OFFICER BOARD
Madison Sims
President
Hello! My name is Madison Sims. I am a senior majoring in Public Health with a focus in Health Services. My specialties of interest are psychiatry/behavioral health, geriatrics, and endocrinology. I want to be a PA because I am strongly passionate about serving others and using my skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of those around me. I value the opportunity this career allows to build connections with future patients centered on trust, respect, and genuine consideration of each of their needs. I am strongly drawn towards working with underserved populations and communities, expanding accessibility for all of those who deserve quality healthcare and compassionate providers. One of my favorite hobbies is hiking and enjoying any scenic view!
Amarisa Garza
Secretary
Ivan Cordova
Vice President
My name is Ivan. I am a Biology major and a 2026 senior. I want to become a Physician Assistant because I like the flexibility that the career offers, especially the ability to work in different medical specialties throughout my career. I also like that PAs have the opportunity to take on many responsibilities similar to physicians while still working as part of a collaborative healthcare team. Being able to work alongside physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals while directly helping patients is something that really interests me. Overall, I feel that becoming a PA would give me the combination of flexibility, responsibility, teamwork, and patient care that I am looking for in a career. A specialty I’m interested in is orthopedics. One fun fact about me is I'm currently learning French!
Hi, my name is Amarisa Garza. I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience. I want to become a Physician Assistant because I’ve always enjoyed helping others and want a career where I can make a real difference in people’s lives. I love that being a PA gives me a chance to connect with patients, care for them during difficult moments, and work alongside a healthcare team.
My specialties of interest are sports medicine, neurology, and family medicine
I love trying new coffee shops and restaurants!
Bree Parisher
Public Relations
My name is Bree Parisher, and I am a senior majoring in Biology. I want to become a PA because I am passionate about expanding access to quality healthcare while having the opportunity to diagnose, treat, and build meaningful relationships with my patients. I am especially interested in family medicine because I love the idea of developing lifelong relationships with patients and being involved in their care throughout different stages of life. One fun fact about me is that I am a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and got to watch them beat the Chiefs in person last Thanksgiving!
Jaxon Zender
Volunteer Co- Coordinator
Hey! My name is Jaxon Zender, and I’m a junior majoring in Health Sciences with a concentration in Physician Assistant Studies and a minor in Biology. One of the things that I’m most looking forward to in becoming a PA is having the flexibility that this profession offers to help others across a variety of areas in medicine. Among those various areas, I’m especially interested in emergency medicine, pediatrics, and cardiology! A fun fact about me is that yes, my eyebrows are natural! I’ve had them since I was a baby so feel free to ask for proof :)
Natalie Lopez
Fundraising Co-Coordinator
My name is Natalie Lopez. I am a Public Health major with a concentration in Health Services and am currently a Junior. I want to become a PA because I have always known I wanted a career where I could help people and make a difference in their lives. I like that PAs get to build relationships with their patients, be involved in their care, and have the chance to work in different areas of healthcare. I feel that being a PA will allow me to do what I love while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. The specialties I’m interested in are Emergency medicine and pediatrics. A fun fact about me is that I love road trips! I have a goal of visiting all 50 states and have traveled to 21 so far!
Caroline Nguyen
Professional Development
Co-Coordinator
Hi, my name is Caroline Nguyen, and I'm a Senior. My passion for medicine started from curiosity about how the human body functions and being able to discover the root causes of pain people experience. Throughout my experiences in healthcare, I have realized that no other field interests me as much as medicine, with so much more to learn. I’m drawn to the PA profession because of the flexibility of having my passion for patient care and healthcare while also being able to maintain a good balance with making time for the people who are important to me. My specialties of interest are Emergency and Dermatology. One fun fact about me is I like to collect a lot of blind boxes.
Karina Lopez
Treasurer
Hi! My name is Karina Lopez, I’m a senior majoring in Medical Humanities! I’m pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant because I resonate with the flexibility of specialties, greater focus on patient care and collaboration with doctors! I hope to work in Family Medicine or Obstetrics & Maternity! My favorite hobby is journaling!
Katelyn Damon
Volunteer Co-Coordinator
Hi! My name is Katelyn Damon. My major is Medical Humanities with a Concentration in Pre-Advanced Practice! I am in my 4th year and last semester at UTSA! I want to be a PA because I am very passionate about helping others and making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. I love the combination of medical knowledge, hands-on patient care, and the opportunity to build relationships with patients while working as part of a healthcare team. A specialty I am interested in is Emergency Medicine, because I love how it gives the opportunity to care for a wide variety of patients and medical conditions. One fun fact about me is that I love to sing and have competed in national competitions for classical music!
Carolina Castro
Fundraising Co-Coordinator
Hi everyone! My name is Carolina Castro, and I’m a sophomore Biology major at UTSA. I’m also part of the Bold Scholars Program and Honors College. I hope to become a Physician Assistant because I really value the personal relationships PAs are able to build with their patients. I think getting to know a patient beyond their symptoms can completely change the way you understand their health and the care you’re able to provide. I've learned that healthcare can look very different across cultures and that sometimes the most important part of caring for someone is simply listening to their experiences and understanding their perspective. I’m interested in dermatology because I’ve seen firsthand how much skin can affect someone’s confidence, and I would love to help other patients feel the same way my dermatologist helped me feel. One fun fact about me is that I studied abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico, this past summer, where I learned about medical humanities and Spanish for medical professionals!!
Bryana Lagos-Valle
Professional Development
Co-Coordinator
My name is Bryana Lagos. I am a Neuroscience major and a 3rd year senior. I want to be a PA because I’ve always been drawn to healthcare and knew I wanted a career dedicated to helping people in a hands-on, meaningful way. Being a PA would give me the chance to do work that truly matters every day while still maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It’s the perfect fit for me because I get to pursue my passion for medicine, support patients, and stay grounded both on and off the job. My specialties of interest are neurology and dermatology. One fun fact about me is that I like reading thriller books.
Elisa Perez
Social Co-Coordinator
Hi, my name is Elisa Perez, and I’m a junior majoring in Biology. I chose the PA path because I really like the variety of career opportunities it offers, and right now, I’m especially interested in the dermatology field. One fun fact about me is that I don’t know how to swim because I was never taught growing up. I’m excited to continue learning more about the PA profession and hopefully narrow down which specialty is the best fit for me.
Leonardo Colchado
Social Co-Coordinator
Hello! My name is Leonardo Colchado, and I’m a third‑year Kinesiology and Health Sciences major. I originally explored physical therapy, but after shadowing, I realized I was drawn to a faster‑paced environment. After becoming an EMT, it confirmed for me that Emergency Medicine quickly became the place where I felt most alive and most useful. As I continued exploring my future, I realized I wanted a career that allowed both flexibility and depth. The PA profession stood out because it lets me pursue Emergency Medicine while still having the freedom to transition into areas like orthopedics, where my love for sports fits naturally. It offers the balance I want, which is the ability to do meaningful work, serve my community, and grow without being locked into a single specialty. A fun fact that reflects who I am, and why this path fits me so well, is that I love doing everything. I skateboard, play guitar, run, hike, collect vinyls, play basketball, and I’m currently practicing my backflip. I’m someone who thrives in movement, curiosity, and variety, and the PA profession aligns perfectly with that spirit.
FACULTY ADVISORS
Natalie Avshman
Nicholas Hernandez