SSRFC Operating Committee Elections

SSRFC Operating Committee

The Operating Committee represents the active student leadership of the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics. The committee executes the day-to-day operations of the organization and plays a major role in setting the tone and direction of the organization. The positions below are available for ambitious students from any health profession who want to make a difference for student-run free clinics nation-wide.

All positions require nomination and self-nomination is encouraged. The nominating period for the 2024-2025 Operating Committee will run from June 17th, 2024 to October 19, 2024. Nomination prior to arriving at the meeting is strongly encouraged as there will be very limited time at the conference to promote your candidacy. With your nomination, you will submit a photo in electronic form along with your vision and past experience with similar roles. The profiles will also be made available directly to voting representatives of each clinic at the conference. Individuals may only be nominated for a single position and are ineligible for any position he or she has held for 2 years.

The election will occur following the Election Meeting on Saturday, October 19, 2024. At the Election Meeting, candidates will each be provided a short time (~1-2 minutes) to speak about their background and their vision for the position. While attendance by candidates is not required, it is strongly encouraged. Voting will be done by 2 voting representatives from each Active Member Academic Institution. Voting Representatives are allowed to be nominees, but are not required to be. Please refer to the election rules for more specific details on elections, voting representatives, and operating committee positions. 

Click here to fill out the 2024 Operation Committee Nomination Form!

National President (1 person)

Duties: As National President, you are “the face of the SSRFC.”  Duties include setting the strategic direction of the organization as part of the Board of Directors, overseeing the Operating Committee, answering or redirecting all emails to the SSRFC email account, being available for news interviews, and developing partnerships or fiscal relationships for the organization. This is a two-year position with the first year spent as “National President-Elect” to train under the current National President. The following year you would serve as the National President.

Requirements:  

  1. Previous conference attendance preferred
  2. Ability to attend the National Conference for the two years following the election
  3. Hours required: 2-3 hr/wk during light months (Oct-Feb), 4-10 hr/wk during busy months (Mar-Sep)

Conference Coordinator (1 person)

Duties: As Conference Coordinator, you are in charge of planning and organizing the SSRFC conference. If you like creating events that positively affect hundreds of students simultaneously, this position is for you. We are in need of visionaries with a strong work ethic to establish SSRFC as a premiere independent student-run conference nationally. This is a two-year position with the first year spent as “Conference Coordinator-elect” to train under the current Conference Coordinator. The following year, you would serve as Conference Coordinator.

Requirements:

  1. Previous conference attendance preferred
  2. Ability to attend the National Conference for the two years following election
  3. Hours required: 1 hr/wk during light months (Oct-Feb), 6-10 hr/wk during busy months (Mar-Sep)

Finance Chair (1 person)

Duties: As Finance Chair, you secure future funding and track current finances of the SSRFC. You will consult with others on the Operating Committee to prioritize spending and plan for future financial needs. You will also help set funding priorities and lead grant and fundraising efforts. This is a two-year position with the first year spent as “Finance Chair-elect” to train under the current Finance Chair. The following year you would serve as Finance Chair. This position does not require prior finance experience, but strong communication skills and a willingness to learn are important.

Requirements:

  1. Ability to attend the National Conference for the two years following election
  2. Hours required: 5 hr/month

Research/Publications Chairs (Up to 2 people)

Duties: As Research/publications chairs, you are charged with national research initiatives for student-run clinics. Historically, this has included multi-institutional research projects and a database of projects. This position often works closely with the Conference Coordinator and the Journal of Student-run Clinics editors to promote research-related initiatives.

Requirements:

  1. Ability to attend the following year’s National Conference
  2. Hours required: 5-10 hr/month

Communications Chair (1 person)

Duties:  As Communications Chair, you are the creative director of communication for the SSRFC.  In this role, you will not only direct the content, look and feel of SSRFC communications, but will work to build a stronger community among student-run free clinics. As communications chair, you will work with the National Coordinator to develop news briefs and answer media requests. In the coming year, you will likely focus on promoting new initiatives including the Journal of Student-Run Clinics, the new conference format and maintenance of a new national database of student-run clinics.

