MEET THE 2025-2026 EXECUTIVE BOARD
PRESIDENT
Minghao Shao
Minghao is a senior from New York City, New York, majoring in Biology with minors in Neuroscience and Pharmaceutical Sciences - he is on the pre-medicine track with an interest in anesthesiology and pain management. Since joining in Fall 2022, he has cherished AED's culture of mentorship and fellowship that defies the normally competitive nature of pre-health. This year, Minghao is looking forward to leadership and the quality-of-life initiatives that we are planning for our members.
This summer (besides medical school applications), Minghao is visiting loved ones and seeing the sights in Western Europe and Southeast Asia. Beyond AED, he conducts surgical pain research at the Zylka Lab, STEM education research at the CBER Lab, and serves as Co-President of the SHAC free clinic and Biology Journal Club (UBJC), as well as working as a Nurse aide. In his free time, he loves to play ping pong and explore Franklin street with his friends! Fun fact - Minghao grew up a few blocks from the United Nations Headquarters.
VICE PRESIDENT
Samir Kuntamukkala
Samir is a junior from Cary, North Carolina, dual majoring in Neuroscience and Chemistry with a minor in Business in Health. He is currently on the pre-medicine track, specifically interested in interventional cardiology. Samir joined AED in Fall 2023 and has enjoyed seeing the friendships and relationships develop within AED that have cultivated an environment of inclusivity and community. This year, he is looking forward to further developing our academic opportunities and planning interactive GBM's for all of our members to enjoy!
This summer, Samir served as an undergraduate learning assistant for summer session one, helping Dr. Tiani with CHEM 241. Moreover, he worked as a medical assistant for WakeMed MyCare 365, floating around each of the 12 clinics in central North Carolina. Beyond AED, Samir is involved with SHAC - specifically with Get Covered Carolina, helping uninsured individuals apply for healthcare coverage - as well as Camp Kesem, Public Health 360, and other public health organizations all while volunteering with the American Red Cross! He is also a research assistant at the Davis Lab, investigating the effect of GD2 regulation in Ewing Sarcoma. In his free time, Samir loves to play pickleball, go on runs, workout, and find new TV shows to watch. Fun fact - he can write with both hands!
VICE PRESIDENT
Chris Ewart
Chris is a senior from Fayetteville, North Carolina, majoring in Nutrition Science and Research with minors in Neuroscience and Chemistry. Since joining AED in Spring 2023, he has connected with many supportive, passionate, and hardworking friends in the organization.
This summer, Chris diligently studied for PHYS 114 and 115 at UNC while working as an EMT. He also earned his multi-engine pilot rating! Outside of AED, he enjoys conducting research with the UNC Biology Department and volunteering with the UNC Children’s Hospital. When Chris is not climbing with the UNC Climbing Club or running with the UNC Marathon Club, he likes to spend time in the gym and take headshots/graduation pictures.
SECRETARY
Justin Ju
Justin is a sophomore from Winston Salem, North Carolina, majoring in Chemistry (BS) on the pre-medicine track. Since joining AED in Fall 2024, Justin has loved having the opportunity to connect with upperclassmen - he states that their advice has made navigating the UNC pre-health scene so much easier! This year, he is looking forward to meeting the new pledge class and finding his little.
This summer, Justin took CHEM 241 and worked in his lab. He is currently involved with UNC AASA, as well as the saxophone studio - in his free time, he enjoys listening to music and exploring new places. Fun fact - Justin is a top 0.001% Drake listener.
TREASURER
Daniel Joo
Daniel is from Cary, North Carolina, majoring in Biostatistics with a minor in Chemistry. He is on the pre-medicine track aspiring to become a physician, unsure about the specialty but wanting to work in a big hospital! Since joining AED in Spring 2024, Daniel has loved the community here as well as just being able to depend on each other for resources and guidance, all while having fun! This year, Daniel looks forward to our social events, rush, and meeting the new members.
This summer, he spent his time conducting research in his lab, shadowing, and traveling. Outside of AED, Daniel is a part of the club tennis team and volunteers on
campus. In his free time, he loves hanging out and spending time with friends - whether that be getting food, going somewhere, or just talking. Moreover, he really enjoys playing and watching sports... with his favorites being tennis and soccer... but, he says he is always down for any sport! Fun fact - Daniel also plays the piano.
NEW MEMBER COORDINATOR
Savannah Noel
Savannah is a senior from Utica, New York, majoring in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Medical Anthropology. She is on the pre-PA track, and while she is still exploring different specialties, Savannah is particularly interested in Neurology, Endocrinology, and Sports Medicine. Joining AED as a member of the Fall 2023 Pledge Class, she has enjoyed making such wonderful friendships that she will truly cherish forever! Moreover, she is excited to meet all of our potential new members during recruitment.
