Alumni Advisory Board

Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine

Alumni Association Advisory Board

Alumni Association Advisory Board

With more than 20,000 Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine alumni making a difference around the world, our Alumni Association is rooted in the belief that the connection to your medical school doesn't end at graduation—it grows stronger, deeper, and more meaningful over time.

At the heart of this connection is the Alumni Association Advisory Board: a passionate and diverse group of alumni leaders dedicated to shaping the future of our alumni community. Board members serve as mentors, advocates, and ambassadors—bridging the experiences of past, present, and future graduates. They plan meaningful events that foster connection, select and celebrate distinguished alumni, and help champion initiatives like U Giving Day that directly support today’s students.

By lending their voices, their time, and their talents, board members strengthen the fabric of our community and ensure that every graduate—no matter the path they took—is seen, supported, and celebrated.

Get Involved

Through the leadership and dedication of our alumni board members, they help ensure that the alumni association remains a vibrant, supportive, and connected community for all graduates.

Each year, the Alumni Association selects new members to serve a three-year term on the Advisory Board. This is a unique opportunity to shape alumni engagement strategy and support initiatives that celebrate and connect all graduates of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.

If you're passionate about giving back, building community, and shaping the future of alumni engagement, we invite you to learn more and consider joining us.

    Expectations

    Members of the Alumni Advisory Board serve a three-year term from August 1-July 30. Board members are active participants on one of three board committees, commit to attend and support alumni events, and are positive ambassadors for the School of Medicine. 

    Requirements include being an alumnus in good standing, attend four quarterly board meetings annually (hybrid), and dedicate time throughout the year to actively contribute to board initiatives and events.

    Eligibility

    Board members represent a diverse range of alumni, including MDs, PAs, PhDs, MLS graduates, residents, fellows, and current students. All alumni of the University of Utah who attended the School of Medicine in a degree-granting program, or who completed a residency or fellowship at a University of Utah-affiliated health system, are eligible to serve.

    SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION BY JULY 31

    Each member of the Alumni Association Board brings a unique perspective shaped by their experiences at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and beyond. United by a shared commitment to community, mentorship, and meaningful impact, these board members reflect on what inspires their service and why staying connected matters.

    "We are a community of generations, and the idea of “community” has become increasingly important to me. The communities at the U of U are significant parts of our individual and collective lives and can serve as a strong force for mutual motivation, support, mentorship, and positive change."
    Tara Cornaby Perreca, MD'98 President
    "My vision is to ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their background. I believe this vision is best realized by actively working to support a healthcare workforce that represents our community, and the Alumni Association provides a crucial platform for this."
    Michael Chen, MD'16 Executive Committee
    "As an obstetric anesthesiologist deeply invested in nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals, I am committed to fostering a supportive environment where students can thrive. Through building meaningful relationships and promoting diversity, I aim to contribute to the excellence of medical education at our alma mater. I look forward to collaborating with fellow alumni to uphold our school’s legacy of innovation and compassion in healthcare."
    Rayna Clay, MD'05 Board Member
    "As a current medical student, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from our institution’s distinguished alumni. Their involvement inspires me to stay engaged after graduation and helps me better understand and represent the current needs of our student body."
    Kendon Holdaway, 2028 MD Candidate Student Representative