Requirements:

  1. Ability to attend the following year’s National Conference
  2. Hours required: 3-8 hr/month

Technology/Webmaster Chairs (Up to 2 people)

Duties: As Technology/webmaster chairs, you will maintain the SSRFC website and are in charge of improving and maintaining the SSRFC listserv and working on the new student-run clinic database. The website is an important public face of the organization and functions not only to communicate vital information, but to project the value of the organization. You will support the rest of the operating committee with their technology needs. In the coming year, you will likely focus on integrating new tools, such as the forum, student-run clinic database and conference registration, into the existing SSRFC website.  IT experience is helpful and encouraged but not required as long as you have a willingness to learn.

Requirements:

  1. Ability to attend the following year’s National Conference
  2. Hours required: 4-8 hr/month

2024-2025 Operating Committee Nominations:

Owen Lubinski

George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences

National President-Elect Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

My vision for the position and Operating Team is three-fold: collaboratively establish SRFC guidelines, sponsor advocacy for our clinics, students, and patients, and facilitate the creation of an accreditation committee.

First, I hope to sponsor teamwork between our Operating Committee, our Board of Directors, and contacts at clinics around the world to create operational guidelines for SRFCs. These guidelines will expand upon the “24 Steps to Starting a SRFC” to define general standard operating benchmarks for SRFCs, including suggestions for individual SRFC’s development, leadership, operations, patient care, and mentorship.

In advocacy, student voices carry significant power, and an interest in Health Policy and my medical education in Washington, D.C. has taught me that. My hope for the Operating Team would be to utilize our status as a national organization with over 380 affiliated clinics to showcase critical gaps in policy and healthcare for vulnerable populations, as well as gaps in legislation surrounding SRFCs and student-driven care, leveraging our voices as future healthcare professionals for the betterment of our clinics.

Finally, it is important for our organization and the Operating Team to give back to the members and students who drive the success of SRFCs around the world. To do this, the Operating Team can establish an accreditation body that would officially accredit SRFCs as determined by our community-developed operational benchmarks, providing SRFCs our support while also centralizing standards to assure high quality care in SRFCs around the world.

What prior experience do you have?

Serving as the Executive Director of the umbrella organization for our student-driven volunteer groups has been the experience of a lifetime. As Executive Director, I prioritized teamwork and collaboration between our organization’s 26 directors, including a SRFC and six other initiatives, utilizing their talents to direct and define the vision for our organization, while keeping the care of our patients and the experiences of our volunteers at the core of our work.

In the span of 8 months, the team was able to establish 7 new community programs, creating opportunities for our volunteers to work with many diverse groups of patients across Washington, D.C., such as practicing street medicine, working in HIV care, and training community members in harm reduction. The team also created a new branch dedicated to student-driven LGBTQ+ healthcare- a field I am passionate about as an openly queer medical student. Additionally, we grew our organization by 136%, improved volunteer engagement across all branches with over 1,800 hours of volunteering in our SRFC alone, and provided care for countless residents in the DMV free of charge.

Another focus of the team was to create central standard operating procedures for each division of our organization and secure additional, well-established faculty advisors for each branch. With the collaboration of our executive board, we have successfully added 3 new faculty members, redefined the structure of our organization, and developed operating procedures for each branch, partnership, and leadership team, which have proven adaptable across all our initiatives.

Delaney Griffiths

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

National President-Elect Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

My vision as National President-Elect for the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics is to strengthen the network of clinics by enhancing communication and collaboration beyond the annual conference. Each clinic works tirelessly to secure funding, launch new initiatives, and improve patient health outcomes, including addressing social determinants of health. However, the potential for even greater impact lies in our ability to connect more regularly, share resources, and exchange strategies. To this end, I plan to expand the Webinar series, inviting student-run clinics to present on areas where they have unique expertise. This would not only spotlight innovative practices but also create a living knowledge base that others can benefit from year-round.

