Medical Student Leadership
4 Executive Board Members
9 Committee Chairs
26 Committee Members

Communications Committee

TAnvi Sharma

Tanvi Sharma is a third-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, originally from Canton, Michigan. She studied Genomics and Molecular Genetics as an undergraduate at Michigan State University, which sparked her interest in the genetic basis of heart disease and eventually led her toward cardiac surgery.

Since then, she's continued building on this abroad, shadowing cardiothoracic surgeons and taking part in medical brigades. These experiences solidified her goal of becoming a surgeon who practices internationally and helps bring care to patients who otherwise may not have access to it. She's pursued that same mission locally through her involvement with MSUCOM's International Osteopathic Medical Organization club, which focuses on global health education, as well as her work on the executive board of Detroit Street Care, focused on improving healthcare access within Detroit's underserved communities.

Tanvi currently serves on the Research Committee for the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons Medical Student Section and sits on the executive board of the Osteopathic Research Initiative for Growth and INnovation in Surgery (ORIGINS) Program. Teaching has also remained a constant throughout her path to medicine. Before medical school, she worked as a music teacher giving piano and violin lessons, and she's continued that interest as a teaching assistant in MSUCOM's anatomy lab. Outside of academics, she spends her free time drawing, swimming, and reading classic literature.

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Anita Zahiri

Anita Zahiri is a first-year medical student at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She grew up in New Orleans and earned her bachelor’s degree in Translational Regenerative Medicine through the Program in Liberal Medical Education (BS/MD program) at Brown University. She is interested in academic cardiac surgery, with research interests in aortic disease and transplantation.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking, karate, and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to join TSMA leadership and work with the organization to support the next generation of CT surgeons.

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Alvaro Jose Martinez Santacruz

As a 5th-year medical student at Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia, I have always been drawn to the intersection of surgery, leadership, and education. My early clinical experiences in vascular and cardiothoracic surgery, both locally and during an international rotation in the U.S., confirmed my deep interest in the field. Alongside my clinical development, I’ve actively contributed to academic programming and student leadership, serving as President of the Student Council and coordinating institutional and national medical events. These roles have sharpened my communication skills and taught me the power of strategic outreach to build community and inspire engagement.

My passion for cardiothoracic surgery goes hand in hand with my commitment to medical education and collaboration. I currently serve as a board member in a cardiovascular surgery interest group and have participated in research focused on vascular pathologies in underserved populations. I believe that increasing access to educational content, mentorship, and early exposure is essential to cultivating the next generation of CT surgeons—especially for students from underrepresented and international backgrounds.

I’m excited to join the TSMA Communications Committee to help grow its impact, expand its audience, and create meaningful connections between students, residents, and faculty across the globe. Through creative, inclusive, and informative outreach, I hope to help more students find their place in this field, just as I did.

Olma Tadesse

Olma is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and he attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan where he majored in Public Health. Currently, he is a first-year medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. As a fresh medical student, Olma is excited to get involved in the full scope of extracurricular involvement that the medical school has to offer, but he is most interested in research surrounding the full scope of cardiac surgery practice, including but not limited to pathologies such as heart valve disease, aortic disease, and heart failure.

Olma is excited to be a member of the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Communications Committee, and is committed to providing students with clear and accessible information about the field of cardiothoracic surgery. In his free time, Olma enjoys listening to music, baking new desserts, and spending time with family and friends.