The Founder

Nirosh Mataraarachchi

4th year medical student - UCSF SOM

Nirosh is a 4th year medical student at UCSF. He has an extensive background in both teaching and education as well as a deep-rooted desire to serve at-risk populations. During his first year of medical school, he was motivated by the UCSF curriculum on addressing health disparities within underserved and marginalized communities. His simultaneous passion for teaching and building health literacy then kickstarted the vision to create a health education program that would benefit younger generations that arise from communities that are particularly at risk, to address those specific health disparities.

  • Given his interest in Cardiology and how Cardiovascular Disease remains the #1 cause of death in the world, it felt only fitting to create an early pipeline program like Cardiac Camp.

    Coming from an immigrant household with no formal education and little English comprehension, Nirosh recognized the privileges that both he and others from similar backgrounds did not have. As a result, Cardiac Camp was created to always be both accessible and equitable. One of the core tenants of Cardiac Camp that Nirosh implemented is that Cardiac Camp will not only be free to apply and attend but accepted students will also be provided a stipend to attend, further offsetting any financial barriers that high school students from target populations may face (such as having to work during the summer). Furthermore, the cohort of accepted high school students will arise from communities that are disproportionately affected by Cardiovascular Disease.

    Through his leadership, he recruited several peer medical students to establish the foundations of Cardiac Camp such as admissions, outreach, and mentorship, while simultaneously leading the curriculum development for the first Camp. Nirosh further obtained all the funding for the inaugural Camp so that every student was provided a stipend, stethoscope, notebooks, pens, and a t-shirt. He remains as a Board Advisor for each new Board of Directors to provide guidance and insight, while allowing new medical student leaders to expand and strengthen the impact of Cardiac Camp.

2025 Board of Directors

Abum Okemgbo
Co-Lead Director

Ruby Tang
Co-Lead Director

Gabrielle Arkema
Admissions & Outreach
Co-Director

Ivan Villasenor
Curriculum Development Co-Director

Jolade Adebekun
Admissions & Outreach
Co-Director

Noah Guillermo
Curriculum Development Co-Director

Faaizah Arshad
Mentorship Co-Director

Antonio Almazan
Media Director

Laura Tsai
Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Jeanna Shaw
Curriculum Development
Co-Director

Laura Chen
Curriculum Development Co-Director

Victoria Koffi
Admissions & Outreach
Co-Director

Karida Ean
Mentorship Co-Director

2024 Board of Directors

Past Team Members

Neal Mukherjee - Curriculum Development Co-Director

Nwamaka Ijeh- Curriculum Development Co-Director

Rachel Huynh - Curriculum Development Co-Director

Amartya Dave - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Kennedy Baskin - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Isabelle Vu - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Daniel Zhang - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Chitoh Young - Media Director

Guistinna Tun - Mentorship Co-Director

Mahika Nayak - Mentorship Co-Director

2023 Board of Directors

Jessica Ainooson
Co-Lead Director

Elizabeth Raby
Co-Lead Director

Lejla Pepic - Curriculum Development Co-Director

Denalene (Maria) Tiu - Curriculum Development Co-Director

Ethan Tanchoco - Curriculum Development Co-Director

Dafna Erana - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Leslie Schneider - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Emily Taketa - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Ahllain Santos - Media Director

Jessica Ainooson - Mentorship Co-Director

Samra Agezew - Mentorship Co-Director

2022 Board of Directors

Nirosh Mataraarachchi
Founding Director + Curriculum Development Co-Director

Brandon Chu - Curriculum Development Co-Director

Mohamed Hisham Sideek - Curriculum Development Co-Director

Sara Varadharajulu - Curriculum Development Co-Director

Brandon Alford - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Rafael Lopez - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Jess Shodipo - Admissions & Outreach Co-Director

Jessica Ainooson - Mentorship Co-Director

Samra Agezew - Mentorship Co-Director

Pearl Omo-Sowho
Co-Lead Director

Stephanie Hu
Co-Lead Director