Our Mentors 2018-10-17T21:54:02+00:00

Trusted mentors

PremedHQ coaches were sitting where you are, not too long ago. They currently attend top medical schools all over the country. Our coaches choose to do this job because they truly love mentoring promising students who remind them of their younger selves.

  • Abhishek Kumar
    Abhishek Kumar
    UC San Diego School of Medicine                      Duke University
  • Shikha Kapil
    Shikha Kapil
    Stanford School of Medicine                            Duke University
  • Yusef Jordan
    Yusef Jordan
    Washington U School of Medicine in St. Louis Harvard University
  • Shadman Chowdhury
    Shadman Chowdhury
    Founder of PremedHQ
  • James Williams
    James Williams
    Brown Alpert Medical School                            Brown University
  • Stephen Bozier
    Stephen Bozier
    Brown Alpert Medical School                            Brown University
  • Ericka von Kaeppler
    Ericka von Kaeppler
    Stanford School of Medicine Yale University
  • Sara Johansen
    Sara Johansen
    Stanford School of Medicine                      University of Puget Sound
  • Taylor Docter
    Taylor Docter
    UC San Diego School of Medicine Harvard University
  • Michael Boyajian
    Michael Boyajian
    Brown Alpert Medical School Georgetown University
  • Megan-Fischer Colbrie
    Megan-Fischer Colbrie
    UC San Diego School of Medicine Stanford University
  • Tazim Merchant
    Tazim Merchant
    Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University
  • Sameen Meshkin
    Sameen Meshkin
    Harvard Medical School Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Alexandra Goodwin
    Alexandra Goodwin
    Wake Forest School of Medicine Harvard University
  • Mitesh Mehta
    Mitesh Mehta
    Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University
  • Tyler Werbel
    Tyler Werbel
    UC San Diego School of Medicine University of Florida
  • Shaan Mehta
    Shaan Mehta
    U of South Florida College of Medicine Northeast Ohio College of Medicine
  • Robert Chen
    Robert Chen
    Washington U School of Medicine in St. Louis University of California Berkeley
  • Christopher Yang
    Christopher Yang
    Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University
  • Reena Bastin
    Reena Bastin
    Boston University School of Medicine Boston University
  • Swagata Patnaik
    Swagata Patnaik
    Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University
  • Monica Mehta
    Monica Mehta
    Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University
  • Madeleine Kilimnik
    Madeleine Kilimnik
    Penn State Jefferson Medical Pennsylvania State University
  • Ankoor Talwar
    Ankoor Talwar
    Albany Medical College Union College
  • Reith Sarkar
    Reith Sarkar
    UC San Diego School of Medicine Washington University, St. Louis
  • Rory Lubner
    Rory Lubner
    Brown Alpert Medical School Duke University
  • Abhinav Talwar
    Abhinav Talwar
    Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University
  • Shriya Reddy
    Shriya Reddy
    Boston University School of Medicine Boston University
  • Michael Lai
    Michael Lai
    Hofstra Zucker School of Medicine Hofstra University
  • Anthony Medvedev
    Anthony Medvedev
    Penn State Jefferson Medical Pennsylvania State University
  • James Guo
    James Guo
    Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University
  • Vishnu Dantu
    Vishnu Dantu
    Brown Alpert Medical School Brown University
  • Nikita Mittal
    Nikita Mittal
    UC San Diego School of Medicine University of California San Diego
  • Sarek Shen
    Sarek Shen
    UC San Diego School of Medicine Duke University
  • Sankhya Amaravadi
    Sankhya Amaravadi
    University of Illinois College of Medicine
  • Stanley Chan
    Stanley Chan
    Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University
  • Kushagra Mathur
    Kushagra Mathur
    UC San Diego School of Medicine University of California San Diego
  • Abraham Kim
    Abraham Kim
    UC San Diego School of Medicine University of California San Diego
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Abhishek Kumar
UC San Diego School of Medicine                      Duke University

Abhishek graduated from Duke University with a triple major in biomedical engineering, chemistry, and biology. In addition to being a published scientific author, Abhishek has a few years of experience working in data analytics specifically in the health care business sector.

At UC San Diego School of Medicine, Abhishek has been elected class president and through his role he often collaborates with the administration to address the academic, professional, and social interests of his classmates. Abhishek has privately tutored MCAT material to over 40 students and has hundreds of hours of essay editing experience. Abhishek will provide you honest and actionable advice to improve your essays, resume, and interview skills.

Shikha Kapil
Stanford School of Medicine                            Duke University

Dr. Shikha Kapil is thrilled to be on the PremedHQ team, helping young future doctors achieve their potential. She attended Duke University for undergrad where she focused on Biological Anthropology and Anatomy and graduated with distinction. From a young age, she knew she wanted to become a doctor like her father and she continued directly into medical school. Dr Kapil earned her MD from the Medical College of Georgia where she served as the president of the American Medical Women’s Association and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

She then chose to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine and matched at the country’s largest emergency medicine training program at Emory University/Grady Memorial Hospital. During residency she published several book chapters, was heavily involved in clinical research and quality improvement initiatives. Dr. Kapil was also the recipient of many awards including “Best Clinical Resident,” “Best Academic Resident,” and the national Society for Academic Emergency Medicine’s “Best Resident Educator” Award.

Dr. Kapil is currently completing a Critical Care Medicine fellowship at Stanford University. Throughout her career, she has been involved in many mentorship programs and enjoys giving back to the next generation. In her spare time she loves skiing, scuba diving, painting, and international travel.

