2009-2010 ASA Medical Student Component Governing Council Left to Right:  Jeremy Haney, AMA Delegate; Matthew C. Gertsch, Chair Elect; James E. Phillips, Chair; Kevin J. Walsh, Secretary; Caroline Bradley Gibson Hunter, Member at Large. (Not pictured:  Michael R. Pascarella, Senior Advisor; Ryan Ensminger, MSC Alternate; Michael J. Oleyar, AMA Alternate Delegate).

Leadership Officials

James Phillips, Chair

James Phillips is a medical student at the University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNSOM), class of 2011. He has spent the past year as Chair-Elect under Michael Oleyar, the Immediate Past Chair. Throughout this past year James has gained perspective on the breadth of involvement that the ASA affords in many fields: education, policy, practice management, etc. He hopes to use that perspective to help medical students of all levels pursue their interests in anesthesia.  James completed his undergraduate work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology. Throughout his undergraduate work, James shadowed in pediatric, oncology, and radiology units, but it was a preceptorship in surgery that started his interest in anesthesia. James strives to open the accessibility of anesthesia to all medical students, especially to those without an academic anesthesia institution. James' career interests include pain management as well as cardiac anesthesia. James hopes to be a fulltime faculty member one day and possibly to start an anesthesia program at his medical school.

Matthew C. Gertsch , Chair-Elect

Matt Gertsch is a medical student at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, class of 2012.  Matt received his BS degree in Neuroscience from Brigham Young University, and before starting medical school spent one year at the National Institutes of Health conducting clinical research as a recipient of the Intramural Research Training Award.  As UNC’s delegate to the ASA, and as president of UNC’s Anesthesiology Interest Group, Matt has developed a love for the field of anesthesia.  His involvement in the service organization Cooperation of Orthopedics and Anesthesia between America and Nicaragua, has also played a huge role in his desire to pursue a career in anesthesiology.  After Matt’s first year of medical school, he completed the Medical Student Anesthesiology Research Fellowship, through the Foundation of Anesthesiology Education and Research.  As Chair-Elect, Matt is excited to implement activities and provide resources that will allow better and easier access to clinical, political, and research opportunities, both on a local and national level.

Michael Pascarella, Senior Advisor

Michael Pascarella is a fourth year medical student at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine.  Michael is a dual degree student and will be graduating this May with a D.O./J.D.  Michael served as a Medical Student Delegate to the ASA and attended the 2009 ASA national convention in New Orleans. Michael has an interest in anesthesia advocacy, health policy, and medical law.  He plans to complete an anesthesia residency, enter into academics and become a physician leader and advocate for the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Kevin Walsh, Secretary

Kevin is a third year medical student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington, CT.  Originally from Bolton, CT, he attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, and received a BA in Biochemistry.  Before beginning medical school Kevin worked at the University of Connecticut Health Center performing basic science research in the department of Genetics and Developmental Biology.  A summer preceptorship in anesthesia between his first and second years of medical school sparked his interest in anesthesiology.  Kevin would like to see the Medical Student Component become a forum that would encourage communication among medical students interested in anesthesiology, and would like to increase the awareness of anesthesiology among medical students.

Caroline Bradley Gibson Hunter, Member At Large

Caroline Watson is a third-year medical student at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, SC. Originally from Basking Ridge, NJ, Caroline attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a BS in Biology and a BA in History. Before beginning medical school, Caroline worked for one year as a Clinical Research Study Coordinator in the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine at MUSC. It was during this position that she discovered her interest in Anesthesiology. Caroline is currently the co-President of her school's newly founded Anesthesiology Interest Group. As Member-at-Large, she hopes to expand the awareness of the field of Anesthesiology and availability of mentors to medical students across the United States.

Jeremy Haney, AMA Delegate

Jeremy Haney is a medical student at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, class of 2010.  Jeremy completed his undergraduate work at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry.  While attending school at East Central University, Jeremy worked as a surgical orderly at Valley View Regional Hospital.  His interest in anesthesia was sparked while working as an anesthesia extern at the University of Oklahoma during his third and fourth year of medical school.  Jeremy would like to spread the importance of being an active voice in the political realm of the medical field.

Michael J. Oleyar, AMA Alternate Delegate

Michael Oleyar, class of 2010, is a student at Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM). Michael earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan and worked in the recovery room and operating rooms at the UM Health System. During his time in Ann Arbor he gained an interest in anesthesiology while working with perioperative physicians. After graduation Michael worked in New York City as an investment banking analyst before matriculating at Michigan State University. At MSUCOM he founded the college's first anesthesiology interest group and was elected president of the organization for the 2007-2008 academic year. He also represented his college as a 2007 FAER Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellow. Michael also worked to bring together students interested in anesthesiology from all medical schools in Michigan by working with physicians in the Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) to facilitate student involvement in the MSA. Research interests include medical education and information technology in anesthesiology.