Meet the AMA-MSS Minority Issues Committee
Ganiyu Amusa, Vice Chair
School of Medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria. I lived in Nigeria until the age of about three, at which point my family and I moved to the United States. I was raised in the Bronx for the first half of my childhood, and then Long Island for the rest until college. I went to the University of Buffalo for undergrad, where I got a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences. While in Buffalo I was part of numerous undergraduate groups, and I worked different jobs as I discovered and explored my passion for medicine. I currently attend Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and I look forward to working with the many enthusiastic, hard working members of the AMA as we make our contributions to the world of Medicine. This is my first year as a member on a Standing Committee, and it's extremely fitting I am part of the Minority Issues Committee, for addressing minorities issues was one of my main goals in undergrad, and is one of the extraordinarily contributing factors for my choosing to be in medicine. I so look forward to this upcoming year, for I know the sky is the limit for what can be accomplished.
Okey Enyia
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, I have a Bachelor of Science degree (1999) in Biology and Biochemistry from Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. I am a second year medical student and Dr. James E. Walker Presidential Fellow at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill. I serve on the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Health Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee and the American College of Physicians Student Council. I also sit on the Board of Directors for the Society for the Analysis of African-American Public Health Issues (SAAPHI) and the Board of Advisors for Primary Technologies, LLC. I have worked in research and development for the University of Chicago, Abbott Laboratories, Ferro Pfanstiehl Pharmaceuticals, the Dow Chemical Company, the Chicago Institute for Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, and Baxter Healthcare Corporation. As an educator, I taught 7th and 8th grade math and science while serving as a computer skills instructor and life skills consultant. My career goal is to attain degrees in medicine, business, and public health with concentrations in health administration and policy. On a broader scale, I look to effect long-lasting positive change with respect to health policy—along the way, serving as dean or president of a medical school and medical director in the corporate arena and hospital systems both domestically and internationally. Other memberships include Umu Igbo Alliance, Inc, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Lisa Ochoa-Frongia
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
I graduated from Princeton University and am currently in my third year at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up in Chico, Calif. My mother emigrated from Mexico and my father from Italy; my multicultural upbringing laid the foundation for my interests in diversity and minority health care. I am passionate about working toward the reduction and elimination of health care disparities. Since starting medical school at Mount Sinai, I’ve been actively involved with the student groups that serve the East Harlem community and work to increase diversity in health care and address minority health issues. Through my involvement with the Minority Issues Committee, I hope to help bring attention to the health care needs of underserved populations and increase collaboration with other groups working toward this goal. I currently serve as Co-Chair Elect of the National Boricua and Latino Health Organization and previously served as Co-President of Mount Sinai’s Students for Equal Opportunities in Medicine and on the board of the East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership.
Kasandra Scales
SUNY Upstate Medical University
I was born and raised in Detroit, MI. I attended Michigan State University as pre-med Howard Hughes Research Scholar majoring in Human Physiology. After graduation, I spent a year working as a Project Assistant for the Delta Research and Educational Foundation, a non-profit foundation in Washington, D.C., on a project called SEE: Science in Everyday Experiences, which worked with community organizations to help minority parents and children learn about math and science using common items found in the home. I liked the idea of working with larger populations and decided earn a Masters in Public Health. Prior to medical school, I attended Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in the Urbanism and Built Environment track. While at Columbia, I worked as a research assistant in the Department of Medicine, looking at how to lower blood pressure in the hypertensive elderly population by focusing on behavior and lifestyle changes. Currently, I am a rising third year student at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y., where I will be working on a research project focusing on diabetes and its impact on patients and their partners. I will graduate from medical school in 2012. I was fortunate this year to be selected as Minority Scholar through the AMA Foundation. In addition to my studies I have been actively involved in local organizations like the Family Medicine Interest Group (past president), SNMA, and a physician-led free health clinic in downtown Syracuse, called Amaus. I am looking forward to working with the Minority Issues Committee this year to support chapters in promoting diversity within their schools and to increase the diversity of ideas throughout the AMA.
Tokoya Williams
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine
I was born and raised in Chicago, Ill. I received my B.A. in Biology from the University of Chicago in 2004. During my undergraduate summers, I was involved in sickle cell disease research at the University of Chicago, where I received the overall excellence award for basic science research in 2001. Post-graduation, and prior to entering medical school, I was involved in cochlear histology research at Northwestern University. I first became interested in the AMA through my mentor, Dr. William McDade. Dr. McDade became only the second black president of the Chicago Medical Society in 2008. His accomplishment inspired me to become actively involved in the AMA. The face of AMA is changing, and I am excited to be a part of that change. The opportunity to serve on an AMA-MSS national committee is a great honor, and it will grant me the opportunity to collaborate with others who share my passion and commitment to the amelioration of public health. The position will also give me the chance to embrace the changing face of AMA, and to do all that I can to contribute to the organization as a whole. My personal interests include motivational speaking and teen mentoring.
