The Insiders
The best and brightest, on your side
Kevin Jubbal, M.D.
Dr. Kevin Jubbal graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles magna cum laude with a B.S. in Neuroscience and went on to earn his M.D. from the University of California, San Diego as the sole recipient of the top merit scholarship for all 4 years. Dr. Jubbal scored in the 99.9th percentile on the MCAT and achieved similarly impressive results on his USMLE (265+). He matched into Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He has authored more than 60 publications, abstracts, and presentations in the field of plastic surgery.
As a physician entrepreneur, Dr. Jubbal’s passion for medical education and patient care led him to found the Blue LINC Healthcare Incubator and Med School Insiders. Through these and other projects, he seeks to empower future generations of physicians, redefine medical education, and improve patient care through interdisciplinary collaboration.
David Ahmadian
He is passionate about medical education, clinical research, and medical school admissions strategy. When working with applicants, his goal is to understand each applicant’s journey towards medicine in order to bring their unique story to the forefront. In his free time, he enjoys creating music, rock climbing, and cooking.
Junho Ahn, M.D.
Dr. Junho Ahn graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of science in public health in 3 years before spending a year as a post-baccalaureate researcher at the National Institute on Aging studying Alzheimer’s disease. He then attended medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern where he discovered a passion for orthopedic surgery. He published more than 40 articles indexed in PubMed in the field of orthopedic surgery before matching at the University of Texas Southwestern Orthopedic Surgery residency program. With his experience in admissions committees for orthopaedic residency, Dr. Ahn has valuable insight into the factors that contribute to a successful match process.
Dr. Ahn has a passion for research and education from tutoring organic chemistry to helping pre-medical students achieve their dream of being accepted into medical school.
Jaycob Avaylon, M.D.
He is originally from Southern California where he graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in 2017. He then took a gap year conducting research in ophthalmology and worked as a scribe for a busy surgical retina practice in Los Angeles. He graduated medical school in Sacramento at the California Northstate University, College of Medicine in 2023. While in medical school, Jaycob was elected for membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Additionally, he helped conduct medical school application reviews and interviews, allowing him a unique insider perspective on medical school admissions.
In his free time, he plays golf, pickleball, and ping pong, and enjoys exploring different wineries and restaurants.
Malek Ayoub, M.D.
Throughout his educational and professional journey, Malek has been deeply committed to tutoring and mentoring students, helping them navigate the complexities of medical school applications and interviews. His extensive experience in screening and interviewing applicants for medical school and residency programs makes him an invaluable resource for aspiring medical professionals. Outside of his professional endeavors, Malek is passionate about cooking, hiking, and playing soccer. However, it is his unwavering dedication to the medical field that truly sets him apart, inspiring and motivating those around him. His diverse interests and commitment make him a well-rounded and inspiring figure in the medical community.
Jeremiah Bearss, M.D.
Dr. Bearss has a passion for teaching and mentoring and has many years experience as a private tutor and teaching fellow. He was awarded “Tutor of the Year” at Utah State University and has continued to develop his passion for teaching and mentoring. As part of the M.D./Ph.D. program, he has admission committee experience reviewing applications and interviewing M.D./Ph.D. candidates to this highly competitive program. He also understands and has a passion for helping those with research goals convey their work in the best light possible, and has a deep understanding of research, with many publications in top journals. He can help applicants successfully navigate the unique challenges associated with applying to a dual degree program, while also helping traditional applicants convey this important skill as they apply to medical school. As someone who started medical school later in his life, he understands the unique challenges of non-traditional applicants and loves to help these applicants reach their goal of attending medical school.
Outside of medicine he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, playing tennis, perfecting a smoked brisket, and trying to find ways back onto a football field.
Aditya Belamkar, M.D.
Aditya Belamkar is a recent graduate of the Indiana University School of Medicine and incoming Internal Medicine resident at Northwestern University, with a long-term academic interest in cardiology. He has a strong foundation in clinical research, having led and contributed to multiple studies focused on cardiovascular outcomes and disparities in care. His work reflects a broader commitment to equity, data-driven inquiry, and academic mentorship.
Aditya brings over a decade of experience in education alongside a strong record of academic achievement, having honored all of his core clerkship shelf exams by considerable margins and earned a Step 2 CK score of 274 (99th percentile). He launched his own tutoring business in high school, working with students from kindergarten through juniors in high school. He continued tutoring and served as a teaching assistant throughout undergrad, and for the past three years, has focused on medical education, supporting fellow students through preclinical coursework, clerkships, and Shelf exams. He has worked extensively with those who have faced academic setbacks, including NBME subject and Step exam failures, helping them rebuild confidence, master high-yield content, and develop individualized strategies that stick. In addition, he has become a trusted resource for students aiming to score 260 or higher on Step 2 CK, offering structured long-term planning, efficient study strategies, and individualized guidance to help them achieve their goals.
Beyond academics, Aditya is passionate about mentorship. He has advised numerous pre-medical and medical students through both formal programs and one-on-one guidance, helping them navigate the admissions and Match processes with confidence and authenticity. He approaches each student’s story with care, intentionality, and a strong belief that no two paths need to look the same.
Outside of medicine, he’s an avid runner who has completed three half-marathons, a lifelong basketball fan, and enjoys experimenting in the kitchen.
