Website Changes
03/25/13 Filed in: Website
Hello all,
A couple changes have been made to the website:
Enjoy!
Technology Committee
A couple changes have been made to the website:
- The database has been removed. All necessary files will be posted on the Moodle page.
- The recruitment page has had some slight aesthetic enhancements.
- The lecture page’s placeholder has gotten an aesthetic enhancement as well.
- The photos page has been updated with new photos.
Enjoy!
Technology Committee
Antioxidants, Supplements, and Cosmetics: Perils of Ignoring Science
02/01/13 Filed in: Lecture
This semester, Phi Delta Epsilon is proud to host, along with Chicanos for Community Medicine and Student Organization for a Holistic-approach to Health and Leadership, a lecture by chemistry professor, Dr. Melikyan. The lecture is entitled Antioxidants, Supplements, and Cosmetics: Perils of Ignoring Science, and it will take place on Monday, February 25, 2013. To sign up for this great event, simply visit the Lecture Page here on the Phi Delta Epsilon website. Information about Dr. Melikyan as well as his upcoming lecture can be found below.
Gagik Melikyan is a professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at California State University Northridge. He is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in the field of radical chemistry. Being a highly cited author, his research has culminated in 80 papers, reviews, and book chapters on radical organic and organometallic chemistry, transition metal-mediated chemical transformations, computational chemistry, natural product syntheses, and non-steroidal hormones. Dr. Melikyan discovered four new organic reactions and delivered 90 presentations at academic institutions, national and international conferences, and public gatherings. A devoted educator who was awarded the Polished Apple Award, he has educated and trained a whole generation of professionals working in the fields of chemistry, biology, and medicine. Dr. Melikyan is a recipient of the prestigious Jerome Richfield Scholar Award and the Outstanding Faculty Award, the highest distinctions given by the university in recognition of excellence in faculty research. Dr. Melikyan’s work has been widely covered in the media, including the Chemical and Engineering News, The Valley Scribe, California Courier, Daily Sundial, Northridge Magazine, CBS and USArmenia channels, as well as numerous radio programs. As an expert, for many years he was involved in protecting the American public from harmful chemicals and environmental pollutants. Dr. Melikyan is a publisher of the on-line educational newsletter that brings the latest health news to the general public. He is also an author of the award-winning book “Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Antioxidants, Foods, Supplements, and Cosmetics” that explains – in laymen terms – why polyphenolic antioxidants, natural supplements, catechins from green tea, resveratrol from red wine, parabens in women’s cosmetics, sunscreen lotions, and hair colors can cause irreparable damage to the human body.
Dr. Melikyan’s book Guilty Until Proven Innocent. Visit Dr. Melikyan’s website for information on ordering the book.
Antioxidants, Supplements, and Cosmetics: Perils of Ignoring Science
Polyphenolic antioxidants have been extensively studied due to their immediate relevance to medicinal chemistry, an inherent ability to react with body enzymes, a prominent role in food preservation, and a perceived ability to fight free radicals and slow down aging processes. Along with the desired characteristics, polyphenols can also undergo enzymatic transformations and produce toxic metabolites, thus highlighting the complexity of the subject and dual nature of phenolic compounds. The facts, myths, and hypes surrounding antioxidants and natural supplements will be presented and analyzed. It will be demonstrated that the major paradigms in contemporary antioxidant science are fundamentally flawed and need an urgent revision given the ramifications for public health. Convincing scientific evidence will be provided in order to explain why catechins from green tea, resveratrol from red wine, parabens in women’s cosmetics, sunscreen lotions, hookah tobacco, and hair colors can cause irreparable damage to the human body. The legislative aspect will also be discussed underlining what needs to be done in order to better protect the human society from exaggerated health claims and questionable business practices.
Sign Up for the 2012 Gelfand Lecture!
08/19/12 Filed in: Lecture
Sign up for PhiDE’s Fall 2012 Gelfand Lecture taking place here at California State University Northridge! Our guest speaker this year is Dr. Ronald E. Saul, a UCLA physician that specializes in neurology and psychiatry. Dr. Saul will be discussing memory disorders and the split brain. To learn more and sign up for this great event, simply visit the Lecture Page here on the Phi Delta Epsilon website.