Yusef Jordan
Washington U School of Medicine in St. Louis Harvard University

Yusef Jordan is a current medical student at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, where he is interested in pursuing a career in Orthopedic Surgery.  Prior to medical school, he graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Neurobiology and minor in Economics. He has conducted research throughout high school, undergraduate, and medical school in areas such as health policy and quality improvement as it pertains to neuroimaging, neurodegenerative disease, and metastatic spinal disease.  He took some time in between undergraduate and medical school to work as a clinical intern at UCLA, where he had opportunities to conduct research, shadow physicians, and participate in conferences. He also worked for a private tutoring company, tutoring students in a variety of high school and college, the ACT, SAT, and Subject Exams.

Yusef is very passionate about education and plans to pursue a career in academic medicine.  He has participated in mentorship programs throughout undergraduate and medical school, and enjoys the bonds he forms with his mentees.  He understands the difficulties and challenges facing people who want to have a career in medicine, and wants to support these people in their endeavors in any way he can.

Shadman Chowdhury
Founder of PremedHQ

Shad’s clinical research interests includes cardiopulmonary critical care and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He has been invited to present his work at multiple international conferences, with his most recent presentation at the prominent American Thoracic Society Conference. His most recent publication in the Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is titled Noninvasive Assessment of Inspiratory Muscle Endurance during Rest and Exercise in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Cardiovascular Disorders. Shad has worked directly under some of the highest esteemed physician mentors in cardiopulmonary medicine, including Dr. Ahmet Baydur who has almost 50 years of experience as a medical doctor, and Dr. John B West, considered one of the “fathers” of pulmonary medicine. While working with some of the poorest and most medically under-served patients in Los Angeles under the mentorship of his seasoned clinician mentors, Shad gained deep insights into the medical field.

James Williams
Brown Alpert Medical School                            Brown University

James Williams graduated from Brown University with an independent concentration in Social Design. He was also a participant in the Program in Liberal Medical Education—Brown’s combined baccalaureate-MD program. After finishing his undergraduate years, James completed a Venture for America fellowship where he worked in technology as a web and user experience designer.

James is currently a first year medical student at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He’s interested in leveraging his skills in design to develop experiences, technologies, and spaces that impact behavior, cognition, and health. He has prior experience as a writer, teaching assistant, and mentor. He looks forward to helping students at PremedHQ improve their writing and develop productive, healthy mindsets and habits.

Stephen Bozier
Brown Alpert Medical School                            Brown University

Stephen is a student in the prestigious dual-degree Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) at Brown University, where he majored in Health & Human Biology and Africana Studies during undergrad. After graduating in May 2017, he took a year off and worked as a medical scribe in the Montefiore New Rochelle Emergency Department, in addition to assisting with smoking cessation research directed at patients with opioid use disorder. He is now a first-year student at the Warren Alpert Medical school and is excited to continue his medical education.

Stephen has had a longstanding interest in Emergency Medicine,  global health, health equity, and public health policy. An avid performer, he is also interested in exploring the role of performing arts in health education, advocacy, prevention, and palliative care. He has previously worked and volunteered as a peer tutor and student mentor.

Stephen is most excited to continue mentoring and share his experience with applying to BS/MD programs, as well as tips for standardized tests and AP exams. Thanks to his parents, Stephen is very service-oriented and believes in the importance of being well-rounded. He looks forward to sharing these insights with his mentees and helping them become competitive applications.

Ericka von Kaeppler
Stanford School of Medicine Yale University

Ericka von Kaeppler is a fourth year MD/PhD student at Stanford School of Medicine where she studies bone biology and is interested in pursuing a career as an orthopedic surgeon-scientist. She graduated from Yale University in 2013 with a degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. At Yale, she was a member of the Varsity Basketball team and worked in the Horowitz Lab studying the interface of bone biology and immunology. Through her transformative experiences in athletics and in the lab, Ericka developed a passion for sports medicine and ultimately hopes to improve orthopedic medicine through basic science research.

Ericka has long held a passion for mentorship and teaching, serving as an athletics coach, tutor, and mentor for various organizations since high school. Currently, she is a mentor for the Stanford Women in Medicine program, mentoring female undergraduates through the premed process. She finds both joy and inspiration in sharing the lessons she has learned from her own life, so she is very excited for the opportunity to continue this work as a PremedHQ coach.

Sara Johansen
Stanford School of Medicine                      University of Puget Sound

Sara Johansen is a fourth year medical student at Stanford School of Medicine. As a recipient of the Stanford Medical Scholars fellowship at Stanford, Sara pursued a year of independent research studying predictors of postpartum depression, and she plans to pursue a career with a focus in women’s health. Prior to medical school, Sara graduated with a Masters in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a Bachelors in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Puget Sound. Additionally, Sara attended music conservatory at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she studied violin performance, and she continues to perform in the Stanford Philharmonia.

As a future physician and active musician, Sara believes that cultivating a well-rounded, balanced life is the key to success, a ideology she hopes to share with her students as a PremedHQ coach. Currently, Sara tutors pre-college students and particularly enjoys helping students craft personal statements. She is very excited to be part of the PremedHQ team!

Taylor Docter
UC San Diego School of Medicine Harvard University

Taylor Docter is a current medical school student at University of California San Diego. She graduated from Harvard with a degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative biology. At Harvard, she was a 4 year letter-winner and captain of the Volleyball team and worked as a student researcher in the Melton laboratory studying the role of stem cells in type I diabetes. After her undergraduate education and before medical school, Taylor worked as a project manager for Human Care Systems in San Francisco, a small startup focussed on improving patient outcomes through online patient support programs.

At UCSD, Taylor has continued to pursue research interests with work in breast cancer clinical trials at UCSF as well as emergency medicine and health informatics at UCSD. She has also contributed significant time to the UCSD student-run free clinic, providing basic healthcare needs to the local underserved and uninsured population.  Tutoring and counseling has always been an important part of Taylor’s life starting with her first high school job as an after school tutor to continuing those pursuits here with PremedHQ.

