Orientation Committee

Name:  David Barkevich

Hometown: Halfmoon, NY

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: SUNY Cobleskill, Animal Science B.S. with a minor in Chemistry

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): No

Favorite Part of Medical School: The connections I’ve made with my classmates and friends! Medical school is a unique environment that strongly enhances and encourages forming bonds with your peers.

Medical School Organizations: Ortho interest group, Orientation committee, Ortho summer research program

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Tacos, Community, and Beer; Mister Sizzles

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Bills-related festivities and exploring Buffalo! There’s a lot to see in the city and I’m constantly discovering new things

Hobbies: Working out, rock climbing, hiking, relaxing with a good book or video games

Fun Fact: I’m proficient in the winter sport, Curling! 

Email: debarkev@buffalo.edu

Name: Brianna Friend

Hometown: Horseheads, NY

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: University at Buffalo, Biomedical Sciences major/Neuroscience and Psychology minor

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I did not take a gap year

Favorite Part of Medical School:  I absolutely loved gross anatomy! The lab is such a great place to learn, especially for the kinesthetic learners and I looked forward to going in every week. It is also a great way to get to meet and bond with a bunch of your classmates.

Medical School Organizations: Community Engagement Class Representative, Friends of the Family treasurer, GI Interest Group Secretary, Oncology Co-President, Medicine for Tomorrow volunteer, Lighthouse Free Medical Clinic volunteer, and the Orientation Committee

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Depends on the day! Frankie Primo's, Taqueria Los Mayas, Ted's, Campfire Grill, Big Ditch, Lake Effect (the best Ice Cream), Allen Burger Venture

Favorite Buffalo Activity: There's so much to do in Buffalo from exploring Delaware Park, to shows at Shea's, to Food Truck Tuesdays, to visiting the cat cafe, to Saturday evening Bingo, I can't decide

Hobbies: Sewing, photography, reading, binging the newest reality tv show, and playing with my two kittens (that I adopted from the cat cafe!)

Fun Fact:  I am scuba diving certified

Email: bcfriend@buffalo.edu

Name: Emilie Harley

Hometown: Syracuse, NY

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Robert Morris University – BS biology / chemistry minor

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): Played two years of professional women’s hockey and worked as the Education Coordinator at the Jacobs Institute

Favorite Part of Medical School: Anatomy lab

Medical School Organizations: Frank Hastings Hamilton Surgical Society, Orthopedics Interest Group, Project Sunshine, Pediatrics Interest Group

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Chris’s sandwich co, Colter Bay, Fat Bob’s Smokehouse

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Bills game

Hobbies: Coaching, triathlon, baking

Fun Fact: I am a Canadian and American dual citizen

Email: emilieha@buffalo.edu

Name: Jessica Israel

Hometown: Rockland County, NY

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: The University at Buffalo, biomedical science major/public health minor

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): After earning my M.A in biology, I spent two gap years working as a medical assistant for a local fertility clinic here in Buffalo.

Favorite Part of Medical School: The amazing people I’ve met and the quick friendships we’ve built!

Medical School Organizations: Jewish Medical Student Association president, Orientation Committee, Heart Smart volunteer

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Bar Bill, Fat Bob’s Smokehouse, and Roost

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Food Truck Tuesdays and Bills’ games!

Hobbies: Baking and reading

Fun Fact: I was a figure skater when I was younger (but I wasn’t very good)

Email: jmisrael@buffalo.edu

Name: Miles LaNicca

Hometown: Flemington, NJ

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: Case Western Reserve University, Biology B.S.

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): Yes, Medical assistant

Favorite Part of Medical School: Meeting my class and engaging in meaningful medical volunteering with the Buffalo community

Medical School Organizations: Program Manager of UB HEALS, Orthopedic interest group member

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Chefs, Chophouse

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Trying new local breweries, distilleries, and restaurants

Hobbies: Aquascaping, Homebrewing, DIY projects, Rock-climbing

Fun Fact: I love learning new skills and have been a bartender at a distillery, a wine tender at a vineyard, a landscaper, and a handyman 

Email: mileslan@buffalo.edu

Name: Anneke Parkinson

Hometown: Long Island, NY

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: University at Buffalo, Exercise Science major with pre-health concentration

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): I took two gap years. During my first gap year I worked as an Exercise Specialist in the Buffalo community working with the underserved population to improve their health outcomes with exercise and diet changes. I completed the AMSNY Post- Baccalaureate program during my second gap year.

Favorite Part of Medical School: My new friends! I really enjoy meeting new people with similar interests and I’m so excited that I get to share this journey with them.

Medical School Organizations: NYS mentoring Program, Anesthesiology Interest Group President, Student National Medical Association, Orientation Committee

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Andale 2, Bratt’s Hill, Bada Bing, Don Tequila

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Food Trucks, Canal side, Bills Game

Hobbies: Cooking, Knitting, Canoeing, Content Creation

Fun Fact: I was born in Jamaica and moved to NY when I was 10 years old.

Email: annekepa@buffalo.edu

Name: Raymond Richards

Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: University at Buffalo, Biomedical Sciences

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): Yes, 1 gap year working at urgent care.

Favorite Part of Medical School: The camaraderie and community throughout the student body.

Medical School Organizations: Curriculum Committee, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: Billy Club, Bar Bill, Big Ditch Brewing Company

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Touring the Richardson-Olmsted Campus, Canalside

Hobbies: Cooking, Powerlifting

Fun Fact: My girlfriend’s uncle is the voice of Spongebob.

Email: rtrichar@buffalo.edu

Name: Joe Ricottone

Hometown: Orchard Park, NY 

Undergraduate College and Major/Minor: University of Rochester—B.S. in Molecular Genetics; Minor in Music

Gap Year (If yes, what did you do during your gap year): During my gap year, I worked at a research lab in UB's biology department. The research revolved around the effects of specific post-translational modifications upon protein function at the molecular level.

Favorite Part of Medical School: My favorite part has been the academic atmosphere. Being surrounded by a large group of people all with similar core interests and passions while being able to learn as a group about such complex and applicable knowledge has been an honor.

Medical School Organizations: I have mainly participated in HeartSmart and Medicine for Tomorrow as well as Frank Hastings Hamilton Surgical Society, Lighthouse, and UB HEALS.

Favorite Restaurants in Buffalo: For downtown, Mr. Sizzle's; for anywhere in Buffalo, Bar Bill.

Favorite Buffalo Activity: Watching the sunset from either from the less crowded end of the waterfront or from Chestnut Ridge.

Hobbies: Playing guitar, video games, and watching movies.

Fun Fact: I might be the only person alive to have Razzles as their favorite candy.

Email: jricotto@buffalo.edu