Student Leadership and Governance

The president serves as the highest-ranking member of MSEC and is internally elected by current and former MSEC representatives, current and former student fellows, class presidents, and physician assistant representatives. The MSEC president acts as the primary liaison between the administration and the entire medical student body by regularly advising the deans, sitting on committees related to medical education and students, and nominating other students to committees. Finally, the MSEC president oversees all MSEC operations and other MSEC roles, and is responsible for conducting monthly internal and open meetings and organizing the election process.

Current MSEC President: Rebecca Nadler

Rebecca grew up in Ridgewood, NJ and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology, studying cell-based immunotherapies. She is active in MSEC, the Weill Cornell Community Clinic, and the Tri-I Association of Women in Science and Medicine, and research. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the city, cooking new recipes, and mentoring premed students. 

The vice president is internally elected by the same process as the president. The vice president works closely with the MSEC president in acting as a liaison between the student body and faculty. The vice president acts as a supporting link between the administration and the medical student body by meeting regularly with the deans and sitting on committees related to medical education and students. The vice president serves as the primary student representative organizing the Winter Formal (DecDec).

Current MSEC Vice President: Sonal Swain

Sonal was born in India, but grew up in Albany, NY, and graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in psychology and later, an MBA in healthcare management. Prior to medical school, she worked as a medical assistant in dermatology and family medicine, volunteered at her local free clinic, and conducted surgical outcomes research. She is active in MSEC, the WCMC Financial Literacy Initiative, Weill Rounded (a professional development program for first-year medical students), and research. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring cafes and restaurants around NYC, and working out.

The access and success representative works with the assistant dean of academic access and success to discuss needs, concerns, and ideas that the WCMC student body has about inclusiveness on campus. Historically it has included but is not limited to discussing issues of race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and women in medicine with the primary goal of supporting identity-based student organizations. The access and success representative can expand on the scope of what they intend to work on or limit it to specific passions in student affairs. The access and success representative also works with curricular deans directly to discuss student concerns. The representative is also involved in recruitment and admissions initiatives to ensure that the selection process is equitable. This is in collaboration with the associate and assistant deans for admissions.

Current Access and Success Representative: Nishant Chadha

Nishant is originally from Dublin, California, and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2025 with a degree in molecular and cellular biology and human rights. During his undergraduate years, he was involved in teaching and mentorship, leading courses and initiatives focused on navigating the pathway to medical school, addressing public health injustices, and supporting students in chemistry. Now a medical student at Weill Cornell, Nishant remains actively engaged in student leadership and service through MSEC, the admissions process, the South Asian Medical Student Association, Peer2Peer, and ongoing research. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing and watching basketball, football, and baseball, and competes in a bowling league back home.

The secretary is responsible for scheduling and recording minutes at all internal and open MSEC meetings. The secretary interfaces communication with WCMC students regarding meeting dates, caters food for open meetings, and prepares detailed summaries of open meetings to send to the student body. The secretary also helps to oversee student organizations. This involves maintaining student group CampusGroups pages and collecting data on student engagement with interest groups and their events. The secretary sits on select committees as needed. 

Current Secretary: Jacob Roy

Jacob is a first year student serving as this year’s MSEC secretary. Before coming to Weill Cornell, Jacob completed his BS in biology and master's in public affairs (MPA) at the University of Texas at Dallas. He is interested in specializing in pediatrics or surgery, with interdisciplinary career interests in policy and administration. In his free time, he enjoys playing music! Jacob currently plays six instruments, including the cello in WCM’s Music & Medicine orchestra. 

The student services representative interfaces directly with the staff of four distinct offices that work to improve the overall student experience at WCMC. These include the Offices of Financial Aid and Student Accounting, which engage the Student Services Representative to gather student feedback on the financial aid application cycle throughout the year. The representative also meets monthly with housing and security to communicate updates regarding campus safety, the housing reassignment process, and other housing related issues that arise. In addition, the student services representative corresponds with the Office of the Registrar regarding changes to enrollment procedures for clerkships and electives. Furthermore, the student services representative leads the Student Housing Advisory Committee (SHAC), facilitating meetings with housing staff, faculty, and representatives from the graduate and physician assistant schools. In this role, the student services representative also serves on the Student Health Board Advisory Committee, advocating for student needs related to health insurance plans, coverage, and access to care.

Current MSEC Student Services Representative: Alicia Ugenti

Alicia grew up in Westchester, NY, and graduated from Amherst College with a degree in biology and sexuality, women’s, and gender studies. Prior to medical school, she worked in pharmaceutical marketing, as a medical assistant, and as an advocate for children in foster care. She is active in MSEC, the Weill Cornell Human Rights Clinic, the New York Academy of Medicine’s Advocacy in Medicine program, and research. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, workout classes, and mentoring undergraduates.

The treasurer is responsible for the Dean's Discretionary Fund, which supports student organizations and MSEC-related activities. The treasurer is responsible for allocating the funds to student groups each semester, handling reimbursements, and maintaining a balanced budget. The treasurer also sits on several committees that interface with administration. 

Current MSEC Treasurer: Yusuf Rasheed

Yusuf hails from Fremont, a sunny suburb in the Bay Area. Following his interests in physics and medicine, he studied biomedical engineering at Yale University, where he also dove deep into research and patient care as an EMT. After graduating a year early, he worked as a programming fellow at Dwight Hall, Yale's Center for Public Service and Social Justice, spearheading volunteer programs to serve the local New Haven population. Now, Yusuf provides care to uninsured patients as the Co-Head of Vision Services at the Weill Cornell Community Clinic and volunteers with the Heart to Heart Clinic. As MSEC treasurer, he aims to help actualize his fellow students' visions for events and programming by providing funding and other financial support. He enjoys playing basketball, exploring New York City, and learning the stories of other people, especially his patients.

The wellness representative works with the Office of Student Life to propose and plan programs and resources to support all pillars of medical student wellness (e.g., physical, mental, emotional) throughout their time at WCMC. Oftentimes, this will include, but is not limited to, community-building events (e.g., ice cream social, open mic night) that aim to foster a sense of community across classes and programs at WCM. The wellness representative sits on the Student Life Committee (SLC). 

Current Wellness Representative: Eliza Brody

Eliza grew up outside of Philadelphia and stayed close by for college graduating from Haverford College in 2021, where she majored in biology and minored in neuroscience and health studies. She spent the time before medical school researching Parkinson’s disease at the University of Pennsylvania. Eliza is the co-president of Camp Phoenix and the Student Interest Group in Neurology and the volunteer director for Magic Aid. Outside of medicine, Eliza enjoys listening to classic rock (especially the Grateful Dead), yoga, art and spending time with her cat. 

The student fellow serves as a representative of the entire student body, including medical, graduate, PA, and Qatar students. During their three year term, the student fellow sits on institutional committees and advisory groups, meets on a quarterly basis with the full board, and works closely with MSEC and GSEC and senior administration to communicate student perspectives, advocate for student needs, and support initiatives related to medical education, student life, and campus planning. The student fellow also helps bridge communication between students and leadership and promotes transparency, inclusivity, and community engagement across Weill Cornell Medicine.

Current Student Fellow: Bryce Demopoulos

Bryce grew up in NYC and has been part of the WCM community since high school, volunteering within the hospital system before attending Cornell University where he studied biological engineering and astronomy. As an M1, he served as MSEC treasurer, and is now serving as Student Fellow for the 2024-2027 term. As Student Fellow, he is passionate about strengthening inter-program connectivity, promoting affordability and transparency, and ensuring that student voices are meaningfully represented in institutional decision-making. In his free time, Bryce plays basketball and Spikeball and probably too much chess.