The directors of the UCLA Health Care Symposium are all 2nd year medical students at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Jacob Chacko - Director of Speakers, Director of Finance
A native of Southern California, Jacob Chacko graduated from the University of Southern California with dual degrees in Biology and Gerontology and a minor in Health Policy & Management. He then earned an MSc in Economic & Social History at Oxford University. After his graduate studies, Jacob worked as consultant for McKinsey & Co., focusing on health care clients. He has many interests in the field of medicine, particularly national health policy. In his spare time he enjoys reading, traveling, running and spending time outdoors.
 
Steve Jonas - Director of Logistics
Originally from Birmingham, MI, Steve graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S.E. degree in Materials Science and Engineering and a M.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering. He participated in research at Michigan and in industry for Corning Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. His research experience has involved materials engineering and molecular imaging with applications to photonics, biosensors, and hip arthroplasty. He has co-authored three articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and is listed as a co-inventor on three pending US patents. Steve is currently pursuing MD and PhD degrees through UCLA’s Medical Scientist Training Program. His PhD will merge his interests in biomaterials and nanoscience, which he plans to combine with a clinical career in pediatrics.
 
Shira Lipton - Director of Speakers
Shira Lipton attended Stanford University, graduating in 2001 with a double major in Human Biology and Spanish Literature. As part of the Stanford-in-Washington program, Shira worked at the FDA in the Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications, studying how prescription drug advertisements on broadcast media affect physician prescribing patterns and patient compliance. After graduation, Shira continued her health policy work at the University of California San Francisco’s Institute for Health Policy Studies. Shira plans to pursue a career that will combine her interests in both media and medicine.
 
Kimberley Woodhouse - Director of Logistics
Kim graduated in 2002 from Stanford University with a major in Human Biology and a minor in Spanish. She stayed in the Bay Area for the subsequent year, working as a teaching assistant at Stanford and as a contributor to the health policy nonprofit organization, Kaiser Family Foundation. She has pursued roles in international health, volunteering in medical clinics in Papua New Guinea and Mexico in the past two years. Now at UCLA, she is also particularly interested in endocrinology, radiation oncology, or physiatry. Outside of school, she enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
 
Jeffrey WuDirector of Information Systems
Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, Jeff attended Duke University where he majored in Chemistry and Biology and minored in Political Science. He graduated in 2003, and subsequently drove across the country to begin medical school. At UCLA, he enjoys tutoring, studying, dancing and designing (t-shirts and websites). Jeff is thankful to be in Los Angeles where he delights in the city’s diverse culture, cuisine, beautiful beach, weather and church. He hopes to remain in the area and pursue a career in oncology, psychiatry, or surgery.
 
Jamie ZussmanDirector of Publicity
Jamie graduated in 2002 from University of Michigan with a degree in political science. She is interested in too many aspects of medicine to have decided on a specialty as of yet. Outside of school she enjoys spending time with friends and family.

The 2005 HCS Assistant Directors are
Warren Chow, Susan Park, Trent Custis, Matt Frank, Caleb Ho, and Menna Seifu.