Update 10/12/12: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Dr. Saul will no longer be speaking at this event. However, Phi Delta Epsilon is proud to host Dr. Steven Soldinger as the new speaker for the 2012 Gelfand Lecture. Dr. Soldinger is a private practice physician of over 30 years and the current president of the American Psychiatric Association. The topic of his lecture will be the psychology of pain and medication addiction. Register today for the Gelfand Lecture!
An Interview with Lauren Michaels
06/27/12 Filed in: Alumni | Interviews
Over the years, Phi Delta Epsilon CA Theta has grown into a bigger, better, and greater chapter. With that said, our older members, the ones who established our fraternity and contributed so much, have since graduated and truly began their pursuit into their respective fields. In this video, Alumni Committee has reached out to one of our graduated members, Lauren Michaels, and asked her what has she done since graduating and to reflect on her experiences in PhiDE.
Lauren Michaels
Major: Marine Biology, B.S., 2011
Epsilon Class - Spring 2009
Historian Committee Chair - Fall 2009-Spring 2010
Lauren, thank you for your valuable insight and experiences at CSUN, Phi Delta Epsilon and Veterinary School. The entire fraternity has benefited from hearing you. We wish you the best of luck at UC Davis, and in all of your endeavors.
________________________________________________________
This interview was conducted by Jasmine Moore of PhiDE CA Theta's Alumni Committee and arranged by Melissa Vallin, the Alumni Committee Chair. The video was filmed and edited by Ram Wolman and Edward Hernandez of the Technology Committee.
Lauren Michaels
Major: Marine Biology, B.S., 2011
Epsilon Class - Spring 2009
Historian Committee Chair - Fall 2009-Spring 2010
Lauren, thank you for your valuable insight and experiences at CSUN, Phi Delta Epsilon and Veterinary School. The entire fraternity has benefited from hearing you. We wish you the best of luck at UC Davis, and in all of your endeavors.
This interview was conducted by Jasmine Moore of PhiDE CA Theta's Alumni Committee and arranged by Melissa Vallin, the Alumni Committee Chair. The video was filmed and edited by Ram Wolman and Edward Hernandez of the Technology Committee.
CaHPSA Movie Night: "The Waiting Room"
04/22/12 Filed in: Miscellaneous
To learn more about “The Waiting Room”, click
This Tuesday, April 24th, come join the California Health Professional Student Alliance for a FREE showing of the documentary, “The Waiting Room.” This film looks at many of the issues facing hospitals today. It will examine how an American public hospital struggles to take care of its largely uninsured patients, and how both patients and staff cope with disease, bureaucracy and difficult choices. The film will bring together the stories of several patients and hospital staff members as they attempt to work through the complexities of the nation’s healthcare system during the national recession. Come and witness the story of the struggles of this hospital and its community as they come together to deal with our common vulnerability to illness.
The event will take place Tuesday, April 24th, from 7-9 PM in Chaparral Hall 5122.
This article was authored by Phi Delta Epsilon Technology Committee Chair, Ram Wolman. If you would like to contact Ram, you can reach him at ram.wolman.834@my.csun.edu.
Out with the Old and In with the New!
04/09/12 Filed in: Website
Hello All!
I would just like to bring your attention to a couple of revisions to the website. First, the Recruitment page has gotten a facelift, and it now proudly features the Rushing History of Phi Delta Epsilon CA Theta. Second, I have replaced the old Multimedia Page with a new, flashier page called Photos. On Photos, you can view photos from the last couple months in a beautiful slideshow format. More changes will be made soon, but I hope you all enjoy the ones that have been made so far!
Your Technology Committee Chair,
Ram Wolman
I would just like to bring your attention to a couple of revisions to the website. First, the Recruitment page has gotten a facelift, and it now proudly features the Rushing History of Phi Delta Epsilon CA Theta. Second, I have replaced the old Multimedia Page with a new, flashier page called Photos. On Photos, you can view photos from the last couple months in a beautiful slideshow format. More changes will be made soon, but I hope you all enjoy the ones that have been made so far!
