PsychSIGN is excited to announce that voting is now open for our 2025-2026 Region Chair Election. Please take a look at the candidates for your region and make your vote here. Voting will close on 5/9 at 11:59PM EST.
Region 1: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
- Rohini Kambhampati
I have been fascinated by the mind-body connection. Whether it be a ballet performance or practicing yoga, I always felt my least stressed when I was moving. This notion led me to pursue a degree in medicine. Prior to entering medical school, I earned my MPH in environmental health at Boston University. During this time, I studied environmental injustices and the complex relationships between harmful environmental exposures and mental health. Notably, I completed a thesis on the relationship between air pollution, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. I also conducted research on seasonal affective disorder among Boston citizens, which led me to think more about how mental health conditions vary among different regions.
After starting medical school at Boston University, I continued to explore my dedication to community-based allyship through my work in case management at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless (BHCHP). There, I learned about the psychiatric needs of the unhoused population of Boston and the profound impact of social determinants, particularly lack of housing, on mental health. This experience also encouraged me to think about the importance of telemedicine in making healthcare more accessible; BHCHP utilizes telemedicine for psychiatry appointments, which has been transformative. This experience resonated deeply for me, as I grew up in rural Louisiana and witnessed firsthand the consequences of limited healthcare access in communities with no nearby hospitals.
As a region chair, I hope to foster greater interest in psychiatry and encourage communities to recognize it as an essential part of healthcare. I joined the AMA to get involved with organized medicine, with the goal of utilizing its many resources and expertise to engage in topics I am passionate about, particularly mental health and psychiatry. Region chair offers the perfect opportunity to connect with students, the APA, and broader communities to consider the important role psychiatry plays in patient care.
I hope to accomplish the following for my region: 1) Host educational seminars with street psychiatrists and case managers at BHCHP to explore the interplay between social determinants and psychiatric comorbidities; 2) Foster discussions on telemedicine and its vital role in accessible healthcare; 3) Collaborate with other regions to spread awareness about mental health, with the goal of reducing stigma. As a child of Indian immigrants, a major goal of mine is to engage in tough conversations about cultural stigma surrounding mental health, therapy, and psychiatry. I hope to organize an event featuring providers of different cultural backgrounds to discuss how they ended up in psychiatry and how they utilize their backgrounds in patient care.
Finally, I have come to appreciate the power of narratives as a medium for normalizing mental health struggles. I recently wrote a piece about my experience with panic disorder for Boston University’s chapter of If You’re Reading this – a platform for students to share their experiences with mental health. As a region chair, I hope to encourage individuals to utilize various platforms to either share their experiences or write about the importance of psychiatry in today’s world.
Region 3: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
- Lindsey Nguyen
Hello! My name is Lindsey Nguyen and I am a current M2 student at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. I am currently involved in leadership for the psychiatry interest group at my school as well as am one of the current social media chair for PsychSIGN. As a leader for my psychiatry interest group, I have been able to offer free mental health first aid training that provides certification that is good for up to three years, put together a speaker panel with various psychiatrists of different subspecialties to allow students to understand what the field of psychiatry offers, as well as host a screening of an episode of “The Mind Explained” to discuss the topic of anxiety. Over the past year I have also been able to help PsychSIGN region chairs and special interest chairs promote events and opportunities through posting on our social media platforms as well as run the website. As a regional chair, I hope to bring more opportunities for students around my region to get to know more about the field of psychiatry. I would love to be able to collaborate with other psychiatry interest groups around the region and hold a regional conference to expand the network for students to be more involved in research, mentorship and other opportunities within psychiatry. I would love to be able to offer a great community for students to come to when it comes to learning about the field of psychiatry. Knowing the right steps to get advancing your career can be scary but I hope as a region chair I can be able to make it easy as possible by providing our Region 3 as a community you can come to for resources and just advice. Additionally, I also would love to hold fun events where we can just come together to get to know others from around the region and again just strengthen our community of students interested in the field of psychiatry.
2. Christopher Conquest
I am confident that I am a strong candidate with much to offer for this leadership position within PsychSIGN. I am born and bred in this region, and my entire educational journey, from preschool to medical school, has been located here. My homegrown connection is why I am dedicated and committed to this area. I am well-suited to serve this community as a representative and advocate for regional PsychSIGN members because my experience has taught me the unique needs and dynamics of the local community.
Beyond my connection to the region, I have a passion for psychiatry, particularly in sports and performance psychiatry. I have a desire to contribute meaningfully to the psychiatric field.
