Meet The UConn Rescue Leadership Team
President & Outgoing Training Coordinator
Grace Gewirtz
Sophomore, Physiology and Neurobiology & Psychology on the Pre-med Track
Hi! My name is Grace Gewirtz and I am excited to be this year’s President. I have volunteered as an EMT for Stafford EMS in New Jersey since 2022 and I am a certified CPR and Stop the Bleed instructor. Aside from UConn Rescue, I am a part of the STEMTalk Magazine E-Board and I am an undergraduate research assistant in the UConn Psychology Department. I am looking forward to everything this year will bring!
Vice President & Instructor Team Lead
Jack Nemec
Sophomore, Allied Health Sciences
Hello, my name is Jack Nemec, and I'm excited to take on the role as instructor team lead for this year. I plan to pursue a career as a physical therapist, and have been involved with diverse medical positions in support of this goal. I have a background as a volunteer EMT, a volunteer in a hospital ER, as well as recently becoming a BLS instructor for UConn Rescue. I’m also a part of UConn’s premier academic fraternity, Alpha Beta Epsilon, making me a part of a community filled with students of similar career goals within the health field. I’m looking forward to such experiences that will allow me to grow into someone that cares for others as a career.​
Secretary
Sophie LaBrecque
Sophomore, Physiology and Neurobiology on the Pre-med Track
Hi! My name is Sophie LaBrecque and I am taking on the role of Secretary this year! I am so excited to work with my fellow board members to make everything run smoothly. I worked as an EMT at a local amusement park at home over the summer, and am currently volunteering as an EMT at Tolland Fire Department. I am also on the UConn Tap Team, am a Husky Ambassador on campus, and am a member of the academic fraternity Alpha Beta Epsilon. Outside of school I love to hang out with friends, listen to music, and go to the beach. I am excited to get started and see what this year brings!
Treasurer
Jeremy Lesser
Senior, Physiology & Neurobiology with minors in Spanish/Healthcare Management and Insurance Studies
Hi! My name is Jeremy Lesser and I am thrilled to stay as UConn Rescue’s treasurer this year. I have worked as an EMT for Jackson Township First Aid Squad in NJ since early 2020 and I am a CPR/STB instructor for UConn Rescue. I am active in many on campus organizations and research within the PNB department. Outside of school, I enjoy playing guitar, fencing, watching sports, and hanging out with friends.
Incoming Treasurer
Keira Riley
Junior, Accounting with a minor in Analytics
Hi! My name is Keira Riley, and I am excited to be a part of the treasury operations for UConn Rescue. I look forward to getting practical experience within accounting and working with my fellow board members. Outside of academics, I hold a position working in the mailrooms on campus during the semesters and at a restaurant during school breaks. I also enjoy going to the gym and listening to music, as well as going to the beach.
Incoming Training Coordinator
Ritika Parikh
Junior, Molecular and Cellular Biology on the Pre-med Track
Hi! My name is Ritika Parikh and I am looking forward to joining as an incoming Training Coordinator this year. I am currently a volunteer EMT as well as a CPR and Stop the Bleed Instructor. Outside of EMS I am also involved in wet lab and clinical research, and as a volunteer for various organizations. I hope these experiences help me to develop a well-rounded understanding of the medical field over the next few years. In my free time I enjoy reading and am learning to play the guitar!
Incoming Training Coordinator
Teaj Chaing
Senior, Allied Health Sciences: Health Science with a minor in Molecular & Cellular Biology
Hi! My name is Teaj Chaing and I’m one of the incoming training coordinators! Currently, I’m a working EMT with Aetna Ambulance out of Hartford, CT and I’m also a TA for the EMT Training course on campus. Outside of EMS, I am a biochemistry peer mentor and I’m a part of a stroke research lab at UConn Health. I’m hoping that with my experience, I will become a better provider in the future. When I have some free time, I love to hang out with friends and family, listen to music, and weightlifting.
Faculty Advisor
Michael Zacchera
Mike is an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Allied Health, where he teaches AH 4092 EMT Training. A paramedic since 1991, Mike worked as an Educator at the Center for Education, Simulation, and Innovation at Hartford Hospital, and as a part time paramedic for the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association. He currently is the MIH Coordinator for the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS).
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Feel free to contact Mike at michael.zacchera@uconn.edu
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