Michael Boyajian
Brown Alpert Medical School Georgetown University

Michael graduated from Georgetown University as a History and Government major, and then completed the Columbia University post-baccalaureate premedical program. After that he worked as a research fellow at the NIH in the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. He has also maintained a longstanding interest in global health and has participated in international medical missions to India and Haiti.

He is currently a third year medical student at Brown University, where he was the student leader of the Surgical Subspecialties Elective. Over the years he has worked as a tutor and student mentor, and he looks forward to sharing his passions and insights with the students at PremedHQ.

Megan-Fischer Colbrie
UC San Diego School of Medicine Stanford University

Megan is a current medical student at University of California San Diego. She graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology and a focus in Physiology & Human Performance. While at Stanford, Megan competed on the Division I Women’s Varsity Swimming Team and was a 4 year letter winner, helping her team achieve 3 PAC-12 Championship Titles. She conducted research on pancreatic beta cells in a Type I Diabetes lab, and is published in a peer-reviewed journal for her work with a pediatric cardiologist at Stanford.

Following undergrad, Megan worked at the Ashley Lab in the Stanford Cardiovascular Medicine Department, procuring heart tissue following transplants for a research study. Concurrently, she acted as chief editor for BridgeAthletic, a sports performance start-up in San Francisco that creates, delivers, and tracks customized training programs to professional athletes.

At UCSD School of Medicine, Megan continues to devote time to research and mentorship. She co-founded a Business in Medicine elective in her first year and presented at a conference for research in breast cancer. She is currently conducting research in Orthopedic Surgery and volunteers weekly at the UCSD Free Clinic, providing comprehensive medical care to underserved patients in the San Diego community while mentoring junior medical students. Megan is passionate about medicine and education, and is excited to help her fellow future doctors on their path to success with PremedHQ.

Tazim Merchant
Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University

Tazim Merchant is a third-year student in Northwestern University’s Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME), pursuing a B.A. in Philosophy. Accepted into numerous top-tier institutions, from the University of Pennsylvania, as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar, to the service-focused Siena-Albany Medical Program, Tazim loves sharing her own experiences and advising students throughout the college admissions process. She wishes to afford students the same flexibility and opportunities she has as a BS/MD student.

Born and bred on Long Island, New York, Tazim graduated as the salutatorian of her IB high school and a National Merit Scholar. An aspiring pediatric specialist, Tazim has a significant research background in cardiology, among other disciplines, including genetics and medical technology supporting parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She has co-authored five published abstracts and presented four of them at national and international cardiology conferences around the globe, starting at 16, into college. At Northwestern, she designed virtually all aspects of her own cardiac MRI study at the Feinberg School of Medicine, focused on providing further validation for a non-invasive measure of heart function.

Tazim has always enjoyed working with youth, and seeks to empower students to reach their full potential. For her Girl Scout Gold Award, she built a district-wide tutoring infrastructure from the ground up, which was later featured on national television.With the flexibility afforded by the Honors Program, she founded, and is current executive director of a 501c3 nonprofit, Globe Talk, dedicated to empowering the next generation of globally minded, culturally aware leaders through high school virtual international exchanges. The startup, with two chapters in NY and Spain, recently won a coveted seat in Wildfire, Northwestern’s entrepreneurial incubator’s pre-accelerator program, which provides $10,000 in funding to teams. When Tazim is not working on Globe Talk, you can find her spending Friday evenings pursuing one of her greatest passions: teaching 9th and 10th grade students.

Sameen Meshkin
Harvard Medical School Virginia Commonwealth University

Sameen is a soon-to-be doctor, receiving his medical education at Harvard Medical School. Sameen went through the BS/MD process with a guaranteed spot in medical school through Virginia Commonwealth University’s BS/MD Guaranteed Admission Program for Medicine, and was a recipient of VCU’s Presidential Scholarship, which covers tuition, fees and room and board. As a student of the VCU Honors College, he majored in biology through the College of Humanities and Sciences, and music through the School of the Arts. During this time, he was awarded Virginia Commonwealth University’s award for Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship 2016, for his interdisciplinary study Preserving a Sense of Honor, Conscience, and Dignity during Medical School for the Physician-Patient Relationship.

Sameen has spent his tenure at VCU preparing for medical school and his chosen career, which of course, includes shadowing doctors, working as an international medical scribe, hospital and nursing home volunteer; and through these activities, he has witnessed how some practitioners seem to lose sight of their calling to respect and heal others. Sameen seeks to understand how and why this may happen; for he knows first-hand that almost all who enter the field, do so to help others through not only intellect and expertise but also through respect and compassion. At Harvard Medical School, he intends to pursue translational research on neurodegenerative diseases to investigate the pathology associated with demyelinating conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Following this, Sameen would like to teach at the university level and would seek to instill in his students a passion for research.

Sameen enjoys sharing his passion and insight with the students and families of Premed HQ.

Alexandra Goodwin
Wake Forest School of Medicine Harvard University

Alexandra graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Human Evolutionary Biology with a secondary degree in Global Health and Health Policy. During college, she became an author on her first medical publication, served for 2 years as the President of the Harvard Chapter of Global Medical Brigades, worked as an intern at The Women and Health Initiative at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and served as a student counselor in University Health Services. She also began volunteering with the Yantalo Foundation in the rural amazon jungle of Peru where she has spent two summers and plans to return before graduating medical school.

Alexandra took two years between college and medical school to explore her interest in public health and wellness. In her first year she interned at the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the division of the Health Rights of Women and Children, and got certified as a yoga instructor in Boston. In her second year she taught yoga at several studios in New York City and worked at the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center researching teen health. 

