BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jake Hanson
​President
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Jake Hanson is a fourth-year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated with a BA in Neuroscience and Psychology honors in 2019. Jake has been involved with Helmet Heads since 2022 and is very passionate about brain awareness and safety. Prior to medical school, Jake worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator for a stereotactic and functional neurosurgeon at the University of Minnesota for two years. Jake hopes to pursue a career within child neurology and is passionate about patient advocacy and medical education. In his free time, he likes to spend quality time with his wife, Sarah, and two dogs, Hallie and Gigi exploring new breweries and coffee shops around Denver. Jake also enjoys attending sporting events (Go MN!) and plays violin.
Foram Patel
Vice President
​Foram Patel is a third-year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is originally from Ohio where she graduated with a BS in Biology. She then lived in Chicago where she obtained a master’s in business and administration: Finance. While in Chicago, Foram was in an accident where she was told by multiple physicians that the helmet saved her life. When she learned about Helmet Heads and our mission, she knew she had to become involved. She is passionate about advocacy, especially advocating for children who are underserved or in foster care. Foram is currently interested in pediatric medicine and obstetrics and gynecology. Foram enjoys spending time with her family and friends, dancing, and exploring the outdoors through skiing, hiking, and camping.
Anna De Schutter
Director of Operations
Anna De Schutter is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Colorado. She is originally from Belgium but moved to the United States ten years ago, and to Colorado five years ago. She first started volunteering with Helmet Heads in the Spring of 2024 and fell in love with the mission of the organization, the passion of its members, and the population served. Seeing the smiles on the kids' faces is her favorite part of this experience! Anna hopes to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine which is another reason for her passion for Helmet Heads. She wants to help prevent the head injuries she has witnessed in the Emergency Department. In her spare time, Anna loves to go on walks with her partner and their dog Barry as well as support Max Verstappen in Formula 1.
Elizabeth Leonard
Director of Marketing
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​Elizabeth Leonard is a third-year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and was born and raised in Eaton, Colorado. Her passion for working with children started in high school when she worked as a Camp Counselor and Tennis Coach. During her undergraduate years at Liberty University, Elizabeth enjoyed serving on the Scientific Research Society's Outreach Committee, which focused on developing educational science events for local children. She began working with Helmet Heads in 2024 and quickly fell in love with the unique opportunity to further children's health and safety education, especially on a topic as important as helmet safety. She is looking forward to pursuing a career in pediatric medicine in the future. In her free time, you can find Elizabeth playing tennis, hiking in the Rockies, or listening to her vinyl record collection.
Kristina Hulen, MD
Faculty Supervisor
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Kristina is an Associate Medical Director of Bloom Hospice, Colorado. She is dual certified in Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Care. She grew up in Colorado and attended the University of Colorado Anschutz to complete her Doctor of Medicine. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Kristina enjoys skiing, biking, climbing, and camping throughout Colorado. She is dedicated to health and access to physical recreation, and her prior experience includes research in neurodevelopment and volunteering for several adaptive sports companies in Boulder, CO. Kristina is particularly passionate about promoting helmet safety awareness and education, aiming to ensure that younger generations can safely enjoy and explore the outdoors.
Maddie Labor
Director of Communications​
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Maddie Labor is a third-year medical student at the University of Colorado. Originally from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, she completed her undergraduate studies at Regis University. Maddie has coached youth volleyball across elementary to high school levels and values the positive impact sports and physical activities have on children's health and development. She was drawn to Helmet Heads for its mission to promote safety and preventative medicine while enabling all children to enjoy outdoor recreation. In her free time, Maddie enjoys mountain biking, skiing, running, backpacking: anything that offers a challenge and takes her outside.
John Taylor
Director of Finance
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John Taylor is a third-year medical student at the University of Colorado. He is originally from Flagstaff, Arizona and attended the University of Arizona. While in undergrad, he developed a passion for working with kids through Camp Wildcat--an organization that takes underserved youth on no-cost camping trips. He has coached youth soccer and taught film to middle schoolers. As a daily bike-commuter, he was immediately drawn to Helmet Heads and the importance of helmet safety education. It envelopes his passions for preventative medicine, youth education, and sports. In his free time, John enjoys mountain biking, telemark skiing, climbing, and long, meandering backpacking trails.
Bruce Evans, M.D.
