Meet the CoAMS 2026 Executive Team
Dustin McKee
Co-Chair
Dustin McKee is a third-year medical student at DMNB. He completed a degree in Biology-Chemistry (Hons) at UNB in Fredericton before starting medical school. Originally from Willow Grove, he is passionate about improving health systems across the Atlantic region and creating collaborative, student-driven spaces for learning and advocacy. In his spare time, you’ll most likely find him at local cafés, going for runs, or spending time with friends.
Aneisha Taunque
Co-Chair
Aneisha Taunque (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB. Prior to medical school, she completed a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto with majors in Physiology and Psychology, and a minor in Art history. She is passionate about building healthier communities and advancing accessible health education through community engagement, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, and exploring Saint John!
Sheridan Hamilton
Co-Chair
Sheridan Hamilton (she/her) is in her second year of medical school at DMNB. She completed her BSc in Biology (Hons) with a minor in Anthropology from UNB Fredericton before starting at Dal. She is passionate about harm reduction, palliative and end-of-life care, healthcare for older adults, and disability advocacy. Outside of medicine, Sheridan keeps busy as a member of Softball Canada’s EDIA committee, and enjoys hiking, reading, and trying new crafts.
Fareeha Quayyum
Co-Chair
Fareeha Quayyum (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB. She completed a Biology Honours degree at UNB Fredericton and a Master of Public Health at UofT before medical school. Her academic interests include psychiatry, social justice, and community-based participatory research and advocacy. Outside of school, you can find her looking for painting inspiration, watching silly videos of animals, and trying to perfect her matcha recipe—sometimes all at once!
Grace Lafferty
Speakers Director
Grace Lafferty (she/her) is a second‑year medical student at DMNB, with a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Queen’s University. She is passionate about expanding opportunities for health research and medical collaboration in the Atlantic provinces, with a focus on advancing equitable, community-rooted care. Beyond her studies, Grace enjoys teaching swimming lessons, weight training, and is currently learning to dance in preparation for the 2026 EUPHORIA charity musical—wish her luck!
Zainab Zafar
Speakers Director
Zainab (she/her) is a third-year medical student at Dalhousie University. She completed her undergraduate degree in Honours Life Sciences at McMaster University. Before starting medical school, she worked with the New Brunswick Medical Society as a Health Promotion and Advocacy Lead, focusing on physician engagement and system-level advocacy initiatives. Her interests center on health advocacy, community engagement, and the systems that influence equitable care delivery. Outside of medicine, Zainab loves travelling and is a huge foodie, either cooking or trying a new restaurant!
Samantha Ables
Academics Director
Samantha Ables is a third-year medical student at DMNB from Riverview, New Brunswick. She completed a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology (Hons) and a Master’s in Translational Medicine at Queen’s University. Samantha is passionate about research and has numerous projects underway, one of which she had the privilege of presenting at CoAMS last year. She is also the Research in Medicine representative for her class. Outside of medicine, Samantha enjoys baking, reading, traveling, hiking, and spending time with her dog.
Rachel Lewis
Academics Director
Rachel Lewis (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB from Rothesay, New Brunswick. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences (Honours) at Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rachel is passionate about research and loves connecting ideas and discoveries in creative ways. Outside of school, she enjoys trying new things, most recently ballet classes, she is still struggling to land her pirouette.
Shahrzhad Rahmanian
Academics Director
Shahrzad Rahmanian is a third-year medical student at DMNB. Growing up in Fredericton, she completed a concurrent BA/BSc in Biology and Psychology at UNB. She went on to pursue a Master’s in Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto before starting medicine. Shahrzad is passionate about creating an environment for students that fosters collaborative research, innovation, and health advocacy. Outside of medicine, she enjoys cooking, weightlifting, photography, and music (both listening and playing!).
Kate Palmer
Sponsorship Director
Kate Palmer (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB. Originally from Rothesay, NB, she completed a BSc in Psychology with a specialization in Neuroscience at UNB Fredericton. Kate is interested in social medicine, reproductive and sexual health, and working with children and youth. She loves staying connected to her community, and is involved in several student-led initiatives, including as Co-Chair for Dalhousie’s annual Euphoria! musical fundraiser. Any chance she gets, you’ll usually find her traveling, trying new recipes, saying yes to anything that involves a stage, or binging reality TV.
Frances Winters
Sponsorship Director
Frances Winters (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB from Moncton, New Brunswick. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Medical Science at Dalhousie University. Frances is passionate about improving access to health care, understanding the social determinants of health, and reducing health care inequities. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and finding new ways to stay active!
Alanna Bohnsack
Sponsorship Director
Alanna Bohnsack is a third-year medical student at DMNB. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology-Chemistry at UNB and a Master of Public Health at MUN. She has worked within geriatric medicine research for several years with projects focusing on hip fractures and frailty. Born and raised in Fredericton, NB, Alanna loves to visit the farmer’s market, explore local trails with her dog, and is looking forward to contributing to healthcare in her community.
Emma Shaw
Sponsorship Director
Emma Shaw is a first year medical student at DMNB from Rothesay, New Brunswick. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Dalhousie University. Emma is passionate about preventive care, exercise as medicine, and improving quality of life for New Brunswickers. Emma enjoys anything outside, from snowshoeing and downhill skiing in the winter, to canoeing and wakeboarding in the summer.