Richard Bram, M.D.
Richard has always had a passion for serving as a mentor and a tutor to others. In college, he worked as an SAT tutor and organic chemistry lab teaching assistant. During medical school, he devoted time to mentorship for USMLE preparation and gross anatomy lab teaching. As an upcoming chief resident in his neurosurgery residency program, he interviewed prospective neurosurgery residency applicants and participated in ranking meetings. He hopes to share his insights and experiences with future applicants to help them achieve their career goals.
Lauryn Brown, M.D.
Throughout Lauryn’s experience as a mentor and tutor, she has always taken great pride in getting to know her applicants and helping them reach their individual goals. She started in college, where she tutored her fellow athletes in pre-medical classes and worked with nearby middle schools to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM. In medical school she served as a tutor to preclinical MS1 and MS2 students, and mentored pre-medical students with the application process who took gap years like herself. Throughout both medical school and residency, she has helped with numerous aspects of applicant interviewing and selection.
In her free time, she loves to be outside in the Pacific Northwest hiking, wake surfing, and snowboarding.
William Butler, M.D.
Dr. Butler is passionate about giving back to trainees by enhancing their educational experience and professional opportunities. He continues to publish, mentor, and speak on topics related to medical education, patient advocacy, and clinical research. In his free time, he enjoys running, collecting vinyl, and spending time with friends and family.
Marina Castilla, M.D.
Dr. Marina Castilla graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Russian. She earned an M.D. degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Dr. Castilla pursued an unconventional path from medical school to academia, holding faculty positions at George Mason and Georgetown Universities over the past ten years.
She has extensive experience teaching medical, graduate, and undergraduate students as well as advising students on their path to medical school admission. Dr. Castilla has experience interviewing and screening applicants for MD programs. She is passionate about helping future physicians find their niche in the medical field.
Akash Chakravartty, M.D.
Akash was hired as a tutor by his medical school for first, second, and third year medical students, as well as served as a preceptor for many case-based learning modules as a 4th year medical student. His teaching methods have been described by his mentees as more effective and efficient than school professors, and he has helped multiple students improve over 40+ points on Step 1 and 2. He also has an incredible passion for writing, and has published countless poems, short stories, and articles throughout his life in his free time. His own personal statements for medical school and residency have been described as ‘incredibly creative and unique’ by program directors and advisors, and he hopes to help students reach their own writing potential in their applications. Outside of medicine, Akash performs stand-Up comedy, works as a DJ, and enjoys working out.
Kevin Cheng, M.D.
As a non-US citizen international medical graduate (IMG), Dr. Cheng understands the unique struggles IMGs face every step of the way during their residency application. Dr. Cheng believes that many IMGs are excellent candidates and valuable assets to residency programs, however they may sell themselves short without proper guidance to highlight their unique experiences on the Personal Statement, ERAS Curriculum vitae, Letters of Recommendation, and Interviews. As a successful residency candidate with years of experience tutoring medical subjects and medical school interviews, Dr. Cheng wishes to continue to help other IMGs realize their dreams of becoming a physician in the U.S.
Aman Chopra, M.D.
Dr. Aman Chopra graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Biology before spending two years working as an Emergency Medical Technician in a local Emergency Department and a Clinical Research Coordinator at UC San Francisco. He then pursued a combined MD/MBA degree at Georgetown University where he discovered a passion for orthopedic surgery. He pursued a dedicated one-year clinical research fellowship at Duke University, publishing and presenting over 80 abstracts and manuscripts indexed in PubMed in the field of orthopedic surgery. Dr. Chopra is pursuing orthopedic surgery residency at MedStar Union Hospital, where he will additionally train at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, and Curtis National Hand Center.
With his experience in medical school admissions counseling and having recently gone through the match process for orthopedic surgery residency, Dr. Chopra has valuable insight into the factors that contribute to a medical school acceptance and successful residency match process.
Paul Clancy
Paul’s passion for teaching others has been reflected in his commitment to his student as an MCAT tutor for the last 3 years as well as a Biology TA for 3 years during undergrad. Scoring in the 99.9th percentile on the MCAT, he has demonstrated not only mastery of the material but has learned the best way to help teach others so they can also achieve success. In addition to his studies, Paul enjoys playing piano, working out, and hiking.
Gregory Cohan, M.D.
Greg believes in a holistic approach to education, and is dedicated to helping students achieve their goals through personalized teaching methods. Greg has extensive experience mentoring and tutoring medical students throughout their pre-clinical and clinical years, and guiding them through the residency application process. He also brings the unique perspective of having worked in the technology industry before medical school. Greg is committed to fostering the next generation of physicians with a supportive and tailored approach.
Alwin David, M.D.
He has a passion for mentoring and tutoring students along with helping those who have difficulty expressing their best attributes and passions in interviews and personal statements. He has experience with sitting on admissions committees in medical school and for his transitional year program.
Pavan Devarasetty, M.D.
Dr. Devarasetty has served as a mentor to numerous undergraduate pre-med students and as a class tutor in medical school. He has extensive experience reviewing medical school applications, serving as an academic peer leader, and conducting interviews for undergraduate scholarship programs. He has published multiple manuscripts and holds a U.S. patent for a medical device he designed in medical school. He is highly motivated to help aspiring students by providing resources, insight, and guidance to help them achieve their dreams of becoming physicians.
