Our team of medical school admissions consultants is made up of experienced and caring individuals with experience in admissions consulting for some of the best medical schools in the country.
They advise applicants on interviews, resumes, helpful extracurricular activities and overall admissions applications.
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Kathy Baer, EdM
Former Director of Admissions and Financial Aid,
Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School
- 19 Years in Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School Admissions
A first-generation college graduate, Kathy earned a B.A. degree magna cum laude in French/Secondary Education from Providence College and an Ed.M. degree from Harvard University. She is a lifelong higher education professional with deep expertise in college and allopathic medical school admissions. She worked for seven years in undergraduate admissions at her alma mater, interviewing and evaluating more than 300 applications annually.
Jacob Balin
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- 1 Year in Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Admissions
Jacob Balin is a fourth-year medical student at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he has served as a voting member of the admissions committee for the past year. He has interviewed applicants and helped select future physicians, giving him firsthand insight into what makes an application rise to the top.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brown University with a 4.0 GPA in Neuroscience and earned a 100th percentile MCAT score.
Tyler Beck, MD, PhD
Former Voting Admissions Committee Member,
College of Medicine & College of Graduate Studies MD/PhD Admissions Committee,
Medical University of South Carolina
- 4 Years in MUSC College of Medicine and Graduate Studies Admissions
Dr. Tyler Beck is a graduate of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) and earned his PhD in Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences. He is currently a dermatology resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Emmanuel Boateng, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- 3 Years in OSU College of Medicine Admissions
Dr. Emmanuel Boateng earned his M.D. from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he served as both an admissions interviewer and deliberator, reviewing applications and helping shape incoming classes. During medical school, he held leadership roles as President of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and was recognized with multiple honors, including the OSUCOM Gossman Service Award, Leadership Award, and Professionalism Award.
Kyle Brunner, MD, MS
Former Admissions Committee Member & Interviewer,
Drexel University College of Medicine
- 3 Years in Drexel University College of Medicine Admissions
Dr. Kyle Brunner earned his MD at Drexel University College of Medicine where he served as Class President for four years. He was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and received a number of awards for his peer advocacy.
He is currently finishing his Transitional Year residency at St. Luke’s Anderson before he starts Diagnostic Radiology training at Brown in Providence, RI.
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Kevin Cho, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
George Washington School of Medicine
- 4 Years in GW School of Medicine
Dr. Kevin Cho is currently a Vascular and Interventional Radiology resident at Brown University. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, where he graduated summa cum laude, and his MD from George Washington University, where he received a number of awards for outstanding academic performance.
Kevin served on the admissions committee throughout all 4 years of medical school, where he reviewed applications and interviewed prospective applicants.
Nicky Chopra, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
AAMC student representative,
University of Texas at Southwestern Medical School
- 2 Years in UT at Southwestern Medical School Admissions
- 2 Years Internal Medicine Resident, interviewer and MATCH meeting contributor
Nicky Chopra, MD earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University, majoring in Religious Studies, where she worked with the admissions and promotions department on initial application screening and led campus tours for prospective students.
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Urjita Das, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member and Interviewer,
University of Maryland School of Medicine
- 2 Years in University of Maryland SOM Admissions
- 5 Years of Pro Bono, Independent Consultation
Dr. Urjita Das is an ophthalmology resident at Loyola University of Chicago/Edwards Hines VA Hospital who earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, graduating as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society and the Social Justice Track. She has a Bachelor of Science and Minor in Human Development from the University of Maryland, College Park. Dr. Das served as an application screener and interviewer for 2 years during medical school, provided application counseling for over 6 years, and tutored medical students for 4 years.
Anushka Desai
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Georgetown University
- 1 Year in Georgetown SOM Admissions
- 2 Years in Georgetown Undergrad Admissions
Anushka Desai is a fourth-year medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where she has served as a medical school interviewer and a voting member of the undergraduate admissions committee. Through evaluating applicants, she has developed a strong understanding of how to craft a compelling, holistic application. She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Biology of Global Health.
