Joxel Garcia, M.D., M.B.A.
Assistant Secretary for Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Joxel Garcia was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 14, 2008 to be Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and an Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

As the ASH, Admiral Garcia serves as the Secretary's primary advisor on matters involving the nation's public health and science. He also oversees the U.S. Public Health Service and its Commissioned Corps for the Secretary. As Assistant Secretary for Health, Admiral Garcia's responsibilities include disease prevention, health promotion, public health preparedness, women's and minority health, the reduction of health disparities, fight against HIV/AIDS, pandemic influenza planning and vaccine preventable disease.

Dr. Garcia is a seasoned public health professional with experience in health care delivery, bioterrorism preparedness, health policy and international health affairs. Prior to becoming the ASH, Dr. Garcia served as the Senior Vice President and Senior Medical Advisor for MAXIMUS Federal Services Inc. While with MAXIMUS, Dr. Garcia oversaw the work of the MAXIMUS Center for Global Health and was the principal architect of the strategic partnership plan for the Western Hemisphere.

Prior to that, Dr. Garcia was Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office Western Hemisphere for the World Health Organization. As Deputy Director, Dr. Garcia was responsible for setting the general direction and strategy of the organization alongside the director and for providing leadership and advice on all policy decisions. He was also responsible for maintaining effective relations between the organization and the governments of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Dr. Garcia also led several important areas of the organization's work including the emergency preparedness and disaster relief program.

Dr. Garcia is a native of Hatillo, Puerto Rico and a resident of Connecticut. He served as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health from 1999-2003. During that time, he improved bioterrorism preparedness, launched the national smallpox preparation and vaccination plan, and led Connecticut's response to the anthrax attack. He also created an urban health initiative to prevent disease, increase health literacy and improve economic conditions.

Dr. Garcia is a trained obstetrician and gynecologist who once served as the Assistant Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, CT.

He completed his pre-medical studies at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Mayaguez campus. He holds a medical degree from the Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hartford.

Dr. Garcia has served on numerous national boards, including the National Advisory Committee on Violence against Women, National Dialogue on Cancer, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and as the president-elect of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Dr. Garcia sees his role as Assistant Secretary for Health as an opportunity to enhance the Secretary's efforts to further the mission of HHS and the health of the nation by building, strengthening, and leveraging relationships across the public health community and the US Public Health Service while also improving healthcare for all Americans.

Vice Admiral Adam M. Robinson, Jr., M.D., M.B.A.
Medical Corps
Surgeon General
Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

Vice Admiral Adam Robinson, a native of Louisville, Ky., is the Chief of the Navy Medical Corps. He entered the naval service in 1977 and holds a Doctor of Medicine from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, through the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. Following completion of his surgical internship at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, he was commissioned.

Vice Adm. Robinson's first assignment was as a General Medical Officer, Branch Medical Clinic, Fort Allen, Puerto Rico, before reporting to the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., in 1978 to complete a residency in General Surgery. His subsequent duty assignments included: Staff Surgeon, U.S. Naval Hospital, Yokosuka, Japan, and Ship's Surgeon, USS Midway (CV-41).

After completing a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Carle Foundation Hospital, University of Illinois School of Medicine (1984-85), Vice Adm. Robinson reported to the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, as the Head of the Colon and Rectal Surgery Division. While there, he was called to temporary duty in 1987 as Ship's Surgeon in USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and in 1988 as Ship's Surgeon in USS Coral Sea (CV-43).

Vice Adm. Robinson reported to Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va., in 1990 as the Head of the General Surgery Department and Director of General Surgery Residency Program. He was appointed Acting Medical Director for the facility in 1994. While at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Vice Adm. Robinson earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Florida. In 1995, Vice Adm. Robinson reported to the Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, as the Force Medical Officer serving in that capacity for two years. Following that assignment, he reported to Naval Hospital Jacksonville in 1997 as the Executive Officer. In January 1999, as Fleet Hospital Jacksonville Commanding Officer, Vice Adm. Robinson commanded a detachment of the fleet hospital as a medical contingent to Joint Task Force Haiti (Operation New Horizon/Uphold Democracy).

In August 1999, Vice Adm. Robinson reported to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) as the Director of Readiness and was selected as the Principle Director, Clinical and Program Policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs in September 2000, where he also served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Clinical and Program Policy. Vice Adm. Robinson was assigned as Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka from September 2001 to January 2004, after which he received assignment back to BUMED as Deputy Chief of BUMED for Medical Support Operations with additional duty as acting Chief of the Medical Corps. In July 2004, Vice Adm. Robinson reported as Commander, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. He assumed the duties as Commander, Navy Medicine National Capital Area Region in October 2005. In 2007, Vice Admiral Robinson became the first African American in history of the U.S. Armed Forces to become Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy.

The author of numerous presentations and publications, Vice Adm. Robinson holds fellowships in the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He is a member of the Le Societe Internationale de Chirurgie, the Society of Black Academic Surgeons, and the National Business School Scholastic Society, Beta Gamma Sigma. He holds certification as a Certified Physician Executive from the American College of Physician Executives.

Vice Adm. Robinson's personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and various service and campaign awards.