Dr. Doshi’s passion for bridging the gap of medical educational inequity has led to his drive for providing medical education to those in underprivileged areas spanning from countries such as India and even local communities in Philadelphia. He understands the burden technology and information overload has placed on medical students and wants to teach them strategies of using current technologies to not only improve their understanding of medicine but also help deliver optimal care for patients. He is a proponent of being able to integrate wellness among medical trainees while still being able to perform at a high level during their careers
Emma Fenske, D.O.
Prior to beginning her formal graduate medical education, she worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. She loves her rambunctious dogs and enjoys coaching soccer, running, traveling, cooking and reading in her free time. In the future, Emma would like to pursue a career in addiction and hospital medicine.
Aram Garewal, M.D.
Aram has extensive experience in mentoring and teaching undergraduate and medical students. He taught Organic Chemistry and Biology to students in college and has mentored medical students as a USMLE tutor for the past two years. Aram understands the difficulty of preparing for standardized exams and is truly passionate about teaching and helping others learn and grow as students. Outside of medicine, Aram enjoys working out, cooking with friends and family, and traveling to different parts of the world.
Connie Ge, M.D.
Connie Ge studied Neuroscience and Studio Art at Vanderbilt University, graduating cum laude with highest honors and her B. A. As a medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Connie has followed both her training in the basic sciences and her love for visual interpretation to the field of Diagnostic Radiology. She has worked in quality improvement examining multidisciplinary approaches to cancer screening and missed pediatric emergency diagnoses, explored the use of deep-learning algorithms in ultrasound interpretation, and taught extensively through educational posters and presentations at national meetings. Connie has always found joy in teaching and mentorship – her first job in high school was tutoring math, and thereafter she has worked as a tutor for many STEM and humanities classes and as a mentor for highschool and college students looking for academic guidance. After graduation from medical school, Connie is headed to a 1-year medicine internship, followed by her Diagnostic Radiology residency training at Brown/Rhode Island Hospital.for
Beatrice Go, M.D.
Beatrice Go graduated summa cum laude from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in Neuroscience and is currently a resident in Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Pennsylvania. Before attending medical school at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, she spent a year studying clinical and functional outcomes of sports medicine orthopedic surgeries. Her professional interests include health disparities and medical humanities, which she aspires to incorporate into her future career in academic medicine.
Beatrice is passionate about medical education and mentorship, and has been actively involved in her medical school admission committee as early as first year of medical school. She has served as a personal tutor and admissions consultant for many years. Having scored in the 99th percentile on her MCAT with an equally competitive score on Step 1/2CK, she is excited to help the next generation of premedical and medical students achieve their academic and personal goals. In her free time, Beatrice enjoys baking souffles, drawing, powerlifting, kickboxing, and trying as many new foods as she can in Philly.
Jaskeerat Gulati, M.D.
Throughout his college, medical school and residency journey, he has been extremely passionate about medical education, curriculum design, and coaching. During his IM residency and chief year, he has led the integration and expansion of a new resident-led point-of-care ultrasound curriculum within the residency program, work that has also presented at national conferences and published in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. He is the first physician in his family and is always looking to pay-it-forward to the next generation of medical trainees. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing basketball, cooking, trying new cuisines, and spending time with family and friends.
Pamela Guo, M.D.
Pamela began tutoring in 8th grade and has since developed a deep and longstanding commitment to providing exceptional customized coaching for her students in her 10 years of private tutoring experience. She scored a 254 on her USMLE Step 1, 259 on USMLE Step 2, and above the 90th percentile in all her NBME shelf exams. During medical school, she taught a board-review for USMLE and NBME psychiatry questions. She especially enjoys advising students with interests in psychiatry. Mentorship and advising has been invaluable in the trajectory of her career and she is delighted to pay it forward.
Sabastian Hajtovic, M.D.
Sabastian Hajtovic is a current resident at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Norhtwell completing his neurosurgery residency. He graduated from the Sophie Davis/City University of New York’s (CUNY) 7-year combined BS/MD program. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science in 3 years, graduating summa cum laude as valedictorian of the City College of New York (CCNY). At CCNY, he pursued basic science research in immunology and neuro-immunology, receiving a Rudin Research Fellowship for his work. He went on to attend the CUNY School of Medicine, where he pursued research in neurosurgery and published several peer-reviewed papers. He scored in the top percentiles on both Step 1 (265+) and Step 2 (270+) and wishes to help others achieve their full potential on exams and in medical school.
Sabastian has considerable experience on the admissions committee interviewing students for the combined Sophie Davis BS/MD program. He is passionate about human rights work and has been extensively involved with the Physicians for Human Rights organization, at a national level, for over 6 years. His research background has lent itself to developing a keen eye for writing and he is excited to guide the next generation of physicians and paying it forward.
Fathima Haseefa, M.D.
Fathima Haseefa graduated from Arizona State University summa cum laude with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and her MD/MPH from the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix.
She is currently an emergency medicine resident at Creighton University-Phoenix. Fathima has worked with hundreds of pre-health students through pipeline programs as well as serving as an organic chemistry supplemental instruction leader during college. She continued her passion for teaching and mentorship in medical school as a medical student ambassador, supplemental instruction leader for physiology, and student interviewer for admissions.