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River Fine
Former Admission Committee Member,
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Admissions Committee Member and Interviewer,
Vanderbilt University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- 2 Years in University of New Mexico SOM Admissions
- 3+ Years in Vanderbilt Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Admissions
River is currently a 3rd-year Orthopaedic Surgery Resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a degree in Biology following a collegiate scholarship as a rodeo athlete. He then attended the University of New Mexico School of Medicine on an academic scholarship where he graduated as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and inducted as a member of the Gold Humanism Society. River was also awarded the Omer Research Award for the top medical student in orthopedic surgery research.
Stephen C. Frederico
Former Admissions Committee Member,
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- 3 Years in University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Admissions
Stephen is a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh, with extensive experience in medical school and BS/MD admissions. He served for multiple years on Pitt’s admissions committee, where he reviewed applications and conducted interviews for both the MD and BS/MD programs. As an admissions consultant, Stephen has helped clients gain acceptance to top universities including Columbia, Brown, Johns Hopkins, NYU, and Pitt, among others. His insider admissions expertise and personalized approach help applicants craft compelling applications that stand out in a competitive process.
Michael Fuller-Paulsen, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member and Interviewer,
University of Washington School of Medicine
Former mentor with the Montana Medical Mentorship Program,
University of Washington School of Medicine
Former mentor for the Alliance for Equal Representation of Medicine,
University of Washington School of Medicine
- 2 years in University of Washington School of Medicine Admissions
- 2 years in the Montana Medical Mentorship Program
- 1 year in the Alliance for Equal Representation of Medicine
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Nicolas Govea, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Harvard Medical School
- 2 Years in Harvard Medical School Admissions
Dr. Nicolas Govea is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (BS 2014, Psychology and Chemistry). After graduating from UT Austin with University Highest Honors, Nick stayed at Massachusetts General Hospital as a research technician in the Endocrine Unit. He completed his MD at Harvard Medical School in 2019 and continued his research in the Endocrine Unit throughout medical school.
Tim Goblirsch, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Former Gold Humanism Honor Society Selection Committee Member,
Georgetown University School of Medicine
- 1 Year in Georgetown University School of Medicine Admissions
- 1 Year in GUSOM Gold Humanism Honor Society Selection Committee
Abhi Goyal
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Mayo Clinic MD-PhD Admissions Committee
- 2 years in Mayo Clinic Alix SOM Admissions
- 2 years in MD/PhD Admissions at Mayo Clinic
Abhi is in the final year of his MD/PhD training in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. He earned his BS in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University in the City of New York. His PhD research in Biomedical Engineering focused on the effects of drugs of abuse on brain neurotransmitters. At Mayo, Abhi served on the MD-PhD Admissions Committee, interviewing and evaluating applicants, and has mentored numerous undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students pursuing careers in medicine.
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Rachael Han, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Weill Cornell Medical College
- 1 Year in Weill Cornell Medical College Admissions
Dr. Rachael Han graduated cum laude with highest honors from Harvard University, earning a BA in Neuroscience with a minor in Global Health and Health Policy. She went on to attend Weill Cornell Medical College, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and graduated with honors in research and service. Rachael has published papers in the field of neuroscience and has extensive experience mentoring students. She will begin her psychiatry residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell in 2025.
Arturo Herrera
Former Senior Admissions Officer,
Stanford Medicine
- 10+ Years in Stanford Medical School Admissions
Mr. Herrera is a results-driven professional with a passion for guiding aspiring physicians through the complex and challenging landscape of medical school admissions. With a career spanning over 15 years in higher education and public service, he brings a wealth of leadership and process-management expertise to Solomon Admissions Consulting.
David Hollis, MD, MBA
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Tufts University School of Medicine
- 1 Year in Tufts SOM Admissions
Dr. David Hollis is currently an anesthesiology resident at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. He graduated from a combined MD/MBA program at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. He formerly served as an interviewer and voting member of the Admissions Committee at TUSM, contributing to candidate evaluations and final decisions.
Trung Huynh
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
- 1 Year in Mayo Clinic Alix SOM Admissions
- 1 Year in MD/PhD Admissions at Mayo Clinic
Trung is currently enrolled in the selective NIH MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine on a full academic scholarship plus stipend. He is a graduate of UAB (BS, Molecular Biology) with highest honors. Finished with the first 2 years of medical school, Trung’s current PhD work focuses on Regenerative Medicine via translational investigations into congenital heart disease.