She then moved to the south and now attends Wake Forest University School of Medicine where she is a 4th year student. There, she has been published as a first author on a paper on recovery following tibial shaft fractures, has been an author on 12 separate poster and abstract presentations, and has won 2 awards for her research. She started a program called the “Fireside Chats” that connects female medical students with female physicians through informal coffee meetings, runs a fitness email listserv that connects students with free local opportunities while continuing to teach yoga, and is on her way to become a distinguished volunteer at the student-run free clinic.

Alexandra has always been passionate about mentoring and connecting students and colleagues with the resources to help them succeed. She is looking forward to continuing this interest as a member of the PremedHQ family.

Mitesh Mehta
Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University

As an undergrad, Mitesh interned at Goldman Sachs as a Trade Management Summer Analyst. Following graduation, Mitesh worked for one year at Strategy& (formerly known as Booz & Company) as a healthcare strategy analyst consultant tackling issues for national payors, providers, and pharmaceutical companies.

Mitesh was born and raised in the Cleveland area. He attended Western Reserve Academy, a private boarding school in Ohio to complete his high school education. He entered Northwestern University as part of the Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME), a combined BA/MD program allowing him to graduate in three years with a guaranteed acceptance to Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Mitesh graduated from Northwestern University in 2016 with a BA in Economics and minor in Spanish, and he is now a second year medical student at Feinberg.

Mitesh has tutored since high school, helping students in topics ranging from physiology to Spanish to college applications. He has also assisted with test prep, including the SAT (2390), the ACT (36), and subject tests.

Outside of school, Mitesh enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing tennis and ultimate frisbee, doing Bhangra and skiing out West, and exploring Chicago’s food scene.

Mitesh was accepted to several BS/MD (Northwestern, Case Western Reserve University, Boston University, NEOMED) and four year programs (UPenn’s Life Sciences & Management Program, Johns Hopkins, Amherst). He has a significant amount of experience successfully mentoring students for programs like these, and Mitesh believes that individuals with passion, fortitude, and proper guidance can gain acceptance to these types of programs.

Tyler Werbel
UC San Diego School of Medicine University of Florida

Tyler is a current medical student at the University of California San Diego. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida with a double major in Biochemistry & Immunology and Economics. He focused his senior thesis research on developing a novel patented cancer immunotherapy, resulting in publication. He simultaneously completed a Master’s in Finance, focusing his studies on health economics and decision theory. During his undergraduate career, he spent a significant amount of time working as an emergency room scribe and volunteering at a local hospice, solidifying his decision to go into medicine.

At UCSD School of Medicine, Tyler has continued to explore his research interests in a wide variety of fields, including pulmonology, oncology, and dermatology. He has published his work in multiple journals and has presented at several conferences over the past few years. In addition, he has published numerous online book chapters as a contributing writer for the clinical decision support software company, VisualDx.

Over the years, Tyler has become passionate about education and mentorship, serving as a tutor and advisor throughout high school and college. He is excited to continue helping students pursue their ambitions with Premed HQ.

Shaan Mehta
U of South Florida College of Medicine Northeast Ohio College of Medicine

When Dr. Mehta found out about the wonderful opportunities at PremedHQ, he couldn’t wait to begin the process of grooming future physicians. He had the unique opportunity of attending one of the nation’s few 6-year combined BS/MD programs at Northeast Ohio Medical University. He began his journey at Youngstown State University where he completed his Bachelor of Science in only 2 years’ time and graduated Magna Cum Laude. While in undergraduate, he even formulated a public health policy to help decrease smoking rates in his city and presented it to his local government legislature. Dr. Mehta then began medical school at the age of 20 at Northeast Ohio College of Medicine where he was actively involved in his local community, taking part in numerous service events with a focus on primary care to our underserved. One of his most rewarding experiences involved the opportunity to work in a government hospital in Lucknow, India where he truly realized his dream to provide quality medical care to those underserved and impoverished.

Dr. Mehta chose to pursue a career in primary care and matched at the University of South Florida in the specialty of Family Medicine. During his time in residency, he has been active in the field of Sports Medicine, covering several sporting events in the local communities. This spring, he will be presenting a case report on Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia at the Florida Academy of Family Physicians conference. His plans after residency include the pursuit of a Sports Medicine Fellowship and eventually providing full spectrum primary care with an emphasis on Sports Medicine. Through Dr. Mehta’s experiences in life and medicine, he offers a wealth of knowledge and advice to other future physicians. You will see his passion firsthand as he is thrilled to be a part of the PremedHQ team.

Dr. Mehta is an avid traveler and can never get enough of trying all the local cuisines. In his free time, he enjoys the lovely beaches of Tampa, Florida.

Robert Chen
Washington U School of Medicine in St. Louis University of California Berkeley

Robert graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a degree in Bioengineering and a portfolio in leadership. While at Berkeley, Robert founded Magic for Medicine, took the reigns as president for the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering and Lambda Phi Epsilon, and was awarded more than five scholarships for his research in stem cell biology.

After graduating, Robert spent two years researching Alzheimer’s disease at the University of California San Francisco before receiving a full-ride scholarship to the MD-PhD program at Washington University School of Medicine. Bringing his Bay Area roots with him to St. Louis, Robert joined a startup company as the head of development for neurological and psychiatric disease interventions. In addition, Robert created a mobile app to allow physicians to better diagnose patients with Alzheimer’s disease—which is now being tested in the clinic. With nine scientific publications and two more in the works, Robert understands the value of hard work.

However, when he isn’t in the lab or managing his research study, Robert is often spotted performing magic on the streets, playing basketball, or pursuing the next knockout recipe in the kitchen. Robert’s diverse and extensive experiences with leading teams and mentoring students reflects his own gratitude toward his mentors, and he can’t wait to pass along the life lessons he’s learned to his new mentees.