Andrew Holmes, M.D.
Andrew has served as a tutor and coach for his medical school throughout his education. He has created and presented weekly high-yield, comprehensive lectures to younger medical students to master preclinical content. Further, he has individually tutored numerous students in preparation for preclinical examinations, of USMLE Step 1 and 2, as well as NBME Shelf examinations. Lastly, he has provided academic coaching and counseling for younger medical students for building a rich experience and life skills to successfully apply for residency.
Outside of his professional life, Andrew enjoys staying active with his wife through exercising, hiking with their two dogs, and playing sports.
Vicki Hsieh, D.O.
Throughout her medical journey so far, Dr. Hsieh has hit many roadblocks and considered herself an underdog in many aspects of the medical school and residency application. She firmly holds the belief that there are ways to medical school through non-traditional paths that can work, as long as the clarity and the passion on the path to become a physician are still there. From non-traditional topics such as post-baccalaureate programs to osteopathic medicine programs to lower science GPAs to financial burdens to gap years, Dr. Hsieh has successfully counseled dozens of students in the past few years to help them get to and through medical school on their own timeline. Dr. Hsieh hopes to inspire others using her own story to help others get to that final goal of becoming a physician.
Austin Johnson, D.O.
Dr Johnson is passionate about working with students and is interested in helping students achieve their goals in medicine. He particularly enjoys discussing successful strategies to match into competitive specialties with limited resources. Because of his extensive research background, Dr Johnson has skillfully developed an eye for writing, which lends itself to being very helpful in reviewing personal statements and residency applications. Outside of medicine, Dr. Johnson enjoys working out, hunting and fishing, and spending time with his beautiful wife and daughter.
Austin N. Johnson, M.D.
Austin’s passion for mentorship has culminated in a diverse set of experiences ranging from intensive one-on-one sessions with prospective professional students to leading large group events designed to level the playing field in test-taking, research, and the admissions process as a member of the Leadership in Health Disparities and Stanford Clinical Summer Internship programs. As a Stanford dermatology resident from a rural Colorado town with zero immediate or extended family members in healthcare, he is excited to guide the next generation of physician leaders in achieving their goals no matter their background. Outside of being a resident, Austin loves partaking in athletics, lifting weights, becoming immersed in sci-fi movies, and exploring new food spots with his PA wife.
Kareem Kebaish, M.D.
During medical school, he developed an interest in better understanding the highly competitive medical school and residency admission process. He joined a local New Haven tutoring company and tutored students in high school and college level Chemistry, anatomy, SAT Prep, and the MCAT, helping student score up to 10 points higher on their MCATs. Through a company started by his medical school classmate, he also began working with medical school applicants to guide them in the admission process including helping to select the right schools, reviewing personal statements, and mock interview prep.
Eleanor Keller, M.D.
In medical school, Eleanor worked with the admissions team, conducting interviews with prospective students. She has been a part of Med School Insiders since 2022 and has loved getting to know students through working together on application packages, advising, essays, and tutoring.
Megan Koenig, M.D.
Megan Koenig, graduated with a double major in Nueroscience and Biology from the University of Florida. She earned her M.D. from FLorida Atlantic University and was the student representative on the admissions committee for her school. Currently she is an Anesthesiology Resident at the University of Florida, a top 25 Anesthesia program in the United States. Prior to medical school, she worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator which resulted in numerous publications and a research focused application. Her career goal is to complete a fellowship in Pain Management.
She is passionate about medical education and has developed a keen eye for writing and mentoring and hopes to paying it forward. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, trying new recipes and playing volleyball.
Eric Lai, M.D.
Having an early and strong interest in medical advising and education, Eric has worked on many projects with the goal of improving medical and surgical education exposure in medical school. Eric understands the rigorous demands that come with medicine, and is passionate about mentoring those pursuing medicine to reach their goals. He is currently serving as an UWorld ambassador for USMLE Step1/2CK examinations, as well as social media editor for the prestigious British Medical Journal of Ophthalmology. Eric matched into Yale New-Haven Medical Center for his residency in ophthalmology, and plans to continue tutoring and advising pre-medical and medical students in the rigorous journey of medicine. Outside of work, Eric is an avid powerlifter, bodybuilder, and musician
Calvin Lau, M.D.
Calvin Lau graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.S. in Biology and minors in Global Health and Chemistry. He went on to attend the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. In medical school, he served as a coordinator for the Pediatric Interest Group as well as the head tutor for the 3rd Year Pediatrics Clerkship. As a senior medical student, he also co-taught a pre-clinical medical humanities class. In addition to medical education, Calvin is passionate about advancing therapies for pediatric oncology patients and improving access to high-acuity pediatric care locally and abroad. He matched into pediatrics at Stanford University.
Calvin has a strong passion for mentorship and education at the undergraduate and medical school level. He has spent over 300 hours tutoring medical students in various USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 topics and generated an adjuvant peer-tutor curriculum for the 3rd year Pediatrics Clerkship. He also provides mentorship to fellow medical students in the transition from classroom to clinic. Additionally, he has spoken at pre-med events on the undergraduate campus and provided personal statement review application advice to prospective medical school applicants. Outside of medicine, he loves surfing, trying new cuisines, and traveling.