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Bryce Jerin, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Columbia
- 1 Year in University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Columbia Admissions
Dr. Bryce Jerin graduated summa cum laude in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina Honors College and was awarded Leadership Distinction in Peer and Civic Engagement, along with the University’s Highest Honors. He completed his M.D. in 2024 and went on to an Internal Medicine residency at Carolinas Medical Center with plans to pursue fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
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Michael Kim
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Weill Cornell Medical College
- 1 Year in Weill Cornell Medical College Admissions
Michael graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Case Western Reserve University where he received a BA in Biochemistry with Honors. He is now continuing his education at Weill Cornell Medical College where he has performed extensive research in basic science and clinical cardiology, including funding from the New York Academy of Medicine to study molecular signaling pathways underlying heart failure.
Jake Kloeber
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Mayo Clinic MD-PhD Admissions Committee
- 1 year in Mayo Clinic Alix SOM Admissions
- 1 year in MD/PhD Admissions at Mayo Clinic
Jake is currently completing his MD/PhD training in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. He earned his BS in Biochemistry with honors from the University of Rochester. His PhD research in Molecular Pharmacology focused on the DNA damage response. At Mayo, Jake served on the MD-PhD Admissions Committee, interviewing and evaluating applicants, and has mentored numerous undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students pursuing careers in medicine.
Margo Kozinn, Esq.
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Stanford Medicine
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Chicago Medical School
- 1 Year in Stanford University School of Medicine Admissions
- 5 Years in Chicago Medical School Admissions
Margo is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies. She received her Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law. In law school, Margo received the highest award for Legal Research and Writing and served as a distinguished writing TA, helping students improve and polish their advanced writing skills.
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Maria Lorena Mihailescu, MD
Chief Resident, Department of Dermatology
Rush University Medical Center
Former Admissions Committee Member,
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
- 1 Years in Chicago Pritzker SOM Admissions
- 150+ Applications Read and Evaluated
Dr. Maria Lorena Mihailescu is Chief Resident in Dermatology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. During medical school, she served as a voting member of the admissions committee at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where she reviewed applications, interviewed prospective students, and participated in admissions deliberations.
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S. Sikandar Raza, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Vanderbilt University
- 4 Years in UAB Heersink SOM Admissions
Dr. Sikandar holds an undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry (honors) and neuroscience. He was a part of his undergraduate Admissions Office as a tour guide and a part of various mentorship programs for high school students. He then went on to UAB School of Medicine, where he got his MD and ultimately matriculated into integrated cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Michigan.
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Dr. Alex Schupper
Former Admissions Committee Member,
UC San Diego School of Medicine
Fourth Year Neurosurgery Resident,
Mount Sinai Hospital
- 2 Years in UC San Diego School of Medicine Admissions
Dr. Alexander Schupper is a fourth-year neurosurgery resident at the Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. He grew up outside Philadelphia and went to Johns Hopkins for his undergraduate education, where he studied neuroscience and psychology and played collegiate baseball. During his time at Hopkins, Alex began mentoring students applying to college, as well as pre-medical students. He was involved in several pre-medical groups and taught multiple neuroscience courses as a teaching assistant.
Solomon Seckler, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- 4 Years in The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Admissions
Dr. Seckler graduated from Columbia University, where he studied political science and was inducted into the National Political Science Honors Society, earned departmental honors for his thesis on FDA drug approvals, and became a member of the Columbia Athletics 4.0 Club as a Division One varsity rower. During his time as an undergraduate, Solomon developed expertise bridging the fields of healthcare and policy, interning with the U.S. Senate, The Manhattan Institute (a prominent think tank), and a healthcare tech startup.
Dr. Ryan Seltzer, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member and Interviewer
Stanford University School of Medicine
Current Admissions Committee Member and Interviewer
Vanderbilt University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
- 3 Years in Stanford University SOM Admissions
- 3+ Years in Vanderbilt University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Admissions
Born in Switzerland but raised in California, Ryan graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a B.S. in Physiological Science. During this time, he led an exercise physiology lab, worked as a journal reviewer, as an EMT on a 9-1-1 ambulance, and as an ER technician and medical scribe. He subsequently matriculated at Stanford University on a medical school scholarship, where he served on the admissions committee and was actively involved in interviewing candidates.
