Meet the Team
We are a diverse team of women with different journeys, passions, and experiences—but one common goal: to create a space where women in orthopaedics feel seen, supported, and inspired. Get to know the women behind YourMedMom and the stories that connect us.
Dr. Vani Sabesan
Dr. Vani Sabesan is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder, elbow, and upper-extremity care, with expertise spanning complex joint replacement, sports medicine, and regenerative treatments. A nationally recognized leader, she has held roles such as Associate Professor at Florida Atlantic University, FIU, Nova Southeastern, and Ross University. Dr. Sabesan has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and serves on national committees within the American Shoulder and Elbow Society and the American Orthopaedic Association. Beyond her surgical and academic accomplishments, she is deeply committed to advancing diversity and mentorship in orthopedics, having guided more than 150 students and trainees and co-founded national initiatives to strengthen musculoskeletal education. A marathoner and Ironman triathlete, Dr. Sabesan brings the same energy and perseverance to her patients and to the YourMedMom community—where she’s helping shape a more inclusive, supportive future for women in surgery.
Aghdas Movassaghi
Aghdas Movassaghi is a fourth-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and was a Research Fellow with Dr. Vani Sabesan. She helped create YourMedMom because she knows firsthand how overwhelming medicine can feel and how much it matters to have a place where we can ask honest questions, talk openly about the hard parts, and feel supported instead of judged. She spends most days learning about cases, doing research and working on her projects but the work that means the most to her is helping students and trainees find confidence and community. YourMedMom is her way of paying forward the mentorship that changed her own path. She’s applying into orthopaedic surgery and believes in building spaces where people in medicine can show up as themselves, learn, grow, and feel less alone while doing it.
Elizabeth Chan
Elizabeth Chan is a medical student at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine from Holly Springs, North Carolina. As the second oldest of five girls, she grew up surrounded by strong, supportive women—a foundation that shaped her belief in the power of women uplifting one another.
Elizabeth’s early experiences in orthopedic research through the Nth Dimensions Summer Research Internship with Dr. Vani Sabesan deepened her interest in musculoskeletal medicine and patient-centered care
. While orthopedics first sparked her love for movement and the musculoskeletal system, she later realized that her passion lay in caring for the whole patient—supporting individuals not just through injury, but through prevention, recovery, and lifelong wellness. This realization inspired her to pursue Family Medicine with a focus on Sports Medicine, where she hopes to combine her interests in continuity of care, movement, and rehabilitation to keep patients healthy and active at every stage of life.
Outside of medicine, Elizabeth enjoys backpacking, scuba diving, and exploring the outdoors with her family. She also finds joy in gardening and is currently cultivating an ever-expanding dahlia patch.
Jocelyn Lubert
Jocelyn Lubert is a research fellow in orthopaedic surgery with a focus on surgical outcomes, sex disparities, and industry trends in musculoskeletal care. Originally from Canada, Jocelyn learned to skate at the same time she learned to walk. She fell in love with lacrosse and went on to play Division I in the United States, later representing Portugal on the international stage and combining her passion for sport with her love for travel.
Outside of the hospital, Jocelyn enjoys distance running, reading fiction novels, and coaching youth lacrosse.
Jocelyn is continually inspired by her own mentor, an orthopaedic surgeon and mother, whose example fuels her passion for supporting women in surgery and creating spaces where strength and femininity can coexist.
Lana Smith
Lana Smith is a student at the University of Georgia from Denver, Colorado pursuing degrees in Biology, Mathematics, and Art History. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Equal Education for Athens, a nonprofit that works to reduce barriers to education and healthcare by connecting families with tutoring, clinical and other essential resources, and community support. Through this work, she has seen the systemic challenges families face, fueling her desire to pursue medicine as a means of creating meaningful and lasting change. Her academic and professional experience extend into orthopedic surgery research and biomedical device development, where she merges her strengths in quantitative analysis and creative problem-solving with a commitment to improving patient care. This has solidified her drive to pursue medicine, which she views as both a clinical career and a space for innovation, mentorship, and advocacy.
Outside of her academic and research commitments, Lana enjoys visiting art museums, experimenting with new recipes, and mentoring younger students who share her ambition to enter medicine.
Roya Osswald
Roya Osswald is a Psychology major at the University of Florida specializing in Cognitive and
Behavioral Neuroscience. Originally from Germany, she brings an international outlook to her
pursuit of medicine, shaped by a deep curiosity about the connection between the mind, body,
and resilience. Her experiences in orthopaedic research and patient care have shown her that
medicine is not only about knowledge and precision, but also about empathy, teamwork, and
human connection.
At UF, Roya is an active member of the Florida Eta Chapter of Phi Delta Epsilon and serves as
the Director of Marketing for YourMedMom, where she helps expand access to mentorship for
premedical students. She also tutors German and enjoys working with children- whether
through teaching, volunteering, or babysitting- because she believes that patience and
communication are essential to both education and healthcare.
Beyond academics, Roya is passionate about culture, language, and travel, which she sees as
ways to better understand people and perspectives from around the world. She loves skiing and
snowboarding in the winter and spends the rest of the year in the gym or doing pilates. When
she’s not studying or training, she enjoys spending time in local coffee shops reading or
catching up on work. Roya believes that curiosity, movement, and compassion are what keep
both medicine and life vibrant and meaningful.