Patrick Lau, M.D.
Patrick Lau is a Harvard trained anesthesiologist. He graduated undergrad at UConn as a cell bio major in 3 years summa cum laude. He then completed a MPH in 1 year and was elected into the Delta Omega Honor Society. Afterwards, he matriculated at the UConn School of Medicine where he was elected into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and was a student interviewer for the admissions committee. He completed residency in 2025 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/ Harvard Medical School winning awards for resident teaching and leadership. At Beth Israel Pat had extensive experience with residency admissions as recruitment chair and chief resident. As chief resident he was directly responsible for the daily call schedule for 70+ residents and fellows. Along with his 2 cochiefs, he worked closely with admin to enhance the resident experience. Specifically, he personally interviewed 60+ applicants, sat on the rank list meeting twice, and overall has a great understanding of what top anesthesia residencies are looking for.
Starting August 2025 he will be an attending anesthesiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC. Pat has extensive experience in mentorship and enjoys helping students achieve their goals. In his freetime he can be found doing anything active outside, traveling, and trying as many restaurants in NYC.
Monica Li, M.D.
She has enjoyed writing, editing, tutoring, and mentoring since high school and has extensive experience in all of these areas. Most of all, she enjoys getting to know students and helping them pursue a career in medicine.
Lucia Lin, M.D.
As a first-gen in medicine, she is passionate about mentorship and education and attributes her own success to the mentors she has had in her educational career. Especially given the shift to virtual interviews, she would love to use her personal experience to help others navigate and excel in their admissions journeys. Outside of medicine, Lucia is an avid outdoor enthusiast, partaking in everything from surfing and beach volleyball to backpacking across international treks, including Nepal, Switzerland, and Peru.
Rachel Lin
Prior to medical school, Rachel graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. In college, she worked as a university Writing Tutor where she developed her passion for helping students amplify their stories through writing. After graduating, she worked as a Healthcare Consultant for three years, which led to her interest in public health. She is enthusiastic about supporting non-traditional and underrepresented applicants on their medical journey.
Patrick Loehr, M.D.
Since 2008, Patrick has been an educator and peer mentor. In college and in New York, he worked for tutoring agencies that afforded him the opportunities to work with students on preparing for the SAT, ACT, and GRE, and to coach an after-school debate program for inner-city youth. Patrick has a deep passion for helping underrepresented and disadvantaged students. To help advocate equitable admissions practices in medical education, Patrick currently serves as a member of the Recruitment and Admissions Committee at UCSD School of Medicine. With Med School Insiders, he has excelled as an MCAT tutor, with his students receiving some of the largest score improvements.
Victoria Lorah, D.O.
Victoria Lorah graduated from the University of California Los Angeles with a B.S. in Physiological Science and a minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media Studies. Before applying to medical school, she worked as an emergency department scribe, scribe trainer, and substitute teacher. She graduated from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2021. During her time there, Victoria served as the Student Admissions Director, providing her an inside look into the medical school admissions process. In addition, she has extensive experience mentoring pre-medical and medical students regarding applications, interviews, and career planning.
Victoria is currently a pediatric neurology resident at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. In her free time, she plays musical instruments, reads books, and tries to find the best restaurants Phoenix has to offer.
Rose Maisner, M.D.
She is passionate about medical education and mentorship, having served in medical school admissions, peer tutoring, multiple national committees and organizations dedicated to improving education and representation in medicine, and helping 100+ mentees in admission to medical school and residency. As an Insider, she has special expertise in the application processes for BS/MD and surgical (general, ENT, plastics, OBGYN, urology, orthopedics, neurosurgery) and pathology residency programs, as well as on switching medical specialties.
In her free time, she loves pilates, listening and dancing to K-Pop music, doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and reading.
Regan Manayan, M.D.
Regan enjoys helping both undergraduate and medical students craft their applications and prepare for interviews. He has extensive experience both mentoring students as well as serving on admissions committees. He utilizes his experiences as a student, applicant, and admissions committee member to personally tailor the applications of his clients to their desired goals.
Matthew Mazurek, M.D.
He is currently Medical Director for the Department of Anesthesia at Sanford Bemidji Medical Center and has been providing mentorship and guidance to both pre-medical and medical students for nearly 20 years. He is passionate about teaching and supporting the next generation of physicians and has clinical appointments with five medical schools. He likes to fish and enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter in the great outdoors of northern Minnesota.
Nelson Menendez, M.D.
Nelson is a first generation college graduate and physician and is passionate about mentoring and helping other achieve their goals. In addition, to his experience regarding the admissions process to both medical school and residency, he also has extensive tutoring experience. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing soccer, spending time with his wife and two dogs and playing video games whenever possible.
Ambika Menon, M.D.
Ambika is passionate about education, innovation, and mentorship. She served as an admission committee interviewer for medical school applicants. She has continued to mentor students she once taught and work closely with her medical school on medical education opportunities. She hopes to work with students to harness their strengths and bolster their application to find them the best fit for their future medical careers.
Pietro Miozzo, M.D.
