Our President: Jenny Raasch!

Year in School: Senior

Major: Kinesiology

Hometown: Muskego, WI

 

• What would you do after graduation if you didn’t want to go to medical school?
• If I didn’t want to go to medical school I would be a food critic. I love going to new restaurants and trying new things. I also would like to be Adam Richman’s assistant on Man vs. Food. I have been to some of the restaurants on the show and most of the places, along with serving big portions, actually serve really good tasting food as well.

 

Our Vice President: Tyler VanDyck!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Biology

Hometown: Peshtigo, WI

 

• What do you like best about AED?
• If I had to pick one thing about AED, I would say THE SOCIALS!!  It’s so fun to hang out with friends who are living the same stressful pre-med life.  Through my three years at UW-Madison, I’ve really found out the importance of relaxing and having some fun once in a while, to escape the everyday stress and busy-ness!  A close second to socials would be THE MEETINGS!!  As a freshman, this is what really drew me in to AED.  Although a burst of information at first, it really helped me get on track.  Now, they continue to provide good advice as well as a broad view over lots of different fields of medicine!

 

Our Treasurer: Sarah Sanders

Year in School: Junior

Major: Medical Microbiology & Immunology

Hometown: Plymouth, MN

 

• Any hidden talents or hobbies?

Something many people don’t know about me is I’m kind of a health-nut. I guess I consider it a hobby of mine. Not that I don’t enjoy chocolate or pizza, just that I love my fruits, veggies, and protein. After I took an exercise, health, and nutrition class freshmen year, it really opened my eyes to how important diet and exercise are to being healthy. I figure if I’m going to be a physician helping others maintain their health, I first have to be healthy myself. So I’m a big believer in eating right and exercising on a regular basis.

 

Our Co-Secretary: Nick Hendren!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Zooology and Medical Microbiology & Immunology

Hometown: Waukesha, WI

 

•     Something you wish you knew when you were a freshman?

I really would have taken advantage of more peer class advising. Advisors can be great in telling you what you need to graduate, but peers who have already taken the classes can really be a help. They know what order to take things, what are easy classes which you can take right away, and which classes are hard & should be left to senior year when grades aren’t quite as important. They also can offer help in organizing a class plan and give you tips on which professors are good and which aren’t quite up to snuff. They just help fill you in on all the little things that make a big difference that advisors aren’t always aware of.

 

Our Co-Secretary: Jessica DeValk!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Molecular Biology

Hometown: Green Bay, WI

 

• One activity you are involved in that has been particularly rewarding?

This past summer I traveled to Costa Rica and Panama with the UW-Madison VIDA organization and was part of the medical team. We set up clinics in rural areas and treated over 75 patients per day. We took patient histories, helped diagnose patients, prescribed medications and filled them in the pharmacy. I was also able to put my seven years of Spanish classes to good on the trip. This has been the most rewarding experience thus far in my life and I would recommend it to anyone.

 

Our Tech Chair: Jason Adkins!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Neuroscience and Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Hometown: Oak Creek, WI

 

•     Something you wish you knew when you were a freshman?

http://www.schedulizer.com/ It is a website that is linked with the UW-Madison class timetables and helps pick classes that fit togeather for the next semester. All you need to do is enter what classes you want to take and it will show you every combination of classes possible. As a freshman I found creating a schedule to be a pain and this website takes most the work out of it and helps you find classes you didn't think you could take.

Our Co-Historian: Gabby Waclawik!

Year in School: Senior

Major: Genetics

Hometown: Madison, WI

 

• Any hidden talents or hobbies?

I am on the Varsity Lightweight Rowing team at the UW. If waking up everyday at 5am for practice doesn’t prepare me for the late nights and early mornings of the heath care field...

 

Our Co-Historian: Andrew Berry

Year in School: Senior

Major: Biology

Hometown: Muskego, WI

 

Best / worst experience at UW?

Besides watching Anthony Davis, Brian Calhoun, and now John Clay tear up the football field, I have had the opportunity to participate in the official College Gameday experience last year at the Badgers vs. Ohio St. Men’s Basketball game.  I mean, what could be better than a full two or three minutes of face time on national TV on ESPN, let alone, being the guy holding the huge, yellow, 7 foot tall highlighter pen.  Most of you guys won’t understand this, but it relates to Digger Phelps, one of the analysts, who is notorious for this.  So yes, if you happened to be there or watch it, it was me and my roommate.  Add this to AED on the list of college accomplishments. 

Our Volunteer Co-Chair: Allison Aul!

Year in School: Senior

Major: Biology and French

Hometown: French Lake, WI

 

• What would you do after graduation if you didn’t want to go to medical school?  If I didn’t want to go to medical school, I think that I would look into a lot of the different options for helping out in areas that need it, both in the U.S. and internationally (Teach for America, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity International, etc).  As it is, I’m planning to take one year off after graduation and teach English in France and volunteer at a hospital in Senegal. 

 

Our Volunteer Co-Chair: Mark Berlacher!

Year in School: Senior

Major: Biochemistry

Hometown: Sylvania, OH

 

• Any hidden talents or hobbies?

• I guess my hidden talent would be juggling.  I just so happen to be an extraordinary juggler and do it all the time while studying or watching TV.  It’s fun and helps take the edge off. 

