United Students for Veterans' Health

If you have questions regarding a particular board position, feel free to contact any of the board members (email addresses can be found under profiles).

If you have a general question, feel free to contact stanford@usvh.org.

Interested in starting a USVH chapter at another school? Get in touch with our National Director of Recruitment, Jessie Tao, and read more about establishing a chapter on our National USVH site.

Top

About the Stanford Chapter Board

The 2006-07 Stanford Board of Directors consists of 10 Stanford students working together to improve the Stanford Volunteering Program at the Menlo Park Veterans Affairs Hospital. Our responsibilities include volunteer recruitment, organizing carpools, coordinating special events for veterans and students, and working with both the National Board and Menlo Park VA Recreational Therapists to improve both Stanford and National programs. To read more about the history of our program, please see our National USVH site.

Since USVH was founded by Stanford students, our Board has both Stanford Chapter and National USVH members. Members of both boards are all Stanford students.

Top

Board Position Descriptions

To learn more about individual board positions, please read this. If you have specific questions concerning USVH, please feel free to contact one of our board members.

Top

Board Profiles

Name: Brian Inouye
Position: USVH President
Major: Biological Sciences
Email: bminouye@stanford.edu
Why he chose USVH: I love people. I've always liked working with children, and I thought that working with people on the other end of the spectrum would be enjoyable. I play cards with my grandmother every Sunday night when I'm in Sacramento, and seeing her expressions and liveliness when I do is priceless. While everyone is focused on fostering the next generation by interacting with kids, they forget how much the elderly have given our generation. Thus, I felt I could help spend a little of my time with veterans who have done so much to mold our country. Just going into the VA and seeing the same glow in the veterans' faces that I see in my grandmother's makes me realize how much the vets and I need each other.

Name: Malinda Lee
Position: Stanford Program Director
Major: English and Biology
Email: malindal@stanford.edu
Why she chose USVH: Being at Stanford allows us to interact with fascinating people. However, being a college student means that we usually only come into contact with a very limited pool of people; namely 20-something year olds and middle aged folk. Many people at Stanford actively seek out volunteering positions and community service that deal with working with children; as a result, there are tons of programs for students to meet infants and kids. USVH is unique in that it's one of the very few well-established programs that allow young people like us to work with the elderly.

I chose USVH because I am studying neurobiology and very interested in mental health and neurological diseases. In this last year of volunteering, in addition to learning more about mental health (my original goal), I've also met tons of interesting, interesting people. The vets are hilarious, they're sweet, they're thousands of times more worldy than I am - but many are also complacent about their lives. Our goal with USVH is to bring some excitement, youth, and spark to battle that complacency.

Name: Jeremy Lorber
Position: Director of Volunteering
Major: Human Biology
Email: lorber@stanford.edu
Why he chose USVH: I chose USVH because I saw it as as a big challenge and opportunity. Many of the veterans there have no one to speak to or laugh with; making their weeks a little bit brighter also makes mine brighter. I still see volunteering as a challenge to continue building the happiness and well being of everyone I come in contact with at the VA. Sometimes I hear about happy times from my veterans, other times I hear about illness and sadness. Either way, I appreciate and cherish the opportunity to build relationships and to brighten Friday afternoons with my veterans.

Name: Yvonne Chan
Position: Director of Special Events
Major: Biological Sciences
Email: yychan@stanford.edu
Why she chose USVH: When I joined USVH, I knew very little about Alzheimer's and the VA system, but I knew that I love working with the elderly. I spent most of my childhood with my grandmother, and making her laugh made my days. As a USVH volunteer, I wanted to bring that laughter to the veterans and do what I can to brighten their days. My veterans and I would play cards, read, or take walks to enjoy the sun. Sometimes, we just sit and talk about our childhoods for two hours. From their stories, I have learned invaluable life lessons. I have been inspired by their strength, courage, and wisdom. While there have been challenges volunteering at the VA, memories of watching them tap their feet to the rhythm of music and seeing them smile after winning a game of checkers make everything worthwhile.

