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, Leslie Johnson, and read more about establishing a chapter on our National USVH site.

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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.

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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.

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Board Profiles

Elizabeth Wendel (ewendel@stanford.edu)
National Director
I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and am currently from Birmingham, Michigan. I'm a senior majoring in Biology and minoring in Math. I've been working on a research project in the Bhalla Nephrology Lab at the medical school that deals with type two diabetes and am also working on a project at the Women's Heart Clinic at the Stanford Hospital that draws from both the fields of cardiology and psychiatry. I am in the process of applying to medical schools and hope to eventually begin a career in cardiology. In my free time I love distance running, playing the cello, spending time with my sorority sisters, singing, and eating delicious Korean food. =) I love volunteering at the VA because I enjoy getting to know the veterans on a personal level and feel blessed to spend time with them. I have learned so much from them and am incredibly grateful for their brave service and sacrifice.

Mingqian (Shelly) Xie
Stanford Director
Hello! My name is Mingqian(Shelly) Xie, and I am a junior. I am the Stanford Director for USVH. I started volunteering for USVH since the autumn quarter of my freshmen year. I love volunteering with USVH because I think since recently so many programs and services target children or the younger generation, USVH really makes a difference for the elderly and especially veterans, who need not only medical support but also emotional support. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the veterans smile and open up after talking and visiting them.

Leslie Johnson
National Recruitment Director
I am a current junior majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Psychosocial Development. At Stanford I am a tutor, a member of the Memorial Church choir, and a volunteer for Pacific Free Clinic. My job in USVH consists of recruiting new chapters of United Students for Veterans’ Health across the nation and facilitating their development. I am passionate about the growth of USVH because I have had a wonderful time getting to know the veterans at the VA. I have learned so much from the relationships that I have formed in my time volunteering. The veterans have taught me to live more fully and laugh more often. I love to play sand volleyball, eat chocolate, and go hiking in my free time!

Sam Birer
Director of Volunteering
My name is Sam Birer, and I am the USVH Director of Volunteering. If you are involved with USVH at Stanford, then I will be the guy sending you e-mail and doing my best to get you scheduled nicely. I am currently a junior studying chemistry, and I hope to someday earn my MD. I'm also a local boy, and I have a lot of family in the Bay Area. My grandpa is actually a frequent patient at the Menlo Park VA! The best part of USVH for me is the pride in giving back to a community that has done so much for us.

Harrison Truong
Director of Issue and Advocacy
I am in charge of exposing both the Stanford community and the community outside of it about the issues concerning veterans, such as aging and mental illnesses. I love USVH because of what it represents. Many of the veterans' needs today are forgotten or neglected, and with a program like USVH, light can be shined on these issues. From performing Art in the Park for the veterans or simply volunteering at the hospital to talk to them really make a difference. My time in USVH has been very rewarding, as I am meeting new veterans every time I volunteer and understanding how I can truly make a difference for many of forgotten problems with the veterans. Some things about myself are I am a big fan of basketball, drink plenty of Nesquick Chocolate milk, and would like to travel the world one day!

Vineet Singal
Director of Education
I am a Neurobiology major who is currently a junior. I like volunteering at the VA because it inspires my interest in veterans affairs and mental health issues. I enjoy the personal interactions with the veterans, and get to learn so much about their lives as veterans. Plus playing board games with them is always a lot of fun! A fun fact about myself is that I've lived in four countries and been to over 30.

Liz Melton
Financial Officer
I am a Human biology major with a minor in dance. My Stanford activities include: VPC of Pi Beta Phi, Co-director Henry's Place (a student-run organization to promote scientific learning amongst low-income elementary school students), previously on Stanford's varsity sailing team. Formerly, I was a US Figure Skater for 12 years and won 2nd place at Coup de Printemps in Luxembourg. At times, I feel as though the mental and physical health of the elderly veteran population tends to be neglected. What is more upsetting, though, is how little we take into account the happiness and well-being of those who have sacrificed their life for our own happiness. By volunteering at USVH, I feel that I am making an extremely small donation of compassion for those who have given up so much for all of us--an act I feel is a necessary "thank you" to our brave and honorable former soldiers.

Brittany Beavers
Special Events Coordinator
I volunteer at USVH because I love to chat and am interested in psychiatry in the future. I believe it's important to volunteer to help our society. I just hope to make someone's day a little bit brighter! My potential major is in Human Biology. I attend RUF, participate in a small group on campus, and am a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity for women. I also love to read and love watching movies when I have free time!

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