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

Althea Tapales
Althea, a native Pacific Islander from Guam, embarked on her academic journey at the University of Guam (UOG), where she pursued dual majors in Biology and Chemistry alongside a minor in Sociology. Currently in her fourth year at the Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, she holds the esteemed title of Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellow. Her current focus is her second-year fellowship at Stanford University, delving into research on familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. With a steadfast commitment to her community, Althea harbors ambitions of returning to Guam as a physician-scientist. Her goal is to address health disparities among the underserved Micronesian population through a multifaceted approach encompassing outreach, research, and clinical care. Aspiring to pioneer Micronesia’s inaugural local cardiothoracic surgery clinic, she aims to enhance medical accessibility within her island homeland. Beyond her medical pursuits, Althea actively advocates for marginalized populations, particularly minority doctors in Micronesia. She plays a pivotal role in mentoring future physicians through initiatives like the Guam H.O.M.E. Program and UOG Alumni Series, guiding pre-medical students toward their professional aspirations. A staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion in medicine, Althea eagerly anticipates collaborating with new TSMA members as the Diversity Committee Chair in order to accomplish TSMA’s mission.
Past Presidents
2023-2024 John Treffalls, MD
2022-2023 Lena Trager, MD (Co-Founder)
2020-2022 EdgarAranda-Michel, PhD (Co-Founder)