This summer, Savannah spent time working as a CNA and traveling to cool places like
Toronto! Outside of AED, she dances for Blank Canvas, a student-run dance company at UNC. She also serves as a peer mentor for BIOL 252, and works as a Sports Nutrition Intern, assisting UNC athletes with their pre and post workout nutritional needs. In her free time, Savannah enjoys going to the gym, cooking new recipes, grabbing a sweet treat with friends, exploring new music, and reading cheesy
romance novels. She is on a life-long journey of pretending to like vegetables (so far it is not going great), so wish her luck with that!
NEW MEMBER COORDINATOR
Heidi Kauffman
Heidi is a senior from Statesville, North Carolina, majoring in Biology with Health & Society and Chemistry minors. She is on the pre-medicine track with interests in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, and OB/GYN. Since joining AED in Spring 2024, she has truly enjoyed getting to know her Pledge Class while embracing the community that came with AED. She always sees a friendly face in a class or just walking around campus that helps brighten her day. This year, she is excited to have a great last year at UNC with all of her friends! Moreover, she is especially looking forward to meeting AED’s new Pledge Classes while making fun events for new members.
This summer, Heidi has worked as an Emergency Medicine Scribe at UNC hospitals, studied for the MCAT, and occasionally went for swims at the Eno River. Beyond AED, she is a character volunteer with A Moment of Magic, a volunteer swim instructor with UNC Dive In and a member of Out in STEM (OSTEM). Moreover, Heidi also volunteers at a Neuroscience lab and works with mice! In her free time, she loves to swim, hike, collect records, run, play the flute, go to coffee shops, watch Survivor, and thrift. Fun fact - Heidi studied abroad in Copenhagen last summer!
SOCIAL CHAIR
Richert Apore
Rich is a junior from Boston, Massachusetts, majoring in Community and Global Public Health with Biology and Data Science minors. His pre-health interests center on the intersection of public health, health policy, and data-driven strategies to improve patient outcomes. Rich's future goal is to become a Principal in life sciences consulting, overall leading initiatives that promote equitable, cost-effective healthcare access that encompasses both focused and marginalized populations. Since joining AED in Fall 2023, he has genuinely enjoyed the community, the eagerness to support one another, and the people who make AED what it is. This year, he is looking forward to welcoming both the Fall and Spring Pledge Classes, executing all the fun social events we’ve been planning, and having a grand-little join his AED family!
This summer, Rich worked as an associate consultant in life sciences consulting, collaborating with like-minded peers on cases involving treatments for rare diseases and gaining exposure to the broader biopharma landscape. When he wasn’t working, he spent most of his time hiking, thrifting, exploring Boston, and trying vintage fashion. At UNC, Rich is a Research Assistant at UNC Lineberger, a Carolina Diplomacy Fellow, involved in the UNC Consulting Club, UNC Bio Ambassadors, and active in Perfect Pair and UNC NMDP. Fun fact - he speaks four languages!
SOCIAL CHAIR
Ellie Chai
Ellie is a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, majoring in Biology (BS) with minors in Spanish and English on the pre-medicine track. Ellie joined AED in Fall 2024 and has enjoyed making new friends! Moreover, she is looking forward to seeing the logistics of recruitment from the Executive standpoint.
This summer, Ellie earned her EMT license, traveled to Europe, and hung out with friends. Beyond AED, she is in a sorority here on campus - ADPi - and is a member of CATCH. In her free time, Ellie likes to golf, play tennis, read, and cook. Fun fact - she can also play the harmonica!
SERVICE CHAIR
Juliana Floriani
Juliana is a senior from Asheville, North Carolina, majoring in Psychology (BS) with a Biology minor. She is on the pre-medicine track, aspiring to become an OB/GYN. Since joining AED in Fall 2023, Juliana has - as a transfer student - found a community that supports her academically and socially, making her experience at UNC amazing. This year, Juliana looks forward to creating fun and engaging service events for our members while soaking in her last year at Carolina.
This summer, Juliana was a MAHECxplorer intern at MAHEC, where she shadowed in OB/GYN, family medicine, rural medicine, and psychiatry, and conducted research on CenteringPregnancy - a group prenatal care model shown to reduce preterm births and NICU stays. She also volunteered as a medical assistant at a free clinic, took a summer class, and worked as a hostess.