As President of the Interprofessional Community Clinic, my focus has been on sustainability—a critical need for all clinics. While we often dream of expanding services and reaching more patients, we face recurring challenges such as recruiting volunteers, establishing effective protocols, and securing necessary funding. By making existing resources, protocols, and solutions from other clinics easily accessible, we could shift focus from reinventing processes to implementing proven methods. This would enable clinics to set more achievable goals based on the real-world experiences of others, fostering greater efficiency and growth.

As president, I will prioritize creating more opportunities for networking and organizing need-based workshops at the next conference, tailored to the most pressing challenges clinics face today. Through collaboration and shared knowledge, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for student-run free clinics and the communities we serve.

What prior experience do you have?

As President of the Interprofessional Community Clinic at Rosalind Franklin University, I’ve gained valuable experience leading a student-run clinic with a focus on patient care and sustainability. I’ve spearheaded initiatives to improve access to care, addressing social determinants of health through initiatives like covering the cost of our patients’ medications and supporting those with transportation insecurity by providing Uber vouchers.

A key accomplishment has been maintaining specialty clinics that address community-specific needs, including pelvic health, pediatrics, and ophthalmology. These clinics were established in response to gaps in care, such as year-long waitlists for Pap smears and the need for diabetic eye exams. This expansion has allowed us to offer more comprehensive, tailored healthcare, making a tangible difference in our patients’ lives.

My experience in creating sustainable programs and addressing social determinants of health has prepared me to lead the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics. I am eager to leverage this knowledge to foster nationwide collaboration and innovation, improving patient care and creating lasting change.

Carl Russell

Indiana University School of Medicine

National President-Elect Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

As the national president-elect of the Society of Student Run Free Clinics, my vision is to foster a culture of increased collaboration, streamlined patient care, and strategic innovation within our organization. By prioritizing collaborative efforts among clinics, we can enhance knowledge sharing, maximize resources, and improve patient outcomes. I aim to create a network where best practices are easily accessible, and collective problem-solving becomes the norm.

To streamline patient care, I plan to establish standardized protocols that are adaptable to diverse clinic settings, ensuring quality and consistency. By implementing an intuitive digital platform, we can unify records management, making it easier for volunteers to deliver seamless and effective care.

Hosting all major events in Indianapolis, known as the Crossroads of America, will be a central aspect of my strategy. This location’s accessibility will facilitate national travel, increase participation, and reduce barriers to involvement. Indianapolis not only offers logistical convenience but also provides a vibrant and culturally rich backdrop that fosters community-building.

Together, we can set a new standard for student-led healthcare initiatives, making them more efficient, connected, and impactful.

What prior experience do you have?

Student leader on research and education teams. Passionate member Students for the Prevention of Kidney Disease.

Sohawm Sengupta

Augusta University

Conference Coodinator-Elect Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

In this role, I aim to foster multi-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the quality and impact of research regarding student-run clinics with a focus on addressing healthcare disparities and inequities nationwide. I hope to facilitate spotlighting incredible interventions that positively impact health outcomes in communities while nurturing the research skills of future physicians with a passion for spearheading these achievements. I plan to develop new partnerships with medical schools and free clinics across the country to create a more robust network of student-run clinics to increase partnerships between programs, creating more impactful projects that address pressing healthcare challenges faced by the underserved.

I hope to support student-run clinics in becoming the leaders in producing community-based research by partnering SSRFC members with mentors and organizing platforms for sharing research ideas, protocols, and guidance on research projects. I envision creating a central research hub for students that emphasizes collaboration and goal-directed progression toward conducting impactful research that can be replicated in communities across the country. By cultivating a welcoming environment for students to learn and grow as both researchers and clinic leaders, I plan to create a space where students can produce quality research that can spark meaningful change that improves health outcomes.