    Alumni Advisory Board Members

    Tara Cornaby Perreca, MD'98
    Tara Cornaby Perreca completed both her undergraduate degree (BS ’94) and MD (’98) at the University of Utah. Cornaby recently retired from Stanford as an associate clinical professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine.
    Tara Cornaby Perreca, MD'98 President
    Ron Larkin, MD
    Ron Larkin, the immediate past-president, is an obstetrician-gynecologist in the Salt Lake City area who has delivered more than 15,000 babies.
    Ron Larkin, MD'75 Past-President
    Melissa Cheng, MD
    Melissa Cheng works in Salt Lake City, UT and specializes in Preventative Medicine, Addiction Medicine and Public Health & General Preventive Medicine.
    Melissa Cheng, MD'08 Board Member
    Rayna Clay, MD
    Rayna Clay works in Tampa, FL and specializes in Obstetric Anesthesiology. She currently serves as Medical Director of Women's Centers.
    Rayna Clay, MD'05 Board Member
    John Gannon, MD
    John Gannon, MD, RES'14, is currently practicing at Bozeman Health Urology and previously worked as a urologist with Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake. Dr. Gannon remains an adjunct professor in the department of surgery at the University of Utah.
    John Gannon, BS'05, RES'14 Board Member
    Trent Holmberg, MD
    Trent Holmberg works in Draper, UT and specializes in Forensic and Adult Psychiatry. He has served as an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine for nearly 20 years.
    Trent Holmberg, MD'98 Board Member
    Diane Liu, MD
    Diane Liu works in Salt Lake City, UT and specializes in Pediatrics. She currently practices with U Health.
    Diane Liu, MD'05 Board Member
    Liz Jensen, MD
    Liz Jensen works in Salt Lake City, UT and specializes in Pathology.
    Liz Jensen, MD'91 Executive Committe
    Linh Moran, MD'12
    Linh Moran works in Salt Lake City, UT and specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
    Linh Moran, MD'12 Executive Committee
    Lacey Murphy, MLS
    Lacey Murphy works in Salt Lake City, UT and teaches in the University of Utah's Medical Laboratory Science program.
    Lacey Murphy, MLS'12 Board Member
    Carmen Nations, MD'98
    Carmen Nations works in North Carolina and specializes in Pediatrics with a focus on Adolescent Health, Down Syndrome, and Down Syndrome Advocacy.
    Carmen Nations, MD'98 Board Member
    Mikio Obayashi works in Weber County, UT and specializes in Family Medicine.
    Mikio Obayahi, MD'94 Board Member
    Tammy Park, MD
    Tammy Park works in Salt Lake City, UT and specializes in Emergency Medicine.
    Tammy Park, MD'98 Executive Committee
    Darin Ryujin works in Salt Lake City, UT and specializes in Physician Assistant Education. He is Vice Chair for Advocacy, Success, and Impact at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.
    Darin Ryujin, PA'03 Board Member
    Carolyn Sanchez, MD '04
    Carolyn Sanchez works in Ashburn, VA and specializes in General Pediatrics.
    Carolyn Sanchez, MD'04 Board Member
    Don Reese, MD
    Don Reese is a retired Dermatologist living in Salt Lake City, UT.
    Don Reese, MD'77 Executive Committee
    Chris Wood, MD
    Christopher Wood works in Salt Lake City, UT and specializes in Family Medicine.
    Chris Wood, MD'94 Executive Committee

    Student Representatives

    Madelyn Chi, 2027 PA Candidate Student Representative

    Caitlin Faust, 2027 MD Candidate Student Representative

    Kendon Holdaway, 2028 MD Candidate Student Representative

    David Kim, 2026 MD Candidate Student Representative

    Kelsey Lassen, 2025 MD Candidate Student Representative

    Sanila Math, 2026 MD Candidate Student Representative

    Alec Smith, 2028 MD Candidate Student Representative

    Tina Xu, 2025 PA Candidate Student Representative

    Ex-Officio

    Megan Fix serves as the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and the Vice Chair of Education for Emergency Medicine.
    Megan Fix, MD Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
    Sara Lamb has been a faculty member since 2004 and currently serves as the Vice Dean for Education at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.
    Sara Lamb, MD, RES'01 Vice Dean for Education

    Past Presidents of the Alumni Association Advisory Board

    • Ronald Larkin, MD'75: 2020-2024
    • Teresa Ota, MD'88: 2018-2020
    • Bryan Stone, MD'86: 2016-2018
    • Dale Hull, MD'85, MPA: 2014-2016
    • David N. Sundwall, MD,'69: 2012–2014
    • Saundra Buys, MD: 2010-2012
    • Mark Johnston, MD'86: 2008-2010
    • Fred Langeland, MD'76: 2006-2008
    • Thomas Caine, MD’63: 2004-2006
    • Kent Farnsworth, MD'71: 2001-2003
    • DeVon Hale, MD'65: 1999-2001
    • Tamara Lewis Sheffied, MD'89: 1997-1999
    • Stephen Taylor, MD'69: 1995-1997
    • Joe Jack, MD’47: 1993-1995
    • George Pingree, MD'62: 1990-1992
    • J. Charles (Chuck) Rich, MD'65: 1981-1989 (founding president)

    We thank them for their invaluable service and lasting contributions.