Christopher Yang
Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University

Christopher Yang is a first year medical student at the Feinberg School of Medicine. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northwestern University through the Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) with a major in Biological Sciences and a concentration in Genetics & Genomics. In college, Christopher dedicated much of his time to health technology entrepreneurship and worked on a medical device startup called Track Trainer. The product was a physical rehabilitation device for stroke patients that aims to transform rehabilitation into an engaging, intuitive, and affordable process. In the summer before his senior year, Christopher worked as a software engineering intern at a Chicago health software startup company called Human Practice, which aims to connect patients to appropriate medical specialists in prestigious healthcare systems. His other commitments in Northwestern included serving a variety of roles on the executive board of the Chinese Students Association and performing urban dance as a member of the Refresh Dance Crew.

In high school, Christopher demonstrated an affinity for education, tutoring, and mentorship in a variety of ways. He founded a physics club in order to tutor students competing in academic physics competitions and worked as a private tutor in SAT Biology and math. He also served as the Vice President of his school’s chapter of the National Honors Society, where his responsibility was to coordinate the tutoring and mentorship of underclassmen students.

In the college application process, Christopher was accepted to a variety of different undergraduate and BA/MD programs – most notably the Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) at Northwestern University and the Program in Liberal Medical Education at Brown University. Christopher loves developing new relationships and connecting with people in a meaningful way, which allows him to be an effective personal mentor and friend. He has a curious mind, a passion for medicine, and a love of education. Finally, he is eager to help others pursue their dreams of entering the field of medicine, and he believes that all driven students have the potential to do so.

Reena Bastin
Boston University School of Medicine Boston University

Reena Bastin is a current medical student at Boston University School of Medicine. She is a part of the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program, with a major in medical sciences and a minor in psychology.

In her undergraduate years, she primarily focused on conducting basic science and translation research in the field of cardiology to assess cardiovascular disease in smokers. Her avid interest in how certain cardiovascular risk factors affect endothelium function led Reena to continue researching in medical school, allowing her to partake in co-authorships. Apart from academics, she is also heavily involved in various organizations. She joined the Wellness initiative team at BUSM, because she values and promotes a balanced lifestyle. She is also a chapter leader of the BU Institute of Healthcare Improvement, which works toward improving healthcare quality to communities. Reena knows how crucial mentors are to a successful high school experience and is the Director of Outreach of BUSM PumpStart—where medical school students travel to local high schools to teach students CPR.

She believes it would be a gratifying opportunity to continue mentoring and working with passionate high school students. Applying to BS/MD programs in high school taught her a lot about the programs, and she would love to pass on this knowledge to future physicians!

Swagata Patnaik
Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University

Swagata Patnaik is a third year student at Northwestern University and also a member of the Honors Program in Medical Education. She is pursuing her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a Science in Human Culture minor. Swagata believes that as a member of this program, she has been privileged enough to pursue her diverse interests and talents both related to and outside the realm of medicine.

Swagata has conducted public health research at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in a project analyzing the link between adverse childhood experiences and chronic diseases. She was also selected to work at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), where she gained expertise in understanding protein structure and behavior in cancer cells. In addition to having a variety of research experience, Swagata is on the executive board in various organizations such as the South Asian Student Alliance and Tufaan Entertainment, through which she aims to bring awareness of different issues on campus and take action.

As a high school student, Swagata was accepted to several BS/MD programs. She hopes to give others the advice and guidance that she wishes she had received. Her experience in tutoring since middle school until college has allowed her to work with students of various personalities and learning styles. Swagata is always eager to work with students to understand their motivations and inclinations as she designs a work plan that is best suited for them. Swagata is excited to be working with PremedHQ and to have the chance to influence young, driven minds who share the same love for medicine as her.

Monica Mehta
Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University

Monica Mehta is a third year medical student at Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. She completed her BA in Environmental Policy with a certificate in Leadership and graduated Cum Laude after 3 years. During her undergraduate years, Monica took part in many teaching and mentoring activities including being a TA, formally tutoring high school students, and receiving a teaching certification from the Princeton Review for teaching ACT prep classes. After graduation, she received a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in South Korea.

Monica attended Western Reserve Academy for high school, a boarding college preparatory high school. She applied to numerous combined BS/MD programs as well as ivy league schools and knows about available combined programs and their different attributes. Additionally, she is familiar with the interview process at several combined programs. At Feinberg, she is a tour guide and host for current HPME applicants and is a member on the panel for incoming HPME students.

Madeleine Kilimnik
Penn State Jefferson Medical Pennsylvania State University

Maddy is currently a second-year student in the Penn State/Jefferson accelerated BS/MD program, and she is very passionate about instilling an appreciation for medicine in high school students. She is extremely dedicated to her studies, and is also pursuing a minor in Spanish. Maddy has several research interests, and previously worked in laboratories at Drexel University studying spinal cord injury repair mechanisms, as well Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, performing orthopedic surgeries on rats and testing ligament and joint strengths post-operatively. Maddy began doing research projects in high school, and understands how important it is to have research experience in order to be a competitive BS/MD applicant.

Maddy applied to several seven-year BS/MD programs, and was accepted into Penn State/Jefferson, Drexel/Drexel, and USciences/Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She did various shadowing and summer programs at Hahnemann University Hospital and Penn Medicine during the summers in high school, and worked as a pharmacy technician in her free time. She also worked for a diabetes non-profit targeting underprivileged citizens of Philadelphia. Maddy’s non-medical passions in high school included being the editor-in-chief of her school newspaper as well as competing in Spanish literacy competitions. Maddy hopes to continue her efforts in mentoring students seeking a place in medicine by working with them as their coach at PremedHQ.