Your Technology Committee Chair,
Ram Wolman
Blood Drive Results
03/05/12 Filed in: Philanthropy
On Tuesday, February 21st, Phi Delta Epsilon hosted a blood drive to support Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA). To treat its patients, CHLA relies on blood donations from the public to meet its monthly quota of 1000 pints of blood. Typically, the hospital obtains around 800 pints of blood before the end of the month. However, to obtain its last 200 pints, CHLA purchases that blood from other sources, like the American Red Cross. Phi Delta Epsilon sought to help out, and, on February 21st, it did.
CHLA’s bloodmobiles parked on campus by the Matador Bookstore Complex
To help CHLA carry out its blood drive, the fraternity assisted the hospital in multiple ways. Before the event, Phi Delta Epsilon heavily advertised for the blood drive by posting flyers on campus and onto the Matador Information Network Displays, creating a Facebook event and having members invite friends. On the day of the event, members sporting CHLA’s “JUST DONATE IT” shirts helped out by instructing blood donors on how to complete their paperwork, stopping and asking passersby if they would be interested in donating blood and handing out water and snacks to donors. Overall, the fraternity made a strong effort to help CHLA.
Phi Delta Epsilon’s members sporting CHLA’s “JUST DONATE IT” shirts.
From left: Julio Batres, Rajdeep Kaur, Anita Shrivastava, Linette Nalbandyan and Mellad Khoshnood.
Despite the blood drive closing more than 30 minutes before its scheduled ending time, CHLA and Phi Delta Epsilon managed to raise 61 bags of blood. Although this number is lower than previous blood drives, Vice President of Programming, Anita Shrivastava, is pleased but determined to do better. She says, “I believe we got a rather large number of bags considering Red Cross's blood mobile was on campus twice in the past two weeks. However it is not good enough for our standards, I believe we definitely could have gotten more bags of blood.” With that said, Phi Delta Epsilon plans to host another blood drive later this semester that’s bigger and better than this one was.
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported CHLA and Phi Delta Epsilon by donating blood!
Although our next blood drive’s date and time have yet to be finalized, some changes are already being considered to make it more successful. For example, we are considering offering donors incentives ranging from ice cream coupons to tickets to various sports games. Other changes include ending the blood drive after 3:00 PM, holding the event for two days instead of one and having more blood drawing stations so that more people can donate at a time. Stay tuned to the PhiDE website for more information on future blood drives and CHLA-related events!
________________________________________________________
This article was authored by Phi Delta Epsilon Technology Committee Member, Emma Collosi, and Technology Committee Chair, Ram Wolman. If you would like to contact Emma, you can reach her at emma.collosi.914@my.csun.edu. If you would like to contact Ram, you can reach him at ram.wolman.834@my.csun.edu.
CHLA’s bloodmobiles parked on campus by the Matador Bookstore Complex
To help CHLA carry out its blood drive, the fraternity assisted the hospital in multiple ways. Before the event, Phi Delta Epsilon heavily advertised for the blood drive by posting flyers on campus and onto the Matador Information Network Displays, creating a Facebook event and having members invite friends. On the day of the event, members sporting CHLA’s “JUST DONATE IT” shirts helped out by instructing blood donors on how to complete their paperwork, stopping and asking passersby if they would be interested in donating blood and handing out water and snacks to donors. Overall, the fraternity made a strong effort to help CHLA.
Phi Delta Epsilon’s members sporting CHLA’s “JUST DONATE IT” shirts.
From left: Julio Batres, Rajdeep Kaur, Anita Shrivastava, Linette Nalbandyan and Mellad Khoshnood.
Despite the blood drive closing more than 30 minutes before its scheduled ending time, CHLA and Phi Delta Epsilon managed to raise 61 bags of blood. Although this number is lower than previous blood drives, Vice President of Programming, Anita Shrivastava, is pleased but determined to do better. She says, “I believe we got a rather large number of bags considering Red Cross's blood mobile was on campus twice in the past two weeks. However it is not good enough for our standards, I believe we definitely could have gotten more bags of blood.” With that said, Phi Delta Epsilon plans to host another blood drive later this semester that’s bigger and better than this one was.
