Medical Student Surgical Consortium (MSSC)
What is the MSSC?
The Medical Student Surgical Consortium is a student-run organization at Albany Medical College that aims to provide a wide range of opportunities for a robust education on what a future career in surgery could be. The organization oversees the numerous surgery sub-specialty interest groups.
Mission Statement
The MSSC serves as an overarching board of the surgical sub-specialty interest groups, working to streamline medical student engagement within the Albany Medical Center Department of Surgery. We aim to create a comprehensive perspective on a career in surgery through early clinical exposure, mentorship, and research opportunities.
Goals
Promote accessible, structured, and visible surgical scholarship for medical students. Support student engagement through research workshops, journal clubs, collaboration with surgical subspecialty interest groups, and faculty mentor connections. Help students identify research opportunities at Albany Medical College and affiliated institutions.
Guide and provide resources to assist MSSC members in navigating the residency application process (i.e., ERAS) and preparing for successful careers in surgical specialties. Responsibilities include organizing workshops, mock interviews, and informational sessions to educate members about residency programs, application requirements, and career pathways.
Coordinate initiatives to engage members in meaningful community service projects that align with the values of the medical profession and surgical specialties. This division aims to promote a culture of altruism and social responsibility within the MSSC.
Seeks to coordinate hands-on workshops and training sessions to develop practical surgical skills and organize large-scale simulation exercises to enhance medical students’ technical proficiency and confidence in surgical techniques.
Our Programs
Our Sub-I panel held in April allows M4s who matched into surgical residencies to share their insight on how to be successful during Sub-Is and the residency application process. Students were able to learn expectations on away rotations, tips for getting a sense of the culture of a program, and how to demonstrate proficiency as a future intern, among other skills!
These workshops offer in-depth instruction on wound closure principles and hands-on practice with a variety of suturing methods and knot-tying techniques. Students work under the guidance of experienced faculty and surgical residents to develop precision, dexterity, and confidence in essential surgical skills. These sessions serve as an excellent foundation for future operative experiences and clinical clerkships.
The How to Scrub and Introduction to the Operating Room Workshops offer students practical training in sterile etiquette, gowning, gloving, and maintaining the sterile field before entering the operating room. Taught by OR educators and residents, the workshop is held on the first day of students’ Surgery and OB/GYN 3rd year clerkships to better prepare them for clinical responsibilities. It equips students with the foundational skills needed to contribute effectively and learn confidently during these clerkships.
The DaVinci Robotic Surgery Workshop provides medical students with early, hands-on exposure to robot-assisted surgery. Under the guidance of surgical faculty and robotic technology educators, students rotate through the DaVinci simulator and operating room platform to develop familiarity with surgeon-console controls, three-dimensional visualization, instrument articulation, and fundamental robotic skills. The workshop introduces the principles, capabilities, and clinical applications of robotic surgery while allowing students to explore emerging surgical technology and engage with mentors in the field. These sessions build foundational knowledge and technical confidence for future operative experiences and surgical clerkships.
Meet Our Team
Executive Leadership Chair
Class of 2027/2028
Interest(s): Cardiothoracic Surgery
Executive Leadership Chair
Class of 2028
Interest(s): Orthopedic Surgery
Executive Leadership Chair
Class of 2028
Interest(s): Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery
Research Division Chair
Class of 2029
Interest(s): Otolaryngology (ENT)
Residency Application and Preparation Division Chair
Class of 2028
Interest(s):Â Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery
Residency Application and Preparation Division Chair
Class of 2028
Interest(s):Â Orthopedic Surgery
Residency Application and Preparation Division Mentee
Class of 2029
Interest(s):Â Ophthalmology, General Surgery
Service and Outreach Division Co-Chair
Class of 2027
Interest(s): Orthopedic Surgery
Service and Outreach Division Co-Chair
Class of 2028
Interest(s): OB/GYN, Otolaryngology (ENT)
Service and Outreach Division Mentee
Class of 2029
Interest(s):Â Cardiothoracic Surgery
Skills Division Chair
Class of 2029
Interest(s): Vascular Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery
Social and Communication Division Co-Chair
Class of 2029
Interest(s): Plastic Surgery
Social and Communication Division Co-Chair
Class of 2027
Interest(s): Vascular Surgery
Social Media Team
Class of 2027
Interest(s): General Surgery, Surgical Oncology
Social Media Team
Class of 2029
Interest(s): Otolaryngology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Gastroenterology, Cardiology
Social Media Team
Class of 2029
Interest(s): Orthopaedic Surgery
Social Media Team
Class of 2029
Interest(s): Trauma Surgery
Social Media Team
Class of 2029
Interest(s): General Surgery, Vascular Surgery
Social Media Team
Class of 2029
Interest(s): Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Faculty Leadership
The MSSC is advised by Drs. KMarie King (Executive Leader), Lindy Davis (Research Division), Sandra DiBrito (Residency Application Preparation Division), Rebecca Brocks (Residency Application Preparation Division), Christine Bialowas (Skills Division), and Joshua Chao (Service Division)
ENT: Kelly Modi, Zane Gabriel, Isha Chitnis
Ophthalmology: Viana Bravo, Skyler Han and David Dombrovsky
Orthopedic Surgery: Neil Poddar, Isabella Hillman, Morgan Griffin
Plastic Surgery: Erin Kim, Evan Xylas, Claire King
Cardiothoracic Surgery: Fourth Year Leadership - Sidharth Addepalli, Michelle Burmistrova, Junyi Liu; Third Year Leadership – Ragy Beshay, Aman Burji; Second Year Leadership – Dev Dwivedi, Asavari Gowda, Rizky Lubis, Willis Ng
Vascular Surgery: Senior Leadership - Sidharth Addepalli, Nikhil Azhagiri, Peter McCarthy, Kavya Kotha, Marines Heredero Diaz; Junior Leadership - Dev Dwivedi, Lakshmi Surada
Neurosurgery: Damilare Oyetibo, Travis Sorenson, Aditya Goyal, Ali Naqvi
Urology: Andrew Parzych, Carter Larrance
Contact Us
Interested in joining the MSSC? Have interest in participating in one of our programs? Please email us at [email protected] and let us know! You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok at @MSSC_AMC.
Increase engagement between students and the many learning opportunities provided by the several surgical sub-specialty interest groups on campus. This division also aims to increase participation in networking opportunities both in and outside of Albany, including increasing opportunities for students to present at and attend conferences on the regional, state and national level.