What prior experience do you have?

I previously served as an intern with a national non-profit, United Against Inequities in Disease, overseeing and editing submissions for the Journal of Health Equity. I learned how to effectively support individuals looking to disseminate their research by streamlining submission processes and providing clear guidelines that worked to improve the quality and organization of submissions. This opportunity sparked my interest in facilitating organized research as I currently serve as a Vice President for the Research Know-How for Medical Students Interest Group at my medical school. This role has taught me how to make research more accessible to students who may feel intimidated by the process. With an emphasis on supporting students who may find it difficult to begin conducting research, this experience has provided me with the tools that would make me successful in expanding the outreach of SSRFC-related research projects even further.

As a coordinator for a student-run free clinic, I have gotten an opportunity to better understand the impact that can be made on individuals in the community through providing patient-tailored care. Beyond just seeing patients and treating them, there are numerous ways in which we can support them through intentional preventative care and focused post-visit follow-up. I have been able to work with patients directly to better understand ways to support them, which has furthered my desire to generate better supportive care through research-driven interventions. With this combination of prior experiences, I can help create a strong research network to promote national research initiatives for student-run clinics.

Janvi Patel

University of Texas at Southwestern

Finance Chair-Elect Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

As Finance Chair for the SSRFC, I aim to build a sustainable and transparent financial foundation supporting the organization’s current operations and future growth. I will prioritize diversifying funding sources through grants, partnerships, and innovative fundraising strategies, reducing reliance on any single revenue stream. I will prioritize data-driven financial decisions to ensure that spending aligns with SSRFC’s mission, maximizing its impact on student medical education and hands-on experiences and disseminating knowledge that enhances the effectiveness of free clinics nationwide. Collaboration with the Operating Committee will be vital in setting funding priorities while cultivating solid relationships with external stakeholders, such as donors and sponsors, to secure ongoing support for critical initiatives. Additionally, I will implement transparent financial tracking systems for accountability and create a seamless transition plan to empower future leadership, ensuring long-term stability and growth for the organization.

What prior experience do you have?

As a healthcare management major in college, I developed a strong foundation in financial management, learning how to track and analyze financial activities using tools like Excel, which allowed me to handle budgeting, forecasting, and expense tracking with precision. This academic background gave me a comprehensive understanding of financial operations within healthcare settings, which is particularly relevant to managing finances for the SSRFC.

In addition to my academic training, I have hands-on experience managing financial activities for a national spiritual organization. This role required me to oversee multiple revenue streams, monitor expenses, and ensure transparency in financial reporting, which helped sharpen my organizational and financial oversight skills. I was responsible for providing clear and accurate financial data to leadership, which improved decision-making and optimized resource allocation.

What sets me apart is my eagerness to continue learning. While I bring a solid understanding of financial management, I am motivated to expand my knowledge of nonprofit fundraising, grants, and economic strategy in the healthcare sector. I am confident that this blend of experience and a commitment to growth will allow me to effectively manage SSRFC’s finances and contribute to its national success.

Will Miklavcic

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Research & Publications Chair Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

As research and publications chair, I would have two primary goals. First, I would work to develop a mentor-mentee network for SSFRC members that matches students across universities and specialties with more experienced members with similar research interests. The goal of this pairing would be both to build the national community of SSFRC members while also creating a track for new SSFRC members to efficiently learn how to get involved with and publish high quality research in the Journal of Student-Run Clinics and beyond. Second, I would work to increase both the number, and the significance of research publications submitted by SSFRC members. To achieve this, I would seek to expand inter-clinic collaborations to promote multi-site research projects. This would result in collaborative publications that are both more statistically-powered and broadly applicable to other student-run clinics across the country- generating even more data on how to improve our clinics. With the accomplishment of these two goals, SSFRC members will have enhanced opportunities to conduct research studying student-run clinics both in their communities and at other sites across the country- gaining invaluable networking, leadership, and research opportunities.