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported CHLA and Phi Delta Epsilon by donating blood!
Although our next blood drive’s date and time have yet to be finalized, some changes are already being considered to make it more successful. For example, we are considering offering donors incentives ranging from ice cream coupons to tickets to various sports games. Other changes include ending the blood drive after 3:00 PM, holding the event for two days instead of one and having more blood drawing stations so that more people can donate at a time. Stay tuned to the PhiDE website for more information on future blood drives and CHLA-related events!
This article was authored by Phi Delta Epsilon Technology Committee Member, Emma Collosi, and Technology Committee Chair, Ram Wolman. If you would like to contact Emma, you can reach her at emma.collosi.914@my.csun.edu. If you would like to contact Ram, you can reach him at ram.wolman.834@my.csun.edu.
Blast from the Past!
02/29/12 Filed in: Alumni
During last Thursday’s meeting we had the pleasure of being visited by some of our alumni. The message of their visit: FAMILY.
They came to remind us of the importance of family, unity, and the utilization of our resources. Each of them shared their stories from when they were in PhiDE, and how PhiDE helped them get to where they are now.
From left: Oswaldo Rivas, Diana Naderi, Bianca Rivas and Kevin Guillen
Bianca, a member of the Gamma Class and our 2009 VP of Programming, graduated in 2011 majoring in Biology and minoring in Central American studies. Her involvement in PhiDE came from her desire to become more involved on campus. As a member of PhiDE, she learned how to work as a team, built management skills and met lifelong friends.
Since early last summer, Bianca began the application process to medical school. After having gone through the process, Bianca shared some of her tips for doing well on interviews. In her opinion, the best advice is to be yourself and to market yourself. During the interview process you are, in a sense, selling yourself to your medical schools. You have to condense yourself and everything you did in your undergraduate career into a small package, and show your medical schools your best side. To do that, Bianca made a theme for her interviews. That theme was serving the underserved Chicano community. Being Central American played a big role in her success, and looking back at how her ethnicity influenced her community service made everything click and come together.
Bianca ultimately gave this piece of great advice, “You are in one of the best organizations here on campus. Don’t be afraid to get out of your shell, and get out there.”
Diana Naderi, a founding member of the CA Theta Chapter, is currently a second year medical student at Chicago Medical School. Diana gave a presentation last semester on her experiences applying to and surviving medical school. She has since become the godmother of this fraternity, and has emphasized the importance of friends, family and the numerous resources that PhiDE has brought to her. She is a great role model for many of us that are currently undergoing the struggles and hardships she faced during her undergraduate career. She emphasizes that no one can tell you when to give up but yourself. Her motto is, “Don’t give up until you know you don’t want to do it anymore.”
Kevin Guillen, another founding member, graduated in Business and is now helping his father start a health clinic in Palmdale. He had no problem showing off his fun and quirky personality as he cracked jokes and gave everyone a good laugh. Kevin has a lot of insight in the medical field. He stressed the importance of not only knowing the scientific side of medicine, but the business side as well. Having a father that has studied and graduated in so many fields within healthcare has come with its benefits. One of the most important messages he delivered was to remember to take things lightly, “Yes you are all pre-med, and yes you are all dressed up nice. But it’s not all business. Enjoy your time here and enjoy PhiDE. This is what makes it fun and what makes it worth it. It’s the backbone of this whole college experience.”
Oswaldo Rivas graduated in 2011 with a major in Spanish. During his undergraduate years, Oswaldo did more exploring than Lewis and Clark made in their Expedition. Oswaldo changed his major 5 times, and battled himself over all the options he had to choose. For him, while “going through this roller coaster [school], my best choice was joining PhiDE. My initiation was more exciting than my graduation.” In the end, he learned that one-on-one patient care and interaction was his passion. He graduated from UCLA’s post graduate program, and is now pursuing a career as a Chiropractor. He is expecting to hear back from the D.O. schools he applied to soon. The only thing he regrets about his college experience was not joining PhiDE sooner. With all of the support and connections he made, Oswaldo managed to find his way.
