Our Team

Shiva Nuti

President

Shiva graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Biology and currently attends The John Sealy School of Medicine in Galveston. Shiva’s involvement in numerous civil service organizations such as The Roosevelt Institute, HAPPY!, and The Kaizen Project led to him developing a vested interest in public/social health issues with a particular focus on resource inequality. To this end, Shiva hopes to change the food inequality scene in Galveston by filling one belly at a time.

As one of Kaizen Dallas’s original members, Shiva’s long-term goals include: facilitating the statewide expansion of The Kaizen Project and improving Kaizen’s infrastructure to make it more sustainable! If you think you can help us achieve our goals, or you simply have something cool to say/share, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Vivek Patel

Vice-President

Vivek Patel is a medical student at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. Vivek graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a major in Biology and minor in Philosophy. In seeing the socioeconomic disparities that exist in Galveston, he hopes to provide access to food to families struggling with food insecurity. Through this organization, Vivek wants to raise awareness about this issue by working with his colleagues and community.

Roshan Tom

Finance

Roshan Tom is a current medical student at UTMB School of Medicine. He received his bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas, where he served in various officer positions for multiple non-profit organizations serving the local community. He was also an active volunteer with Total Hospice and Palliative Care taking care of the elderly and sick patients. He plans to continue serving the community by engaging in the Kaizen chapter at Galveston.

ALICIA CANO

Family Coordinator

Alicia Cano is a second-year medical student at UTMB. Alicia graduated Magna Cum Laude with a major in Nutrition and minor in Art History from UT Austin. She has experience as a regular food bank volunteer and as an educator/research assistant for school garden programs. At UTMB, she helps run the Island Farmacy, a garden that provides fresh produce to patients. Alicia's experience working in childcare and passion for nutrition education has inspired her to pursue a career in pediatrics.

jacob alaniz

Volunteer Coordinator

Jacob Alaniz, Medical Student at the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine in Galveston, TX. I am originally from Brownsville, TX and did my undergraduate at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN. I believe that food is the centerpiece of our lives. It is powerful enough to shape entire cultures. It is a medium so flexible that it can be enjoyed as simple, raw ingredients or as a complex concert of flavors and aromas that can rival the highest forms of art. Food is an integral part of the human experience and a basic right that should be upheld for all. No mouth should go unfed and Kaizen represents an opportunity to contribute to that end.

Jed Janecek

Logistics

Jed Janecek graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Biology and is now a second year medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. He is originally from the small town of Shiner, Texas. He enjoys fishing, hunting, playing and watching sports, and giving back to the community. As such, he is looking forward to helping families in need in the Galveston area through the Kaizen Project this year.

Jenieve chapa

Public Relations/Secretary

Jenieve Chapa is a medical student at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a major in Human Development and Family Sciences and a concentration in families and personal relationships. During her time at UT, she developed the skills and drive necessary to advocate for and assist in overcoming the barriers that various underserved communities encounter. Jenieve is excited for the opportunity to work with The Kaizen Project to help address food insecurity and the socioeconomic disparities many families face here in Galveston.