Orientation Committee

Hello everyone!

We’re your Orientation Committee for the Class of 2030! First and foremost, congratulations and welcome! We are very excited for orientation week and the start of the school year in August. 

We will be sending you a lot of information about orientation over the next couple months, so be sure to check your emails regularly and stay up to date with all the information we have provided for you. Our goal is to make this as easy of a transition as possible. So please, if you have any questions, do not be afraid to ask! You can send any questions to our orientation email account jsmbsorientation@gmail.com or directly to any one of our Orientation Committee leaders. We are here to help! 

Can’t wait to meet all of you! 

- Your Orientation Committee

Noah Brosnick portrait.

Name: Noah Brosnick

Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: SUNY Geneseo, BS Biology.

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I took a gap semester where I did research at Roswell Park, volunteered at Mercy Hospital and worked as a restaurant griller.

Favorite Part of Medical School: Meeting new friends, participating in amazing opportunities and events, and learning something new everyday.

Medical School Organizations: Research with the Division of Population Health.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Texas de Brazil.

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Going to Shea’s, Sabres games, and Bills games.

Hobbies: Playing baseball, watching the Mets, playing the piano, and collecting LEGO sets.

Fun Fact: I have a pet turtle named Turnup.

Email: noahbros@buffalo.edu

Nicholas Constantinescco portrait.

Name: Nicholas Constantinescco

Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: University of Pittsburgh, major: Biological Sciences (BS) and minor: Chemistry, French.

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): Yes. Over my four gap years, I conducted and published basic science research in immunology, engaged in clinical activities, and earned a master’s (MS) degree at Wake Forest School of Medicine!

Favorite Part of Medical School: I have really enjoyed making friends and acquaintances, as well as having had so much time to be in clinical settings to learn more of what I am interested in pursuing as a medical specialty.

Medical School Organizations: I was Operations Manager for the Lighthouse Free Medical Clinic and Director of Administrative Affairs for Medical Student Polity.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Mira, Southern Junction, Prescott’s Provisions, Big-Ditch, Other Half Brewing (Brooklyn born and raised!!)

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Hanging out around Elmwood Village or grabbing a pastry (or two) from Butterblock.

Hobbies: Skiing, sailing and cooking/baking.

Fun Fact: I can raise my eyebrows independently of one another.

Email: constan6@buffalo.edu

Lauritta Gazaryan portrait.

Name: Lauritta Gazaryan

Hometown: Queens, N.Y. 

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: CUNY Hunter College, Major: Biomedical Sciences, Minor: Sociology.

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I took two gap years. I worked as a medical assistant in a Dermatology clinic as well as a research technician in a Hematology/Oncology lab and volunteered in the Emergency Department. 

Favorite Part of Medical School: Spending time with my friends!

Medical School Organizations: Excellence in Teaching Awards Committee.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Mira and Taqueria Ranchos Dos.

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Playing pickleball!

Hobbies: Chess and painting.

Fun Fact: I was born in Uzbekistan.

Email: lauritta@buffalo.edu

Samantha Pasinkoff portrait.

Name: Samantha Pasinkoff

Hometown: Manhattan, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Arizona State University — Major in Biochemistry, Minor in Psychology.

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I took two gap years during which I pursued leadership roles/research at Starbucks Coffee Company and gained clinical experience at Mount Sinai Health System and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Favorite Part of Medical School: The people—having such a supportive community has made all the difference.

Medical School Organizations: Oncology Interest Group; involved in shadowing and research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Orientation Committee, and MCAT tutor.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Still exploring and always open to recommendations!

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Exploring new hiking trails and trying out different coffee shops.

Hobbies: Running, reading, spending time with friends, and playing piano and guitar.

Fun Fact:  I’ve been playing piano since I was five, have performed in three bands, and enjoy teaching piano and guitar to kids in my free time.

Email: spasinko@buffalo.edu

Kian Porhomayon portrait.

Name: Kian Porhomayon

Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Canisius University, Major: Biology (BS) and Minor: Psychology.

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

Favorite Part of Medical School: Clinical Immersions!

Medical School Organizations: Orientation Committee, CPR Instructor for UBMD Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Mentoring Awards Committee, Phase 1 Student Advisory Group.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: New York Beer Project, Bobby Js, Big Ditch.

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Visiting the AKG.

Hobbies: Photography and Fashion design/illustration.

Fun Fact: I have escaped a rip current before!

Email: kianporh@buffalo.edu

Daniel Sarkis portrait.

Name: Daniel Sarkis

Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.

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

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I took one gap year working at Rochester General Hospital as a Patient Care Technician on the Acute Stroke Unit, and I also went on a few trips with the boys. 

Favorite Part of Medical School: The numerous social events thrown by the medical school: Winter Formal, Light House Gala, Bills Tailgate, Interprofessional Mixer, and so much more.

Medical School Organizations: M1 class representative and Secretary of the Neurosurgery Interest Group.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Pretty much any place I can eat all-you-can-eat sushi — shout out Sushi Queen.

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Skating downtown at Canalside, skiing at Holiday Valley and watching the Buffalo Bills. Go Bills. 

Hobbies: Weightlifting, BJJ, Soccer, Chess, Basketball, Spike ball.

Fun Fact: I am colorblind. 

Email: dssarkis@buffalo.edu

Madeline Weltin portrait.

Name: Madeline Weltin

Hometown: Chicago, Ill.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Canisius University; major in Biology and minor in Spanish.

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

Favorite Part of Medical School: Meeting awesome people, seeing new sides of medicine.

Medical School Organizations: LMSA treasurer, PCC Representative, Learning Community Representative, and Project Sunshine Volunteer.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Casa Azul, Wayland, Saigon.

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Running with my friends and trying new Buffalo coffee shops.

Hobbies: Playing pickleball, playing soccer, running, reading, cooking.

Fun Fact: I have backpacked El Camino de Santiago twice!

Email: mgweltin@buffalo.edu

Grace Zong portrait.

Name: Grace Zong

Hometown: Queens, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: New York University, majored in Neural Science and minored in Studio Art and Chemistry.

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I took two gap years working as a clinical research coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

Favorite Part of Medical School: Meeting new people and making friends.  

Medical School Organizations: Orientation Committee.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: 99 Fast Food, Taisho on Hertel, Alibaba Kebab.

Hobbies: Hiking, reading, traveling.

Fun Fact: I have moved 6 times. 

Email: gracezon@buffalo.edu