These four alumni are perfect examples of the people you come to meet in Phi Delta Epsilon. We see our members grow from the time they join up until the time they graduate. That is the beauty of it all. We have all been in the same boat, we have all had tough classes and impossible professors and we have all spent long hours in the lab and long nights at the library. Although we are all from different backgrounds, the drive to, one day, become physicians brings us together and makes us a family.
All of us decided to take a big step in our undergraduate careers and rush Phi Delta Epsilon. We have all been nervous, and, at some point in our lives, naive. With induction coming up, we should prepare ourselves to welcome the new Mu class and remember that, not too long ago, we were in their shoes taking that giant step forward that has led us to where we are now.
________________________________________________________
This article was authored by Phi Delta Epsilon Technology Committee Member, Edward Hernandez. If you would like to contact Edward, you can reach him at edward.hernandez.511@my.csun.edu.
They came to remind us of the importance of family, unity, and the utilization of our resources. Each of them shared their stories from when they were in PhiDE, and how PhiDE helped them get to where they are now.
From left: Oswaldo Rivas, Diana Naderi, Bianca Rivas and Kevin Guillen
Bianca, a member of the Gamma Class and our 2009 VP of Programming, graduated in 2011 majoring in Biology and minoring in Central American studies. Her involvement in PhiDE came from her desire to become more involved on campus. As a member of PhiDE, she learned how to work as a team, built management skills and met lifelong friends.
Since early last summer, Bianca began the application process to medical school. After having gone through the process, Bianca shared some of her tips for doing well on interviews. In her opinion, the best advice is to be yourself and to market yourself. During the interview process you are, in a sense, selling yourself to your medical schools. You have to condense yourself and everything you did in your undergraduate career into a small package, and show your medical schools your best side. To do that, Bianca made a theme for her interviews. That theme was serving the underserved Chicano community. Being Central American played a big role in her success, and looking back at how her ethnicity influenced her community service made everything click and come together.
Bianca ultimately gave this piece of great advice, “You are in one of the best organizations here on campus. Don’t be afraid to get out of your shell, and get out there.”
Kevin Guillen, another founding member, graduated in Business and is now helping his father start a health clinic in Palmdale. He had no problem showing off his fun and quirky personality as he cracked jokes and gave everyone a good laugh. Kevin has a lot of insight in the medical field. He stressed the importance of not only knowing the scientific side of medicine, but the business side as well. Having a father that has studied and graduated in so many fields within healthcare has come with its benefits. One of the most important messages he delivered was to remember to take things lightly, “Yes you are all pre-med, and yes you are all dressed up nice. But it’s not all business. Enjoy your time here and enjoy PhiDE. This is what makes it fun and what makes it worth it. It’s the backbone of this whole college experience.”
These four alumni are perfect examples of the people you come to meet in Phi Delta Epsilon. We see our members grow from the time they join up until the time they graduate. That is the beauty of it all. We have all been in the same boat, we have all had tough classes and impossible professors and we have all spent long hours in the lab and long nights at the library. Although we are all from different backgrounds, the drive to, one day, become physicians brings us together and makes us a family.
All of us decided to take a big step in our undergraduate careers and rush Phi Delta Epsilon. We have all been nervous, and, at some point in our lives, naive. With induction coming up, we should prepare ourselves to welcome the new Mu class and remember that, not too long ago, we were in their shoes taking that giant step forward that has led us to where we are now.
This article was authored by Phi Delta Epsilon Technology Committee Member, Edward Hernandez. If you would like to contact Edward, you can reach him at edward.hernandez.511@my.csun.edu.
An Interview with Yasmin Nadershahi
02/22/12 Filed in: Alumni | Interviews
Over the years, Phi Delta Epsilon CA Theta has grown into a bigger, better, and greater chapter. With that said, our older members, the ones who established our fraternity and contributed so much, have since graduated and truly began their pursuit into their respective fields. In this blog segment, Alumni Committee has reached out to one of our graduated members, Yasmin Nadershahi, and asked her what has she done since graduating and to reflect on her experiences in PhiDE.
