Orientation Committee

Name: Amanda Holowatyj

Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: University at Buffalo, major: Biomedical Sciences (BS) and minor: Psychology

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): No gap year!

Favorite Part of Medical School: Building friendships and experiencing a community atmosphere at Jacobs has been my favorite part of medical school thus far. 

Medical School Organizations: Co-President for Project Sunshine, President for Best Buddies, Learning Community Representative 

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Chipotle, New York Beer Project, Saigon Café, Rock Burger

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Coaching for Girls on the Run Buffalo and spending time with family

Hobbies: Running with my dog, Maggie, gardening, singing, crafting, scrapbooking

Fun Fact: I am a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Email: alholowa@buffalo.edu

Name: Kwabena "Koby" Acheampong

Hometown: Plainsboro, N.J.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Lafayette College, BS Biology

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): Clinical Scientist, Bristol Myers Squibb & Medical Scribe, CityMD Newark

Favorite Part of Medical School: Anatomy and Community Connect

Medical School Organizations: Medical School Polity, Black Men in Which Coats, Orientation Committee

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Yalley's African Restaurant, Giancarlo's, Osteria 166

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Golfing

Hobbies: Fantasy sports, soccer, golf, podcasting, music

Fun Fact: Parents grew up in neighboring towns in Ghana, but did not meet until they arrived in the US and got married three months later

Email: acheampo@buffalo.edu

Name: Brianna Walker

Hometown: Hamburg, N.Y. 

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Canisius College where I majored in biology and minored in mathematics

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I took one gap year where over the summer I worked as an MA in a cardiology/Afib clinic and for the rest of the year worked as a scribe in a pediatrics office. 

Favorite Part of Medical School: The friends I have made throughout the first year. Also, anatomy lab! 

Medical School Organizations: Orthopedic Interest Group, Ruth Jackson Orthopedic Society, DoctHers, Orthopedic Summer Research

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Cafe59 and Mulberrys. Bar-Bill for wings

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Tailgating and going to Bills games

Hobbies: Reading, weightlifting and playing Wii party with Jenna

Fun Fact: My birthday is the emoji calendar

Email: brwalker@buffalo.edu

Name: Sam Testani

Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Biochemistry, physics 

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): Medical Assistant in an ENT office

Favorite Part of Medical School: Hanging out with friends after exams

Medical School Organizations: Medicine for Tomorrow 

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Bar-Bill or Wingnutz 

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Going to Bills tailgates and games

Hobbies: Basketball, Chess

Fun Fact: I used to work at a pizzeria 

Email: stestani@buffalo.edu

Name: Devere Knight

Hometown: Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Biology with a cell/molecular concentration

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): Yes, I took four in total; During my gap years I worked at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals as a Biotech Production Specialist, prepared for the MCAT, obtained clinical experience as a PCA in the step-down ICU at Albany Medical Center.

Favorite Part of Medical School: Being in an environment where I am supported and encouraged to follow my passions and express my true self. 

Medical School Organizations: M1 class representative, VP for the Urology Student Interest Group

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Fat Bobs, Wind Japanese & Thai, Burger IM, Allen Burger Venture 

Favorite Buffalo Activity: You guys have time for activities!?!? (Bills games)

Hobbies: Jiu-Jitsu, lifting weights, reading, meme creation, Mauy Thai

Fun Fact: I am the child of an Olympian

Email: deverekn@buffalo.edu

Name: Maya Hoke

Hometown: Baltimore, Md.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: University of Toronto, double major in public policy and history with a minor in economics

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I took a few gap years since I did not orignally intend to pursue medicine. I worked as a project coordinator at a non-profit in Toronto before moving to Philadelphia for my Post Bacc. After that I moved back to Baltimore and worked as a Neurology Clinical Research Coordinator in Baltimore.

Favorite Part of Medical School: The amazing community at UB! Buffalo really is the city of good neighbors and that translates to the community at Jacobs. 

Medical School Organizations: UBHEALS, Human Rights Initiative (HRI), Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN), Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP)

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Saigon Cafe, Coles, and Breadhive 

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Bills season and walking around Hoyt Lake in the summer

Hobbies: Baking, cooking, hiking and reading 

Fun Fact: I'm a dual American and Canadian citizen. 

Email: mayahoke@buffalo.edu

Name: Maya Zalewski

Hometown: Rockland County, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: The Pennsylvania State University, majored in biobehavioral health and minored in biology and neuroscience

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): No gap years 

Favorite Part of Medical School: Having the opportunity to learn in an environment surrounded by the best people and support system 

Medical School Organizations: Anesthesia Interest Group, Project Sunshine, UB Heals

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: BreadHive, Duff’s, Fuji Grill and Lloyd Taco Factory

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Getting to explore the city and new coffee places with friends 

Hobbies: Running, reading, and spending time with friends 

Fun Fact: My first language was Polish

Email: mayazale@buffalo.edu

Name: Jenna Onetto

Hometown: Orchard Park, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: University of Virginia, neuroscience and biology

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I worked as a medical assistant and scribe for an ENT in Buffalo during my gap year. 

Favorite Part of Medical School: All of the friends I’ve met and extracurriculars I’ve gotten involved in!

Medical School Organizations: Volunteer Coordinator for Lighthouse Free Clinic, Forensic Coordinator for Human Rights Initiative, Secretary for Neurosurgery Interest Group, Committee Member for Sight Savers, Medicine for Tomorrow, Project Sunshine, Ophthalmology Interest Group 

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Mothers, Gabriel’s Gate, The Ridge

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Visiting the AKG Museum or seeing live music downtown. 

Hobbies: Making music, reading, writing, drawing, volleyball

Fun Fact: I played in two rock bands in college.

Email: jennaone@buffalo.edu