Communications Committee
Keyana is a current MS2 at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana and attended Brown University, where she graduated with a Sc.B. in Health & Human Biology and Cognitive Neuroscience with honors through the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) BS/MD program. She aspires to be a cardiothoracic surgeon and is interested in translational cardiovascular research. Last summer, she was a Massachusetts General Hospital CT Surgery Summer Scholar, where she had the opportunity to gain significant clinical exposure to CT surgery and further her passion for the field. Outside of academics, she enjoys swimming, karate, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be involved with TSMA leadership for another year as the Communications Chair and looks forward to playing a role in supporting the next generation of CT surgeons.
Committee Chair
Keyana Zahiri
Committee Members
Annie Liu
Sheena Lunsford
Michelle Burmistrova
Annie was born in Canada and grew up in Rhode Island before attending Washington University in St. Louis. There, she double majored in Neuroscience and Psychology and minored in Chinese while also picking up various types of research experience. She graduated a semester early and spent a spring working full-time in a cancer research lab before attending the Medical Scientist Training Program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. In her first year as a medical student, Annie served as the Student Council President and helped lead a number of other medical school organizations. As clerkships begin soon, she looks forward to further narrowing her interests and bridging her clinical and research interests. Outside of academics, Annie is an advocate for marginalized populations, particularly those impacted by substance use, housing instability, and the carceral system. She is grateful to be a part of TSMA leadership and excited to nurture an interest and passion in CT surgery for medical students nationwide.
Sheena is a Floridian who attended the University of Miami. She is an Air Force veteran and current student at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Ohio. Her professional experiences in the operating room, particularly in cardiac surgery, have cemented her passion for becoming a cardiac surgeon. Over the summer, she participated at Case Western Reserve University in a research lab, evaluating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations in myosin binding protein C.Dedicated to serving those who have protected our country, Sheena aims to continue her service through the Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a surgeon. She also aims to advance cardiac research at the molecular and genetic levels throughout her medical career. Her hobbies include swimming, skiing, listening to podcasts, and exploring different cultures. She is enthusiastic about promoting TSMA to raise awareness about Cardiothoracic Surgery and expand the organization's reach and membership.
Michelle was born and raised in Albany, New York, and attended The State University of New York at Cortland for her undergraduate education, where she got her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Chemistry minor. She then got her master’s in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University. Michelle is a second-year medical student at Albany Medical College, serving as the president of the Association of Women Surgeons at Albany Medical College. She is an aspiring cardiothoracic surgeon, specifically interested in congenital cardiac defects. Michelle has conducted research in thoracic surgery at Albany Medical Center and recently completed a summer elective with the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Outside of school, she can be found either reading, cooking, or traveling the world. As a new member of TSMA leadership, Michelle looks forward to meeting and working with all the fantastic members of TSMA, and is excited to see what this year will bring!