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Balazs "Ernie" Bodai, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Director, Breast Health Center
Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento

Ernie Bodai, M.D. was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1951. He and his family lived in a bomb shelter for nearly a year, before they managed to escape during the Hungarian Revolution in 1957. Following immigration to the United States, Dr. Bodai received his B.A. and M.S. degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his M.D. degree from the University of California, Davis in 1977, where he currently serves as Clinical Professor of Surgery. Dr. Bodai served as Chief of Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, Sacramento for 15 years and today directs the Breast Health Center at the Kaiser Permanente Sacramento, which has been recognized, nationally as a "Center of Excellence." He has authored over 250 medical articles and has published 5 books, 4 of which focus on cancer. He holds a number of medical device patents, is a member of numerous prestigious surgical societies and is the recipient of many national awards. He serves as a board member or medical director of several companies.

After treating thousands of patients with breast cancer he became frustrated at the pace of funding for research. In a remarkable one-man lobbying effort he was able to convince Congress and the U.S. Postal Service to issue the Breast Cancer Research Stamp - the first ever stamp in U.S. history that sells at more than face value (55 cents) with the surplus amount donated directly to breast cancer research. Over 900 million stamps have been sold raising nearly $60 million for crucial research.

He is currently introducing the first ever "global stamp" raising awareness and funding to conquer the disease worldwide. To date over 70 countries have begun work on this important project. Hungary and Belize have already issued the stamp. Together we will find a cure in the near future - that is his hope.

Garth N. Graham M.D., M.P.H.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Office of Minority Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Garth N. Graham is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health in the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. The Office of Minority Health develops and coordinates Federal health policy that addresses minority health concerns and ensures that Federal, State and local health programs take into account the needs of disadvantaged, racial and ethnic populations. The Office of Minority Health (OMH) was created by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 1986 as a result of the Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Black and Minority Health.

He was previously appointed a White House Fellow and special assistant to former Secretary Tommy G. Thompson at the Department of Health and Human Services. He founded the Boston Men's Cardiovascular Health Project, a project designed to identify behavioral explanations for decreased adherence to adequate diet and exercise by African American men. Dr Graham was the Founding Senior Editorial Board Member of the Yale Journal of Health, Law, Policy, and Ethics, served on the Editorial Board of the Yale Journal of Biology and Science, Public Health Reports and a number of other guest editorial boards. He also served on the Public Health Executive Council of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Board of Directors of Physicians for Human Rights, Chairman of the American Medical Association/MSS National Minority Issues Committee and on the Steering Committee of the Boston Men's Health Coalition. He is currently on the faculty of Harvard Medical School where he trained in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and serves as a visiting scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health. He has authored scientific articles and presentations on cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS and community medicine.

Dr. Graham earned an M.D. from the Yale School of Medicine, where he graduated cum laude and active leader in the American Medical Student Association. He subsequently became a board member for AMSA and also Physician for Human Rights. He was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and named a Yale President Public Service Fellow. He also earned an M.P.H. from the Yale School of Epidemiology and Public Health with a focus in health policy administration. He has received numerous accolades for his leadership and service in promoting health, including the 2002 American Medical Association Leadership Award, the Partners in Excellence Award, the Miriam Kathleen Dasey Award from Yale Medical School and the 2005 Reginald Hawkins award. The Business Network Journal also named him one of the Forty Leaders Under Forty.

Brian Hurley
2008-2009 National President
American Medical Student Association

Brian is thrilled to be serving the American Medical Student Association this year as national president. Brian recognizes the fabulous force of activism and is humbled by its power to transform. He is particularly excited to spend this year committed to all of AMSA in our collective work toward a just and equitable healthcare system equipped with a diverse and aware workforce. Brian is interested in the interconnection between those social, political, and cultural forces that threaten optimal public health. His mission this year is to further AMSA's efforts in addressing this interconnection through fostering processes and systems that distribute best-practices principles on a foundation of open communication and trust. He encourages all leaders to approach their work with strategic thinking and a collaborative attitude - moving together toward common ends accelerates our velocity!

Brian is tremendously excited to be working with Carol Williams-Nickelson, and intends to dedicate this year to facilitating a team-approach to updating AMSA's programs, products, services, and operational structure to best serve our members. Brian's other specific objectives this year include solidifying AMSA's place within the International Federation of Medical Student Associations, making AMSA the most robust internationally-connected medical association in the United States for students interesting in eliminating global HIV/AIDS, promoting global health equity, pursuing international travel, and studying abroad. Brian also intends to build upon the powerful momentum of AMSA's PharmFree campaign and continue our push to remove conflict-of-interest from American medicine. Brian is a proud advocate for physicians-in-training from every race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, marital status, religion, and background. As such, he will also spend this year cementing AMSA's position the home for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender medical students, building AMSA's reputation as the association for premedical students and medical students studying osteopathic medicine, and executing an outreach strategy to bring more students of color into AMSA.

Brian has served AMSA previously as the National Vice President and Director of Student Programming. He is also a proud former national coordinator of AMSA's Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender People In Medicine Advocacy Action Committee, and is excited to bring his experience to the heart and soul of AMSA - the Action Committees, Interest Groups, and regional and local leaders that make action a reality for today's medical students. Brian has worked extensively to promote changes in AMSA's structure to align our leadership positions with our organizational needs - in fact, two positions Brian previously held (National Vice President and LGBTPM coordinator) no longer exist within AMSA.

Brian recently graduated from the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine and Marshall School of Business with an combined M.D./M.B.A. degree. Prior to medical school, Brian was an undergraduate student studying biochemistry, neuroscience, and political theory at the University of California, Los Angeles. Following his term, Brian will be pursuing a career in addiction medicine, though he is still deciding between doing a psychiatry or a combined medicine/psychiatry residency.