Name: Arpeet Shah
Position: Director Volunteer Training
Major: Human Biology
Email: atshah@stanford.edu
Why he chose USVH: I chose to work with USVH because of a memory I had of visiting a friend of mine who was in the hospital for a week after a motorbiking accident. I remember he told me how lonely he was, how badly he wanted to go home, and how much he appreciated visitors just sitting and talking to him. When I found what USVH did, I saw a clear resemblance between my friend's situation and the veterans', aside from one main difference: the veterans at the VA Hospital in Menlo Park, for the most part, were terminal patients who don't get to leave the hospital. I thought volunteering with USVH was a great way to give back to the veterans who sacrificed so much for our country, and I've also found that I look forward to seeing them every week.

Name: Jessie Tao
Position: Chief Financial Officer
Major: Biology and Psychology
Email: jtao@stanford.edu
Why she chose USVH: I joined USVH as a way to give back to the community, but in particular to the older generation. Having seen my grandparents only a few times in my lifetime, I've always yearned to get to know members of this special group. My Saturday morning visits with my vets have become the highlight of my week. I love just sitting and talking to my vets, going on walks outside, playing cards or reading with them, or even feeding the squirrels together. There are days when I leave the VA Hospital inspired and in awe of the courage and wisdom of my veterans; there are days when I leave frustrated and saddened by their stories. But mostly I feel incredibly lucky to be learning about their lives and also to be doing what I can to brighten their day.

Name: Ruidi Wang
Position: Chief Technology Officer
Major: Biological Sciences
Email: ruidiw@stanford.edu
Why he chose USVH: I found out about USVH through friends. I decided to volunteer with this organization because of my experiences with my grandfather. Like the veterans at the VA my grandfather suffered from Alzheimers as well. He passed away a few years ago and I feel that by helping those veterans at the VA I am doing my part as a grandson. I hope to my efforts can make a difference in the lives of these veterans, however small. And as a person pursuing a medical career, I hope to further help people like these veterans in the future.

Name: Ryan Melton
Position: Director of Issue Advocacy and Education
Major: Biological Sciences
Email: rjmelton@stanford.edu
Why he chose USVH: I joined USVH in order to serve veterans. I respect the sacrifices they have made for their country. And I feel that through their military service, they have done more than enough to deserve my time, energy and friendship. Furthermore, I joined USVH to use the organization as a vehicle to educate others about veterans, their circumstances, and their unmet needs. Ultimately, I hope to motivate you and other students to grapple with veterans issues and reach out to this truly unique population.

Name: Michael Marek
Position: National Recruitment Director
Major: Biology and Psychology
Email: mmarek@stanford.edu
Why he chose USVH: I joined USVH as a way to give back to the community, but in particular to the older generation. Having seen my grandparents only a few times in my lifetime, I've always yearned to get to know members of this special group. My Saturday morning visits with my vets have become the highlight of my week. I love just sitting and talking to my vets, going on walks outside, playing cards or reading with them, or even feeding the squirrels together. There are days when I leave the VA Hospital inspired and in awe of the courage and wisdom of my veterans; there are days when I leave frustrated and saddened by their stories. But mostly I feel incredibly lucky to be learning about their lives and also to be doing what I can to brighten their day.

Name: Stephanie Le
Position: National Director of Communications
Major: Biological Sciences
Email: treble@stanford.edu
Why she chose USVH: His bed was vacant, sheets tucked snugly around the mattress. Most frighteningly, the board above his bed now bore someone else's name. When I finally approached Brenda, my sorrow became bittersweet joy: my veteran had been discharged! I suppose I should have known better than to suspect the worst. He was fiery, opinionated, and had a surprisingly strong voice to serenade me with. In spite of his infirmities, he always kept his hair neatly combed, and loved to regale me with stories of his operatic past. Sometimes, he would be my sole audience, voicing his requests and occasionally belting out the melody as I played. He even asked me to learn a few pieces of opera so we could form a duet. On one level, I realize this is the best result I could have asked for�how many volunteers are lucky enough to lose their veteran to health? On another, I am saddened that I did not have the chance for a proper farewell. I tell this story to remind myself, and others, to make the most of every visit�to savor each game of checkers, each conversation. Most importantly, learn as much as possible, as it may be your last chance.

Top