Our Social Co-Chair: Tyler Wanke!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Neurobiology, Psychology, CIB

Hometown: Appleton, WI

 

• What do you like best about AED?
• In my opinion, AED is the single best source of information regarding pre-med life.  It is at AED, and not any advisor’s office, where I learned most about what it takes to get into med school and beyond.  The most underrated part of AED is our great summative advice that has been helping pre-meds for years!

 

 

Our Social Co-Chair: Annie Bartosic!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Neurobiology, Psychology, & Certificate in Business

Hometown: Appleton, WI

 

• Something you wish you knew when you were a freshman?

 

I know this is cheesy, but I wish I would have known how quickly my time here at UW would fly by.  I am now a junior, but it feels like just yesterday that I was nervously walking into my first class of my freshman year with no idea what to expect.  We are so blessed to be students at a university that has SO MUCH to offer for us, and I encourage you to take full advantage of that.  Particularly, try to get involved in something that is not medically related—you’ll never know what will end up being the most meaningful part of your college experience; it could be something you’d never have originally expected.  It could change your entire outlook on your life and your future.  At times, I’ve gotten so caught up in my studies and my grades that I’ve missed opportunities to try something I was interested in because I felt like I didn’t have the time or that it would set me back in my school work.  As motivated students, we all have made a commitment to our academics, but outside activities and new experiences not related to medicine are what will build our wisdom and character in ways that a textbook cannot. With over half of my undergraduate experience already passed, I guarantee you that I won’t be hesitating to try a new restaurant, listen to a speaker I just might be interested in, or try to pick up some fun, crazy hobby. Just remember that your time here on campus is limited, so make the best of it! 

 

Our Public Relations Co-Chair: Swathi Damodaran!

Year in School: Senior

Major: Neurobiology and Political Science

Hometown: Madison, WI

• Favorite non-premedical related activity on campus?
    One of my favorite non-premedical activities on campus is attending the Distinguished Lecture Series at Memorial Union Theatre.  They invite all of these amazing speakers from a wide variety of specialties to lecture on topics including religion, economics, and neuroscience.  Most of the lecturers are well-known experts in his/her field such as Howard Zinn and Richard Dawkins.  I highly recommend attending any of the lectures!

Our Public Relations Co-Chair: Colby Cantu!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Microbiology

Hometown: Wausau, WI

 

• One activity that I have been involved in that has been particularly rewarding:

I did undergraduate research my first four semesters as a student here at UW, and it has proven to be the single most rewarding experience. I was able to meet faculty on a personal basis and meet other undergraduates in the lab who were taking the same classes, I obtained eligibility to apply for scholarships specific to undergraduate research, I gained job experience, I had better lab technique that showed in my lab coursework, and I learned how to efficiently manage my time for studying, class, research, etc.

Our Senior Board Co-Representative: Heidi Johng!

Year in School: Senior

Major: Biology with neuroscience focus

Hometown: Rochester, MN

 

• What would you do after graduation if you didn’t want to go to medical school?

If I didn’t have plans to go to medical school, I would want to major with a degree in International Studies, taking as many foreign languages as I can. Then I would travel the world until someone eventually convinces me to settle down and become an ambassador to some country.

Our Senior Board Co-Representative: Kevin Shepet!

Year in School: Senior

Major: MMI and Biology

Hometown: Brookfield, WI

 

• Favorite non-premedical related activity on campus? (keep it clean…)  
• I like to play intramural hockey and go to Badger hockey games. I have been playing since a young age and played in high school. I find playing hockey or sports in general is a great way to relieve stress and have fun with your friends. I highly recommend getting involved in an intramural, club, or varsity sport on campus.

 

Our Junior Board Co-Representative: Jeffrey Lurie!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Biochemistry

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

• What do you like best about AED?

Every since I became a member in AED, I realized the many possibilities there were available.  From meeting new people, to watching a procedure, to volunteering at a Blood Donation Center, AED really covered the entire spectrum.  While some organizations may focus on a sole objective, this particular organization presented numerous options for each category.  I was quick to become as active as I could in the first semester as this allowed me to form connections with several students going through the same tract I was heading toward (Medical School).  I would say learning from these students prepared me the most for was yet to come and there’s no doubt I’ve been at an advantage because of this.

 

Our Junior Board Co-Representative: Brad Lindevig!

Year in School: Junior

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Hometown: River Falls, Wisconsin

Our Sophomore Board Co-Representative: Greg Schleis!

Year in School: Sophomore

Major: Microbiology

Hometown: Green Bay, WI

 

• Who is your hero or someone you look up to, why?
• I look up to any military serviceman because of their sacrifice and because I cannot join the armed services.

Our Sophomore Board Co-Representative: Alex Wessel!

Year in School: Sophomore

Major: MMI and Spanish

Hometown: Mukwonago, WI

 

• Favorite non-premedical related activity on campus?

My favorite activity outside of what I am bound to do for medical school is gymnastics.  The UW-Gymnastics Club provides a great opportunity to practice my athletic skills and to compete in away meets several times throughout the year.  The team gets together outside of practices as well, creating a friendly and laid-back atmosphere.  It’s something that I always ensure time for so that I resist the temptation to overwhelm myself with schoolwork and other premedical responsibilities.