What prior experience do you have?

As an MD/PhD student, I have had the opportunity to be involved with student-run free clinics for over 5 years. During this time, I have held numerous leadership and outreach positions at my local student-run free clinic in Omaha, NE. I have found that I am passionate about improving these clinics both in my community and nationwide, and in pursuing this have launched numerous outreach and quality improvement initiatives, many of which I have published on or I am in the process of publishing on. I have helped launch a PrEP for HIV prescription program, created shuttle services between our clinics and local homeless shelters, orchestrated sweeping online advertising campaigns, and developed systems for recruiting patients to our clinics directly from the Emergency Department. I have attended three other SSFRC annual meetings and have served as a reviewer for the Journal of Student-Run Clinics for the past year. Finally, I, alongside two other collaborators, was awarded a 2024 SSFRC Inter-Clinic Research Grant, which helped fund collaborative efforts to study recruitment of patients eligible for PrEP in Omaha, NE and in Columbus, OH. From all of these experiences, I feel I have gained perspectives and insights into how to efficiently design, launch, coordinate, and publish research on student-run clinics, and now I hope to use this experience to help improve the research opportunities available to members in the SSFRC.

Katayoun Elizabeth Khalilian

University of Texas Southwestern

Research & Publications Chair Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

My vision is to foster inter-institutional collaboration and promote equitable access to research opportunities across student-run clinics, especially for medical schools with limited institutional support for their free clinics.

I plan to achieve this by hosting a monthly research office hour for student managers and by creating online guide packets assisting students in setting up projects. These packets will cover start-to-finish steps for beginning QI projects and navigating institutional IRB processes. They will include guides for developing protocols, selecting validated surveys, applying for grants, and planning data analysis, along with protocol and poster templates. By offering structured, open-access resources, we can lower barriers to research participation, improve research efforts, and ensure students from all institutions have the resources they need to succeed.

I will also establish an enhanced, easily accessible database of past conference posters to complement the current Journal database, complete with the contact information (with permission) of former presenters. This will help to inspire project ideas, reduce redundancy, and facilitate collaboration between institutions. I do this with the hopes that students will have the resources to reach out, ask questions, and collaborate with prior presenters to learn and further their own individual projects. I believe that connecting students across different programs will not only accelerate research efforts but also build a strong network of future community health leaders.

My goal is to create a supportive environment where mentorship, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing thrive, ensuring all students—regardless of their institutional resources—can contribute meaningfully to research and community health.

What prior experience do you have?

My experience includes working on institution-wide projects to improve patient care, grant writing and program design, and public speaking and research mentorship experience.

As a manager of one of my university’s free clinics, I have worked with my team to design a new program curriculum based on evidence-based practices focusing on stress management in addiction recovery. I work alongside faculty at my county’s safety-net hospital to design outreach initiatives aimed at increasing PrEP prescriptions, and am currently investigating how enhanced HIV prevention outreach models can improve patient retention and reach the individuals most vulnerable to infection.

I bring experience in grant writing and program design at the state and non-profit level, having worked for the Saffron Trust and the Texas Workforce Commission in Austin to design programs and secure funding based on program quality and impact.

I also have a strong background in public speaking and research mentorship. As a national champion in public speaking and political forensic research, I served as a member of the American Forensic Association’s topic-writing team for two years, giving me valuable skills in working collaboratively to run national meetings. Post undergrad, I worked as a research mentor and speech coach for students from socioeconomically diverse backgrounds, guiding them in developing research skills, presenting at national meetings, and working directly with community partners on creating community-driven solutions.

These experiences have prepared me to promote inter-institutional collaboration, develop resources to aid students in research and develop innovative, high-quality initiatives to better our communities.