Through various leadership roles on Rowan-Virtua SOM’s campus, I have developed the skills necessary to excel in this position. I have extensive experience in event coordination and leadership through my role as the Community Service and Student Events Committee Event Planner and Activities Manager for the FitDocs club and Vice President of the Sports Medicine Club. In these roles, I learned to effectively share events, news, and opportunities with leaders. This expertise makes me well-suited to organize regional and national events. With the requirement to plan a minimum of four virtual or in-person events and a regional conference or project, my proactive approach would ensure the success of these initiatives.
As a founding member of my school’s Psychedelic Medicine Conference Executive Board, I have gained valuable experience in organizing and hosting virtual leadership meetings. Beyond assisting in regional events such as the SAOASM Regional Conference, I played a key role in establishing the Psychedelic Medicine Conference, which has successfully featured international speakers and attendees. These experiences have prepared me to organize PsychSIGN events, manage membership rosters, and foster meaningful connections between regional and national members.
In addition to my leadership in medical school, outside the classroom, I am the Student Representative of the WESTRAY Foundation. In this role, I have also organized meetings and maintained relationships between patent and intellectual property attorneys and a diverse range of individuals, including medical students, PhD candidates, and pre-medical students. This experience highlights my ability to communicate and collaborate across different levels of training, a skill that would be invaluable in maintaining strong connections within PsychSIGN. My ability to engage with peers and professionals would allow me to successfully host virtual leadership meetings, create informal communication channels, and encourage active participation among regional PsychSIG leaders. By fostering a sense of camaraderie, I can help unify and strengthen the PsychSIGN community.
In summary, I possess the leadership skills, event-planning experience, and passion for psychiatry necessary to excel in this role. My background in research, professional networking, and event coordination demonstrates that I am well-prepared for this position. I am confident that I would contribute meaningfully to PsychSIGN and its members, fostering a stronger and more connected organization.
Region 4: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
- Sohail Sethi
Hello PsychSIGN! My name is Sohail Sethi and I am a rising fourth year student at Des Moines University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa.
As Region 4’s Chair, my primary goals will be: increase unity and communication across campuses, create centralized resources detailing opportunities for students interested in psychiatry, and lastly, build up a professional network through coordinating regular events. It is my hope that by doing so, I will fulfill Article 3 of PsychSIGN’s Constitution and aid any medical student in their pursuit of becoming a psychiatrist.
I believe I am qualified to be your Regional Chair based on my past experiences as a student leader. During my preclinical years of medical school, I was elected as Vice President of the cohort. This position allowed me to serve as a voice of the student body and provide their feedback to our course directors to make meaningful changes. Please know that as your regional chair, I will always be available to listen to your thoughts and concerns and take the appropriate next steps.
My prior position also enabled me to reach out to third party companies to secure discounts for board prep resources. While challenging, I learned how to communicate clearly and effectively and was able to create an environment where companies were more than willing to help our class. I am eager to bring the same tenacity and professionalism displayed prior to help our region and its members.
Lastly, my time with DMU’s Preventative Medicine Club provided me with the opportunity to shine a spotlight on mental health. My fellow classmates and I started a monthly newsletter where we decreased stigma about mental illness and increased awareness of free and widely available campus and public resources. We also hosted community events where we were able to help educate the public on wellness and its broader impacts on wellbeing. The time that I spent here was truly wonderful and helped me realize my passion for psychiatry and being an advocate for those in need.
Thank you for your consideration!
Region 5: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and Uniformed Services
- Katherine Yin
I believe I’d be a strong fit for Region 5 Chair because my personal values align closely with the mission of PsychSIGN. Over the past year, I’ve found that one of the most meaningful aspects of leadership has been supporting my peers and creating opportunities for those who are also passionate about psychiatry. It’s a role where you can help shape the tone of your community, and choosing to build one grounded in camaraderie and support has been incredibly fulfilling.
This past year, I served as President of both the Psychiatry Interest Group and APAMSA at my medical school. I led monthly meetings and organized events aimed at opening up conversations about mental health and how we navigate our academic and professional lives alongside the rest of our identities. In the fall semester, these events often occurred weekly—sometimes more than once a week. That experience taught me how to manage responsibilities in real time while still staying on top of my academics.
Through this work, I’ve also built lasting relationships with students interested in psychiatry as well as residents at John Peter Smith Hospital, where I’ve been involved in research and helped establish a mentorship program. I think this network—built from shared goals and real collaboration—will help me stay connected to the needs of our region and ensure that PsychSIGN resources reach the students and communities who will benefit from them most.