Téa Racozzi
Skills Director
Téa Racozzi is a second year medical student at DMNB. She completed a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry at the University of New Brunswick. She is passionate about improving access to care and women’s health. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends (and dogs), and staying active. Téa is excited and grateful to be a part of the CoAMS team!
Shan Bal
Skills Director
Shan Bal (he/him) is a second-year medical student at DMNB. He completed his undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at McMaster University and grew up in Stoney Creek, Ontario. Shan is passionate about advocacy, health policy, resource stewardship, and mental health awareness. Outside of medicine, he enjoys music, hiking, weightlifting, and watching videos of cats.
Sarah Boyd
Logistics Director
Sarah Boyd (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB from Fredericton, New Brunswick. She completed a degree in Electrical Engineering from UNB Fredericton in 2024 before starting medical school. Sarah is passionate about multidisciplinary care, women’s health advocacy, and improving healthcare access in NB. In her spare time, you can find Sarah reading a book, running, traveling, or spending time with family and friends.
Charlie Cavanagh
Logistics Director
Charlie Cavanagh is a first-year medical student at DMNB. She completed a degree in Biology–Psychology at UNB Saint John in 2022 before spending two years traveling the world as a member of the Canadian National Boxing Team. Originally from Saint John, she is passionate about mental health advocacy, women’s health, and addressing the shortages and inequities in healthcare resources across New Brunswick. In her spare time, you’ll find Charlie at an early-morning CrossFit class, or cozying up on the couch with a good book and a sweet treat.
Emily Vail
Logistics Director
Originally from Sussex, Emily Vail is a third-year medical student at DMNB. She completed undergraduate degrees in Kinesiology (Honours) and Education at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton before starting medical school. Emily is passionate about health literacy, women’s health, addiction medicine, palliative care, and improving access to care for traditionally underserved populations, particularly in rural communities. In her spare time, Emily enjoys spending time with friends and family, travelling, and making pottery.
Emma DeLong
Delegates Director
Emma is a medical student at Dalhousie University who completed an undergraduate degree in Medical Sciences before working in the medical devices field. She has a strong interest in Family Medicine and is drawn to the variety of practice, continuity of care, and community-based focus it offers. Outside of medicine, Emma teaches dance and enjoys the creativity, movement, and connection that come with it, which she balances alongside her academic and committee involvement.
Joelynn Annoh-Kwafo
Delegates Director
Joelynn is a third-year medical student at DMNB with a background in Biology-Psychology and Early Childhood Education. She is passionate about empowering others and creating positive change in her community, drawing on her experiences within her school and other community organizations. Joelynn values advocacy and collaboration, working to support children and youth in their development and making a meaningful impact in healthcare and beyond. In her “spare time” if any, she loves to relax (i.e. a treat, show/movie or spa activity), spend quality time with family and friends, and travelling to explore new things.
Chantal MacLean
Delegates Director
Originally from Quispamsis, Chantal MacLean is a third-year medical student at DMNB. She completed her undergraduate degree in Translational and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Chantal is passionate about working with children and youth, student leadership, interdisciplinary care, and addressing the social determinants of health. In her spare time, Chantal enjoys playing music, running, and reading.
Rae O’Leary
Delegates Director
Rae O’Leary is a third-year DMNB medical student from Saint Andrews, NB, with a background in Biology from Dalhousie University. She is excited to join the CoAMS organizing team and looks forward to supporting initiatives that foster collaborative care, advocacy, research, and wellness within the medical community.
Bilal Khan
Graphics Director
Bilal Khan (he/him) is a second-year medical student at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Mount Allison University and is originally from Miramichi. Bilal is passionate about community building and advocacy, with particular interests in immigrant health and primary care. Bilal is actively involved as both a student leader and a volunteer in a variety of initiatives. In his free time, he enjoys crafts, reading, eating out with friends, playing video games, and staying active.
Sydney Scholten
Graphics Director
Sydney Scholten (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB. She completed her BScH in Biology at Acadia University, and her MSc in Regenerative Medicine at TU Dresden in Germany. After her MSc, she worked as a part-time research manuscript editor/ part-time surfer in Portugal, and in medical genetics research at SickKids in Toronto. She has strong interests in oncology, medical research, improving access to health care, and reducing health care inequities. Sydney holds a variety of student leadership and volunteer positions, is involved in multiple research projects, and likes to spend the rest of her time outdoors, cooking or crafting.
Jayatee Ray
Marketing Director
Jayatee Ray (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB. Before medical school, she completed her B.Sc in Medical Sciences and M.Sc in Pathology at Dalhousie University. She is passionate about newcomer and immigrant health, Chronic illness support and education, and research. In her spare time, she enjoys curling up with a good book, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Taylor Wilson
Marketing Director
Taylor Wilson (she/her) is a second-year medical student at DMNB from Moncton, NB. Taylor completed a degree in Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering and a Master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology from Memorial University. Taylor is interested in women’s health, improving access to primary care and mental health awareness. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking, and fitness!