TMO Enters Its Next Chapter: Introducing the 2026–2027 Leadership Transition
The Translational Medicine Organization (TMO) is entering a new chapter.
Founded at UCSF to create a space where students could collaborate across disciplines and explore the intersection of science, innovation, research, and patient care, TMO has grown into an interdisciplinary community connecting students across healthcare and scientific programs.
As we move through 2026, the organization is beginning a deliberate leadership transition that will continue through December 2026, with the next generation of TMO leadership preparing to take the reins in January 2027.
Meet the 2026 TMO Leadership Team
The current TMO leadership represents the organization’s interdisciplinary foundation, bringing together students from medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, bioengineering, translational medicine, and other areas of healthcare and research.
The 2026 leadership team includes:
Kim Madlangbayan — Founder & Executive Director
Kim founded TMO with the vision of creating an organization where students could break down disciplinary silos and explore how research, innovation, and clinical care can come together to improve healthcare.
Makayla Nguyen — Director of Operations
Makayla has helped support TMO’s organizational development and operations while bringing a strong interest in translational medicine and the connection between clinical research, entrepreneurship, and healthcare innovation.
Elizabeth Halm— Director of Finance
Elizabeth has contributed to TMO’s financial and organizational infrastructure while supporting the organization’s commitment to connecting research, industry, and clinical practice.
Vivian Lee — Director of Records
Vivian has supported the organization’s records and administrative continuity as TMO continues to develop its infrastructure for future leadership.
Alneeda San — Director of Communications
Alneeda has helped shape TMO’s communications and public-facing presence, supporting the organization’s efforts to share its work and connect with students across UCSF.
Evan Marshman — Director of Administration
Evan has contributed to TMO’s administrative operations and organizational development, supporting the infrastructure necessary for the organization’s continued growth.
Teerith Pasricha — Graduate Chair, PhD Bioengineering
Teerith brought a graduate research perspective to TMO and emphasized the importance of bridging discoveries made in the laboratory with meaningful patient impact.
Himani Gupta — Graduate Chair, Master of Translational Medicine
Himani brought experience in clinical pharmacology, pharmacovigilance, drug safety, and translational medicine to TMO. Her time with the organization has reflected the connection between scientific discovery, clinical development, and patient impact. Himani also graduated from the Master of Translational Medicine program in 2026.
Jenica Wang — Pharmacy Chair
Jenica has represented the pharmacy community within TMO and contributed to the organization’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and learning across healthcare professions.
Daniel Carrillo — Medicine Chair
Daniel has represented the School of Medicine and brought a community-centered perspective to TMO, with an interest in improving healthcare education and addressing disparities in underserved communities.
Charlie Met — Dentistry Chair
Charlie has represented the dental community and helped connect dental students with TMO’s broader interdisciplinary mission and opportunities.
Together, this team has helped shape TMO’s 2026 programming and continued the organization’s mission of creating opportunities for students to learn, collaborate, and build relationships across professional boundaries.
A Special Thanks to Our Faculty Advisor
As TMO looks toward its next chapter, one important part of the organization will remain constant: Dr. Joanne Chun will continue serving as TMO’s Executive Faculty Advisor.
Her continued mentorship provides an important source of guidance and continuity as the organization transitions from its founding leadership to its next generation of student leaders.
TMO is grateful for her continued willingness to support students as they develop new ideas, create interdisciplinary opportunities, and explore how those ideas can translate into meaningful advances in healthcare.
A Full-Circle Moment for TMO’s Founder
For Kim Madlangbayan, 2026 represents a particularly meaningful milestone.
After founding TMO and serving as its Executive Director, Kim will step down from the Executive Director position while continuing to serve as Founder and Advisor to the organization.
The founding board will remain actively involved throughout the transition period through December 2026. During this time, the current leadership will work to ensure continuity, support incoming leaders, and help establish the next structure of TMO.
In January 2027, the founding board will formally step down from its current leadership roles and pass responsibilities to the incoming board.
For Kim, this transition represents more than a change in title. It is a reflection of the original purpose behind creating TMO: building something that could eventually grow beyond its founders.
“TMO began with a simple question: What if students had a space to collaborate and bridge science, innovation, and patient care? This organization was founded to empower future UCSF health leaders to break through silos, lead with purpose, and steer ahead in a world that’s constantly evolving.”
Now, a year later, Kim describes the transition as a full-circle moment.
“Starting TMO was never about creating something that would remain centered around one person. It was about creating a community that could continue beyond its founders. Watching TMO grow from an idea into an organization with students from different disciplines, schools, and backgrounds has been incredibly meaningful. I’m grateful to everyone who believed in the vision and helped build it with us.”
And as she looks toward the next generation:
“It really feels like a full-circle moment. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, but I’m even more excited about what comes next. I can’t wait to see TMO continue to grow, evolve, and become something even bigger than what we originally imagined.”
Looking Back at Spring 2026
The transition comes at the end of an active year for TMO.
One of the organization’s final major events of 2026 was the Interdisciplinary Case Conference on Infective Endocarditis, organized in collaboration with the Society for Dental Innovation at UCSF, Student College of Clinical Pharmacy, and Cardiology Interest Group.
The event brought together perspectives from pharmacy, medicine, and dentistry, featuring a clinical case presentation, faculty-led discussion and Q&A, and opportunities for students to connect with peers and faculty.
The event represented the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration that has become central to TMO’s identity: bringing different healthcare perspectives together around complex clinical problems.
As TMO closes out its 2025-2026 school year programming, the organization is grateful to all of the students, faculty, organizations, and collaborators who have contributed to its growth.
What Comes Next?
The transition to the next TMO board will begin in earnest as the organization moves toward January 2027.
Over the coming months, TMO will begin sharing information about opportunities to join the next Board of Directors, including future school and program Chair positions.
These roles will provide students with an opportunity to represent their respective communities, develop interdisciplinary programming, connect students across UCSF, and help shape the future direction of TMO.
The current founding board will continue supporting the transition through December 2026, after which the incoming leadership will officially begin its term in January 2027.
This is not an ending for TMO. It is a handoff.
The founding team built the foundation. The next generation will decide where to build from it.
Interested in joining TMO’s next chapter? Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about 2027 Board and Chair opportunities, or reach out directly at tmo@ucsf.edu.
“The most exciting part of founding something is eventually getting to watch other people take it somewhere you never could have taken it yourself.”