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

Education Committee

Zach Bokhari

Zach Bokhari was born and raised in New Jersey and is a second-year medical student at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He graduated from Wake Forest University with degrees in Psychology and German before being awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to spend a year in Germany, where he taught middle and high school students. His time abroad gave him the opportunity to work with students from different backgrounds while further developing his longstanding interest in teaching and mentorship.

Zach is an aspiring academic cardiac surgeon with research interests in adult cardiac surgery and medical education. Having taught and tutored students of all ages for more than a decade, he hopes to build a career that combines patient care, research, and teaching. His interest in education also extends to patient advocacy, and he enjoys developing educational resources that help individuals with cardiovascular disease better understand and manage their health.

Outside of medicine, Zach enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family. He is excited to serve on the TSMA leadership team and looks forward to supporting students interested in pursuing careers in cardiothoracic surgery.

Calvin MacDonald

Calvin MacDonald is a third-year medical student at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. He received his BS in Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology from UCF, where he conducted research in pediatric rehabilitation. Calvin has a strong interest in cardiothoracic surgery, particularly academic congenital cardiac surgery. His involvement in the field includes clinical experience, research, mentorship, and student leadership, with multiple research projects focused on congenital heart disease, surgical outcomes, and innovative treatment strategies, as well as dedicated clinical experiences in congenital cardiac surgery.

At UCF, Calvin co-founded the Cardiothoracic Surgery Interest Group and serves as a Peer Academic Coach, supporting fellow medical students through mentorship and academic guidance. He is passionate about making cardiothoracic surgery education more accessible and helping students develop the foundational knowledge, and confidence needed to explore the specialty.

As a member of the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Education Committee, Calvin is committed to contributing to high-quality educational programming and resources that engage students at all stages of training and foster early interest in cardiothoracic surgery.

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Aaron Kleinertz

Aaron Kleinertz is a fourth-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Before medical school, he worked as a physician assistant in adult and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, where he developed a strong interest in surgical education through precepting clerkship students and serving as adjunct faculty for Milwaukee-area physician assistant programs, delivering lectures on congenital heart disease. His current research spans basic and translational science in adult and congenital heart disease, surgical innovation, and clinical outcomes.

Outside of medicine, Aaron plays hockey, softball, and golf and enjoys gardening, camping, and scuba diving with his wife, Camila. He is excited to help develop practical, engaging educational resources for students pursuing careers in cardiothoracic surgery.

Priya Joshi

Priya grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She was part of the Temple University BS/MD Program and is currently at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. She founded the Cardiothoracic Surgery Interest Group as one of the presidents of Babcock Surgical Society at her medical school to increase mentorship in and exposure to cardiothoracic surgery for students interested in the field. She also was one of the presidents of the Association of Women Surgeons at LKSOM. She served as the Co-Director of the Thrive Clinic, which provided free medical services to unhoused individuals in North Philadelphia and started a HIV and Hepatitis C testing program there as well. She is hoping to pursue a career in academic cardiothoracic surgery and is committed to research on aortic interventions, lung transplantation, and ECMO. Priya greatly enjoys singing, painting, photography, snorkeling, and spending time outdoors.

Emmanuel Odekunle

Emmanuel was born in Nigeria and has called New Jersey home for over a decade. He is currently completing a Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is conducting clinical and translational research. His work focuses on surgical outcomes and innovative approaches to heart preservation, transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. With a strong interest in cardiothoracic surgery, Emmanuel is passionate about expanding access to research and mentorship opportunities for students, especially those without home programs. Outside of medicine, Emmanuel is a former collegiate dance team captain, an advocate for creative expression, and is always on the hunt for the next great playlist. He is excited to work alongside the rest of the TSMA leadership to continue building an inclusive and inspiring community for students interested in cardiothoracic surgery.