Meet the Team
Board of Directors
Thomas Zhang
Founder & Director
Thomas recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Biology. He is currently a research associate in the Getz Lab at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Boston, where he works on cancer immunotherapy resistance mechanisms.
Ankitha Iyer
Co-Founder & Director
Ankitha is currently an M.D. Candidate at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Ankitha graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Emergency Medicine. She is also a paramedic.
Kaushik Venkatesh, MBA, MPH
Co-Founder, Director, and Northern VA President
Kaushik is currently an M.D. Candidate at Harvard Medical School. He received an MPH in Health Policy from George Washington University, where he also previously earned his MBA.
A strong believer in patient and personal advocacy, he has founded several other non-profits. Kaushik has also been authored in numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications with a focus in dermatology and dermatological health disparities. He is also a Board Member of the Loudoun Health Commission, optimizing the public health system of 400k Loudoun County, VA residents.
Pitt Chapter
President
Liz is a senior majoring in Biology and Sociology, with minors in Mediterranean Art and Archaeology and Chemistry. Outside of class, Liz works at Western Psych. as an SBA and is a member of Dhirana. Liz also volunteers with HELP and the Do Crew at UPMC Shadyside.
Liz Timple
Erin Garvey
Co-Vice President
Erin is a senior majoring in Communication Science and Disorders, with a minor in Linguistics and a certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. She is also a member of Pitt’s chapter of the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association. Outside of classes and Aldercare, Erin assists with research in the Infant Communication Lab and volunteers at the Children’s Institute.
Satya Paruchuri
Co-Vice President
Satya is a junior majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology, with a minor in Chemistry and a Conceptual Foundations of Medicine certificate. When not at school, she is a Patient Experience Ambassador at UPMC Presbyterian and is making major strides on stroke rehabilitation research at the UPMC Presbyterian Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Kat Wilbraham
Business Manager and Social Media Manager
Kat is a sophomore planning to major in Nutrition Science with a minor in Administration of Justice. She is also a member of Pitt CHAARG and enjoys dancing, Pilates, and yoga. Outside of academics, Kat likes to listen to music and spend time with her friends.
Want to become a volunteer at the Pitt Chapter? We'd love to have you on our team! Learn how to get involved here.
Satya Paruchuri
Vice President
Satya is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh. She hopes to aid the senior citizens of her community through Aldercare as well as volunteering at her local fire and rescue.
Programs and Outreach Manager
Dhanush Bhanka
Dhanush: Dhanush is a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Dhanush enjoys studying biology and reading in his free time. Dhanush also volunteers at the INOVA Fairfax Hospital and tutors elementary and middle school kids at his local library. He wishes to be able to provide senior citizens with new experiences they haven't experienced before and help improve their quality of life.
Manas Kethireddy
Kids & Seniors Program Manager
Manas is a senior at Chantilly High School. His goal for Aldercare is to assist senior citizens to connect with their families. He is a dedicated volunteer and has experience with teaching clubs that he has led and through instructing positions he has taken in the past.
Northern Virginia Chapter
Kaushik Venkatesh, MBA
President
Kaushik is currently an M.D. Candidate at Harvard Medical School. He received an MPH in Health Policy from George Washington University, where he also previously earned his MBA.
