing, martial arts, mindfulness, and healthy living. Fung’s most recent personal pursuits include rucking, endurance running, and circuit racing events.

UC San Diego Graduate

Katherine Chou

Katherine Chou is a recent graduate of UC San Diego with a Bachelor’s of Science in Neurobiology and a minor in Cognitive Science. She is currently planning on applying to medical school. During her gap year, she is serving as a Pathmaker Intern at the Palomar Health Hospitals in Escondido and Poway. Additionally, she is working as a research technician at the Maximov Lab in the Scripps Research Institute, where she is researching how neural circuits are organized in the brain and are restructured to store memories at an ultrastructural level.