Yasmin Nadershahi
Major: Biotechnology/Medical Technology, B.S., 2010
Minors: Chemistry and Women Studies
Delta Class - Fall 2008
Vice President of Programming - 2010
Miss PhiDE - 2009 and 2010
1. What have you been up to since graduating from CSUN?
Since graduating CSUN, I have begun working as a flavor chemist. It is one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had because it allows me to be creative! As a flavor chemist, I experiment with different chemicals to create formulas for people to consume in beverages/foods. I have also been in touch with CHLA, and I still find ways to contribute to my community.
2. How is it like working for CHLA? What is your position there, and what is required of that position?
Those of PhiDE CA Theta chapter who know me are well aware of my passion for CHLA. As VP of Programming, I tried to create as many fun and social events to fundraise for CHLA. I helped pave the way for us to host our first CHLA Blood Drive, and I hosted our first club event fundraiser. All of the money raised from the club event went directly to CHLA, and it was, by far, one of the biggest fundraisers we’ve ever had.
Working with CHLA is honorable and amazing. I am a founding member of CHLA’s Junior Advisory Board, and I get to work with passionate individuals interested in giving back to the community.
From left: Jasmine Moore, Lauren Michaels, Yasmin Nadershahi, Bianca Rivas, Sofia Radillo and Karen Rivas at our first CHLA club event fundraiser at Club Kress.
3. What are your plans for the future?
For the future, I would like to continue supporting CHLA and to keep in touch with PhiDE CA Theta!
4. What advice can you give to current members of PhiDE?
My advice to the current members of PhiDE is to ALWAYS work as a team and a family. Help each other out with homework, study in groups, go to places together outside of school and represent your letters on campus! Don’t isolate yourself from others! Have fun with PhiDE!
You only gain what you put in. The more involved you are, the more fun you will have.
5. Do you know of any great opportunities or programs, medically related or not, that current PhiDE members can benefit from or would be interested in?
During my undergraduate years, I shadowed in the Klotz Student Health Center at CSUN. The program I was in is called CASE, which stands for Clinical Access Shadowing Experience. In this program, you experience the basics of working directly with patients and have the opportunity to shadow in the field you are most interested in. I shadowed in the pharmacy, and earned a certificate of completion. If any PhiDE members need help or have questions regarding this program, contact me or call the Klotz center at (818) 677-6328.
Another opportunity I know of is provided by one of our founding members, Kevin Guillen. He has helped create a clinic called Clinica Medica Mi Familia de Palmdale, and is offering a Summer Shadow Program (SSP). For those who care about the community and want to see what it's like to work in a clinic that mainly provides for the underserved, contact Kevin for this awesome opportunity…and tell him Yasmin sent ya! From my understanding, the program is still in development and will encompass the practice of medicine, preventative healthcare through community service, and the business of running a medical practice. At the end of the program you will also earn a certificate of completion.
Yasmin with the PhiDE family.
6. Give us some insight into your contributions and experiences with PhiDE.
My biggest contribution to PhiDE was turning our chapter into one giant family. I wanted to create as many social events so that our chapter could see each other outside of class and meetings. These events allowed us to get to know each other better and make our bonds stronger.
I think the event that brought everyone together the closest happened the year I hyped everyone to go to the 2010 PhiDE Winterball. That event is one of the best memories I have of PhiDE. We were THE biggest, united chapter, and WE brought the party to the ball! I remember thinking, "I wish we could all go together…how about a limo?!" So, we also became the first chapter to roll up in a limo!
As I mentioned previously, I put together our first club event, which we hosted at Kress in Hollywood. This event became one of the largest fundraising events we've ever held for CHLA. We raised, approximately, $1,300. I also helped pave the way for us to host our first Blood Drive with CHLA.
While serving as Associated Students (A.S.) Senator for the College of Science and Math Seat 1, I served as a liaison between A.S. and PhiDE. This position helped me find many opportunities for PhiDE to join and become more involved and recognized on campus. For example, I signed the fraternity up for our first, on-campus Earth Day event, which was hosted by A.S.
My experience in PhiDE was great and will always be special to me!