Transforming a vision into organized events has become one of the parts of medical school I enjoy most, serving as a creative outlet in the midst of a demanding curriculum. As Mental Health Awareness Chair for MIND, I’ve organized programs for Suicide Prevention and Addiction Awareness weeks that brought important, often difficult topics into supportive dialogue on campus. I believe these experiences have equipped me with the tools necessary to confidently carry out both regional and national events—something I’m genuinely excited to continue doing.
Region 6: California
- Julia Kuhn
Psychiatry first became meaningful to me when I was sixteen, after losing a close family friend to suicide. Because of this, I developed a commitment to mental health advocacy and community support; these values have shaped my path through college and medical school. As a Regional Chair candidate, I hope to carry that same purpose forward by uplifting students drawn to psychiatry and helping them feel connected, supported, and inspired throughout their journey.
At the Keck School of Medicine of USC, I’ve served as Vice President of our Psychiatry Interest Group, where I organized events to increase exposure to the field, such as our Psychiatry Speaker Series, which featured USC psychiatrists from a range of subspecialties. I also advocated for our inclusion in the Keck Primary Care Coalition to promote interdisciplinary collaboration. These experiences strengthened my ability to lead, coordinate across groups, and build community—skills I’d bring to PsychSIGN.
Beyond campus leadership, I’ve worked to create spaces of emotional support and mental health education. In college, I launched a campus-wide campaign to promote gatekeeper training, equipping peers and faculty with tools to recognize and respond to distress. This training is something I would love to introduce to other members of PsychSIGN. Additionally, at Keck, I joined the Keck Peer Support program and completed Helping Healers Heal (H3), a training made to support fellow medical students facing academic and personal challenges. I also volunteer with the Keck Human Rights Clinic, where I help coordinate psychiatric evaluations for asylum seekers, an experience that has deepened my understanding of structural trauma and its psychological toll.
If elected, I’d love to support PsychSIGN leaders through collaborative programming that highlights the diversity of psychiatry, including clinical work, advocacy, education, and research. I’m especially passionate about peer-led mentorship and would love to organize events focused on clerkship preparation, residency applications, and subspecialty exploration. I believe PsychSIGN is in a unique position to create a sense of belonging for students at every stage of their psychiatry journey.
With my leadership background, teaching experience, and longstanding passion for mental health, I’d be honored to represent our region on the PsychSIGN National Board and help cultivate a strong, inclusive, and energized psychiatry community.
Region 8: Covering international medical students outside of the US and Canada
- Hada Fongha Ieong
As an international medical student, neuroscientist, and researcher, I bring a unique and multidimensional perspective to the role of PsychSIGN Region Chair. My journey—from growing up in Macau to earning a PhD in neuroscience, conducting postdoctoral research at Yale, and now pursuing medicine—has given me firsthand insight into the challenges international students face. These experiences have shaped my ability to bridge diverse cultural, academic, and professional backgrounds, a skill essential for representing and advocating for international medical students in psychiatry.
My scientific foundation in neuroscience, particularly in the connectome of opioid addiction, has deepened my appreciation for psychiatry’s intersection with medicine and research. Having navigated the transition from research to clinical training, I understand the struggles of adapting to different medical education systems, securing competitive opportunities, and finding mentorship. These experiences position me well to guide other international students facing similar hurdles.
My Vision for the Region
If elected, I aim to provide the following key initiatives:
Mentorship and Guidance – Many international medical students struggle to find mentors who understand their unique challenges. I will establish a structured mentorship network connecting students with psychiatry residents and faculty who have successfully navigated the international medical graduate (IMG) pathway.
Residency Preparation Resources – IMGs face additional hurdles when applying for U.S. psychiatry residencies, including visa issues, standardized exams, and clinical experience requirements. I will organize virtual workshops on key topics like USMLE preparation, clinical rotations, research opportunities, and networking strategies to enhance our region’s competitiveness.
Psychiatry Research and Clinical Exposure – Many international students lack access to psychiatry-specific research and hands-on clinical experience. I will collaborate with institutions to identify opportunities for international students to gain exposure to psychiatry through research projects, case discussions, and observerships.
Advocacy and Representation – International students often feel like an afterthought in major psychiatry organizations. I will work to ensure that PsychSIGN provides tailored resources, voices our concerns to national psychiatric associations, and fosters a more inclusive space for international students.
