JMSA Student Representatives

Hi everyone, my name is Ayaan Zafar, and I am an M2 at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, earning a B.S. in Neuroscience. Before starting medical school, I took a gap year working as a research coordinator at the Brain Plasticity Lab, conducting clinical rehabilitative research for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, indoor bouldering, and reading.

Having grown up in a mixed Japanese and Indian household, I have always valued cultural identity, community, and collaboration. These experiences have shaped my commitment to working with diverse patient populations and providing culturally competent care. I am excited to be a part of the JMSA, where I hope to build meaningful connections, support Japanese and Japanese American communities, and continue growing as a future physician.

Hello everyone! My name is Ema Arai, and I am currently a second-year medical student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. I was born in Tokyo but moved to Denver, Colorado at a very young age and grew up there. While living in the U.S., I stayed connected to my Japanese roots by visiting family in Japan every other summer and attending Japanese school every Sunday for about ten years.

After graduating from high school, I spent two years attending university in Tokyo before deciding to pursue a career in medicine. I then returned to Denver to complete my pre-medical prerequisites at the University of Colorado and am now continuing my training there in medical school.

In my free time, I enjoy baking, going on long walks, and recently have been practicing latte art.

I am very excited about the opportunity to serve as a student representative. Growing up in Colorado, the Japanese community was quite small, so I am especially passionate about helping build stronger connections among students in healthcare who share a similar background.

Hello, my name is Kiyo Obayashi and I am an M2 at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. I’m from Ogden, Utah and completed my B.S. in Biology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Growing up I spent my summers in Toyota, Japan where my grandparents live. My favorite hobbies are playing soccer, skiing, and camping. 

I am excited to be a part of JMSA as making connections in this community was hard to come by in my hometown. I look forward to strengthening my identity as a Japanese American medical student.

Hi everyone, my name is Mayuko Yatsu and I am a first-year student at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) – Middletown. I grew up in Mito, Japan, a city known not only for its famous fermented soybeans (natto) but also for its simple, straightforward, and kind-hearted people.

I first came to the United States as an undergraduate student with one suitcase and a backpack. Since then, I have earned a B.A. in Economics and Asian Studies from Temple University and a Master of Public Administration from American University. I later completed a postbaccalaureate premedical program at the University of Virginia and worked in both medical and non-medical fields for a little over ten years before beginning my studies at TouroCOM.

It has been my lifelong mission to help bridge Japanese and U.S. communities. After moving to the U.S., I gradually integrated my Japanese cultural values with aspects of American culture, especially Latin and Caribbean cultures, through practicing salsa dancing and Zumba. These experiences helped me grow as a person and taught me that physical activity and the friendships formed through it can help dissolve stigma, build empathy, and foster healthy communities.

I bring this perspective to my journey in medicine with the hope of serving people not only as a healthcare provider, but also as someone who helps strengthen relationships between cultures and communities. I am excited to join JMSA and look forward to contributing to the Kizuna, the strong bonds that connect medical communities in Japan and the United States.

Hello everyone! My name is Nanami Miyazaki, a rising MS4 at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. I grew up in Hickory, NC with my 3 siblings and parents who are first generation immigrants from Japan. While we did not have a large Japanese community nearby, I have continued to stay connected to my Japanese roots through food, media, and speaking Japanese at home. I earned my B.S. in Biology at Wake Forest University and my M.S. in Biological Sciences at Purdue University. I then spent 4 years as a postbaccalaureate research fellow at the NIH before starting medical school. In my spare time, I enjoy photography, painting, drawing, and cooking.

I am honored to be a part of the JMSA community which is a wonderful opportunity to integrate my Japanese American identity with my commitment to medicine. As a Student Representative, I hope to continue and expand JMSA’s mission this year! 

Hi my name is Rika Goto! I was born in Chiba ken Japan and grew up in Petaluma California. I spent my Summers in Hokkaido Japan which is where my mom grew up and where my grandparents lived. Being surrounded by nature and lush green landscapes instilled my love for the environment as a child. After undergrad I worked in environmental testing before switching to medicine. I’m now a rising MS3 at the Tufts School of Medicine Maine Track! For fun I like to play soccer, hike, and read.

My Japanese heritage is integral to the person that I am and the physician I hope to grow into. It’s an honor to be a part of JMSA. I’m excited to make and facilitate connections amongst Japanese medical professionals in the states and abroad.

Hi everyone, my name is Takuma Ino, and I am a fifth-year medical student at Yokohama City University. I was born in Japan, but spent about six years of my childhood in Germany and the U.K. After returning to Japan at the age of 8, I later moved to Chicago at 14, where I attended high school for my freshman and sophomore years. These multicultural experiences sparked my interest in pursuing a career as a doctor in the United States. Last year, I joined an research clerkship program at Weill Cornell Medicine Genetic Medicine Lab, where I was thrilled to work in such a cutting-edge environment. In my spare time, I practice judo (I have a black belt), hit the gym, or go to a hot spring spa. 

I am very excited and honored to help and contribute for JMSA. Through my work at JMSA, I want to serve as a bridge to promote more active collaboration and engagement between the Japanese and United States medical community.