Ankoor Talwar
Albany Medical College Union College

Ankoor Talwar is a senior at Union College and is in his last term at Clarkson Graduate School enrolled in the Leadership in Medicine Program (LIM). He is pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry and Economics and a concurrent M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration. Ankoor has various academic and personal interests. He has engaged in scientific research since an early age and has been published in a few notable journals. He has also pursued several medical internships outside the U.S. in Canada, England, the Netherlands, and Ghana. Ankoor is the co-founder of nonprofit organization Global Project Hope. Through this program, Ankoor and his peers engage in health and education support in underdeveloped areas. Ankoor has extensive tutoring experience, having been a college writing center fellow who has reviewed applications for jobs, internships, and study abroad programs. Apart from medicine, Ankoor has several other interests. Primarily, Ankoor is a health fanatic; he is a regular exerciser and follows a meticulous diet. He also enjoys many sports. In addition, he is an avid reader who enjoys works ranging from Tolstoy to Atul Gawande. He likewise enjoys writing and has been published in several magazines and newspapers, and is an author of a few children’s books. He is looking forward to entering medical school within the next few months.

When completing the college application process, Ankoor applied to several BS/MD schools and was accepted into six of them: Union-Albany, Rice-Baylor, Hofstra, Penn State-Jefferson, Lehigh-Drexel, and Drexel-Drexel. Therefore, he knows the ins and outs of the BS/MD application process and the strategies to succeed. Ankoor is eager to work with all his clients!

Reith Sarkar
UC San Diego School of Medicine Washington University, St. Louis

Reith graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) with a major in biomedical engineering. During his time at WashU, Reith was awarded a competitive research grant to study the patterns of drug diffusion within the brain. In addition to being a member of multiple academic honor societies, Reith spent many hours giving back to the local community by volunteering with on-campus charitable organizations.

He is currently a fourth-year medical student at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He has spent the past year obtaining a Masters in Clinical Research and will apply to Radiation Oncology residency programs in the fall. He has worked as a mentor, tutor, and teaching assistant in the past and is eager to help students at PremedHQ reach their goals.

Rory Lubner
Brown Alpert Medical School Duke University

Rory grew up just outside Seattle, Washington. He was the editor-in-chief of his high school newspaper and valedictorian of his class. He went on to Duke University, where he majored in Neuroscience and minored in Chemistry and Philosophy. At Duke, Rory was awarded a highly competitive summer research fellowship, and graduated with distinction after completing published research on the biochemical components that affect neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. He also began an undergraduate neuroscience research journal, and expanded it to multiple colleges across the US. He spent many hours volunteering at Duke’s Emergency Room, and shadowing several physicians at the hospital.

After college, Rory worked for several years as an analyst in a large health care consulting and researching firm in DC, where he gained business experience in the US health care sector. He now attends Brown University Medical School, where he has led a specialty interest group, pre-clinical elective, among other things. Rory finds teaching and mentoring as one of the most satisfying activities he does. He understands the amount of work, dedication, and focus it takes to get into medical and be a successful student, and finds much joy in passing down his wisdom and advice to fellow aspiring physicians.

Abhinav Talwar
Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University

Abhinav Talwar is a third year student at Northwestern University and is enrolled in the Honors Program for Medical Education (HPME). In addition to pursuing a B.A. in Neuroscience, Abhinav also enjoys exploring entrepreneurial endeavors relating to health at Northwestern. Abhinav is part of the garage startup residency program at Northwestern where he develops his startup, Track Trainer, with his peers (Track Trainer is a stroke rehabilitation device that makes recovery affordable and engaging). He is also the co-founder of Global Project Hope, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission of making health education simple, effective and universal. In his sophomore year, Abhinav was the only undergraduate student selected to give a TedX talk at Northwestern on Global Project Hope. Abhinav aspires to continue his entrepreneurial activities as a physician in the future. Indeed, Abhinav has a passionate for education – both in pursuing it and in helping to develop it. To that end, for the past 4 years he has tutored students in standardized tests and college applications.

In his senior year of high school, Abhinav was accepted to several BS/MD and four year programs but ultimately decided to attend Northwestern University because of the cohesive and supportive BS/MD community at the school. It is Abhinav’s personal belief that everyone who aspires to become a doctor should seriously consider applying to BS/MD programs. Moreover, he firmly believes that every individual, given the proper guidance, has the capacity to gain acceptance to such a program.

Shriya Reddy
Boston University School of Medicine Boston University

Shriya Reddy is a medical student at Boston University School of Medicine through the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education track. Her background as a successful applicant to several BS/BA/MD programs, as well as top-tier traditional undergraduate institutions, has given her the necessary experience to counsel bright, ambitious high school students through the direct med application process. 

As a medical student, Shriya has actively pursued her academic interests, conducting research in Boston Medical Center’s Department of Thoracic Surgery to improve post-operative patient outcomes, as well as in the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute to help construct patient-specific computational models of vascular devices. In addition, she has demonstrated her passion for student wellness and healthcare advocacy through her positions as an admissions representative, American Medical Student Association, and Surgical Society leader. She is very excited for the opportunity to share her insights with prospective healthcare professionals. 

Michael Lai
Hofstra Zucker School of Medicine Hofstra University

Michael is a current student at Hofstra University, pursuing a degree in biology as a member of the 4+4: BS/MD program, in which he will directly matriculate to the Hofstra Northwell Zucker School of Medicine after completion of his undergraduate studies. From a young age, Michael has held aspirations of becoming a physician and thus knew that Hofstra’s combined BS/MD program was right for him, despite acceptances to traditional undergraduate programs at prestigious universities, such as the University of California-Berkeley and Vanderbilt University.

Michael has gained extensive experience in both the clinical and research aspects of the medical field, having received the Auxiliary Achievement Award for Excellence in Service during his tenure as a volunteer at Northwell’s North Shore University Hospital, and having performed research internships at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Stony Brook University School of Medicine. For his research pursuits in high school, Michael has gained recognition at esteemed international science competitions, being named a 2015 semifinalist in Khan Academy’s Breakthrough Junior Challenge and winning a Grand Award in the category of Cellular and Molecular Biology and a special award from the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science at the 2017 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), for his project titled “Identification of TBX3 as a Novel Regulator of Lung Angiogenesis.” Michael has continued his research endeavors in college, working under the direction of Dr. Shahin Rafii at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Ansary Stem Cell Institute, investigating the role of mechanical stress on transcriptional gene expression in the endothelium and on angiogenic sprouting during development.

