Meet the Committee

Nora Bacour
Co-Chair (AFAC - Netherlands)

I am a fifth-year MD–PhD candidate in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at AmsterdamUMC. I currently serve as Director of Education for the Association of Future African Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeons and previously held the role of Vice President of VECTOR. In these leadership positions, I have contributed to the design and delivery of extracurricular educational programs for students with a strong interest in cardiothoracic surgery. As ICFCS Co-Chair, I am excited to be part of the core committee organizing the inaugural ICFCS Conference and look forward to creating a high-impact academic program accessible to all who share an interest in the field.

Nina Uzoigwe
Co-Chair (TSMA - USA)

I am Nina, a fifth-year MD/PhD student pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery, with a research focus on cardiac arrhythmias and translational science. Trained in bioengineering and global health policy at Harvard University, I am motivated by the intersection of clinical medicine and laboratory innovation. Alongside my academic work, I am deeply invested in mentorship and medical education, serving as National Executive President of TSMA, the largest U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit for medical students interested in CT surgery, and lead ICFCS as Co-Chair. Through ICFCS, I’m committed to building inclusive, globally connected pathways that support the development of the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons worldwide.

Victory Bassey Effiom
Vice-Chair (AFAC - Nigeria)

I am Victory, a recent medical graduate from the University of Calabar, Nigeria. I am an aspiring cardiothoracic surgeon with several published research works in high-impact journals. I have collaborated with cardiothoracic surgeons globally, and my papers have been presented at reputable conferences and abstract competitions. I am the Co-founder and Research Director of the Association of Future African Cardiothoracic Surgeons (AFAC), and the Vice President of Surgery Interest Group of Africa (SIGAF). Additionally, I have volunteered for organizations like Pink Africa Foundation, FHI 360, Lions Club and IAAG Foundation. As part of the ICFCS conference organizing committee, I believe this conference will foster innovation and compassion, saving lives and shaping the future of cardiothoracic surgery.

Frank-Awat Abaiweh
Platform, Communications and Outreach Lead (AFAC - Cameroon)

I am a final-year medical student at the University of Buea and a 2025 POHER Scholar, driven by a deep commitment to advancing surgical care and empowering African youth for global excellence. Motivated by the healthcare challenges within my community, I serve as an Ambassador for the United Nations Global Surgery Learning Hub and am the Co-Founder and Vice President of the Association of Future African Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons. I also Chair INCISION Cameroon, where I advocate for equitable access to surgical, obstetric, anesthesia, and trauma care for all. Beyond advocacy, I am the Founder of Opportunities World, a global platform where youths around the world have access to global opportunities for free. At ICFCS, I lead virtual logistics and online platforms, working to create inclusive, high-impact global learning spaces. My mission is to help transform cardiothoracic surgery worldwide by empowering the next generation of surgeons.

Laiba Khalid
Sponsorship/Financial Leads (SCTS - Scotland)

I am a fourth-year medical student at the University of Glasgow with a strong interest in cardiothoracic surgery. I am passionate about creating learning environments where complex concepts are made engaging and accessible, particularly through practical and interactive teaching. This motivation underpins my involvement in cardiovascular education, including my role as Vice-President of the Glasgow Cardiovascular Society, where I organise conferences, expert talks, and hands-on surgical workshops. At a national level, I contribute as a Regional Lead for both the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain & Ireland (SCTS) and the British Undergraduate Cardiovascular Association (BUCA). Through ICFCS 2026, I am eager to engage with a global network of students and contribute to high-quality educational events that inspire the next generation of surgeons!

Casper Dijkhorst
Sponsorship/Financial Leads (VECTOR - Netherlands)

I study medicine at the Leiden University Medical Center. This year I’m the President of VECTOR Netherlands, the national association for students with a special interest in cardiology and thoracic surgery. With more than 250 students enrolled annually in our national and regional programs across all Dutch medical faculties, we represent the future of Dutch cardiovascular healthcare.

Practicing a wide variety of sports started my fascination for the heart, which developed into my passion for cardiac surgery. I love the fact I get to share this passion with other students by organising events, now even internationally!

Tyler Lachland
Research Lead (TSMA - USA)

I am a senior medical student at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and an aspiring cardiothoracic surgeon. I am the Founder of Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, a nonprofit advancing mentorship and access for underrepresented students in medicine, and serve as Research Co-Chair for TSMA. I lead multi-institutional cardiothoracic surgery research and national academic initiatives. I am Miss Black Missouri USA 2025 and Top 5 Miss Black USA 2024, using visibility, scholarship, and service to expand representation and excellence in surgery.

Yuvraj Juttla
Research Lead (SCTS - London)

I am a second-year medical student at UCL Medical School, London, with an academic interest in cardiothoracic surgery and medical education. I currently serve as a Regional Lead for the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS), Conference Lead for the British Undergraduate Cardiovascular Association, and Secretary of the UCL Surgical Society. Through these roles, I have contributed to the design and delivery of national educational initiatives aimed at promoting early engagement with surgical specialties.

I am excited to be part of the core committee organising the first ever ICFCS Conference and look forward to collaborating with an international committee to deliver a rigorous, high-quality academic programme.

Juli Buchwald
Research Lead (TSMA - USA)

I am a third-year medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and recently completed my PhD as part of the MD/PhD MSTP Program. My PhD focused on the implementation of RNA therapeutics for the treatment of heart and lung ischemia-reperfusion injury for use in the organ preservation and transplantation process. I also serve as the TSMA Research Co-Chair, where I work to provide research opportunities to enhance the medical student’s experience in cardiothoracic surgery. I am excited to be part of the Inaugural ICFCS Conference and work with other members to develop and deliver a high impact conference.

