Jonathan Teyan, MPA
President and Chief Executive Officer
jonathanteyan@amsny.org
Jonathan Teyan joined AMSNY in 2011 and currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. As Chief Operating Officer, he spearheaded the expansion of AMSNY’s biomedical research portfolio, including the development of the New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent (NYFIRST), which supports the recruitment and retention of global leaders in research to New York. Jonathan also led the launch of the New York State Coalition for Biomedical Research and AMSNY’s Biosciences Advisory Council, the latter of which has focused on expanding opportunities for people from groups historically underrepresented in science. As President of AMSNY’s sister organization, the New York State Academic Dental Centers, he led the development of the NYSADC Fellowship to Address Oral Health Disparities, which provides advanced training in special care dentistry. Jonathan has an MPA in public policy and management from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Jennifer Tassler
Vice President for Government Relations and Strategic Affairs
jennifertassler@amsny.org
Jennifer Tassler joined AMSNY in 2016 and is currently the Vice President for Government Relations and Strategic Affairs. In this role, Jennifer oversees AMSNY’s government relations and diversity efforts. She monitors all state and federal legislation affecting AMSNY member schools and manages AMSNY’s Diversity in Medicine Programs, including the Diversity in Medicine Scholarship Program. Jennifer also works with staff to plan advocacy day activities in Albany and Washington, DC, and works with external lobbyists and is the liaison to the Government Relations Committee at AMSNY. Prior to joining AMSNY, Jennifer worked in the Office of Legislation at the Food and Drug Administration and spent several years at the American Psychiatric Association where she handled federal regulatory policy and congressional relations. Jennifer has a longstanding interest in science and medicine, graduating with a major in neuroscience from Pomona College in Claremont, CA, and then went on to law school at The Catholic University Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC, where she specialized in health law.
Stella Lau
Senior Director of Finance and Administration
Stella Lau joined AMSNY in January 2023 as the Senior Director of Finance and Administration. Stella’s role is to oversee all aspects of the organization’s financial and operations. Stella brings over two decades of experience in finance, operations, human resources, and academic administration. Before coming to AMSNY, Stella was the Director of Finance and Administration for the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University. She has also worked at the Research Foundation at Mental Hygiene as an Administrative Director and at the Kew-Forest School as the Director of Finance.
Stella graduated from Bernard Baruch College with a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) and earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA) at Columbia University School of Public Affairs. Stella resides in Forest Hills, New York. She is also a co-troop leader of a local Girl Scout troop.
Nyla Lindo, MPH
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Programs Manager
Nyla joined AMSNY in the Fall of 2021 during her final year at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. She currently serves as AMSNY’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Manager where she oversees the development of the MAP to Success Program and the management of the Diversity in Medicine Programs. Before Columbia, Nyla attended Emory University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and minored in Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies. During her time at Emory, she was a four-year member of the varsity track and field team and participated in research on and off campus. Nyla worked as a clinical research coordinator at the Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research, where she oversaw multiple research projects and worked as a medical scribe over the course of two years. Her time as a clinical research coordinator inspired her to pursue a master’s in public health to learn about how to minimize racial health disparities and how to address social determinants of health in medical settings.
Sudiksha Singh
Health Policy Analyst
Sudiksha Singh joined AMSNY in 2022 and currently serves as a Health Policy Analyst. In this role, she oversees the organization of the Science Forward Symposium for underrepresented researchers in the basic sciences and supports the policy and advocacy efforts for the special needs patient population in New York State. Prior to joining AMSNY, Sudiksha worked as a Strategy Associate for Advantage Care Physicians New York (ACPNY) where she oversaw projects researching the impacts of COVID-19 on patient care at 40 ACPNY clinics in New York City. Originally from the Greater Toronto Area, Sudiksha graduated with an Honours Specialization in Animal Behaviour and a minor in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario in 2020. Having taken on public health roles in Canada and India, Sudiksha further pursued her interest in health equity and global health governance, receiving a Master of Public Health with a Certificate in Health and Human Rights from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in 2022.
Shabad Bharara
Government Relations Analyst
Shabad Bharara joined AMSNY in the middle of 2022 and currently serves as a Government Affairs Analyst. In this role, Shabad primarily focuses on AMSNY’s government relations efforts. He monitors all local, state, and federal legislation that impacts AMSNY member schools and often translates these to easily digestible memos, reports, and presentations. Shabad also plans and participates in advocacy activities in Albany and Washington, DC. Prior to joining AMSNY, Shabad worked on several campaigns and interned on Capitol Hill and for AARP. Shabad earned his undergraduate degree in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government (CLEG) from the American University in Washington, DC and his MPA in Homeland Security and Health Policy from the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy.
Alyssa Alvarez
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager
alyssaalvarez@amsny.org
Alyssa Alvarez assumed the position of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager at AMSNY in the spring of 2023 following her graduation from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. In this role, her primary responsibilities include orchestrating the development and execution of programs within AMSNY’s portfolio, including the Diversity in Medicine programs and the Diversity in Medicine Scholarship. Prior to Columbia, Alyssa obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Physiology with a minor in Chemistry from San Francisco State University before attending UC San Diego to pursue a Post-Baccalaureate in Pre-Medicine. During her time at UC San Diego, Alyssa worked as a research assistant in Orthopedic Surgery, where she studied the effects of cell and gene therapies in animal models. Her experience in pre-medicine and research served as a catalyst for her to decision to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Health, with the aim of addressing social determinants of health and health inequities.
Izuchukwu Ebere
Administrative Coordinator
Anatomical Program Manager
Izuchukwu is a graduate of the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at CCNY with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science. He is currently enrolled at the CUNY School of Medicine, expecting his MD in 2026. During school, he served in the Executive Branch of the Sophie Davis Student Government. He also split his time between a multitude of mentorship and tutoring opportunities, like the Health Professions Mentorship Program, a 2-year program which focused on health education and college preparedness of underserved high school students interested in healthcare. At AMSNY, Izuchukwu manages the anatomical gift program and administrative functions.
Jo Wiederhorn
President Emerita
jowiederhorn@amsny.org
Jo Wiederhorn served as President and CEO of the Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) from 2002 to 2023. During her tenure, the organization focused its efforts on educating the public on the role medical schools have played in attracting and retaining an inclusive and diversified physician workforce. This has been accomplished through the development of pipeline programs across the medical education continuum. The organization also focused its efforts on informing the public about the important role biomedical and life sciences’ research has on improving the health outcomes of NYS’ residents. Prior to her work at AMSNY she was the Chief of Staff to the Dean at NYU School of Medicine and Director of its Institute for Urban and Global Health. Prior to her tenure at NYU, Ms. Wiederhorn was the Chief of Staff to the President of the then Health and Hospitals Corporation and Associate Executive Director of MetroPlus Health Plan.