He is now a Pediatrics Resident at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Dr. Miozzo has co-authored several journal articles and book chapters, and has presented at national conferences, on his research related to immunology, high-resolution microscopy, and population health. Although his childhood dream of becoming a chef is still on hold, he loves to cook and bake! Outside of the kitchen, he is a keen violinist and cyclist.
Casey Mogilevsky
Casey Mogilevsky graduated with highest honors from UC Berkeley with a double major in Chemical Biology and Bioengineering. He then took a gap year to pursue an MPhil in Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, after which he moved to the University of Pennsylvania to start his MD/PhD. Casey is incredibly interested in medical research and biotech entrepreneurship. During his time at UC Berkeley, Casey worked on developing a platform for creating new therapeutic proteins, which led to the founding of Catena Biosciences. Seeing the impact research has had on his college experience, he sought to provide more opportunities for undergraduates to pursue self-directed research by co-founding iGEM at UC Berkeley, a student-led research organization that aims to compete at the yearly iGEM competition.
Casey is also passionate about teaching, mentoring, and helping underserved communities. Over the course of his undergraduate career, Casey has participated in a variety of mentoring organizations including Matriculate and Helix at UC Berkeley. Through these experiences, along with having many great mentors during his time in college, Casey has seen the impact good mentorship can have, and in the future Casey hopes to continue paying it forward.
Harrison Moynihan, D.O.
Dr. Harrison Moynihan graduated magna cum laude from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Human Biology. He matriculated to the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he achieved outstanding scores, surpassing 255 on USMLE Step 2 and 695 on COMLEX Level 2. Presently, he serves as a resident in Integrated Interventional Radiology at Zucker University/Northwell Health and is actively engaged in interviewing prospective medical students for residency positions, participates in their selection and ranking process.
Passionate about mentorship, Dr. Harrison has personally witnessed the transformative effects of mentorship and tutoring, which played a pivotal role in elevating him from an average to a top student. Committed to paying it forward, he is dedicated to imparting the valuable lessons he has learned and helping students achieve similar success. In his leisure time, Harrison enjoys activities such as fly fishing, kayaking, and hiking.
Austin Newsam
Austin Newsam graduated from Georgia State University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. Passionate about healthcare but unsure of what route to take in medicine, he worked for two years as a microbiologist at the CDC and decided to pursue an MD/PhD degree. Having a good understanding of the application process, he went on to receive 15 interview invites and settled on vibrant Miami, FL and joining the University of Miami MSTP. Since starting in the program, Austin has assisted the MSTP with recruitment and is passionate about helping applicants find their perfect fit (a big decision for an 8-year program!). He serves on the leadership board of the American Physician Scientist Association and Pathology Interest Group at UM and excited for a career in academic medicine. He currently is doing his PhD work and is studying novel driver mutations for resistance of CAR-T therapy in lymphoma. Outside of school he loves spending time with his wife, powerlifting, and watching sports.
Francisca Nwoke, M.D.
Her first love is education in its many forms including medical education. During med school she tutored in both medical knowledge and anatomy.
Fejiro Okifo, M.D.
Dr. Fejiro Okifo graduated from the University of Connecticut summa cum laude with an Honors B.S in Biological Sciences. She then attended Harvard Medical School, where she pursued global health research in Cape Coast, Ghana. Her research focused on evaluating breast cancer outcomes at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and identifying structural changes in the hospital system that could increase access to care. Her professional interests include mentorship, health disparities, and global health research. She matched into Otolaryngology at Henry Ford where she is a resident physician.
Dr. Okifo has had a deep long-term commitment to mentorship. In undergrad, she served on the Rowe Scholars Health Professions Executive Board, helping to organize networking and research opportunities for high school and undergraduate students that are underrepresented in medicine. In medical school, she mentored high school students from Boston that were interested in medicine and science. She also volunteered on multiple medical school admissions panels organized by the Student National Medical Association. Dr. Okifo is aware that strong mentorship has afforded her opportunities that would have otherwise been out of reach. As a first-generation physician, she is committed to mentoring medical students from all different backgrounds and empowering them to showcase their unique experiences in the medical school application process. Outside of medicine, she enjoys long outdoor walks, writing, Netflix comedy specials, and trying new food recipes.
Anjali Om, M.D.
Dr. Om has a passion for medical education and has taught aspiring medical students at a high school, undergraduate, and medical school level. She is eager to help demystify the medical school/residency application process and help students achieve their career goals.
Tommy Pan, M.D.
Tommy has a deep passion for research, mentorship, health outreach and education. During the pandemic, he created a virtual orthopedics curriculum. Additionally, he facilitated problem-based learning sessions, tutored the Cardiopulmonary and Renal block and helped pre-medical students achieve their dream of being accepted into medical school.
Outside of medicine, he enjoys attending music festivals, rooting for the Eagles/Sixers, watching movies, playing pickleball, exploring new restaurants and traveling.
Rachael Rose Parisi, M.D.
Dr. Parisi graduated from a 8-year combined B.S., M.B.A., & M.D. program where she earned a B.S. in Biology and Anthropology from Union College, M.B.A. in Health Care Management from Clarkson University, and M.D. at Albany Medical College, graduating summa cum laude from each institution.