Yasmin helping out at PhiDE’s first Earth Day event with A.S.
7. What did you learn/gain from being in PhiDE?
PhiDE helped me find myself and realize what direction I wanted to take with my degree. I will always support those who aim to pursue careers in any professional healthcare settings, as well as those who have decided to go down another path. PhiDE is a growing and learning experience with a variety of individuals. We started as a family at CSUN and hopefully it will continue to flourish in this way.
8. What is the one thing you love most about PhiDE?
All of the friends that I’ve made that have turned into family, and that special bond between us that exists even after graduating.
9. How do you think CSUN’s PhiDE chapter can improve?
I think CSUN’s PhiDE chapter has been very visible amongst all of the PhiDE chapters. However, I think that CSUN’s PhiDE’s visibility to the rest of the campus and community can be improved. The chapter ought to be more involved with other organizations on campus and host more events for us alumni to join! =)
Yasmin, thank you for your valuable insight and experiences with Phi Delta Epsilon. The entire fraternity has benefitted from hearing you. We wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors, and we hope to see you at our events!
________________________________________________________
This interview was conducted by Melissa Vallin, Phi Delta Epsilon’s Alumni Committee chair. If you are a past Phi Delta Epsilon member who would like to be interviewed, please contact Melissa at melissavallin@hotmail.com. Thank you.
Yasmin Nadershahi
Major: Biotechnology/Medical Technology, B.S., 2010
Minors: Chemistry and Women Studies
Delta Class - Fall 2008
Vice President of Programming - 2010
Miss PhiDE - 2009 and 2010
1. What have you been up to since graduating from CSUN?
Since graduating CSUN, I have begun working as a flavor chemist. It is one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had because it allows me to be creative! As a flavor chemist, I experiment with different chemicals to create formulas for people to consume in beverages/foods. I have also been in touch with CHLA, and I still find ways to contribute to my community.
2. How is it like working for CHLA? What is your position there, and what is required of that position?
Those of PhiDE CA Theta chapter who know me are well aware of my passion for CHLA. As VP of Programming, I tried to create as many fun and social events to fundraise for CHLA. I helped pave the way for us to host our first CHLA Blood Drive, and I hosted our first club event fundraiser. All of the money raised from the club event went directly to CHLA, and it was, by far, one of the biggest fundraisers we’ve ever had.
Working with CHLA is honorable and amazing. I am a founding member of CHLA’s Junior Advisory Board, and I get to work with passionate individuals interested in giving back to the community.
From left: Jasmine Moore, Lauren Michaels, Yasmin Nadershahi, Bianca Rivas, Sofia Radillo and Karen Rivas at our first CHLA club event fundraiser at Club Kress.
3. What are your plans for the future?
For the future, I would like to continue supporting CHLA and to keep in touch with PhiDE CA Theta!
4. What advice can you give to current members of PhiDE?
My advice to the current members of PhiDE is to ALWAYS work as a team and a family. Help each other out with homework, study in groups, go to places together outside of school and represent your letters on campus! Don’t isolate yourself from others! Have fun with PhiDE!
You only gain what you put in. The more involved you are, the more fun you will have.
5. Do you know of any great opportunities or programs, medically related or not, that current PhiDE members can benefit from or would be interested in?
During my undergraduate years, I shadowed in the Klotz Student Health Center at CSUN. The program I was in is called CASE, which stands for Clinical Access Shadowing Experience. In this program, you experience the basics of working directly with patients and have the opportunity to shadow in the field you are most interested in. I shadowed in the pharmacy, and earned a certificate of completion. If any PhiDE members need help or have questions regarding this program, contact me or call the Klotz center at (818) 677-6328.
Another opportunity I know of is provided by one of our founding members, Kevin Guillen. He has helped create a clinic called Clinica Medica Mi Familia de Palmdale, and is offering a Summer Shadow Program (SSP). For those who care about the community and want to see what it's like to work in a clinic that mainly provides for the underserved, contact Kevin for this awesome opportunity…and tell him Yasmin sent ya! From my understanding, the program is still in development and will encompass the practice of medicine, preventative healthcare through community service, and the business of running a medical practice. At the end of the program you will also earn a certificate of completion.