Outside of the medical field, Michael enjoys writing, having written and published articles for The Huffington Post. He is also an avid swimmer and debater, serving as captain of his high school’s varsity swimming and debate teams. Using the knowledge he’s gained through his personal experiences, Michael is well equipped to guide the next generation of students through the competitive BS/MD application process. He aims to help his students craft an application that is well representative of their distinctive personality, while helping foster their personal development in areas that will benefit them far beyond the college admissions process.

Anthony Medvedev
Penn State Jefferson Medical Pennsylvania State University

Anthony is currently a sophomore in the Pennsylvania State University’s accelerated Premedical-Medical (PMM) program, where he is minoring in both Health Policy Administration and Sociology while completing his premedical studies. He also performed genomic based research at UCSF’s Helen Diller Cancer Center, specifically focusing on the relationship between PTPN14 and hereditary hemorrhagic telenstagcia – a rare yet devastating blood disorder. Following his tenure in PMM, Anthony aspires to heal patients with especially debilitating conditions and is considering specialties such as oncology or orthopedic surgery.

As a high school student, Anthony found great satisfaction in volunteering for hospice, tutoring previously homeless children, and helping establish student-orchestrated science demonstrations in his community. He also conducted biomolecular research as part of the Young Scholar’s Program, helped lead his local hospital youth volunteer program, and co-governed a council responsible for over sixty student volunteer organizations throughout Northern California. During his final year in high school, he interviewed at several BS/MD programs – including those at Hofstra, Union College, and the Virginia Commonwealth University – and gained acceptances to all of them. Anthony now greatly enjoys mentoring highly driven and passionate students who he plans to one day call fellow colleagues in the field of medicine.

James Guo
Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University

James is a third-year student at Northwestern University studying sociology and neuroscience as a member of the Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME). At Northwestern, he serves as the editor-in-chief of the university’s health and medicine journal, The Medical Decoder, sits on the executive board for the Contemporary Thought Speaker Series, and conducts research both in computational neuroscience and cardiovascular epidemiology. He recently spent a term as a visiting student at the University of Oxford where he received a rigorous education in public health and epidemiology. In high school, James founded and captained his school’s debate team. He also served as the Secretary General for one of the largest Model United Nations conferences in New York State, the editor-in-chief for his nationally-acclaimed school newspaper, and vice president for the Science Olympiad team. Additionally, he actively engaged in research at a university near his home and spent much of his spare time volunteering at a local hospital, running on his school’s cross country and track teams, and playing ultimate frisbee.

At the conclusion of his high school career, James was humbled to be accepted to many of the nation’s most prestigious universities and BS/MD programs, including Northwestern HPME, Harvard, Yale, Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), the University of Pennsylvania (as a Vagelos Scholar), University of Pittsburgh GAP, University of Rochester REMS, and Case Western Reserve University PPSP. Most of all, he finds great joy in helping ambitious, qualified students through their high school years and college applications. He has previously coached a number of successful students who are now at Brown PLME, Yale, and UPenn. While James does not yet know the field of medicine he may one day find himself in, he currently maintains an active interest in cardiology.

Vishnu Dantu
Brown Alpert Medical School Brown University

Vishnu is a student in Brown’s 8-year BS/MD program studying Applied Math and Biology. Vishnu was additionally accepted to University of Miami’s 7-year medical program, Columbia University, and Rice University (with academic scholarship), but ultimately decided that Brown’s prestigious program best suited his learning style and goals. He has an extensive background in biomedical innovation and research, which includes a patent and several first authored papers in leading biomedical engineering journals such as IEEE Transactions. Vishnu’s background led him to start PredictiveOptics, a medical device startup aiming to equip surgeons with more advanced real-time intraoperative imaging tools. Vishnu dreams to be a neurosurgeon who also manages medtech companies suited to advance scalable medical technologies that will ultimately serve patients.

Using his experience with applying to several BS/MD programs, Vishnu focuses on building consistent applicant themes for PremedHQ students that fit their personalities and backgrounds. Vishnu then works with each student to craft essays and other application material around this applicant theme. Over the application preparation and writing period, Vishnu enjoys working with driven students and watching their communication skills grow.

Nikita Mittal
UC San Diego School of Medicine University of California San Diego

My name is Nikita Mittal and I am a third year undergraduate Human Biology major part of the Medical Scholars B.S./M.D. program at UCSD/UCSD SOM. Realizing my immense and unfaltering desire to become a doctor growing up, I knew that I was ready to make the commitment to go into medicine as a high school senior. Since then, I have engaged in activities both related to science and medicine as well as in other disciplines to create for myself the most enjoyable and wholesome college experience. Some of the interests I have expounded on throughout my years aside from medicine include travel, dance/basketball, yoga, hiking, reading, writing, and community service work.

In terms of science/medicine, and particularly in mental health, I have involved myself in conducting research. Particularly, over the course of the past year, I have worked as a clinical research intern at Rady Children’s Hospital in The Child and Adolescent Service Research Center (CASRC). Working primarily in research projects involving finding ways to appease the effects of autism and also having the opportunity to directly work in the community towards bridging the gap between the disparity in the resources that these kids need versus what they are given, I derive much joy from the work I do in Dr. Brookman-Frazee’s lab. Further projects I have already started/plan to take on include conducting work in third world countries in educational/medical settings as well as also working locally at different camps in rural San Diego made for children who are at a higher chance of developing mental health conditions due to specific familial hardships. My overall goal with these projects is to work towards reversing the negative stereotype regarding mental health on top of also simply providing service and care towards those inflicted by mental health disorders.