She is a research assistant in the NIRAL Lab under Dr. Martin Styner, studying how air pollution affects brain health using MRI data from urban populations in Mexico. Juliana also serves as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant for NSCI 222, Community Engagement Director for the Peer Pre-Medical Mentorship Program, and is active in Hearts for the Homeless.
Outside of academics, she enjoys running, IM soccer, exploring new coffee shops, and spending time with friends. Fun fact - she spent a semester living in Chile during high school!
SERVICE CHAIR
Georgia Daw
Georgia is a senior from Sheffield, England, majoring in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Music. She is on the pre-medicine track, still exploring which specialty feels right for her (there are so many great options!). Though, Georgia is especially interested in pediatrics and emergency medicine. Her biggest goal as a future physician is to be the kind of doctor who cares for patients beyond just their medical needs, making them feel truly heard! Since joining in Spring 2024, she has been grateful that AED has made a big school feel far less intimidating - she has met some of the kindest people and, therefore, always has a familiar face in her classes. This year, she is excited to lead the service side of AED and can’t wait for all the great events we have planned!
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This summer, Georgia studied for the MCAT (yikes), while still reserving time to hang out with friends and family and have some fun (yay!). She also started working in the ED as a medical scribe, which she states has been awesome. Along with AED, Georgia volunteers with Perfect Pair and sings in a jazz combo! She loves being outdoors, going for walks, and trying out new coffee spots - Georgia tends to get way too hooked on TV series, so she saves those for a free weekend. More recently, she been learning guitar. Fun fact... if you didn't already notice... Georgia grew up in the UK!
PHILANTHROPY CHAIR
Drew Bavis
Drew is a sophomore from Huntersville, North Carolina, majoring in Biology with Chemistry and Media & Journalism minors - he is on the pre-medicine track looking towards pediatrics! Since joining AED in Fall 2024, he has met so many amazing people with the same goals and in the same classes as himself, overall making his AED experience amazing! Drew is looking forward to spending more time with his friends and getting the philanthropy branch of AED more involved in the UNC community before he has to begin studying for the MCAT!
This summer, Drew earned his EMT certification - he can now start working in Chapel Hill for clinical hours! Outside of school, he has spent a lot of time with his friends and family, became a runner, spent lots of time on Lake Norman, and took advantage of his last year using the free Planet Fitness summer pass. Apart from AED, Drew is one of the Marketing Officers for Carolina Cancer Association, where they raise money and bring awareness for the different forms of cancer. He is also a member of Health-Link Society and hopes to become a peer tutor this year. Fun fact - Drew was originally a Media and Journalism major with assured admission to Hussman until he decided to completely switch career paths right before coming to UNC!
PHILANTHROPY CHAIR
Riley Johnson
Riley is a junior from Asheville, North Carolina, majoring in Environmental Health Sciences with a Music minor. He is on the pre-med track and hopes to work in primary care throughout underserved communities. Since joining AED in Spring 2024, Riley has enjoyed being in a tight-knit community of hardworking and passionate students who support each other's pre-health journey (and are the coolest people on campus to hang out with!). This year, he is looking forward to working with his co-chair to bring awesome events to the AED community!
This summer, Riley took summer classes, got his CNA license, trained for a half marathon, and went on adventures in between! Beyond AED, he is involved in UNC jazz combos, research with the Brown Lab, and UNC Perfect Pair. In his free time, Riley enjoys running, rock climbing, playing/listening to music, cooking, and pretty much anything in the wilderness. For example - last December, he summited the tallest volcano in the Northern Hemisphere!
HISTORIAN
Cassidy Reynolds
Cassidy is a sophomore from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Media & Journalism. She is on the pre-medicine track, aspiring to become a pediatrician with a possible specialization in rheumatology. Since joining AED in Fall 2024, Cassidy has been awed by the immediate community and lifelong friendships that you can gain through AED - as well as, of course, the dozens of pre-health resources offered. This year, she looks forward to making sure that all members feel both celebrated & represented on AED's social media platforms, creating engaging and exciting content.
Over the summer, Cassidy has earned her CNA license, worked in a hospital & rehabilitation facility to stack some clinical hours, made time for family & friends, as well as traveled here & there! Beyond AED, Cassidy is a sports and university photojournalist for The Daily Tar Heel and a Research Assistant with the Benhabbour Laboratory over at the School of Medicine under the Joint Biomedical Engineering Department (culturing neural stem cells for the hydrogel treatment of brain tumors). In her free time, Cassidy loves a good hike, running 5ks, spontaneous adventures, and going to concerts as often as possible. Fun fact - Cassidy has met the CEO of Taco Bell!