Brianna Daphnis

University of Texas Southwestern

Technology Chair Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

My vision for the Technology Chair position is to create a seamless, efficient, and engaging digital presence for the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics (SSRFC). I aim to ensure that the website reflects the organization’s core values and is an accessible hub for all users, including students, healthcare professionals, and volunteers.

I aim to enhance the user experience by integrating the new student-run clinic database, forum, and conference registration seamlessly into the site, ensuring they are intuitive and functional for both new and returning users. Additionally, I see the listserv as an essential communication tool that can be improved for better engagement, providing timely updates, and fostering a stronger sense of community. By actively collaborating with the operating committee, I will ensure that their technology needs are met and that the website continues to serve as a vital resource for all.

What prior experience do you have?

As the Public Relations Officer for Northeastern University Emergency Medical Services (NUEMS), I gained valuable experience managing digital platforms. I maintained our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, where I consistently posted three informational updates weekly. I also publicized course offerings to the public and assisted in managing the NUEMS website, ensuring it remained a relevant and informative resource. These responsibilities helped me develop skills in digital communication, website management, and audience engagement.

As Co-President of the Paul Quinn Primary Care Project, I further expanded my expertise by organizing and promoting events across various digital media platforms, which significantly increased student involvement. This role also involved facilitating stronger connections between students, deans, and external organizations, allowing me to refine my ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.

Both experiences have provided me with a solid foundation in managing digital tools and using technology to enhance engagement—skills I am eager to bring to the role of Technology Chair for SSRFC.

Ashna Shah

University of Texas Southwestern

Technology Chair Nominee

What is your vision for the position?

My vision for the Technology/Webmaster Chair position at the National Student-Run Free Clinics is to enhance the organization’s digital presence by creating an accessible and seamless online platform that reflects our mission and values. I aim to optimize the SSRFC website and listserv, ensuring they function as powerful tools for communication, collaboration, and resource-sharing among student-run clinics across the country.

I envision a user-friendly interface for the new student-run clinic database, making it a go-to resource for clinics to share best practices, clinic success stories, and operational strategies. I hope to create a forum that allows for open discussion so that students have a platform for effective collaboration, and a centralized location to offer or receive guidance from other students. I will create a website that focuses on the interconnected nature of our free clinics systems to empower students, clinic leaders, and healthcare professionals to connect and learn from one another, while maintaining the accessibility and professionalism.

Specifically, I aim to enhance the current website and database by working on a student-run free clinics map that will allow for interactive features to display each clinic’s mission, ongoing projects, and recommended resources/tips. I hope to integrate the new forum into the larger database, so that students can find ways to directly reach out leadership in local free clinics for efficient communication.

Ultimately, I want to ensure that SSRFC’s website and related technologies not only communicate vital information, but also strengthen the identity of SSRFC for more streamlined and efficient collaboration between clinics.

What prior experience do you have?

My prior experience as a Research Lead for a patient navigator program within UTSW student-run clinics gave me valuable insight into clinic operations, data management, and technology use. I work with large research databases and listservs to organize clinic, volunteer, and patient information, skills that will be directly applicable when maintaining and improving the SSRFC’s student-run clinic database. I have created RedCap surveys and online student forums to discuss the successes and challenges encountered by our volunteers, allowing us to target how to improve the operations of our program and collect vital research data. These skills provide me with the technical background to manage the website, registration, and SSFRC database.

Furthermore, as a Volunteer Coordinator for a non-profit organization focused on health education for at-risk youth, I managed various online tools to streamline volunteer engagement and developed communication strategies across multiple platforms to coordinate volunteer training, allowing me to create an efficient and cohesive digital presence. Creating appealing materials to engage students was a key aspect of my role, which will translate well into developing a creative and interactive website platform and free clinic database.

I have developed a strong foundation in technology management through hands-on experience with web platforms, social media tools, and digital collaboration tools. I am eager to expand my technical knowledge and contribute to the seamless integration of new tools, such as the forum and conference registration system, to further the impact and reach of the SSFRC mission.