Deriving so much satisfaction from the opportunities that I have been able to explore both outside of medicine as well as in passions I have found in medicine due specifically to the fact that I was part of a B.S./M.D. program, I had no hesitation in deciding to join PremedHQ: A company dedicated to helping students in high school enter these very programs. Personally, being a part of this company for the past two years, I have successfully worked with several clients to help them get into these programs as well as other undergraduate schools. Whether it be answering all the questions both the student or the parents have about the college admission process (or specifically bs/md programs), helping them with all the essays they plan to submit in their applications, or coaching them for and through the interview process, I derive much joy in helping students reach their dream schools/programs. I would have to say my favorite part, aside from seeing how happy they get when they start getting acceptances from schools, is comparing the final versions of their essays from the original ones they wrote. Seeing the immense difference just a few weeks of hard work from our end as well as their end can make is truly satisfying and exciting.

My work at PremedHQ, however, spans beyond just being a mentor/coach for students. I am also a designated writer for the company. This means that I write several of the articles that appear on the website on topics that are meant to provide both students and parents with more information regarding this application process and B.S/M.D. programs. I have combined the knowledge I have learned throughout my own application cycle, the knowledge I have acquired by doing immense amounts of research/meeting with many different people in these programs (students as well as faculty), and the knowledge from higher members of PremedHQ, so that I can play my role in giving families all the information/resources that they would want or need.
Together then, my work and experience leaves me feeling more than equipped to help young students, filled with a passion for science and medicine, to now reach their goals of entering combined medical (B.S./M.D.) programs.

Sarek Shen
UC San Diego School of Medicine Duke University

Sarek Shen is a current medical student at University of California San Diego School of Medicine. He graduated from Duke University with a double major in Biomedical Engineering and Economics. He was honored as a Pratt Fellow for his undergraduate research in protein engineering and directed evolution. After graduation, Sarek also worked at the NIH under a IRTA grant in the field of structural immunology and x-ray crystallography.

At UCSD School of Medicine, Sarek has continued his research experience in a diverse range of clinical settings. He has presented his work in Plastic Surgery, Head and Neck Surgery, and Nephrology at multiple medical conferences over the past 3 years. Sarek has had significant experience in creating practice questions for MCAT prep courses as well as experience in editing application essays.

Sankhya Amaravadi
University of Illinois College of Medicine

Sankhya Amaravadi is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s prestigious BS/MD program, where she gained extensive leadership experience. She was on the board of seven different campus organizations while working in a psychology research laboratory and dancing with an Indian classical dance troupe.

Sankhya has received numerous awards for her dedication to volunteering and leadership, including multiple UIC research grants, the Eugertha Bates Memorial Award, the Chancellor’s Student Service Award, City of Bloomington’s Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Leadership Award, For A Better Tomorrow’s YICU Service Award, and induction into many honorary societies, including UIC Activities Honorary Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, and Psi Chi International Honors Society in Psychology. Sankhya graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology in May of 2017, and is currently working at a Chicago nonprofit, after which she hopes to become a psychiatrist.

Along with her leadership experience, Sankhya has a passion for mentorship and working with younger students. She has mentored and tutored students throughout her high school and college years, and now loves working with students through Premed HQ. She believes in creating strong relationships and acting as a role model and mentor for young people, as they have the opportunity to positively impact the future.

Stanley Chan
Northwestern School of Medicine Northwestern University

Stanley is a current senior in Northwestern University’s 7-year Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME). Stanley aspired to become a physician from a young age and was accepted into eight combined undergraduate-medical school programs including Boston University’s SMED, and University of Miami’s HPM (with a full merit scholarship). He has co-authored two abstracts and one paper for The Journal of Viral Hepatitis, and has experience from working at a medical clinic, to translating for patients at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is passionate  about specializing in the field of ophthalmology.

Since high school, when he founded a mentoring program, Stanley has enjoyed working with students and developing them to their greatest potential. He loves brainstorming potential projects with students that they can passionately lead. He enjoys grilling applicants on the interview trail. Above all, he loves helping his students succeed.

Kushagra Mathur
UC San Diego School of Medicine University of California San Diego

Kush was accepted into UC San Diego’s BS/MD program in 2014. He was also accepted into UC Berkeley and UCLA. Despite being offered the prestigious regents scholarship to both universities, he simply couldn’t pass up a guaranteed admission to the UC San Diego School of Medicine. As an undergrad at UC San Diego, he studied economics and worked with engineers to develop a low-cost HIV diagnostic platform. Nowadays, having graduated, he focuses on epilepsy and HIV research. He will matriculate to the UC San Diego School of Medicine in the fall of 2018.

Abraham Kim
UC San Diego School of Medicine University of California San Diego

Abe is currently a 3rd year undergraduate in the B.S./M.D. program at UC San Diego. While maintaining an outstanding GPA and scoring well on standardized tests, he has pursued medicine outside of the traditional classroom setting, including clinical and research exposure through programs at UC Irvine, UPenn, and Stanford. He is innately service-driven, applying his history with NJROTC, ASB, suicide prevention organizations, and the YMCA to make a positive difference in the communities around him. Most recently, he has worked with an on-campus premed organization to provide his peers with ample opportunities to gain a perspective on the current medical field and what it has to offer.

On top of using his individual experiences to guide aspiring high school students through the B.S./M.D. application process, Abe seeks to empower these students to bring out the best versions of themselves through dedicated, intimate coaching. As he builds individualized application profiles and crafts standout essays with his mentees, Abe also strives to help them grasp and refine their self-identity, with the confidence that these personal insights will last far into their B.S./M.D. endeavors.