Isaac Faith
Academic / Program Lead (TSMA - USA)

Hi, I am Isaac, a medical student at Albert Einstein College of Medicine with a background in business development at Tesla and experience in healthcare innovation. I founded the Einstein Innovation Group to build practical pathways for students to engage in entrepreneurship, research, and applied problem-solving. Bringing a business and systems lens to medicine, I am interested in cardiothoracic surgery and scalable surgical innovation, with a focus on translating ideas into real-world impact across global health settings.

Dr. Simo Djimo Flora
Academic / Program Lead (TSMA - USA)

I am a passionate young Cameroonian medical doctor with a bold vision: to help shape the future of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery in Africa. As founder and president of the Association of Future African Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (AFAC), I empowers the next generation through mentorship, education, research, and advocacy. Actively involved in humanitarian surgical missions, I believes that excellence, service, and teamwork can transform healthcare across the continent. My journey is rooted in faith, resilience, and purpose, a living testament that with courage and vision, no dream is too big to be achieved.

Ahmed Khaled Awad
Academic / Program Lead (AFAC - Egypt)

I graduated summa cum laude with honors from Ain Shams University School of Medicine and joined the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Ain Shams University Hospitals as an intern. My passion for cardiothoracic surgery began early in medical school, driven by a strong interest in clinical research and global cardiac surgery. I have authored over 60 publications, delivered 15 oral presentations, and showcased numerous posters at national and international conferences. I co-founded AFAC to expand access to surgical care in underserved communities and advocate for strengthening Africa’s cardiothoracic surgical workforce.

Foluso Akinwande
Committee Member (AFAC - Nigeria)

I am an early-career medical doctor from Nigeria, having completed medical school about a year ago, and a budding Cardiothoracic surgeon since my early years in medical school. I currently serve as the National Director for AFAC Nigeria (Association for Future African Cardiothoracic and Surgeons). I am a founding member and pioneer President of the Surgical Interest Group Lagos, where I organized Nigeria’s first student-led surgical conference, a hybrid event that drew over 1,000 participants nationwide. As pioneer president, I built a strong, sustainable structure that continues to nurture and inspire the next generation of surgeons across medical schools in Nigeria. I am excited to serve on the Core Planning Committee of ICFCS as we shape the future of Cardiothoracic surgery together.

Allison Weiderhold
Committee Member (TSMA - USA)

I am Allison, and I have completed my 2nd year of medical school at Kansas City University. I am currently a Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow in Cardiothoracic Surgery for the 2025-2026 academic year at Baylor College of Medicine, as well as an NIH NLM DeBakey Fellow. I am deeply passionate about mentorship and expanding access to cardiothoracic surgery (for both patients and trainees). My research interests are centered around phenotyping cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support device outcomes, and aortic disease. Outside of work, I serve as the Communications Committee Chair for TSMA where I have been able to promote access to CT surgery events, networking, and robust education for trainees of all backgrounds. I am looking forward to fostering collaboration globally and connecting the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons through ICFCS!

Keyana Zahiri
Committee Member (TSMA - USA)

I am Keyana, a current MS3 at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and a graduate of Brown University through the Program in Liberal Medical Education BS/MD program. Originally from New Orleans, LA, I have conducted cardiac surgery research at Brown, Stanford, and Yale and was a 2024 Massachusetts General Hospital CT Surgery Summer Scholar gaining extensive clinical exposure and furthering my passion for becoming an academic cardiothoracic surgeon. I now serves as National TSMA Executive Board Secretary and I am excited to work towards building an international community amongst the next generation of CT surgeons.

Althea Jem D. Tapales
Committee Member (TSMA - USA)

I am a URiM medical student passionate about cardiothoracic surgery, cardiovascular outcomes research, and global surgery. I am actively involved in leadership within Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association (TSMA), where I have serve as National Executive Vice President. My scholarly work spans both basic science and clinical research, including projects in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte HCM modeling, cardiovascular outcomes in LMICs, and health equity. I am deeply committed to mentorship, pipeline development, and volunteering in any capacity, and I aspire to build sustainable cardiovascular surgical care and research infrastructure in underserved and Pacific Islander communities in Micronesia.

 

Epienjume Davis Asumtong
Committee Member (AFAC - Cameroon)

I am a final medical Student at the Faculty of Health University of Buea, Cameroon. I am passionate about cardiothoracic and vascular surgery with interest in congenital Cardiac surgery. I am affiliated with the Association of Future African Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons (AFAC) where I was Finance Director and currently I serve as the Assistant Director of Education. Through my involvements, I have been able to learn and contribute to the development and advancement of medical students interest in the field of cardiothoracic surgery and opportunities related to the field. I am happy to serve as a committee member in organizing the international conference of Future Cardiothoracic surgeons and better the future prospects in the field.

 

 

Rogier Joost Dolman
Committee Member (VECTOR - Netherlands)

I am a fifth-year medical student at Leiden University, with a strong interest in cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology. I currently fulfill the role of vice chairman of VECTOR Netherlands. Through VECTOR Netherlands we organise extracurricular education for medical students interested in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery.

I am excited to be part of the organising committee for the ICFCS Conference and look forward to connecting and collaborating with an international committee to deliver an exciting academic programme for students across the globe.