Founder​
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Dr. Evans is an Emergency Medicine physician with Kaiser and Saint Joseph Hospital. He is a skier and snow-border who has seen, first-hand, how helmets save lives. His interest in helmets and head injuries dates back to his days as a professional ski patroller. As a teacher at the CU School of Medicine, he developed an evidenced-based review on the important benefits of safety helmets back in 2004; "Helmet Heads" was born! Since that time, Dr. Evans, who was teaching Emergency Medicine as an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado when he developed the program, has helped Helmet Heads deliver over ten thousand bike/skate helmets to kids in the poorest communities across Denver-Metro front range. He is pragmatic about Helmet Heads; he believes that saving even one child from a serious head injury will more than justify the efforts of the non-profit and all-volunteer team that makes up Helmet Heads. Dr. Evans skis Mary Jane and Arapahoe Basin with his kids with his kids every chance he gets, and they always wear their ski helmets!
Committee Members
Communications Committee
Quinlan Cuddy
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Quinlan Cuddy is a second year medical student at the University of Colorado. Originally from Rocky Mount, Virginia, she completed her bachelor's degree in biology at George Mason University. Afterwards, she moved to Colorado where she completed her master's degree in human anatomy at the University of Colorado and then worked as a clinical research coordinator until starting medical school. She has played volleyball since she was 10 years old and believes that sports have an incredible ability to bring people together as well as instill lifelong skills, all while promoting healthy habits. She joined the Helmet Heads team because she wants kids to be able to do activities that make them happy and healthy while also protecting their noggins! In addition to volleyball, Quinlan loves to hike, camp, and read in her free time.
Video Creation & Design
Elena De Schutter​
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Elena De Schutter is a second-year medical student at the University of Colorado. She is originally from Belgium, moving to New York when she started high school. She has now lived in Colorado full-time for the past 4 years. Elena joined Helmet Heads because of its impactful mission. While completing her undergraduate at UCLA, she volunteered at a pediatric orthopedic hospital and had the opportunity to help kids with their physical therapy. It has made her passionate about injury prevention and helping kids take ownership of their safety. Being able to share the excitement for helmet safety is extremely rewarding. Outside of her studies, she watches Formula 1 and is fascinated by the drivers' helmet designs
Gracie Chen​
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Gracie Chen is a second-year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Originally from the San Gabriel Valley just outside of Los Angeles, she earned her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology with a minor in psychology from the University of California, San Diego. After graduating, she worked as a medical assistant in a hematology/oncology clinic, where witnessing health inequities firsthand inspired her to pursue a Master of Public Health at George Washington University to better understand healthcare systems and improve patient care. She developed a strong interest in working with patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and her passion for working with children naturally led her to pursue child neurology as a specialty. She joined the Helmet Heads team because she believes in the importance of educating children and families about helmet safety in a fun and welcoming environment. In her free time, she enjoys exploring local cafes and restaurants, collecting trinkets, and knitting.
Finance Committee
Amiroop Sandhu​
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Amiroop Sandhu is a first-year medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Originally from Houston, TX, he earned his B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston before completing his Master’s in Biomedical Sciences at RVU. He began working with children at his local Sikh temple in Houston, where he volunteered his time teaching Tabla (Indian drums) and tutoring students in their schoolwork. Through these experiences, he developed a strong passion for mentorship and community engagement. While working as a scribe in the emergency department, he frequently witnessed the consequences of not wearing helmets, which sparked his interest in injury prevention and safety education. When he learned about Helmet Heads, he felt a strong connection to its mission of promoting health, safety, and community awareness. He is currently interested in oncology, internal medicine, and emergency medicine. In his free time, Amiroop enjoys playing basketball, video games, and hiking since moving to Denver.
Marketing Committee
Pavan Patel
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Pavan Patel is matriculating into Rocky Vista University’s MBA program this fall. Originally from Beavercreek, Ohio, he graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Biology. During his time at Ohio University, he served as a teaching assistant for exercise science courses, where he developed a strong appreciation for physical fitness as both a preventative measure and a form of treatment for various illnesses. These experiences helped shape his interest in promoting health through education and active lifestyle choices. He is passionate about community impact and was drawn to Helmet Heads because of its mission to promote safety. Growing up riding bikes around his neighborhood, he understands the importance of protecting yourself while staying active and wants to help others do the same. He plans to eventually attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician. In his free time, Pavan enjoys skiing, weightlifting, and cooking, and spending time with his two cats.
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