While in medical school she was awarded multiple scholarships and grants and was inducted into both the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She has authored over 20 publications in the fields of dermatology and oncology. She was a voting member of the Admissions Committee during medical school, reviewing hundreds of applications in that role and was an active MMI interviewer. She has extensive experience in tutoring and mentoring as well. She matched into Dermatology residency at Brown University.
She enjoys working with students to help them reach their full potential.
Hardik Patel, M.D.
During his time in Miami, he has served as Head Tutor/Coordinator for a peer-led academic support program, Director of Research and Quality Improvement for the Department of Community Service, and Editor-in-Chief of student-run Medical IBIS research magazine. He has authored over 50 combined publication/posters/presentations. Hardik is passionate about helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed because he has personally overcome many barriers on his journey to medical school.
Pranalee Patel, M.D.
Pranalee has considerable experience in premedical and medical education. She has previously served as a teaching assistant for a large introductory biology course (300+ students) and maintained roles as a student instructor for requisite medical school courses including clinical skills and the second-year radiology clerkship. She is also a dedicated peer tutor focusing on NBME SHELF exam preparation.
Understanding that many specialties rely on broad comprehension of general medicine, Pranalee has dedicated herself to helping other students understand how to synthesize basic clinical knowledge and contextualize this information for their future careers. She focuses on learning efficiently in a limited time frame, helping students grasp patterns and memorize information in a prioritized manner.
Julie Pham, M.D.
During her free time, Dr. Pham enjoys hiking, Anime, personal finance, cooking, and exploring new dishes and restaurants.
Zaw Phyo, M.D.
Todd Pierce, M.D.
Dr. Todd Pierce graduated from Evangel University cum laude with a B.S. in Biology. He than went on to complete medical school at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. After spending several years engaging in numerous research projects, he matched into an orthopaedic surgery residency at Saint Josephs University Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. He is currently applying for a subspeciality in adult reconstruction which will begin in August, 2023.
Dr. Pierce has served in a mentoring role since his time in medical school. He has worked as a medical student interviewer during that time and also went to many conferences for his medical school to recruit and guide pre-medical students. Now as a resident, he has continued to enjoy mentoring medical students as well as aspiring orthopaedic surgeons. Dr. Pierce is very well versed in conducting research. He has over 70 peer-reviewed publications indexed in PubMed. In addition, he has had numerous podium and poster presentations at local, state, and national meetings.
Jerred Pletcher, M.D.
Dr. Pletcher serves as a mentor to numerous pre-med and medical students throughout the country. He has been published as first author in multiple manuscripts and has completed many other abstracts and posters. He is currently working on various research projects at Cleveland Clinic. His greatest passion is mentoring/providing students with the tools they need to have a fulfilling and fruitful career in medicine.
Rifat Rahman, M.D.
Rifat is passionate about global health, drawing from his experiences studying drug resistance in malaria as an undergraduate and as a postbaccalaureate fellow at the NIH. One of his most formative experiences was the opportunity to work in HIV advocacy as a Hart Fellow in Thailand. Rifat is passionate about helping other students at different points in their training achieve their greatest ambitions within medicine.
Kevin Salomon, M.D.
Michael Schmitz, M.D.
Dr. Michael Schmitz is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with degrees in Biochemistry and Global Health. He completed his medical training at the University of Minnesota, and is also currently doing his general surgery residency at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Schmitz has a wealth of teaching experience in various subjects and levels, from grade school to medical school. He knows how to help students master difficult concepts and excel in standardized tests. He scored above the 90th percentile for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, and USMLE Step 2 exams using effective and efficient study strategies that he can teach you. He understands the challenges and opportunities that come with applying to medical school and competitive residencies. He can help you craft a strong personal statement, prepare for interviews, and stand out from the crowd.
Camille Scott, M.D., M.P.H
Outside of medicine, she enjoys watching sports and hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Kanan Shah, M.D.
Kanan attended Yale University, where she earned a BS in Molecular/Cellular Biology and graduated with distinction in her major. Kanan went on to pursue research in population health before matriculating at NYU School of Medicine. She was fortunate to receive a free tuition scholarship. Additionally she completed medical school in 3 years through acceptance into NYU’s highly selective accelerated-MD program. She is now a resident physician with the NYU Langone Hospital System.
During medical school, Kanan was also accepted into the prestigious Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) Medical Student Summer Research program and has co-authored a number of articles investigating cancer care as well as digital health. She enjoys mentoring premedical students for the MCAT exam, coaching for medical school admissions, and aiding in application preparation. Additionally as a resident, Kanan teaches medical students completing their clerkships. She enjoys empowering students to develop their voice and reach their full potential.
Outside of work, Kanan can be found practicing her photography skills, running along the East River, or exploring NYC’s expansive food scene
Kevin Shah, M.D.
Dr Shah is a current academic faculty member at the University of Utah as well as the Director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and has a passion for working directly to train medical students, residents, fellows, and advanced fellows. He has won numerous awards including House Officer of the Year and has published multiple peer reviewed journals in top tier cardiology journals. Outside of work, he loves to spend time with his family and enjoys stand up comedy.
Sunny Shah, M.D.
Currently, Sunny is an incoming PGY1 Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery resident at Montefiore Medical Center. He is passionate about medical education and has over 6 years of tutoring experience. He scored 250+ on both the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2. He has authored 11 publications and has multiple posters and abstracts. Outside of medicine, Sunny enjoys photography, traveling and Bollywood dancing..
