RUSM Alumni Council
The RUSM Alumni Council serves as the Alumni Association’s governing body, providing a voice and assisting in the development of programs and initiatives that are beneficial to all alumni.
Dr. Galanopoulos has spent most of his medical career in the state of Kentucky, first as a resident at the University of Louisville Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine, then as a family practitioner in Hopkinsville. He recently transitioned back to his native country, Canada, where he works in outpatient family medicine. Dr. Galanopoulos’s professional interests include obesity medicine, addiction medicine, complimentary medicine, teaching both medical students and residents, as well as using telemedicine to help patients overcome obstacles to medical care.
Dr. Wilson was a non-traditional student having started medical school at Ross 11 years after graduating from the University of California, Davis. He developed a passion for sports very early in life and has competed in many different sports throughout his lifetime. After completing his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco - Fresno Medical Education Program, sports medicine was a very natural next step for him. He completed his Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. He currently works at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara, California doing non-operative orthopedics and sports medicine. He is a competitive tennis player and former USPTA certified teaching professional. In addition to his full time medical practice, he is completing his law degree at Concord School of Law through Purdue University Global, expecting to complete his JD in June 2020.
Dr. Woo was born and raised in central New Jersey. From a young age, she shared a passion for both music and medicine. She earned her bachelor of music degree from Vanderbilt University, while simultaneously completing her pre-medicine pre-requisite courses. She made her way through MERP in Fall 2012 and started first semester in Dominica in January 2013. She completed her core clinical clerkships in the South Florida Track, including Cleveland Clinic Florida. Internal Medicine was her first rotation and she fell in love with both the specialty and hospital - so much so that she is now at the hospital as a PGY-3 in Internal Medicine.
Dr. Agha is a practicing Internal Medicine specialist in Charlotte, North Carolina and has been in private practice for over 20 years. After completing his undergraduate education at Wake Forest University, he participated in cardiovascular research at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Dr Agha received his medical degree from RUSM in 1993 and subsequently completed his internal medicine residency at the Yale affiliated Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut. He has worked as a consultant and speaker for numerous Pharmaceutical companies and continues to do so. Currently, he is conducting a number of clinical trials as Principal Investigator, for various diseases and new technologies.
Dr. Alia found her calling in the field of OB/GYN while rotating at Mt. Sinai Hospital during her third year at Ross. Her passion for helping others led her to become a peer tutor, mentor and neuroanatomy teaching assistant while on island. During her fourth year, she became involved with Atlantic Humanitarian Relief, an organization that coordinates medical missions to Jordan and Syria. Now in her second year of residency, Dr. Alia is preparing for her third mission abroad.
Dr. Bajwa is currently completing his residency training in family medicine at the University of California at Riverside. In 2016, Dr. Bajwa earned a scholarship to the American Academy of Family Physician’s Emerging Leaders Institute. Through this award, he developed and implemented a curriculum for local high school students to engage in health advocacy in their communities. Dr. Bajwa has a passion for public health, earning his MPH from Thomas Jefferson University and co-founding the Ross Global Public Health Association on campus. His future plans include teaching and working in community health development.
Dr. Scales completed her residency training in Family Medicine at AnMed Health Medical Center in Anderson, SC, serving as chief resident during her final year. More recently, she has been practicing in the field of hospice and palliative care. Dr. Scales is currently a professional member of South Carolina Medical Association, Spartanburg Women in Medicine Society, as well as the AAFP. She is also an active member of Make a Wish Foundation SC fundraising, Union SC Junior Charity League, Friend of the Union County Carnegie Library, and New Spring Church.
Dr. Green is currently completing his residency training in internal medicine at the University of Florida. He is a member of several professional organizations including the American Medical Student Association, American College of Physicians and American College of Gastroenterology. Dr. Green is grateful for the opportunity given to him by Ross. “As an alumni council member, I would like to share my story and help other students in search of finding a home at a prestigious university.”
