As the school year begins, the OUWB Medical Student Government (MSG) executive board already is focused on helping the school maintain its core values while increasing connection among classes and thinking globally.
That’s according to the MSG president for 2025-26, Paige Pistotti.
Pistotti is joined on the board by Vice President Aaryan Patel, Secretary Nandini Koneru, and Treasurer Aryan Arora. All four board members are M2s.
They have an important role, too, because MSG serves as the official representative body of the medical students to the OUWB administration, faculty, Corewell Health, Oakland University, and the community. MSG strives to investigate, discuss, and act on issues pertinent to the student body; organizes and oversees committees and their work that is pertinent to the students and the institution; and serves as the fund allocation body for OUWB student organizations. Also, MSG serves as the communication medium between the student body and institutional partners.
The board members recently took time to share details about why they wanted to be in student government, and their goals.
Pistotti said it starts with a commitment to OUWB’s community.
“One of the most important things I’ve experienced at OUWB is the sense of community,” said Pistotti. “If I could make everyone feel as supported as I did…I would consider myself accomplished.”
Pistotti grew up in Lincoln Park and Flat Rock — both in Michigan — and graduated from Summit Academy North High School in Romulus. For her undergraduate degree, Pistotti went to University of Michigan where she majored in neuroscience and minored in intersectional studies.
In both high school and in Ann Arbor Pistotti said she was “super involved with band and music.” Dance also is important to Pistotti, who remains committed to being involved in her longtime studio.
Pistotti said that she knew she wanted to be a doctor at the age of four, after having an “amazing pediatrician.”
“She always made me feel safe and taken care of, no matter what I had going on,” she said.
Her decision to become a doctor was solidified as an undergraduate, when she worked as a home health aide and specialized in helping children with chronic and terminal conditions.
For medical school, Pistotti applied at every option in Michigan, but almost immediately felt a connection with OUWB.
“The OUWB essays were some of the easiest for me to write and connect with,” she said. “And when I was doing tours and coming in for Second Look…everybody was really welcoming and answered my questions before I could even ask them.”
The highlight of her first year at OUWB was the feeling of community.
“Everybody has so much personality,” she said. “And we genuinely care about each other…it’s warm, it’s way more social than I expected.”
Successfully completing her first year has “shown me that I’m capable of more than I thought, especially with so much support.”
Pistotti said she wants others to feel the same way, too, which is why she wanted to be involved in MSG. (She views it as a continuation of similar leadership positions she held in high school and at U of M.)
Under Pistotti’s leadership, the board has identified three primary goals: preserving OUWB’s core values of embracing inclusiveness; increasing connection amongst members of the school’s different classes; and trying to figure out how the community can get more involved with global health efforts.
“There’s a place for medical students to have our voices heard and to effect positive change,” she said. “Some of the things that are happening are real health crises.”
And Pistotti said that she’s intent on doing whatever she can to remind her classmates not to lose themselves. She sends them texts regularly, in fact, that generally serve as reminders to “stay human because the robotic thing can become second nature.”
“I want to continue to foster that sense of community and integrate ways for us to follow our passions beyond studying,” she said. “Whether that’s through global health efforts, celebrating diversity, or just getting involved in clubs, the community, and connecting.”
Here’s additional background and insight from the other board members.
What drew you to OUWB?
Patel: I am near my friends and family both in Windsor and Michigan so it's been nice having a support network. Additionally, I liked that OUWB had a good class size. Large enough that I'm meeting people with different stories but not so large that I don't feel connected with my peers. I also was really attracted to OUWB's Corewell affiliation, an extensive hospital system I knew I'd be able to learn a lot from in all kinds of specialties.
Koneru: What drew me to OUWB was the sense of community within the school and the clinical opportunities available to students. I really liked that the small class size fostered a close-knit community among students and with professors. I also liked OUWB’s strong clinical relationship with Corewell and the resources they provide for students.
Arora: The great hospital system OUWB is affiliated with and the overall supportive environment the community here cultivated was something I really wanted to be a part of.
What made you want to be part of OUWB MSG?
Patel: Honestly, I like the class a lot and wanted to do what I can to help make everyone's lives easier. I like that MSG is quite involved and in the know of the school's day-to-day activities and priorities and enjoy being a conduit of communication between our class and OUWB administration. I specifically like being vice president because I get to talk with all sorts of people who want to start an initiative, club or event and do what I can to help them make it happen and that kind of thing really satisfies me.
Koneru: I’ve really come to appreciate how student leadership can shape students’ experience at OUWB and the sense of community that drew me to the school. I wanted to be able to advocate for my classmates and be someone they can reach out to, but also, in my position as secretary, I wanted to strengthen our OUWB community through social events that give students the opportunity to destress and build long-lasting relationships.
Arora: I wanted to be a voice for the student body and MSG presented a unique opportunity for student leaders to come together and share their ideas for changes they would like to see.
What goals do you have for your term?
Patel: I want to make it very clear for students that if they have an idea or desire to do something, they can do it with my full support. I'm hoping to (create a guide) that outlines for students about how they can get a club started, what different funding options exist in the school, and what needs to be done to get an event scheduled. Additionally, I hope to implement more ways that student involvement/achievement can be recognized and celebrated.
Koneru: One of my biggest goals for my term is to bridge the gap between M1/2s and M3/4s by planning more opportunities for M1/M2s at OU’s campus and M3/4s at Corewell’s campus to connect socially and build stronger interclass relationships. I also want to increase participation in the Big Sib/Little Sib program and organize more events that help those relationships grow throughout the year. Lastly, I want to plan more social events that support students’ mental health by giving them a chance to relax in low-pressure settings, like our Friday open rec center volleyball games that were implemented last year.
Arora: I plan to enable transparency between the student body and school by advocating for student concerns and fostering an open dialogue.
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