Yasmin with the PhiDE family.
6. Give us some insight into your contributions and experiences with PhiDE.
My biggest contribution to PhiDE was turning our chapter into one giant family. I wanted to create as many social events so that our chapter could see each other outside of class and meetings. These events allowed us to get to know each other better and make our bonds stronger.
I think the event that brought everyone together the closest happened the year I hyped everyone to go to the 2010 PhiDE Winterball. That event is one of the best memories I have of PhiDE. We were THE biggest, united chapter, and WE brought the party to the ball! I remember thinking, "I wish we could all go together…how about a limo?!" So, we also became the first chapter to roll up in a limo!
As I mentioned previously, I put together our first club event, which we hosted at Kress in Hollywood. This event became one of the largest fundraising events we've ever held for CHLA. We raised, approximately, $1,300. I also helped pave the way for us to host our first Blood Drive with CHLA.
While serving as Associated Students (A.S.) Senator for the College of Science and Math Seat 1, I served as a liaison between A.S. and PhiDE. This position helped me find many opportunities for PhiDE to join and become more involved and recognized on campus. For example, I signed the fraternity up for our first, on-campus Earth Day event, which was hosted by A.S.
My experience in PhiDE was great and will always be special to me!
Yasmin helping out at PhiDE’s first Earth Day event with A.S.
7. What did you learn/gain from being in PhiDE?
PhiDE helped me find myself and realize what direction I wanted to take with my degree. I will always support those who aim to pursue careers in any professional healthcare settings, as well as those who have decided to go down another path. PhiDE is a growing and learning experience with a variety of individuals. We started as a family at CSUN and hopefully it will continue to flourish in this way.
8. What is the one thing you love most about PhiDE?
All of the friends that I’ve made that have turned into family, and that special bond between us that exists even after graduating.
9. How do you think CSUN’s PhiDE chapter can improve?
I think CSUN’s PhiDE chapter has been very visible amongst all of the PhiDE chapters. However, I think that CSUN’s PhiDE’s visibility to the rest of the campus and community can be improved. The chapter ought to be more involved with other organizations on campus and host more events for us alumni to join! =)
Yasmin, thank you for your valuable insight and experiences with Phi Delta Epsilon. The entire fraternity has benefitted from hearing you. We wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors, and we hope to see you at our events!
This interview was conducted by Melissa Vallin, Phi Delta Epsilon’s Alumni Committee chair. If you are a past Phi Delta Epsilon member who would like to be interviewed, please contact Melissa at melissavallin@hotmail.com. Thank you.
CHLA Blood Drive
02/20/12 Filed in: Philanthropy
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Every month, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles needs around 1000 pints of blood to operate its life-saving procedures and heal its sick children. However, the hospital typically obtains around 800 pints from its donors’ valued contributions. Tuesday, February 21st, Phi Delta Epsilon hopes to make a difference. In the past, the fraternity has helped CHLA attain nearly 100 pints of blood, but we know we can do better! So please come support Phi Delta Epsilon and help CHLA in its mission to provide a healthier future for its children at the Matador Bookstore Complex from 8 AM to 2 PM on Tuesday February 21st!
Meet Phi Delta Epsilon’s CHLA representative Raul. He is a passionate and loving member of the hospital, and cares deeply about its mission.
Please come join us Tuesday, February 21st, and donate blood!
If you have never donated before, here is how the process takes place:
1. Verify your Eligibility
- You will be asked about your history and your general health on the the day of donation
- A CHLA staff member will check your blood pressure, pulse and temperature, and then, he or she will take a blood sample to check for anemia.
- A blood donation takes only 15 minutes. It is important for you to relax. Your body will begin replenishing blood almost immediately. Blood can be donated every 8 weeks.
- CHLA will provide you with snacks, juice and water after you have donated to help you replenish your blood.
| Instructions Before you Donate | Instructions After you Donate |
This article was authored by Phi Delta Epsilon Technology Committee Member, Edward Hernandez. If you would like to contact Edward, you can reach him at edward.hernandez.511@my.csun.edu.
