Meet the Team

Rishika Selvakumar

  • Rishika graduated with a Bachelor of Science from UBC in 2022 and is currently in her last year of the Master of Public Health program at UBC. She is interested in exploring the healthcare field. She joined AEP to support acne education and de-stigmatization.

Advisor

Mehdi Tabesh

President

  • Mehdi completed a Bachelor of Science with a major in Microbiology and Immunology and is currently a second year medical student. He joined the Acne Education Project with the goal of educating younger students about the facts and myths surrounding acne and promoting healthier conversations around skin health. Having personally struggled with eczema throughout elementary and high school, Mehdi understands firsthand how visible skin conditions can affect confidence, social interactions, and overall well being. These experiences motivated him to help destigmatize acne and empower students with practical knowledge so they can better care for themselves and support their peers. Through his involvement with AEP, Mehdi has also developed a strong interest in advocating for the inclusion of evidence based acne and skin health education within the BC school curriculum, with the hope of normalizing conversations around skin conditions and improving early health literacy among youth.

Sania Julian

Research Development Lead

  • Sania graduated from UBC in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Sciences. She has a strong interest in healthcare, and joined AEP to help increase and awareness and understanding regarding acne education. She hopes to help increase confidence among youth.

Hannah Salcudean

  • In 2022, Hannah graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Science - specializing in Computer Science and Life Sciences. She is currently completing a Master of Science degree at the University of Southern California. She hopes to continue her education in the medical field in the coming years. Having struggled with teenage acne, Hannah is passionate about using her experience to help educate youth and reduce the stigma around the disorder.

Research Development Executive

Mark Wang

President

  • Mark graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2023 from UBC and is currently pursing a MSc in Medicine. As part of AEP, Mark aims to educate young audiences about acne to dispel misinformation, promote self-esteem, and foster a better understanding of skin health. His goal is to create a supportive environment that empowers individuals to take control of their skincare and address the emotional impact that acne and other skin conditions can have on confidence and well-being.

Michelle Pham

  • In 2023, Michelle graduated from the Bachelor of Science program with a major in Integrated Sciences, specializing in Pathophysiology and Microbiology. She is currently at Western University pursuing her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. Having struggled with her own acne journey throughout her adolescence, she found that a major factor in her prolonged struggle had to do with the large amount of inaccurate information surrounding the cause of acne and its treatments. The process of trialing various treatments proved to be not only be costly but also time-consuming and detrimental to her skin. Michelle joined Acne Education Project (AEP) in hopes of reducing this misinformation and utilizing this platform to spread evidence-based knowledge to those struggling with skin conditions.

Research Development Executive

Heather Rathgeber

Vice-President

  • Heather is a fourth-year neuroscience student at UBC and has a strong interest in pediatric mental health and medical advocacy. She joined AEP to empower young students in their transition to adolescence by equipping them with evidence-based tools. Heather’s goal is to help destigmatize acne and facilitate open conversations about its impact on self-image and overall wellbeing.

Anahita Seraji

Outreach & Research Coordinator

  • Anahita graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biology. She joined the Acne Education Project in 2022 to support youth navigating acne during key developmental years through engaging, evidence-based education that builds confidence and understanding around skin health. Her interest in this work stems from her own experiences with acne and an understanding that reducing acne-related stigma plays an important role in supporting adolescent mental health. Throughout her time with the Acne Education Project, Anahita has taken on multiple roles, including Outreach Director, Presenter, and Creative Executive.

Soroush Mohebat

Internal Director

  • Soroush graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology in 2023. Currently, he is a research technician at UBC department of Pathology where he studies soft tissue cancers. Soroush believes social media often sets unrealistic standards that don’t reflect real life, and this can strongly affect teens as they grow into adulthood. Through volunteer with AEP, Soroush hopes to help bridge that gap in skin health and skin care and encourage young people to feel comfortable being themselves.


Co-founders: Jeffrey Toy, MD (2020-2023), Jason Lee, MD (2020-2023), Vincent Wan, MD (2020-2023)
Alumni Members: Miranda Tsu, B.Sc (2020-2022), Prabhu Gill, PharmD (2020-2022); Nicole Leith, B.Sc (2020-2023); Madeline Renner, B.A. (2022-2023), Sandy Lum, BASc, MD Candidate (2022-2023); Amy Zeglinski-Spinney, B.Sc, MD Candidate (2023)