Dr. Junaid enrolled at RUSM after completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Miami. After receiving his medical degree in 2004, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at University of California-Los Angele’sVeterans Affairs and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Junaid currently works at Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael. He cites his decision to attend RUSM as “one of the best decisions of my life.” Dr. Junaid attests that his Ross experience helped him learn how dedication and hard work can lead to a fulfilling career and life.
Prior to enrolling in medical school, Dr. King was an accomplished educator, having taught anatomy at several prestigious medical schools in the Boston area and abroad, including RUSM. During his last two years on faculty at RUSM, he concurrently attended RUSM as a medical student. Upon graduation, Dr. King obtained a categorical residency at the Medical College of Georgia and went on to serve as chief surgery resident in 2014-2015. Following residency, he completed his fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery at the University of Minnesota. Dr. King is currently on faculty at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and prior to enrolling at RUSM, Dr. Lal studied abroad in the Czech Republic pursuing medicine. After attending RUSM, she completed her Anatomical Pathology Residency at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Centre and Forensic Pathology Fellowship at Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office in Detroit, Michigan. She began her career in death investigation as a Medical Examiner in Calgary, Alberta before transitioning home to Toronto where she works for the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service as a Forensic-Pathologist and Coroner for the Province. She overseas and teaches medical and pathology residents as well as medical students rotating through her office.
Although born in Ukraine, Dr. Nuzhny considers himself an Angelino native, as he spent most of his life in Los Angeles. After completing his clinical years in Bakersfield, California, he developed a strong sense of devotion to providing medical care to those who rarely seek it. This experience gave him a deep appreciation for various cultural differences as well as guided him in perfecting his patient approach. After graduation, he took up a position of a Junior Faculty at California Hospital where he was involved in teaching and mentoring other medical students. Dr. Nuzhny is currently waiting to start his residency at Eisenhower Medical Center where he will pursue his dream of becoming a family medicine physician.
Dr. Salhab started at RUSM in Fall 2003. During his time as a student, he received several honors and awards including being named to RUSM’s Dean’s Honor List, National Dean’s List and membership of Phi Theta Kappa. After graduation, Dr. Salhab completed his radiology residency at SUNY Downstate and neuroradiology fellowship at Yale University. Dr. Salhab recently relocated to his native state of Florida and is currently in private practice in the Tampa area.
Dr. Zito is a Native New Yorker. He attended Hofstra University where he earned a B.S. in Community Health and M.S. in Health Administration. As a graduate of Ross University School of Medicine in 2007, he became the Chief Resident at Stony Brook University Medical Center before completing his Critical Care Fellowship at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. Dr. Joseph Zito is currently the Vice Chairman and Associate Director of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine in Long Island, New York.
Alyson completed her undergraduate training at Eastern Washington University, receiving a BS in Biology, BA in Psychology, and a Master’s Certificate in Addiction Studies. She is passionate about providing medical relief and aid internationally, a cause even dearer to her heart following her experience with Hurricane Maria in Dominica. During medical sciences, Alyson served as Student Government Association Class Representative and two terms as President, the first aboard FloatingU in St. Kitts and the second during RUSM's inaugural semester in Knoxville, TN. She is currently completing her core clerkships at California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. In addition to serving on the Alumni Council, Alyson also currently serves as the January Senator for the Clinical Student Government Association, overseeing the representation of the January 2019 clinical cohort track sites.
Andrew “Andy” White is currently starting his second semester of study on the Barbados Campus. He is incredibly humbled and excited for the opportunity to represent the current group of medical sciences students and provide the Council with an objective and real account of student life on the island. In addition to serving on the RUSM Alumni Council, Andrew also represents his classmates on the Honor Council and the General Assembly. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Andrew obtained a B.A. in Religious Studies from Wofford College, as well as a Master’s of Science in Biomedical Science from Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is interested in a variety of specialties and hopes to practice in the “South” after graduation.