Mental Health Support for International Students – Moving to a new country and adapting to a different educational system can take a toll on mental well-being. I will advocate for peer support groups and resources to address burnout, imposter syndrome, and other mental health challenges specific to international students.
As your PsychSIGN Region Chair, I will be committed to creating a strong, supportive community that empowers international medical students to thrive in psychiatry. I look forward to serving and advocating for our diverse and dynamic group.
2. Kiana Malbas
My name is Kiana Malbas. I am a qualified candidate for this position because I currently attend an International Medical School on the island of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, called Saint James School of Medicine.
I grew up in California specifically in San Francisco & Los Angeles. Growing up, I passionately balanced my happy place through collegiate volleyball, film, acting, hip hop/contemporary dance, meditation, traveling on a budget, martial arts, and becoming educated in the vast knowledge of humanity, every day of my life. I always knew I wanted to be a Child Psychiatrist in high school because of personal experiences that I had dealt with mentally that I eventually continued to heal from through seeking therapy. I realized that healing is a never-ending growing process and I think it is beautiful that there is a sweet spot for everyone.
I aim to provide unique resources to Region 8 through integrative medicine, collaborative projects, developing research, and interacting with unique trends of psychiatry and mental wellness on social media. I am heavily involved in psychedelic research. Some of my interests include psychedelic medicine and PTSD, Cannabis and Cancer, and the ties between Neurology, the Dreamstate, and Spirituality. I am a soldier of the US Army Reserve and it is my goal to provide more research to the FDA, in hopes of military members with PTSD to have access to psychedelic therapy. I hope my small contribution can improve and provoke innovative works into our future world of psychiatrists.
Next month I will be spending a week in Lima, Peru to provide free healthcare through a non-profit organization called MEDLIFE, along with mental health services including meditation workshops and intentional life guidance. Global healthcare is something I hold close to my heart and it makes me happy to embark on a journey of shedding light into someones’ world to seek a brighter perception moving forward.
Furthermore, I am in the process of filming a personal project about the reflection of humanity on the ethics of community through ones’ greatest development and acquiring potential of existence. The cinematic experience will begin with the exquisite wonders of the island and then move into the lives of medical students and profound leaders of the United States, Philippines, Jamaica, Latin America, and North America, together with the Vincentian community. The lens will capture the humanistic development of a mosaic creation which delves deeper into the pursuits of personal aspirations, how kindness enlightens community, and the story of becoming.
In my journey of becoming an MD in Psychiatry, I aspire to create a non-profit organization in special focus to those living in the Middle East and the Philippines and I hope PsychSign can be that network where I can find like-minded individuals to work with in the future, but also to learn from because learning is a never-ending process in itself. We learn something new everyday and it is exceptional that we can connect in levels which naturally create purpose through the simple essence of love. A dream alone is only a dream, but a dream together is a reality.
3. Harshita Vullaganti
Hello everyone! I’m Harshita Vullaganti, an aspiring psychiatrist and a final-year medical student from India. I’m excited to apply for the role of International Region Chair for the 2025–2026 academic year.
For our tribe of international students, getting into residency is nothing short of a bumpy ride into the unknown. As an International Medical Student (IMG) pursuing psychiatry, I’ve experienced first hand the challenges of navigating the residency pathway—finding opportunities, gaining relevant experience, and accessing reliable resources. Therefore, through this role, I hope to collaborate closely with all of you to address these challenges, creating a more connected, informed, and empowered global IMG community together.
If chosen, my vision is to develop a Residency Application Guidebook for International Medical Students—a comprehensive resource to simplify and clarify the entire process.
Additionally, I intend to establish an International Student Liaison Committee (ISL), which would be further divided into country- or region-specific chapters. The goal of the ISL and its subsidiaries is to build both international and intranational networks—spaces where aspiring psychiatrists among IMGs can connect, collaborate, and support one another.
Drawing inspiration from PsychSIGN’s special interest portfolio, I propose the following IMG-specific chapters:
- Mentorship Chapter – Organizing workshops and “how-to” sessions with International Medical Graduates who have matched into psychiatry residency. This will also serve as a centralized platform for IMGs to find mentors across the globe.
- Research and Clinical Opportunities Chapter – Hosting lectures and workshops to demystify securing research and clinical experiences as an IMG. Sessions would include
-Breaking down the framework of clinical research in psychiatry and neurobiology
-Basics of clinical research, statistics, and research methods
-Research paper interpretation and academic CV building
-Skill development (data tools, citation managers, research writing)
-Networking for mentorship
-Guidance on securing US clinical experience (USCE) for students from both VSLO and non-VSLO institutions
- Residency Application Chapter – Providing guidance on ECFMG verification, documentation, visa procedures, the Match, and interview preparation. Experts and matched seniors will be invited to lead these sessions.
