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

Diversity Committee

Titilayo (Titi)
Oden Shobayo

Titilayo Oden Shobayo (Titi), born and raised in Nigeria, is a third-year medical student at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine with a strong interest in cardiovascular surgery, health equity, and mentorship. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Northwestern State University and a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences from More house School of Medicine.

Titi is deeply passionate about global health, particularly in addressing disparities in cancer care. This passion was shaped by the loss of her father to colorectal cancer due to limited access to timely care and resources in Nigeria. Her goal is to help bridge gaps in surgical care, both locally and globally. As Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association (TSMA), Titi is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment and expanding opportunities for underrepresented students interested in cardiothoracic surgery.

Outside of medicine, you can find Titi singing and dancing to Barney with her energetic infant — who proudly holds the title of youngest TSMA member — painting, running, mentoring future medical students, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Fun fact: Titi was a Division I track and field athlete, and she brings that same focus, resilience,and drive to her work in medicine and advocacy.

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Adrienne Kambouris

Adrienne Kambouris is a native Baltimorean with a strong desire to make an impact in her hometown. She has wanted to be a doctor since she was 8 years old and joined the Army directly after high school to make her dreams possible. After over 10 years of service, Adrienne returned to college and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology and Chemistry from Augusta University. She is currently a fourth-year medical student in the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Maryland. Adrienne earned her PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology as a part of this program. She investigated how burns impact the innate immune system and the resulting susceptibility to infection. She also completed her MBA at Morgan State University. She hopes to pursue cardiothoracic surgery and utilize her research skills to determine what makes patients susceptible to endocarditis and myocarditis. She is a HUGE Ravens fan and spends her free time watching her favorite team and tracking their progress.

Mia Alfonso-Shein

Mia is a second-year medical student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She attended The Ohio State University, where she majored in Neuroscience, was a Morrill Scholar, and competed on the hunt seat equestrian team. Before medical school, she spent a gap year at MetroHealth in Cleveland studying the sequelae of COVID-19, including neurological complications, dysautonomia, and other aspects of long COVID. At UCCOM, her research focuses on surgical outcomes in thoracic surgery and related social determinants of health. As a Hispanic woman living with type 1 diabetes, she is passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and representation in medicine—particularly in surgery. She recently completed a summer internship within the cardiothoracic surgery departments at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and aspires to a career as an academic cardiac surgeon. Outside of school, she enjoys riding horses, painting, and spending time outdoors.

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Estefania Rivera

Estefanía Rivera Pedraza is a third-year medical student at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. Originally from Puerto Rico, she earned her undergraduate degree in Human Biology, Health, and Society from Cornell University. Her passion for cardiothoracic surgery was sparked through immersive research experiences, including a summer at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.

Estefanía is deeply committed to advancing equity in medicine and empowering students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to pursue surgical careers. As a member of TSMA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, she is honored to contribute to initiatives that foster a more inclusive and representative future in cardiothoracic surgery. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, practicing Pilates, and spending time by the ocean with her dog.

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Jad A. Elharake

Jad was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, and later immigrated to the United States with his family. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, where he majored in biopsychology, cognition, and neuroscience. Following graduation, Jad earned his Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Healthcare Management from the Yale School of Public Health. Before starting medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, he worked as a project manager at the Yale Institute for Global Health and later at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. In these roles, he spearheaded research projects focused on national and global health policies and population health, and collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, World Health Organization, and health ministries across the Middle East and North Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a medical student, Jad serves as a clinic coordinator at the Noor Community Clinic and sits on the executive board of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Interest Group. He is also the co-founder of the Cardi Scholars Program, a longitudinal curriculum designed for medical students interested in cardiothoracic surgery. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, playing and watching soccer, and exploring local farmer’s markets. Jad is honored to work alongside the amazing TSMA team and is excited to contribute to an organization committed to recruiting, educating, and empowering the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons.

Faiza Chowdhury

Faiza is a second year medical student at Howard University College of Medicine. Before medical school, she completed a Masters of Medical Sciences degree at LECOM and worked in a skin cancer surgery clinic. She attended University of Maryland, College Park and grew up in Maryland. During the summer, she worked in a radiation oncology lab at Stanford University where she learned about the impact of proteasome inhibitor drugs on DNA repair mechanisms. During her time at Stanford, she had the wonderful opportunity to scrub in to various cardiothoracic surgeries such as CABG procedures. Her interests are primarily in cardiothoracic surgery and cardiovascular health, especially in underserved areas. She is excited to work closely with a group of talented individuals who will accomplish incredible goals in their future careers in medicine.