Mojahed Shalabi, M.D.
Mojahed Mohammad K Shalabi graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas at Dallas with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Business Administration. He graduated from the Texas A&M College of Medicine in May of 2022 with Honors and in the top 10% of his class. He was inducted as a junior member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society during his medical school career. Mojahed is currently a Transitional Year intern at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas and will start his Dermatology residency in July of 2023 at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas.
Mojahed is passionate about tutoring and mentorship as he has been involved in both since his undergraduate career. He achieved >90th percentiles on both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK and hopes to help other students achieve similar success. He also participated in the medical school admissions by interviewing and screening applicants at Texas A&M. Having served in the Admissions Committee for over two years, he is well-informed in the medical school application and interview process. In his free time, Mojahed enjoys going to the gym, playing volleyball, and watching Marvel movies.
Emily Siegler, M.D.
Emily has been extensively involved with mentorship of premedical students during her time at UCLA and CNU. She has participated as a voting member on the admission committee during medical school. She is especially passionate about working with students with nontraditional educational backgrounds, and believes any student with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and passion for medicine deserves the best support that can be provided in the medical school and residency admissions processes.
Aishwarya Sriram, M.D.
She was a pathology tutor in medical school, and has been teaching trainees during her fellowships and thereafter. She has served as an interviewer for ophthalmology residency, and has insight into the admissions process. She is eager to help budding minds achieve their goals of being accepted into medical school or residency by helping with essay writing, application preparation, and mock interviews.
Faissal Stipho, M.D.
Outside of medicine, Faissal enjoys cooking and learning about different cultures through food and culinary arts.
Ari Stone, M.D.
Ari is a passionate educator and experienced tutor who has helped prepare countless students to succeed on pre-clinical, Shelf, and USMLE board exams. His teaching style is engaging, down-to-earth, and highly personalized to each learner’s needs.
Nicole Vecin, M.D.
Dr. Vecin has a passion for medical education and advising her undergraduate and medical student peers on their applications. As a first generation physician who trailblazed her own path to medicine, she acknowledges the utility of having a peer mentor to provide guidance throughout this journey and is happy to share her experience.
Linh Vu, M.D.
Dr. Vu’s resume includes a variety of different undertakings. She has done global mental health research for The World Health Organization. She has partaken in two psychoanalysis fellowships at the Psychoanalytic Association of New York and Washington Baltimore Center for Psychoanalysis. She has continued her passion for mentoring in medical school as a student interviewer on the admission committee, in addition to helping to perfect the personal statement and application to med school and residency. Her greatest passions are ensuring healthcare is more equitable across the globe and making medical training more accessible to minority students.
Suzanne Xu, M.D.
Suzanne has a long-standing passion for education. Over the past decade, she has volunteered for and led multiple educational outreach organizations aimed at increasing learning opportunities for local K-12 students. During this time, she has also worked formally as a tutor for college STEM courses, the MCAT, and the USMLE board exams. Suzanne enjoys working with students and helping them realize their full academic potential. Outside of medicine, she loves to take dance classes and watch musical theater performances.
Mariam Zaidi, M.D.
In addition to her interests in medicine, she is dedicated to supporting prospective medical students in their applications and admission tests in a patient and enthusiastic manner. The pathway for sure has several obstacles to overcome but with the right mindset and support the journey is a fruitful one.
Nawras Zayat, M.D.
Dr. Zayat is also an accomplished medical educator, serving as an author for the TrueLearn Obstetrics & Gynecology SmartBank and contributing to peer-reviewed publications in high-risk obstetrics. Passionate about advancing maternal-fetal health, he combines his clinical expertise with a commitment to education and research to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
David Zhao, M.D.
David has experience teaching to many different learning styles in a variety of subjects, from biology, first aid, mathematics, and debate. In medical school, he is involved in greeting interview applicants, teaching public school students about COVID-19, and checking-in on primary care patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. He loves seeing improvement in both himself and in his students, and advocates teaching skills and insights that can be carried on beyond standardized tests or applications. In his free time, David enjoys playing piano, hiking, reading, and running.
Albert Zhou, M.D.
Albert is passionate about improving medical education and finds fulfillment when helping premedical and medical students achieve their dreams. He understands the path to medicine is not easy nor straightforward. Outside of work, some of Albert’s interests include exercising, expanding his culinary palate, and exploring new cities.
Zoe Zhou, M.D.
In her free time, Zoe enjoys running, reading, and exploring all the amazing restaurants New York City has to offer.
Thompson Zhuang, M.D.
Thompson graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a B.A. in Chemistry, where he acquired valuable experience in teaching chemistry and economics. He then attended medical school at Stanford University, where he served as manager of the musculoskeletal free clinic and co-chair of the Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group. He is currently an orthopedic surgery resident at the University of Pennsylvania. Thompson is passionate about advancing equity in access to healthcare and expanding healthcare access for underserved populations.
In addition to his interests in medicine, Thompson has served as a mentor for many first-generation, low-income students, providing guidance along their journey into science, technology, engineering, and math careers. He is dedicated to leveling the playing field for disadvantaged students. Thompson has over 5 years of tutoring experience, at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, and scored 260+ on USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 CK.