- Mental Health and Wellness Chapter – Creating a dedicated space for IMGs to share challenges, offer support, and learn coping strategies. Mental health resources and peer wisdom will also be shared here.
- IMG Financial Info Collective – An integrated platform for IMGs to discuss finances, funding options, and the costs associated with exams and applications.
It’s as though we’re blindfolded on this rollercoaster ride, and as International Chair, I plan to remove the blindfolds for all of us. It’s hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. There are resources for everything—we just need to look in the right places. There are people willing to help—we just need to find them. Connecting you with the right people and the right places is my promise to you.
Medical school was hard, but you got through it. Now, it’s time for the next step—the next leap. So, let’s leap ahead together. Let’s celebrate you, the international psychiatric community, and bring you to the forefront. Let me be your voice. I’ve got you. Please vote for me.
Thank you!
4. Irene Arora
I am proud to be a U.S-IMG and as a representative for those IMG’s interested in psychiatry I seek to broaden the community’s knowledge of the unique experiences of IMG’s within the medical field and how they can be used in our clinical work within psychiatry. I was the Region 5 Chair for IMG’s within the Student Division American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) for the 2022-2023 academic year and within that organized and hosted a regional conference that was psychiatry based as well. I have written a meta-analysis paper on the underdevelopment of the prefrontal cortex and its role in the pathophysiology of ADHD and have used that research to present at the European Psychiatric Association’s Conference in Budapest in 2024 and will be presenting research at the upcoming 33rd European Psychiatric Association Conference in Madrid, Spain in 2025. I have always maintained an interest in encouraging and setting up opportunities for other IMG’s to gain research and other unique clinical experiences within the growing field of psychiatry because IMG’s make up 25% of the physicians practicing in the United States, it is important for IMG’s as a community to support and encourage each other to reach for their goals no matter how unattainable they may seem. As IMG’s we are a unique community where our region is not geographically based, because IMG’s reside all over the country. As an IMG I have had opportunities to complete clinical rotations all over the country and am therefore familiar with multiple psychiatric communities all over the United States. I can bring in virtual speakers from each geographic region to answer questions and give advice to all IMG’s interested in continuing their dreams of pursuing psychiatry. Additionally, through my leadership positions in other organizations I will send notifications of other leadership positions, research and volunteering opportunities open to students who are interested in getting more involved within their local or national psychiatric communities. I am an approachable and experienced leader who has gotten far within the psychiatric community not downplaying my IMG history, but utilizing it as a strength and an advantage I have to understand the way different psychiatric communities work and how to use that knowledge within my own community. I will give advice through my own personal experiences of how I was able to obtain research within the field of child and adolescent psychiatry, will assist those through whatever means I have at my disposal to help those who want research opportunities, will hold virtual networking sessions with psychiatrists from multiple regions within the United States and will provide opportunities for volunteering, research and leadership positions for those interested. As your Regional Chair I will be here to serve you and your needs to further pursue your dreams of practicing and/or doing research within the field of psychiatry, I have a deep love and passion for psychiatry through my own personal experiences and I look forward to sharing that with you as well.
5. John McGinn
I’m applying for this role because I have had the opportunity to grow as a leader through my involvement with PsychSIG and American Medical Student Association. As the former President of PsychSIG at St. George’s University, I helped organize events, support fellow students interested in psychiatry, and foster a strong community around mental health education, retreats, and wellness events. I also served as the Education Officer for our group, where I focused on making psychiatric learning more accessible and engaging, organizing events with former graduates who successfully matched into psychiatry. Additionally, I’ve served on a council for the American Medical Student Association, where I gained experience working on national initiatives and collaborating with students from a wide range of backgrounds.
What I hope to bring to this position is a strong sense of connection to the Region 8 Chair. If selected, I’d like to create more opportunities for communication and collaboration across PsychSIG chapters in our region. Whether that’s through virtual meetings, informal group chats, or shared event planning, I want PsychSIG members in the Caribbean to feel supported and inspired by each other’s work. I plan to help organize meaningful events during the year and would be excited to lead a regional project, conference, and events that bring students with shared interests together.
I take my commitments seriously and understand the expectations of this role. I am ready to step up and represent Region 8 while learning from the experiences of others on the National Board. Psychiatry is where I have found my passion, and I would be proud to help others explore and grow within this field, too.