Harsh Shah, MD, MPH, MS
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
- 2 Years in Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Admissions
Harsh is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (BS, Molecular Biology; MPH, Health Care Organization and Policy) with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude. After graduating from UAB, he attended Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine on a full academic scholarship. While in medical school, Harsh went on to attend Stanford University and earned a Master of Science in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine; conducted developmental cardiology research through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and worked on the COVID response with the United Nations and World Health Organization.
Patricia M. Soares
Former Assistant Director of Admissions,
Yale University School of Medicine
- 7 Years in Yale School of Medicine Admissions
Patricia is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a B.A. in History and The Ohio State University with an M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Currently, she is an Independent Educational Consultant. During her tenure as Assistant Director of Admissions at the Yale School of Medicine, she counseled pre-medical students and career changers through each phase of the application process.
Lakshmi Surada
Former Admissions Interviewer,
Albany Medical College
- 1 Year in Albany Medical College Admissions
Lakshmi Surada is a first-year medical student at Albany Medical College, where she is a part of the 7-year BS/MD program, gaining direct, insider knowledge of one of the most competitive and nuanced admissions pathways in medicine. She earned her B.S. in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
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Jessica Tran
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai FlexMed
- 3 Years in Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai FlexMed Admissions
Jessica Tran attended Tulane University on a full-tuition Posse Foundation Scholarship where she studied Public Health and Cell & Molecular Biology. During her undergraduate years, she founded an academic mentoring program for high school students and conducted health disparities research at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology.
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Lohit Velagapudi, MD
Former Student Admissions Committee Member,
Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University
Neurosurgery Resident,
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- 2 Years in Sidney Kimmel Medical College/Pennsylvania State University BS/MD Admissions
Dr. Velagapudi is currently a neurosurgery resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is originally from Southern California and attending the Pennsylvania State University/Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University 7-year BS/MD program with a concentration in Neuroscience.
Dillan Villavisanis, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai FlexMed
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Resident,
Penn Medicine
- 2 Years in Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai FlexMed Admissions
Dillan Villavisanis is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery resident at Penn. He received his MD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai through the early acceptance FlexMed program. He attended Johns Hopkins University with the full tuition Hodson Scholarship. As an undergraduate, he completed a year-long fellowship at the University of Oxford in Biochemistry where he rowed for his college.
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Brian Wei, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Yale University School of Medicine
- 1 Year in Yale University School of Medicine Admissions
Dr. Brian Wei is a highly accomplished medical professional with a passion for guiding aspiring physicians through the challenging process of medical admissions.
Dr. Wei is a current medical dermatology resident at Georgetown/Washington Hospital Center. He earned his MD from the Yale University School of Medicine after graduating with distinction from Stanford University. At Stanford, he pursued a B.S. in Science, Technology, and Society, with a minor in Human Biology, showcasing his dedication to interdisciplinary learning.
Donetta “Dawn” White-Gamble
Former Admissions Counselor,
MUSC College of Medicine
- 1 Year in MUSC College of Medicine Admissions
- 700+ Applications Read & Evaluated
Donetta holds a B.S. in Sports Communications and an M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling from South Carolina State University. She currently serves as an Education Program Manager, overseeing the ERAS and NRMP residency preparation processes.
At MUSC, Donetta spent two years in medical school admissions, evaluating over 700 applicants and serving on the Admissions Committee. She provided personalized advising to prospective, waitlisted, and rejected applicants, helping them strengthen their applications.
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Joseph Zywiciel, MD
Former Admissions Committee Member,
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
- 4 Years in Loyola Stritch SOM Admissions
Joseph Zywiciel earned his MD from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, graduating with Research Honors Distinction. During medical school, he completed a dedicated radiology research fellowship and contributed extensively to projects spanning neuroradiology, musculoskeletal imaging, and cardiothoracic outcomes research. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented his work at national conferences, including ASNR and the International Stroke Conference. He will complete his Transitional Year at MacNeal Hospital before beginning his Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin.