Meet Our Tutors

Our tutors are passionate educators and scholastically accomplished med students, residents and attendings averaging USMLE scores of 250+ and COMLEX scores of 650+. Whether you’re aiming for the 99th percentile on your exam, or getting the extra edge on your application, you’ve come to the right place. Want to become a tutor?

Here's a sampling of some of our current tutors:

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Megan Abbott Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Travel Destination:

Seaside, Florida: My family goes almost every year. (It is also where I got engaged!)

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Peanut butter, straight out of the jar!

If your life were a movie, book or TV show, what would it be?

Definitely Gilmore Girls!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Megan Abbott

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 257
Step 2 CK - 266
Step 2 CS - Pass

School

Baylor College of Medicine

Specialty

Child Neurology

There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. ~ A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh Tutor Bio

Megan is an encouraging, energetic, supportive tutor who loves helping her students become the best test takers they can be. She remembers herself how daunting and overwhelming it can be to learn everything you can in 8 weeks, which is why she has a passion for creating detailed study schedules to keep students on track! Megan has been tutoring for over 7 years, first tutoring undergraduate chemistry before moving on to the MCAT and now tutoring with MST! Her favorite part about tutoring is taking the time to figure out what is holding a student back from reaching their potential and then helping them overcome that. You can count on Megan to be your advocate and cheerleader from the beginning of your studying to your test day. She will help hone your test taking strategies, avoid resource overload by creating a dynamic and personalized study schedule, as well as develop your overall fund of knowledge. Expect to grow in confidence, feel supported, and gain a friend as well as a tutor along the way!

Prateek Agarwal Medical Tutor BIO

Where's your favorite travel destination?

Toss-up between Israel and Norway

One fun fact about you:

I have my pilot’s license.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

“I Want It That Way” – Backstreet Boys

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Prateek Agarwal

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1: 267
Step 2 CK: 275

School

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Interest

Neurosurgery

Prateek is a compassionate, diligent, and extremely organized individual who understands the challenge of achieving an excellent score on standardized tests. During his own USMLE Step 1 preparation, he realized that dedication, confidence, and a support system were all crucial for success. While he has formal SAT tutoring experience, Prateek has always enjoyed helping his peers academically and loves to see others overcome obstacles and attain their goals. He is also a dual-degree MD/MBA student and committed to sharing his passion for lifelong learning with those around him. Prateek has the ability to explain complicated concepts in simpler, more digestible terms and help students recognize common underlying themes so that memorization is less burdensome. You can trust him to keep you focused during your exam preparation to ensure that you do not fall behind on your study schedule. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Prateek will serve as a constant source of motivation so that you never feel alone while studying for the USMLE exams.

Shoutouts + Accolades

The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, MBA Candidate 2020

Honors and Awards
Neurosurgery 2018 Paper of the Year in Socioeconomics, Health Policy, & Law
Young Neurosurgeons Committee MISSION Fellowship
Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Medical Student Summer Fellowship
Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa (undergraduate education at Harvard University)

Publications
1. Agarwal, P., Abdullah, K.G., Ramayya, A.G., Nayak, N.R., Lucas, T.H. A retrospective propensity score-matched early thromboembolic event analysis of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) versus fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for warfarin reversal prior to emergency neurosurgical procedures. Neurosurgery. 2018; 82(6): 877-886.
2. Gullbrand, S.E., Schaer, T.P., Agarwal, P., Bendigo, J.R., Dodge, G.R., Chen, W., Elliott, D.M., Mauck, R.L., Malhotra, N.R., Smith, L.J. Translation of an Injectable Triple-Interpenetrating-Network Hydrogel for Intervertebral Disc Regeneration in a Goat Model. Acta Biomaterialia. 2017; 60: 201-209.
3. Agarwal, N.*, Agarwal, P.*, Querry, A., Mazurkiewicz, A., Whiteside, B., Marroquin, O.C., Koscumb, S.F., Wecht, D.A., Friedlander, R.M. Reducing Surgical Infections and Implant Costs via a Novel Paradigm of Enhanced Physician Awareness. Neurosurgery. 2018; 82(5): 661-669. (*co-first authors)
4. Agarwal, P., Pierce, J., Welch, W.C. Cost analysis of spinal versus general anesthesia for lumbar discectomy and laminectomy spine surgery. World Neurosurgery. 2016; 89: 266-71.
5. Kapoor, V., Provost, A.C., Agarwal, P., Murthy, V.N. Activation of raphe nuclei triggers rapid and distinct effects on parallel olfactory bulb output channels. Nature Neuroscience. 2016; 19(2): 271-82.

Dr. Corinne Ainsworth Medical Tutor, MD BIO

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Hufflepuff every time!

What's your favorite game?

Fish Bowl (Taboo, Charades, and Password all in one)

Where's your favorite travel destination?

The enchanted city of Sevilla, Spain

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Corinne Ainsworth

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 253
Step 2 - 252

School

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Specialty

Family Medicine

I think the thing to do is enjoy the ride while you’re on it. ~ Johnny Depp Tutor Bio

Corinne is positive, dedicated and detail-oriented – in life and as a tutor! Though always an “average” standardized test taker prior to medical school, Corinne was determined to change that when it came to Step 1. By sticking to a rigorous and well-crafted schedule as well as placing a high priority on self-care (sleep, exercise, and meditation), Corinne was able to achieve her test-taking goals. Corinne has years of experience mentoring others. This experience, combined with her pre-clinical and clinical knowledge, has prepared her well to be both your tutor and your cheerleader. You can rely on Corinne to help you create a detailed schedule customized to your needs and goals, make the most of your resources, and streamline your approach to answering test questions. Corinne will encourage you to work harder than you’ve ever worked before, and she will also instill in you a sense of calm and positivity throughout your studying journey!

Paris Austell Medical Tutor BIO

What's your superpower?

I would love to be fluent in all languages. It'd be cool to travel and openly speak with everyone (plus I'd be a super student on the floors!)

What's in your white coat?

Paper is the bain of my existence! I should clean out my pockets now...

One fun fact about you:

I've been writing poetry since I was in high school. One of my life goals is to publish a poetry book.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Paris Austell

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 253

School

Rush Medical College

Specialty

Otolaryngology

You are your only limit. ~ Unknown Tutor Bio

Paris is a third year medical student at Rush Medical College and intends to apply for a residency in otolaryngology. Paris graduated summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University and earned honors in all preclinical courses in medical school. She additionally has earned honors or high pass in all of her core clerkships. Paris has a long record of mentoring and tutoring students dating back to her undergraduate years. She is passionate about teaching and is dedicated to helping students attain academic success.

Dr. Sam Azeze Medical Tutor, MD, MPH BIO

What’s under your bed?

SHOES, way too many shoes

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Dark chocolate matcha power bars, homemade of course :) and gummy worms are my guilty pleasure

Favorite Travel Destination:

A sleepy little fishing town called Chioggia in Northern Italy. Best seafood dinners and piano concerts ever!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Sam Azeze

Medical Tutor, MD, MPH

Scores

Steps 1 - 253
Step 2 CK - 258

School

St. George’s University School of Medicine

Specialty

Diagnostic/Interventional Radiology

"Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future.” ― Hippocrates Tutor Bio

Sam is a driven, systematic, and comprehensive tutor who enjoys seeing students meet and exceed their target scores on the USMLE Step 2 CK and the shelf exams. After scoring well on the Step 1, Sam knew that the key to gaining a competitive residency was an even higher Step 2 CK score. He continued to work on his craft, test taking, and now enjoys teaching the same techniques and algorithmic approach to other students. Currently, Sam is finishing his residency in radiology, a specialty that emphasizes a systematic approach to clinical anatomical imaging. Similarly, Sam’s step-by-step tailored approach to test taking teaches students to be fine-tuned test-taking machines by the end of their dedicated study. Sam’s focus on test-taking strategy is illustrated by his intensive question/answer sessions. Additionally, his fail-proof guide to reviewing material ensures you will have a mastery every pathology that can be tested. Through a rigorous practice schedule and mimicking exam conditions, Sam’s students become very comfortable taking exams and have done incredibly well.

Dr. Laurel Banach Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Fun fact:

My home is filled with over 30 unique plants.

What's your favorite game?

Volleyball

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Homemade coconut-craisin power balls

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Laurel Banach

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 2 CK - 259

School

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Specialty

Family Medicine

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another.” – Italian Proverb Tutor Bio

Laurel is an alumna of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she tutored students from all over the world ranging from student athletes to graduate students. As a result, she has a passion for teaching, and brings high-energy and positivity to every session. While passing and scoring well is important for all exams, Laurel prioritizes learning to best improve her patient care and emphasizes the importance of having adequate work-play balance. Given the efficacy of positive reinforcement and her lacrosse coaching history, you can rely on her to build your confidence, while clearly outlining plays to overcome challenges. She approaches tutoring with the aim of bettering your test-taking skills and persistent repetition of important material. Laurel loves exchange of honest feedback and is excited to help you develop into a strong test-taker and physician.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Awards: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society & Gold Humanism Honor Society

Tyler Bauer Medical Tutor BIO

Go-to karaoke song:

Paradise by the Dashboard Lights, Meatloaf

What color is your toothbrush?

Pink

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Black Coffee with Eggs and Toast

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Tyler Bauer

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 260

School

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Specialty

A Cardiothoracic Surgery Hopeful

I’m Ready, I’m Ready, I’m Ready!!! ~ Spongebob Squarepants Tutor Bio

Tyler is a currently a medical student at Thomas Jefferson University. He has been heavily involved in the medical student surgical interest society as well as surgical research since his first year of school, and he hopes to pursue cardiothoracic surgery upon graduation. Tyler has a personal interest in Quality Improvement research, and hopes to continue his research regarding prophylactic compliance in residency. Tyler has performed exceptionally well on his MCATs, USMLE Step 1, Shelf exams, as well as his class exams, and is excited to pass on his knowledge to other students. He studied Biology and Music performance at Muhlenberg College where he was on the track team.

Shoutouts + Accolades

2013 + 2014 Division III All – American in the Javelin Throw
Liaison in the Surgical Interest Group for Three years

Dr. Tedi Begaj Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite travel destination:

Albania! I was born in Albania and lived there for 10 years.

Superpower:

Uncanny ability to grow a beard (I might have an undiagnosed werewolf syndrome)

Favorite snack:

Special K Protein cereal & almond milk — it has every macro you need and tastes delicious.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Tedi Begaj

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 251
Step 2 CK - 250

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

Ophthalmology

"The difference between a master and a beginner is that the master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried." ~ Unknown Tutor Bio

Tedi is a current Transitional Year resident at Cambridge Health Alliance and will subsequently pursue Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School-Mass Eye and Ear. Not only is he passionate about science, previously investigating viral gene therapy in retinal degenerative disease under a Howard Hughes Research Fellowship, but he most enjoys education and teaching, especially as he starts his third year with Med School Tutors after having already completed 400+ hours of tutoring. Tedi comes from a long line of educators and greatly appreciates the opportunity to help students accomplish their academic goals.

Dr. Brittany Berk Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Fun Fact:

I had Kawasaki Disease as a kid so you KNOW I will make sure you get every question on it right!

What’s in your white coat?

Every kind of foley you can think of.

What’s your favorite game:

Super Smash Bros (Gamecube version!)

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Brittany Berk

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 253
Step 2 CK - 268

School

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Specialty

Urology

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.” – Dr. Seuss Tutor Bio

Throughout medical school, Brittany has always been excited to lend a helping hand to her junior colleagues. She has spent countless hours educating and advising students to prepare them for success in medical training. This passion led her to develop a novel Peer Mentoring program at her institution that aims to support junior students through the academic challenges of the preclinical curriculum, while also fostering their individual curiosities and interests. From these experiences, she has gained a true appreciation for the impact individualized tutoring and guidance can have. As a tutor, Brittany will not only teach you what is on Step 1, but also how to study for it effectively and efficiently. Each study plan she develops starts with a strong foundation of organization and strategic resource selection, and includes a focus on cultivating stronger test-taking strategies. From that, she builds each individual study plan to uniquely address her students' needs and celebrate their strengths. In order to accomplish this, she is dedicated to taking the time to learn more about you, and each session will solicit advice for how she can approve. You can count on Brittany to be your personal cheerleader, and to bolster your skills to help you attain success on exams, and beyond!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Honors

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society – UMMS Chapter

Manuscript Publications
Fetterman JL, Holbrook M, Westbrook DG, Brown JA, Feeley KP, Breton-Romero R, Linder EA, Berk BD, Weisbrod RM, Widlansky ME, Gokce N, Ballinger SW, Hamburg NM. “Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Vascular Function in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.” Cardiovascular Diabetology. 36(3):561-9.

Bretón-Romero, R, Feng, B, Holbrook, M, Farb, MG, Fetterman, JL, Linder, EA. Berk, BD, Masaki, N, Weisbrod, RM, Inagaki, E, Gokce, N, Fuster, JJ, Walsh, K, Hamburg, NM. “Endothelial Dysfunction in Human Diabetes is Mediated by Wnt5a-JNK Signaling.” Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 36(3): 561-9, 2016.

Fetterman, JL, Holbrook, M, Flint, N., Feng, B., Bretón-Romero, R, Linder, EA, Berk, BD, Duess, MA, Farb, M, Gokce, N, Shirihai, OS, Hamburg, NM, Vita, JA. “Restoration of Autophagy in Endothelial Cells from Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Improves Nitric Oxide Signaling” Atherosclerosis, 247: 201-17, 2016.

Tampakakis, E, Tabit, CE, Holbrook, M, Linder, EA, Berk, BD, Frame, AA, Bretón-Romero, R, Fetterman, JL, Gokce, N, Vita, JA. “Intravenous Lipid Infusion Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Endothelial Cells and Blood Mononuclear Cells of Healthy Adults.” Journal of the American Heart Association, 11; 5(1), 2016.

Dr. Fred Bertino Medical Tutor BIO

Theme Song:

Symphony no. 7 in A major op. 92 by Beethoven

Fun Fact:

I was a full time musician before medical school. I wrote a concerto based on an E.coli protein sequence and published a paper on it too!

If your life were a tv show, what would it be?

Probably a cartoon like "Spongebob Squarepants"... or "The Office".

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Fred Bertino

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2 - 268
Step 3 - 234

School

St. George's University School of Medicine

Specialty

Radiology

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." ~ Leonardo da Vinci Tutor Bio

Fred Bertino is a graduate of St. George’s University School of Medicine and is PGY-2 in diagnostic radiology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Fred’s experience in tutoring the sciences is widespread and longstanding, having tutored basic science course material, USMLE Step 1, and Step 2 CK/CS, as well as shelf exam content. Fred’s teaching style stems not only from an understanding of subject knowledge, but maintaining clarity and confidence into “question approach.”

David Billing Medical Tutor BIO

What's under your bed?

Probably my siamese cat, Hal, and all of the little plastic toys he drags under there.

Fun Fact:

I have run the Boston, New York, and San Francisco Marathons (not all at once, though)

Go-To Karaoke Song:

Caroline by Neil Diamond (Go Red Sox!)

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

David Billing

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 255

School

Columbia University

Specialty

Radiation Oncology

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." ~ Thomas Jefferson Tutor Bio

David is currently an MD/PhD student in his PhD years at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. His research focuses on the molecular basis of hereditary breast cancer. Prior to medical school, David graduated from Harvard University with a degree in molecular and cellular biology and was awarded the Hoopes Prize for outstanding undergraduate research. David has a history of testing excellence, including scoring above a 250 on the USMLE Step I. He is a very dedicated tutor with a passion for teaching and helping his students achieve their academic goals.

Joshua Bitran Medical Tutor BIO

Theme song:

Eye of the Tiger

How would you save the world?

Put everyone on the ketogenic diet

What's your superpower?

I can fall asleep anywhere

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Joshua Bitran

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2 CK - 260

School

St. George's University

Specialty

Urology

"The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding" – Leonardo da Vinci Tutor Bio

Joshua was born and raised in the sandy beaches of Miami, Florida. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Miami with a major in biology. Joshua now attends St. George’s University, where he was inducted into the international medical honors society Iota Epsilon Alpha, and received the outstanding service award in 2016 for most volunteer tutoring hours. He is currently completing a research year at the University of Miami focusing on male infertility and hypogonadism. Joshua continues his passion for teaching others through his work with MST.

Alexander Boardman Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Travel Destination:

Ko Phi Phi Don, Thailand has the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen. Sandstone cliffs and coral reefs by day and Fire Shows by night.

Theme Song:

“Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. It really brings out my inner John Mayer, minus the hipster glasses, the six-pack abs, and the musical talent.

What's under your bed?

My didgeridoo and a couple of monsters. Thankfully they don’t know how to play it…yet.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Alexander Boardman

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2CK - 265

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

Internal Medicine

“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty... I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well." ~ Theodore Roosevelt Tutor Bio

Alexander (Alec) Boardman is a 4th year medical student at UMass Medical School, pursuing a residency in Internal Medicine. As an undergrad at Harvard, he spent the majority of his winters up on the slopes training with the alpine ski team before graduating with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. Alec then hopped across the Charles River to work in biomedical research on the medical school campus for two years. He developed a knack for pipetting HeLa cells but ultimately decided that humans were more fun to talk to. Alec is the product of two teacher parents and is excited to help his fellow medical school colleagues reach their highest potential on USMLE exams.

Michael Bohnen Medical Tutor, MD / PhD '17 BIO

What's under your bed?

Probably 10 dead rats. I live in Manhattan.

What's the best part of MST?

The students! Helping an eager medical student realize his or her test day goals is tremendously rewarding.

If your life were a movie, what would it be?

Life of Pi. Not because I'm always daydreaming or stranded on a boat, but because I love the number 3.14159 and I love pie.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Michael Bohnen

Medical Tutor, MD / PhD '17

Scores

Step 1 - 249

School

Columbia University

Internal Medicine

TBA

"It's about practicing the day after the best game of your life." ~ Steve Nash, former NBA MVP and my fellow Canadian! Tutor Bio

Michael graduated Phi Beta Kappa from a joint double degree program from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary while competing on Columbia’s Men’s Varsity Tennis team. He earned his MD/PhD degrees at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2018, with a PhD research focus in cardiovascular electrophysiology. Having received the highest honors in nearly all his medical school clerkships, Michael's passion for teaching matches his enthusiasm for medicine. He has over a decade of teaching experience in the sciences, including coaching dozens of MST students. Michael has excelled in mentoring MST students coming from a variety of backgrounds and levels. He adapts and personalizes study schedules, simplifies tactics for test day, and breaks down complex concepts in a way that relieves student anxiety while building knowledge and confidence. An encouraging and dedicated mentor, Michael is a special tutor who is fully committed to helping his students conquer their exams with excitement!

Dr. Graham Boyd Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Go-To Karaoke Song:

Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) – Backstreet Boys

Favorite Travel Destination:

The west coast of Ireland. The Cliffs of Moher are a must see!

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Nachos

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Graham Boyd

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 261

School

Boston University

Specialty

Radiation Oncology

Luck is what you have left over after you give 100 percent. ~ Langston Coleman Tutor Bio

Graham graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hamilton College, where he majored in biology and was a member of the varsity swim team and water polo team. After college, Graham entered Boston University School of Medicine, where he is planning to pursue a residency in radiation oncology. Graham has a record of testing excellence, including a score of 261 on the USMLE Step 1 and >90th percentile scores on all his shelf exams to date. Graham loves to work with other students and is committed to helping them achieve their personal goals.

Charlie Burke Medical Tutor BIO

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship

What’s your theme song?

Heaven is a Place – Belinda Carlisle

What superpower would you have?

Teleportation. You can literally get anywhere you want, for FREE

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Charlie Burke

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 256

School

University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine

Specialty

TBA

“Never risking anything meant never having or doing or being anything either. Life is risk, it turned out.” – Lev Grossman, The Magicians Tutor Bio

Charlie is a dedicated, diligent tutor who wasn’t always the strongest student and often struggled with testing anxiety during self-assessments and NBMEs. But through hard work, dedication, and discovering routes around his anxiety, was able to tackle Step 1 and achieve a great score! Throughout medical school, Charlie has spent time tutoring others in group-settings and one-to-one. From his experience studying, Charlie found that an understanding of your own capabilities paired with a study schedule designed around this understanding made for optimum outcomes. Charlie will be able to help you analyze Step 1 questions to find what details matter most. He will provide tools to help you cut down answer options, helping you have as much confidence as possible in answering Step 1 questions. Additionally, he’ll mold study schedules around your wants, needs, and capabilities to optimize your study time. Charlie is fun-loving, friendly tutor who will encourage and push you to success on Step 1.

Dr. Karel-Bart Celie Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Fun Fact:

I worked as a student editor with the AMA Journal of Ethics during my first year of medical school.

What’s your theme song?

Anything composed by Hans Zimmer.

What’s in your white coat?

Too much: a copy of the Michigan Manual, tons of tegaderm, trauma shears, several rolls of half-used tape, some xeroform, my iPhone, and gauze everywhere else.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Karel-Bart Celie

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - > 260

School

Columbia University

Specialty

Plastic Surgery

Hope consists in asserting that there is at the heart of being, beyond all data, beyond all inventories and all calculations, a mysterious principle which is in connivance with me. ~ Gabriel Marcel Tutor Bio

Bart is currently pursuing a year of research in between his third and fourth years at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Before med school, he studied at Boston College, where he graduated summa cum laude and with honors in Philosophy. Bart’s background includes extensive travel at a young age, which exposed him to the need for physicians and inspired him to go into medicine. He loves learning and is committed to helping his students work hard, master their subjects, and achieve their testing goals.

Dr. Sarah Coates Medical Tutor BIO

Theme Song:

"Hymn 101" by Joe Pug

Go-To Karaoke Song

"Changes" by Tupac

What's under your bed?

Drawers for extra storage, because San Francisco.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX, SHELF

Dr. Sarah Coates

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2 CK - 274
Step 3 - 255

School

Weill Cornell Medical College

Specialty

Dermatology

"Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food, I can drive a taxi, I can and do cut my own hair. I did, however, tip my urologist. Because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones." ~ Dwight K Schrute, The Office. Tutor Bio

Sarah's friends would describe her as genuine, outspoken and empathetic. Sarah feels strongly that self-awareness and a willingness to be vulnerable are the key ingredients to personal and relational growth, as well as success in academics. She is constantly trying to sharpen her understanding of precisely what it is that makes people tick and enjoys exploring the "deep story" that people are often afraid to share. After decades of being a student and more than five years and 1500 hours of USMLE tutoring experience, she has learned to focus on authenticity with herself as well as her students; she believes that the only way to figure out what areas truly require further work is to be honest about what we do and don't know from the start. Having been diagnosed with ADHD at an early age, Sarah had to work especially hard at making studying "fun" and "engaging" so that she wouldn't lose focus. For that reason, she has a special interest in placing the material into the context of larger, visuospatial frameworks in order to help students fully make sense of things. Sharing this approach with others is what gets her most excited, and she lives for the moments when everything "clicks" and the story of medicine can fully come to life. Her students can rely on her to be thoughtful, supportive, organized, honest about their progress, and, perhaps most importantly, understanding of the complex emotions that surround USMLE exams.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Check out Sarah's Tutor Spotlight

Dr. Alexander Dabrowiecki Medical Tutor BIO

What's under your bed?

Dust bunnies

Fun Fact:

I used to be in a Polish folk dance group, touring all over the place.

How would you save the world?

Abolish greed.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Alexander Dabrowiecki

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 253
Step 2CK - 258

School

St. George's University

Specialty

Radiology

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." ~ Oscar Wilde Tutor Bio

Born and raised in Northern California, Alex graduated summa cum laude from St. George's University in 2016, and he is currently continuing his residency at Emory University specializing in Diagnostic Radiology. He scored a 253 on Step 1 and 258 on Step 2 CK. Alex feels privileged to be a part of the MST team, utilizing his mastery of efficient studying and a concept based approach to assist students in reaching their maximum potential.

Dr. Greta Dahlberg Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Go-To Karaoke Song:

Livin La Vida Loca

If I could have any superpower, it would be...

teleportation...Hawaiian beach for the day? Yes please!

Favorite Travel Destination:

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Greta Dahlberg

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 267
Step 2 CK - 274

School

Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Specialty

Internal Medicine

Worry is a misuse of your imagination. Tutor Bio

Greta is a driven, enthusiastic, and supportive tutor who understands the various challenges students face while studying for the USMLE exams. Greta has learned through her many hours of tutoring how to provide structure and balance to students' study schedules, and she will help you do the same! She has tutored in various settings for many years but has enjoyed her time at MST helping individual students meet their USMLE and Shelf exam goals. Every student she has tutored has met or exceeded their goal for their exam! Greta truly enjoys discovering how each individual learns and tailors her tutoring to fit that learning style. She understands that learning is not one-size-fits-all and she is determined to be the right fit. Greta considers her strengths at MST to be helping students break down question vignettes and working on the approach to a question, putting together a perfect plan of attack regarding resources, and helping students achieve both their short term and long term career goals. She will hold you accountable while remaining ever supportive and encouraging!

Mark Davison Medical Tutor BIO

What is your favorite dance move?

The Bernie

What’s your favorite power-up snack?

Trail mix

What’s in your white coat?

Granola bars, pens and too many rolls of tape

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Mark Davison

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 257
Step 2 - 253

School

Rush Medical College

Intended Specialty

Neurosurgery

“The best way to predict your future is to create it” – Abraham Lincoln Tutor Bio

Mark is an energetic, motivational, and creative tutor who understands first-hand the hard work and determination necessary to crush the Step 1 exam! During his Step 1 preparation, he learned the importance of self-confidence, simplifying his study resources, and focusing in on underlying themes throughout the material in order to limit memorization. Mark has a long history of teaching and mentoring students from his work as a gross anatomy lab tutor to his role as an accident litigation and injury biomechanics consultant where he routinely simplified scientific principles for jury members to understand. Mark is exceptional at finding ways to convey clinical concepts in a digestible manner. If you work with Mark, he will keep you motivated, train you to quickly dissect clinical vignettes, and will challenge you to be your best self. Mark is particularly invested in his students and we are confident you will enjoy working with him!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Honors and Awards

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society – Rush Medical College Chapter
Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society – Michigan State University

Manuscript Publications

1. Adogwa O, Davison MA, Vuong VD, Desai SA, Lilly DT, Moreno J, Cheng J, Bagley C. Regional Variation in Opioid Use After Lumbar Spine Surgery. World Neurosurgery 2018. PMID: 30292669.

2. Davison MA, Vuong VD, Lilly DT, Desai SA, Moreno J, Cheng J, Bagley C, Adogwa O. Gender Differences in Use of Prolonged Nonoperative Therapies Before Index Lumbar Surgery. World Neurosurgery 2018. PMID: 30165230.

3. Adogwa O, Davison MA, Vuong VD, Khalid S, Lilly DT, Desai SA, Moreno J, Cheng J, Bagley C. Long Term Costs of Maximum Non-Operative Treatments in Patients with Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis or Spondylolisthesis that Ultimately Required Surgery: A Five-Year Cost Analysis. Spine 2018. PMID: 30130337.

4. Davison MA, Norton DM, Popoff AM, Seder CW, March RJ. Hemolysis following wrap aortoplasty for Type A aortic dissection repair: Case report and review of the literature. Vascular Medicine 2018. PMID: 29914309.

5. Elsamadicy AA, Sergesketter AR, Kemeny H, Adogwa O, Tarnasky A, Charalambous L, Lubkin DET, Davison MA, Cheng J, Bagley CA, Karikari IO. Impact of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease on Postoperative Complication Rates, Ambulation, and Length of Hospital Stay After Elective Spinal Fusion (≥3 Levels) in Elderly Spine Deformity Patients. World Neurosurgery 2018. PMID: 29870850.

6. Adogwa O, Desai SA, Vuong VD, Lilly DT, Ouyang B, Davison M, Khalid S, Bagley CA, Cheng J. Extended Length of Stay in Elderly Patients After Lumbar Decompression and Fusion Surgery May Not Be Attributable to Baseline Illness Severity or Postoperative Complications. World Neurosurgery 2018. PMID: 29860014.

7. Davison MA, Ouyang B, Keppetipola KM, Chen M. Arterial diameter and the gender disparity in stroke thrombectomy outcomes. Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery 2018. PMID: 29440356.

8. Button KD, Braman JE, Davison MA, Wei F, Schaeffer MC, Haut RC. Rotational stiffness of American football shoes affects ankle biomechanics and injury severity. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 2015. PMID: 25751589.

Marisa Deliso Medical Tutor, MPH, CPH BIO

What's your favorite power-up snack?

I love all snacks equally. I was known for my ultimate snackage game during exam prep

All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled

One fun fact about you:

I was on my Med School’s Bhangra dance team

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Marisa Deliso

Medical Tutor, MPH, CPH

Scores

Step 1 - 266

School

St. George's University School of Medicine

Specialty

TBA

“We don't rise to the occasion, we fall to the level of our training.” – Archilochus Tutor Bio

Marisa is a dedicated, charismatic, and supportive individual who understands that STEP prep is personal. Through her experience of finding it nearly impossible to master concepts through traditional methods of simply reading and writing the material, she learned that there is adapting, one-size-fits all way to best prepare for exams. This realization allowed her to increase her percentile ranking between MCAT and STEP 1 from 61 to 99, respectively, and allowed her to have an intricate understanding of the concepts necessary to be successful on exams and in clinical practice. Marisa first realized her passion for teaching during undergrad where she volunteered at a Harlem middle school as a Citizen Schools biology teacher; it is there that she first developed the skill of breaking down complex information in a way that was fun and easy to understand. Marisa began tutoring at her medical school because she has a passion to see other students excel and quickly becomes personally invested in her students’ success. She intends to help her students develop the skills they will need for long term testing as well as career success by helping them achieve their goals in medicine and beyond. Students can count on Marisa to create for them a detailed and customized study schedule tailored to their progress, timeline, and goals. In doing so, she will help them select the optimal resources for their needs. Marisa is great at adapting: she will identify what is working and not working, and will collaborate with her students to adjust the plan accordingly. She truly believes studying medicine should be fun and hopes to re-spark her student’s passion if it has begun to smolder along the trial-filled journey of med school.

Shoutouts

Academic honors: Iota Epsilon Alpha, Delta Omega, and Gold Humanism Honor Society
Research & publications: 5 Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals, 7 works accepted at Conferences, 5 Poster Presentations, 1 Oral Presentation
Awards: Basic Science Comprehensive Exam II Highest Grade Award; Best Oral Presentation by Student in the School of Medicine at Phi Zeta Research Day, Department of Educational Services Excellent Facilitator Award

Dr. David Delnegro Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Favorite Taylor Swift Song?

Shake It Off!

In what house would the sorting hat place you?

Ravenclaw

Fun Fact:

I won several local eating contests as a young adult.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. David Delnegro

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 252

School

University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

Interest

Emergency Medicine

¨Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning.¨ – George Carlin Tutor Bio

David is very energetic, resourceful and resilient individual who pulls from a large toolbox of skills to help his students succeed in classes, exams and challenging life problems. Many of his experiences have been shaped by an almost seven year career in Emergency Medical Services and disaster training. He has taught and tutored both the MCAT and the USMLE step exams employed as a freelance individual, a university employee, and for private companies. David also has additional mentorship experience during his time as EMS Sargent and Crew Chief. During his preclinical years, he founded a student organization that collected, edited and wrote new PowerPoint presentations so that second year students for each class could have access to a bank of materials to use to tutor and teach the incoming first years. By providing his students with clear direction, goals and expectations, David takes the guesswork out of study plans. A former MCAT practice material writer for Examkrackers, David has an advanced insight into the way tests and questions are designed and edited. He lives for seeing the look on his student's eyes when the light bulb pops above their head, and is excited to bring a unique blend of humor, organization and creativity to help you tackle any problem that comes your way.

Shoutouts + Accolades

My current research interest is in ER and healthcare decision making.

Zach Dionise Medical Tutor BIO

Theme Song:

Lights by Journey

Power-Up Snack:

The snack that smiles back, Goldfish

Fun Fact:

I had a class with Steph Curry in college.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Zach Dionise

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 272

School

Duke University School of Medicine

Specialty

TBA

“I’m not superstitious…but I am a little stitious.” ~ Michael Scott Tutor Bio

Zach is a motivated tutor determined to help students achieve their absolute best through hard work and enthusiasm. He believes that the key to doing well on Step 1 and the wards is really understanding the “why” rather than trying to remember a pile of disconnected facts. Zach has enjoyed teaching for years, from working as a chemistry and economics tutor-TA in college to teaching a course for second year medical students on clinical skills and the practice of medicine. Zach will help you acquire a solid basis for understanding content and emphasize the many connections between topics during the course of your studying. Then, you’ll collaborate to develop the strong clinical reasoning skills and strategic thinking required to crack the code of Step 1 questions. Throughout the study process, Zach is committed to invest in your success and work with you to find the study strategies that will best help you come test day.

Dr. Tzvi Doron Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Travel Destination:

New Zealand

Superpower:

If I could have any superpower, it would be mind reading.

How would you save the world?

I'd cure mental illness.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Tzvi Doron

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 247
Step 2CK - 251
COMLEX - 634/642/900

School

Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine

Specialty

Family Medicine

"Don't get caught up in the minutiae. It's all about the fundamentals." ~ Tzvi Tutor Bio

Tzvi has been teaching, tutoring and training others to achieve their personal best for the last 11 years. After excelling on his Board exams, Tzvi brought his broad range of experience to Med School Tutors, where he has helped other aspiring doctors to achieve their own medical dreams. He is a graduate of Brooklyn College and Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is currently practicing as a primary care physician.

Dr. Caleb Dresser Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Theme Song:

"Everything is Awesome" from The Lego Movie

What's in your white coat?

Nothing! Rock the scrubs!!

Favorite Travel Destination:

Anywhere with fresh powder and good friends. Vermont and Colorado spring to mind...

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Caleb Dresser

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2 CK - 263
Step 3 - 251

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

"Not all those who wander are lost." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien Tutor Bio

Caleb studies at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. His passion for teaching has led him to positions ranging from research lecturer at a hospital in Somaliland to outdoor education instructor at Cornell University. Most recently, he took a year off to work as Program Director for a nonprofit that trains advanced-practice emergency room nurses in rural Uganda, a position that helped him appreciate how crucial well-tailored individual study approaches can be for effective learning. Caleb enjoys sharing his excitement about learning with students as they learn to realize their full potential for success.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Emergency Medicine In-Service Intern Year: 91st percentile
Emergency Medicine In-Service, Junior Year: 90th percentile

Evan Dugdale Medical Tutor BIO

Biggest Superstition:

I always put on my right shoe before my left

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Ice cream

Favorite Travel Destination:

I like fly fishing a lot, so I’ve loved going out west to fish in Wyoming a few times

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Evan Dugdale

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 253

School

Boston University

Specialty

TBA

Oh yeah. Lotta pressure. You gotta rise above it. You gotta harness in the good energy, block out the bad. Harness. Energy. Block. Bad. Feel the flow, Happy. Feel it. It's circular. ~ Gary Potter (in Happy Gilmore) Tutor Bio

Evan graduated Cum Laude from Williams College in 2013, where he majored in chemistry and played four years on the varsity ice hockey team. After college, he worked as a full-time middle school tutor for one year with the Match Corps program before entering Boston University School of Medicine. In addition to medicine and education, he has also always been interested in entrepreneurship and currently enjoys running a startup company that focuses on improving the application process for med school applicants. Evan is excited to be a part of the MST team and to help students achieve their testing goals.

Dr. Timothy Dyster Medical Tutor, MD BIO

If your life were a tv show, what would it be?

Parks and Recreation! I identify strongly with Leslie Knope.

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Probably Hufflepuff!

Favorite Game:

The Game of Thrones. Just kidding... it's The Last of Us.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Timothy Dyster

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2 CK - 249

School

Columbia University

Specialty

Internal Medicine

"Try new things: You should always be doing something that makes you a little uncomfortable." ~ Tim Tutor Bio

Timothy is an alumnus of Cornell University, where he graduated with honors and received the esteemed William T. Keeton Award, and Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons, where he graduated with AOA distinction. He is currently a resident physician in Internal Medicine at UCSF. Timothy has a record of high scholastic achievement in medical school by consistently receiving the highest possible mark in his clinical rotations, including internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, neurology, and psychiatry. His experience in student mentorship, support, and advising is robust. Tim is known for his warm temperament and passion for education, and enjoys helping his students achieve their maximum potential.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Awards:

William T Keeton Award Recipient

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society

Publications:

Dyster, Timothy Gordon. “Identity Capital and Identifying Learners at Risk for Marginalization.” Academic Medicine, vol. 92, no. 8, 2017, p. 1070., doi:10.1097/acm.0000000000001802.

Matthew Earle Medical Tutor BIO

Fun Fact:

The pockets on the inside of any white coat are actually for snacks, not instruments or notes.

Two Truths and a Lie:

I have been over 100 feet underground, I have been over 100 feet underwater and I have fallen over 100 feet from the sky.

Fun Fact:

I may or may not be 30% peanut-butter.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Matthew Earle

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 253

School

University of Florida

Specialty

TBA

Never reduce your goals to suit your effort; adjust your effort to suit your goals. Tutor Bio

Matt is a current MS3 at the University of Florida College of Medicine and is planning on pursuing a career in Emergency Medicine. He has a history of high scholastic achievement, including a 253 on Step 1 and scoring in the 90th percentile on the Pediatrics and Surgery SHELFs, the 91st percentile on the Neurology SHELF and the 97th percentile on the Internal Medicine SHELF. He has experience tutoring first and second-year medical school curricula and has a passion for teaching.

Dr. Matthew Eisenstat Medical Tutor, MD BIO

What’s under your bed?

Socks and my beagle Daisy. Sometimes Daisy is eating the socks.

What’s your favorite game?

Settlers of Catan. Unless I lose and then it’s lame.

If your life were a TV show?

Definitely Gilmore Girls!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Matthew Eisenstat

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1: 259
Step 2: 260
Step 3: 235

School

USC School of Medicine Greenville

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

“I have never let schooling interfere with my education” – Mark Twain Tutor Bio

From average college student to chief resident, Matt’s journey has shown that working hard and some basic test-taking skills can help you find success in medicine. Both in the emergency department and in his tutoring, Matt finds that being a calming presence helps him and those around him perform at their best. As a Step 1 tutor in medical school, Matt developed a passion for education and helping students become the best possible doctor they can be. In residency, he continued to hone that passion as a bed-side teacher. As a tutor, he prides himself on taking obscure, esoteric medical knowledge and translating it into its real-world applications. His test-taking tips and strategies will help you get into the head of the test writer and optimize your board scores.

Ali Elsaadi Medical Tutor BIO

Fun Fact #1:

I lived in Brazil for a month doing medical research in Portuguese, but I don't speak Portuguese.

Fun Fact #2:

I love snowboarding and only fall whenever I need to stop, change directions or when getting off the lift.

Fun Fact #3:

I get one haircut a year because I like to grow out my hair and donate it (I always forget to donate it though).

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Ali Elsaadi

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 250+

School

St. George's University

Interest

Surgery

"It's not about where you want to end up but about the process along the way" – Me to my organic chemistry professor when I got low yields from a reaction in lab Tutor Bio

Ali is a positive, patient, and reliable tutor who has 6 years of experience as a private tutor. Ali started off tutoring his friends in organic chemistry and moved on to physics, chemistry, biology, and a variety of other topics. He’s tutored students from ages 8 to 30 and can connect with many different educational backgrounds because of these experiences. Ali's goal is to help students develop the long term skills necessary to excel not only on exams but in their future careers in medicine, and he hopes his own students go on to teach others these same lessons along the way. He is very invested in the success of his students and will help them break down complicated vignettes and develop a strong question strategy to tackle the boards. He is determined to continually improve not only his students’ scores but also his teaching ability and is very open to dialogue about how best to move forward if certain teaching methods aren’t working. Ali may sound tough as a tutor, but his sunny disposition will make this as enjoyable a process as studying for Step can be!

Dr. Justine Falcone Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Favorite Food:

Apples of all kinds!

Fun Fact:

I have an identical twin sister in medical school who is also a tutor for MST!

Favorite Pastime:

I was an NCAA college cross-country runner and have continued as a NIRCA club cross-country runner for my final three years of medical school!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Justine Falcone

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 245
Step 2 CK - 255
Step 3 - 239

School

University of Florida

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”- Mahatma Ghandhi Tutor Bio

On Justine’s journey to become an emergency medicine resident, she learned to excel on standardized examinations by applying her meticulous work ethic, dedication to study schedules, and passion for learning. During her own Step study time, Justine really learned the importance of honing in on some of the key resources to master the exam, and she is excited to help her students do the same! Justine has years of tutoring experience from tutoring the basic sciences in college to working with MST students during her time in medical school and residency. Justine has helped dozens of students achieve their dream scores on Step 1, Step 2, and shelf examinations. She is committed to helping students reach their full potential. Justine takes pride in making students individual and specific study schedules and holding them accountable to making their planned deadlines. She understands the importance of providing honest feedback to students while doing so in a fun, positive, and encouraging manner! Justine knows how stressful, time consuming, and scary the Step examinations can be. However, she personally invests in her students success in order to make the process as stress free and enjoyable as possible!

Lauryn Falcone Medical Tutor, Ph.D. BIO

Fun Fact:

I am an identical twin, and I have two younger identical twin sisters! My twin also tutors for MST.

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Dark chocolate!

What do you do for fun?

I am a competitive athlete, competing across the country and around the world in triathlons and duathlons!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Lauryn Falcone

Medical Tutor, Ph.D.

Scores

Step 1 - 254

School

West Virginia University

Specialty

TBA

"The journey in science and medicine may be long and hard, but the rewards are great." Tutor Bio

Lauryn Falcone graduated Summa Cum Laude and as co-valedictorian from Rollins College before pursuing an MD/PhD degree at West Virginia University School of Medicine. She recently completed her PhD in cellular and integrative physiology at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and is currently finishing the clinical years of medical school. Lauryn completed her first two years of medical school as an honors student, scoring a 254 on the USMLE Step 1 examination and achieving above the 90th percentile on eight NBME shelf exams. She has many years of experience tutoring for the USMLE and medical school coursework and therefore understands many of the struggles students face. She also appreciates that medical school is both physically and emotionally demanding and strives to help her students to live happier, healthier lives. By balancing her time as both a successful student and a competitive athlete, Lauryn excels in time management and enjoys helping her students appropriately manage work-life balance.

Saad Farooq Medical Tutor BIO

Where's your favorite travel destination?

Budapest, Hungary

What's your favorite game?

Smash Bros. Ultimate

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Trader Joe’s Ghost Pepper Chips

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Saad Farooq

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 249
Step 2 CK - 261

School

NYU School of Medicine

Specialty

Surgery

“The journey of a thousand miles starts with step one” – Anonymous Tutor Bio

Saad is an energetic, encouraging, and friendly disciple of the sciences, humanities, and everything in between. Carrying this passion for learning, Saad understands the importance of effective, dedicated, and personalized teaching. During his time at Cornell University, Saad made sure to pass on his enthusiasm for the biological sciences by tutoring numerous students throughout the years. Tutoring a variety of students from all education levels and backgrounds, Saad is well versed in catering his teaching style to individually fit each and every student. A method that works for one student, may not work for another, and Saad is devoted to finding the perfect way for you to achieve your goals. The journey towards becoming a doctor is rife with challenges, and though it may seem difficult now, with the proper guidance and mentorship everyone can achieve their goals. Saad is willing to go above and beyond to help you achieve yours!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Daley D, Mani VR, Mohan N, Akkad N, Pandian GSDB, Savadkar S, Lee KB, Torres-Hernandez A, Aykut B, Diskin B, Wang W, Farooq MS, Mahmud AI, Werba G, Morales EJ, Lall S, Wadowski BJ, Rubin AG, Berman ME, Narayanan R, Hundeyin M, Miller G. NLRP3 signaling drives macrophage-induced adaptive immune suppression in pancreatic carcinoma. J Exp Med. 2017; 214(6): 1711-1724.
Mani VR, Farooq MS, Soni U, Kalabin A, Rajabalan A, Leaque A. Case report of ectopic liver on gallbladder serosa with a brief review of literature. Case Reports in Surgery. 2016:7273801. doi:10.1155/2016/7273801.

Dr. Malina Filkins Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Fun Fact:

The name Malina means raspberry.

Favorite Travel Destination:

Nicaragua

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

A diet coke and a brownie

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Malina Filkins

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 251
Step 2 CK - 254

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

Family Medicine

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Tutor Bio

Malina Filkins is a third-year medical student at the University of Massachusetts, and loves to work with kids, but isn’t quite sure yet which specialty is right for her. She has always had standardized testing success, including scoring a 251 on Step 1. Throughout first and second year she helped many of her fellow students grasp challenging material, and has a reputation for being able to break down complicated information in an understandable way. She is looking forward to helping students through the Step 1 process, while helping them build a solid foundation of knowledge of the clinical years!

Dr. Eli Freiman Medical Tutor BIO

Go-To Karaoke Song:

"Lose Yourself" by Eminem (for 14+ years running!)

Favorite Travel Destination:

Visiting my nephew, wherever he is!

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

er... lots and lots of coffee?

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Eli Freiman

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 259
Step 2CK - 258

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

Pediatrics/Pediatric Emergency

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone is omnipotent" ~ Calvin Coolidge Tutor Bio

Eli is a Harvard Medical School resident teaching award recipient, a Pediatrics resident at Boston Children's Hospital and Boston Medical Center, and is pursuing a career in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Eli has a strong record of academic excellence including Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha awards, scoring in the top percentiles for both the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK, and was awarded Special Honors in Pediatrics from his medical school during his final year. Eli currently works as an exam prep tutor for USMLE Steps 1 & 2, a mentor/trainer for new tutors as the Associate Director for Tutor Development and Medical education, and is part of the MST consulting team. Eli has a strong interest in medical education, public health and advocacy and has held many leadership and advising positions. He has tutored 750+ hours with MST, helped train more than twenty-five tutors, and partaken in USMLE curriculum consulting with Rush Medical College.

Check out Eli's Tutor Spotlight here: https://www.medschooltutors.com/blog/tutor-spotlight-eli-freiman

Dr. Spencer Fuller Medical Tutor, MD BIO

If your life were a movie, book or TV show, what would it be?

The Little Rascals

When I dance, people tell me I look like:

Fred Astaire (I Actually Tap Dance!)

Go To Karaoke Song:

“Getting’ Jiggy wit it” by Will Smith

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Spencer Fuller

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 252
Step 2 - 262

School

UC San Diego / Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Specialty

Ophthalmology

‘Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.’ ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in a speech to the Medical Committee for Human Rights, 1966 Tutor Bio

Spencer is a current MPH student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who recently finished his third year of medical school at UC San Diego. In addition to excelling on the USMLE Step 1 and 2 CK, he received Honors grades in four of his third year clerkship rotations, and was recently nominated to the Gold Humanism Honors Society by his medical school peers and faculty. His extensive academic experience includes teaching the introductory Italian course at his alma mater, and he enjoys few things more than teaching and mentoring fellow students. When he’s not having fun with his wife and two kids, he loves playing soccer.

Leah Gober Medical Tutor BIO

How would you save the world?

24-hour libraries and direct-to-hospital railways

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Ravenclaw, through and through

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Leah Gober

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 250

School

Mercer University School of Medicine

Specialty

TBA

"When there are nine." – RBG Tutor Bio

Leah Gober is a 3rd year medical student at Mercer University in the charming town of Savannah, GA. Leah’s teaching experience began when she worked as a TA for undergraduate engineering classes and continues through her tutoring of fellow medical students today. Leah regularly geeks out by stretching blood vessels to study vascular disease in Williams Syndrome at NIH as a fellow in the Medical Research Scholars Program. She focuses on question-based learning styles and hashing out the “whys” and “hows” of not only the right, but the wrong answers too. She enjoys using game theory and storytelling to understand what went into creating USMLE questions. And she is meticulous to a tee—you can expect flexible but detailed study schedules. Leah believes in honest feedback, used to build confidence in test taking, and she’s personally invested in your success!

Dr. Sarah Godfrey Medical Tutor, MD, MPH BIO

Fun Fact:

I have done the highest natural bungee jump in the world (216 meters!) in South Africa.

What color is your toothbrush?

Purple

Favorite Travel Destination:

Montepulciano, Italy

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Sarah Godfrey

Medical Tutor, MD, MPH

Scores

Step 1 - 246
Step 2 CK - 266

School

Columbia University

Specialty

Internal Medicine

"We don’t need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside our selves already: We have the power to imagine better." – J.K. Rowling Tutor Bio

Sarah is a dedicated and encouraging tutor who has extensive experience in medical education, including her Shelf exam and Step 2 CK tutoring at MST, serving as the teaching assistant for a preclinical physical diagnosis course, and developing her own online public health curriculum now utilized by all clinical students at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. She is flexible, accommodating, and creative in her approach to meet each student's individual needs, as she learned during her own Step studying how challenging it can be for students from a non-science background. Sarah loves developing relationships with her students and guiding them to achieve their personal goals. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing students gain self-confidence, as well as clinical knowledge, during their test preparation. She particularly loves working with students who have struggled in medical school and helping them to overcome those challenges. Working with Sarah, you will receive a detailed and customized study schedule that is tailored to your strengths, weaknesses, and goals. She will help you to find the best resources for your specific needs and help you to study them most efficiently and effectively. In her tutoring sessions, Sarah incorporates both intense content review and detailed test-taking strategies to help you improve your fund of knowledge and clinical reasoning skills. Throughout the process, you'll be sure to appreciate Sarah's warmth and understanding as she cheers you on to achieve your personal best!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Created Public Health Curriculum for Columbia's Harlem Public Health Commune

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health — MPH, 2017

Dr. Daniel Good Medical Tutor, MD BIO

What's under your bed?

A chocolate labrador (most of the time).

Favorite Travel Destination:

Breckenridge, CO

How would you save the world?

I would invent a time machine and prevent Creed from ever becoming a band.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Daniel Good

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 272
Step 2 CK - 284
Step 3 - 265

School

Northeast Ohio Medical University

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

"Strong work!" Tutor Bio

Dan is a proud Texan! He graduated from Texas Christian University before going on to get a Master in Public Health from the University of North Texas. He began his medical education at St. George's University in Grenada where he excelled in the basic science coursework and was inducted into the Iota Epsilon Alpha international honor society. After achieving great success on Step 1, he transferred to Northeast Ohio Medical University where he successfully honored every core rotation and was inducted in the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He is currently active in emergency medicine airway management and quality improvement research, and has presented his research at national conferences. He has successfully matched at UT Southwestern Medical Center to train in emergency medicine. Dan enjoys bringing the same level of excellence to his tutoring and helping students achieve their goals. He loves to set the bar high for his students and provide them the guidance they need to reach it. His personal success, along with his ability to teach, allow him to meet students at their level and show them how to take it up a notch. Whether you are struggling to understand basic concepts, or looking to master the content, Dan can get you there.

Alec Gramann Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Game:

Ultimate Frisbee

Favorite Power-up Snack:

Crackers with nutella. Or anything with nutella. Or just nutella. So... yeah... nutella.

If your life were a TV show, what would it be?

The Great Food Truck Race. Tyler Florence is my food spirit guide.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Alec Gramann

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 266

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

TBA

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." ~ Mario Andretti Tutor Bio

Alec is an enthusiastic and encouraging tutor who understands that there isn’t any one study plan or strategy that works for all students. Early in his Step 1 preparation, Alec realized that certain “top” review resources all his friends were using were completely useless for his learning style. Rather than continue to struggle, he began to explore other types of resources, eventually finding a core set of review materials that made his Step 1 studying a much more rewarding and enlightening experience. Since his exam, Alec has devoted his time to exploring as many resources as possible so he can help his students build the most effective and efficient study plan for their individual Step 1 goals and time frame. In combination with resource utilization, Alec focuses heavily on question approach with his students, helping them adopt efficient and consistent strategies that mirror the features and habits of great standardized test takers. With these methods, Alec’s students successfully build their foundational knowledge, and learn how to apply that knowledge not only to Step 1 questions, but to all clinical scenarios on future exams and on the wards. With Alec on your team, you’ll have the support and encouragement of an exceptional tutor on your journey to maximize your potential on Step 1 and beyond!

Tyler Guinn Medical Tutor BIO

What's your favorite power-up snack?

dark raspberry chocolate and espresso

Go-to karaoke song?

The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

What's in your white coat?

Definitely chocolate and an extra pair of headphones for the times you really need some music

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Tyler Guinn

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 257

School

Stony Brook University School of Medicine

Specialty

TBA

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." ~ Lao Tzu Tutor Bio

Tyler is a creative and meticulous tutor who utilizes innovative teaching methodologies learned as a Ph.D. student and resourcefulness in maintaining a rigorous schedule for conquering Step 1. Combining curiosity and hard-work, Tyler learned from his own Step 1 studies the power of coupling a deep interest in a field and incremental progress in obtaining a great Step 1 score and he will help do the same for you. His deep passion for mentoring is immediately noticeable by his 6-year record of teaching dozens of students in his research endeavors and tutoring hundreds of hours for anatomy & physiology, biochemistry, MCAT, and Step 1. During his own Step 1 preparation, Tyler was able to narrow in on the most essential resources and when tutoring you, he will ensure optimal usage to customize the best plan for you. His years of teaching standardized tests and attentiveness to personalized needs will help you refine your test strategies to greater heights for conquering difficult vignettes and questions. He will drive you to maintain accountability and give authentic feedback, but all the while encouraging you throughout the process. We know Tyler will be a superb partner for your studies!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Publications:
Ehrhardt, K.*, Guinn, M. T.*, Quarton, T., Zhang, M., & Bleris, L. (2015). Reconfigurable hybrid interface for molecular marker diagnostics and in-situ reporting. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Volume 74, 15 December 2015, Pages 744-750, ISSN 0956-5663, .doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2015.07.035. (*equal
contribution)

Guinn, M. & Bleris, L. (2014). Biological 2-Input Decoder Circuit in Human Cells. ACS Synthetic Biology. doi: 10.1021/sb4001596

Li, Y., Moore, R.*, Guinn, M.*, & Bleris, L. (2012). Transcription activator-like effector hybrids for conditional control and rewiring of chromosomal transgene expression. Scientific Reports 2: 897. (*equal contribution)

Fellowship:
Medical Scientist Training Program Fellowship (MSTP), 2015-2023

Claire Hannah Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite power-up snack:

Popcorn

Fun fact:

I had a legitimate near-death experience being charged by a black rhino in Botswana. Contrary to what I learned in medical school, fight-or-flight experiences do not help you run faster.

Favorite iconic hero:

My mom

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Claire Hannah

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1: 268
Step 2 CK: 280

School

Carver College of Medicine

Intended Specialty

Dermatology

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” – Oscar Wilde Tutor Bio

Claire is an energetic, passionate, and effective tutor who recently completed both USMLE exams and is eager to share her test-taking strategies with students. She believes that a simplified study schedule, proper selection of resources, and plenty of coffee, exercise, and sleep are key to succeeding on standardized exams. Claire has extensive tutoring and mentoring experience from medical school that has allowed her to contribute to the test-taking success of many students in their pre-clinical and clinical courses. Her favorite part of tutoring is the satisfaction of helping students finally grasp a complex subject. Claire promises to provide an open, non-judgmental environment where students can share their concerns and areas of weakness. Her greatest tutoring skill is breaking down highly complex subjects and explaining them in a manner that is easier to understand. Claire helps to build a strong foundation of knowledge so that students can understand topics on a deeper level instead of rotely memorizing facts. She considers her tutoring style to be positive and motivational, but she still strongly supports the Socratic method of teaching. Claire will be your tutor, friend, mentor, and coach throughout your studying experience, helping you to achieve your best possible score!

Luke Hartstein Medical Tutor BIO

Go-to karaoke song:

Fat Lip by Sum 41

If I had a Superpower, I’d...

control time

The Sorting Hat would place me in...

Slytherin (they’re not all bad!...it’s just a reputation)

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Luke Hartstein

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 261
Step 2 CK - 260

School

NYU Langone School of Medicine

Interest

Psychiatry

“You sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve” – Ginny Weasley Tutor Bio

Luke is a detail-oriented teacher who likes to solidify knowledge by looking at the bigger picture. As an educator, he is patient, understanding, and encouraging. While initially intimidated by a 6-week period of all day studying, Luke managed to achieve success on Steps 1 & 2 by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and setting small, achievable goals. Luke has a substantial teaching background and has worked with students of all ages and learning styles. His background has taught him to be patient and to adapt to the learning needs of each individual student. He also recognizes the importance of taking a holistic approach, and will address all variables related to test day performance in your work together. As your tutor, Luke will provide a detailed and customized study schedule that is tailored to your goals, timeline, and learning style. He will break down complicated vignettes and teach test-specific question strategy. Luke will also help to bolster weak content areas with intuitive explanations and explicit self-study strategies.

Shoutouts + Accolades

NYU Stern School of Business, MBA Candidate 2020

Awards:
NYU School of Medicine Silverstein Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-medical Honor Society

Publications:
Drgonova, J., Walther, D., Wang, K. J., Hartstein, G. L., Lochte, B., Troncoso, J., … Uhl, G. R. (2015). Mouse Model for Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase D (PTPRD) Associations with Restless Leg Syndrome or Willis-Ekbom Disease and Addiction: Reduced Expression Alters Locomotion, Sleep Behaviors and Cocaine-Conditioned Place Preference. Molecular Medicine, 21(1), 717–725.

Drgonova, J., Walther, D., Hartstein, G. L., Bukhari, M. O., Baumann, M. H., Katz, J., … Uhl, G. R. (2016). Cadherin 13: Human cis-Regulation and Selectively Altered Addiction Phenotypes and Cerebral Cortical Dopamine in Knockout Mice. Molecular Medicine, 22, 537–547

Robert Hayden Medical Tutor BIO

When I dance, people tell me I look like:

Whacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube man!

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Breakfast sandwich and a big cup of coffee

Where's your favorite travel destination?

Morocco

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Robert Hayden

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 249
Step 2 CK - 252

School

Harvard Medical School

Specialty

Internal Medicine

“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good” ~ Voltaire Tutor Bio

Rob is a dedicated tutor who is personally invested in the success of each of his students. Rob’s passion for tutoring comes from his years at Hamilton College, where he enjoyed working with students longitudinally over the course of each semester as a peer tutor and TA. He is an enthusiastic teacher, an attentive listener, and an encouraging mentor. From years of tutoring experience and his own Step 1 prep, Rob has come to believe that the key to success is an understanding of the high-yield concepts and a recognition of the important patterns that make up the exam. He encourages his students to adopt this approach and to think about the big-picture as they tackle each question. You can count on Rob to help you reach your full potential and succeed.

Greg Hemenway Medical Tutor BIO

Where's your favorite travel destination?

Right now it’s the Gunks in upstate NY, where I like to rock climb and hike with my dog Wally.

What's your favorite game?

Mario tennis on N64 or scrabble

Who is your favorite iconic hero?

Roguszys, the Lithuanian guardian spirit of Pickling. I love pickles and anything that’s sour and/or spicy.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Greg Hemenway

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 259

School

New York Medical College

Specialty

Hematology/Oncology

"There is a road, no simple highway, between the dawn and the dark of night" – Jerry Garcia Tutor Bio

Greg graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in biology and neuroscience and spent a year working as a nursing assistant on a cardiothoracic surgery step down unit. During this time, he tutored his coworkers’ children in college level biology and chemistry classes. Greg then moved to Denver for two years to work as a clinical research associate for hematologic malignancy drug trials at the University of Colorado, where he enjoyed conducting research and skiing! Nowadays, Greg is in NY pursuing his medical degree and helping his fellow students. Greg has worked with his school's tutoring program, working with students for preclinical topics, Step 1, and for pathology, where he was chosen by the pathology department to serve as a peer tutor. What Greg really loves about tutoring for Step 1 is dissecting complicated vignettes and collaborating with medical students to hone the skills and confidence needed to succeed.

Marc Hersh Medical Tutor BIO

One fun fact about you:

I have lived in 5 different countries growing up!

What’s your favorite power up snack:

Apple and peanut butter (Crunchy only)

Favorite Movie:

The Prestige and pretty much anything Christopher Nolan produces.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Marc Hersh

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1: 251

School

Rush Medical College

Specialty

TBA

“The future ain’t what it used to be”- Yogi Berra Tutor Bio

Marc has been tutoring fellow students both in undergrad and in medical school to great success for the past several years. His passion for medicine and teaching is seen in his desire to go above and beyond to help his students achieve their goals on the Step 1 exam. Marc’s strength lies in his ability to adjust lesson plans to best meet each student's learning style. His strong understanding of the various study materials available enables him to advise students to select only the most high yield resources in order to avoid resource overload and burnout. Lastly, Marc emphasizes the importance of maintaining a work life balance amidst the chaotic world of being a medical student. When not at school, Marc enjoys brewing beer with friends and is an avid hockey fan, believing every year that his team will finally win the Stanley Cup!

Alex Hicks Medical Tutor BIO

Go-To Karaoke Song:

Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith

Favorite Game:

Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games

Fun Fact:

I enjoy rebuilding small engines!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Alex Hicks

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 262
Step 2 CK - 268

School

East Tennessee State University

Specialty

Dermatology

"Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful." ~ John Wooden Tutor Bio

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Alex is a student at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, applying for a residency position in dermatology. He has a strong record of academic excellence, achieving Honors in all clerkships throughout his medical training, and he was also elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society as a junior medical student. Outside of academics, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children, as well as several other hobbies including guitar, golf, snowboarding, hunting, and largemouth bass fishing. He has experienced great satisfaction in translating his successes on the USMLEs to other students!

DR. Hosam "Sam" Hmoud Medical Tutor, MD BIO

How would you save the world?

Simple, help fund and research methods to increase photo-voltaic solar cell's efficiency in order to create a truly green planet with zero emissions-climate disaster averted!

What's in your white coat?

All the essentials such as granola bars, skittles, jolly ranchers, stethoscope, pocket book, and my good luck "all seeing eye" charm!

Who is your favorite iconic hero?

Hands down Tony Stark and his Iron Man suit; specifically, the Mark 42 rendition.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

DR. Hosam "Sam" Hmoud

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 252
Step 2 CK - 261

School

St. George’s University

Specialty

Internal Medicine

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." – Winston Churchill Tutor Bio

Hosam (Sam) is an enthusiastic and motivated tutor that embraces the power of understanding the “why” over the “what” when it comes to all aspects of your medical education! With this thought process, Sam has managed to not only perform exceptionally well on Step 1 and 2, but also be able to balance rotational obligations while traveling the world, including humanitarian trips to Haiti! With years of experience tutoring students on an individual and group level, Sam provides nurturing care while emphasizing interactive teach back skills that will ensure that you can apply the reviewed content in acing any medical school and/or board exam. In fact, Sam was awarded the “exceptional group facilitator” award from his medical school as well as achieving one of the top total hours contributed to individual tutoring for his Iota Epsilon Alpha honor society. Although Sam takes serious pride in his tutoring, the Aquarius in him loves to laugh and joke while being there for you during stressful times. Besides being a medical student, Sam loves to watch comedy shows, play basketball, and go to the amazing array of museums in the NYC area. His unique style and holistic approach in mentoring and tutoring will leave you more confident and capable than ever before!

Dr. Zachary Holcomb Medical Tutor, MD BIO

What's in your white coat?

Tide To-Go pen

Favorite Game:

Super Smash Brothers! I will occasionally dust off my Nintendo64 and play after a long day on the wards.

Favorite Travel Destination:

Back home to the mountains of southwest Virginia

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Zachary Holcomb

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - >260
Step 2 CK - >260

School

Duke University School of Medicine, MD 2017

Specialty

Internal Medicine/Dermatology

"I've learned in my life that it's important to be able to step outside your comfort zone and be challenged with something you're not familiar or accustomed to. That challenge will allow you to see what you can do.” ~ J. R. Martinez Tutor Bio

Zack is a dedicated, meticulous tutor who is passionate about helping others succeed on the USMLE. His joy for teaching began during his undergraduate years tutoring chemistry and physics and has blossomed throughout his journey into medicine. He brings several years of experience in tutoring medical students, dating back to his time teaching clinical skills to students while in medical school. Zack learned during his own time preparing for the USMLE exams that nothing replaces a disciplined commitment to preparation and he wants to help ensure that all students utilize their time in the most high-yield ways possible. By balancing thorough review with focused question practice, Zack will help you meet and exceed your test-taking goals! Throughout this process, you’ll be sure to appreciate his commitment to your success and positive motivation as he pushes you to succeed!

Dr. Zachary Hopkins Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Favorite iconic superhero?

Either the Green Arrow or Batman, love the mortal "self-made" superheroes

What's in your white coat?

In the rare event I'm actually wearing my white coat there are papers, stethoscope, and a snack (if rounding)

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Ravenclaw! (just confirmed it to be true on Pottermore ha!)

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Zachary Hopkins

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 258
Step 2 CK - 258
Step 3- 252

School

University of Utah

Specialty

Dermatology

"Follow opportunity and take you passion with you!" – Mike Rowe Tutor Bio

Zach is a dedicated, detail-oriented, and passionate tutor who can both explain difficult concepts and provide strategies to approach stems with confidence. Zach believes that passion isn’t something one has for certain topics, but rather is something that everyone can bring to the table. Throughout his training, Zach has applied his own passion into student mentoring – both in test taking and career development. One of the core principles of his tutoring is the pairing of in-depth understanding with the psychology and strategy of test-taking. Zach provides the skills needed to break down complicated vignettes, recognize key components, and maximize learning from each question. Zach used many different materials in his own studies and is, in turn, able to guide students to the most efficient sources for each topic. Likewise, Zach uses a variety of interactive teaching methods to guarantee that you’ll be exposed to important topics in multiple ways, thus maximizing your ability to recall different topics in the variety of ways it will be presented on Step 1. Throughout the process, you’ll surely appreciate his positivity, knowledge base, and contagious passion for the medical sciences. He will push you to dig deeper, think from different angles, and approach problems in a methodical and thoughtful manner all while cheering you on every step of the way. Zach will undoubtedly be a fantastic ally in facing Step 1.

Shoutouts

AOA Member

Interested in epidemiological research

9 published first author publications with a few more in review

Michael Huang Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Travel Destination:

The Netherlands

Fun Fact:

I run a dance company that specializes in Cuban dances.

How would you save the world?

Get everyone to talk about their feelings

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Michael Huang

Medical Tutor

Scores

STEP 1 - 252
MCAT - 40

School

University of Pennsylvania

Specialty

Psychiatry

“If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” ~ Vincent Van Gogh Tutor Bio

Michael graduated summa cum laude from Cornell University with a degree in Neurobiology and Behavior, and is currently a fourth year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania on a year out to do research. He will be pursuing a career in psychiatry with a focus on medical education. He has extensive experience in teaching and mentoring, from undergraduate biochemistry and physics courses to the “Doctoring” course for first year medical students. Furthermore, he spends his free time as an instructor of modern and traditional Cuban dances.

Dr. Emma Husain Medical Tutor BIO

What's under your bed?

a small fluffy cat named Aisha Husain

Fun Fact:

I can diagnose and treat diseases just by talking on the phone!

When I dance, people tell me I look like...

a baby bird trying to fly (but I think I look like Beyonce)

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX, SHELF

Dr. Emma Husain

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 & 2CK - 99th Percentile*

School

University of British Columbia

Specialty

Orthopedic Surgery

"You enter the forest at the darkest point, where there is no path. Where there is a way or path, it is someone else's path. You are not on your own path. If you follow someone else's way, you are not going to realize your potential." ~ Joseph Campbell, "The Hero's Journey" Tutor Bio

Emma’s tutoring style could be best described as loving and encouraging. She will love you into a better score! In addition, she is a very silly person in a very useful way; she will tell funny stories or make silly analogies that help with both understanding and retention of complex concepts. The biggest lesson she learned in her medical career was that it is OK to not know the answer to a question; it is always OK to look things up or ask someone more experienced, in fact it is better that way! Emma loves crafting an individual approach and teaching method that best suits each individual so that each of her students has a unique experience that is personally designed. Her investment in each student is passionate and truthful, and she truly creates a strong supportive relationship that helps with the stress of studying for exams. Students say that years later they remember useful things they learned from working with her. Emma will help ensure that you are working at your peak so you can achieve your best score!

Dr. Jonathan Huz Medical Tutor BIO

Under my bed, you'll find...

I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you...

In my white coat, you'll find...

at least one Rice Krispie Treat at all times

If I weren't a doctor, I'd be...

an auto mechanic

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Jonathan Huz

Medical Tutor

Scores

MCAT - 38
256 - Step 1
265 - Step 2CK

School

NYU

Specialty

Ophthalmology

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple" ~ Dr. Seuss Tutor Bio

Like many of our tutors, Jonathan left Kaplan to join the elite Med School Tutors team as an MCAT tutor. He graduated magna cum laude from Brandeis University before moving on to NYU School of Medicine. Jonathan now specializes in helping aspiring physicians to reach their top scores on their own USMLE exams. He has a long history of dedicated teaching and tutoring experience, spanning high school subjects, SAT, college sciences, MCAT and basic medical sciences. He is an Ophthalmology resident at Rutgers-NJMS.

Jeffrey Hyzer Medical Tutor BIO

What's under your bed?

Way too many drawings of the nephron and brachial plexus!

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

DREAM ON!

Fun fact:

I used to plan on being a professional country music singer!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Jeffrey Hyzer

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 254

School

Oregon Health & Science University

Specialty

Otolaryngology

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do." – Pelé Tutor Bio

Jeffrey is an empathetic, positive, and detail-oriented tutor who understands the importance of planning ahead when it comes to Step 1. Jeffrey’s score on Step 1 represents not just his broad understanding of complex pathophysiology that shows up on the exam but also the importance of maximizing learning during a dedicated study period. Jeffrey believes selecting the right resources is key to avoiding resource overload, and is fully ready to guide students in this difficult task. He also works hard to provide a detailed and customized study schedule that’s tailored to students’ progress, timeline, and goals. Test-taking can cause a great amount of anxiety and Jeffrey prides himself on working successfully with many students who have struggled with standardized tests in the past but are looking to make a change in their testing strategies. With over six years of tutoring experience in college and medical school, working with students from a wide variety of backgrounds, he is an experienced tutor with outstanding communication skills. Now a third-year medical student, Jeffrey has helped tutor Step 1 material for the last two years and enjoys celebrating the success of students he’s worked with! Throughout this process, you will appreciate Jeffrey’s humor, dedication to your personal goals, and positive yet “ready to work” attitude!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Research Fellowship at Oregon Primate Research Center (2015)

Award of Best Honors Thesis: Cadmium & Arsenic in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Dr. Leila Javidi Medical Tutor BIO

Theme Song:

"Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba

Fun Fact:

I have my black belt in Kenpo Karate...and I own nunchucks.

Favorite Iconic Hero:

John Snow (the father of epidemiology, not the honorable lord of Winterfell)

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX, SHELF

Dr. Leila Javidi

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 249
Step 2CK - 258

School

St. George's University

Specialty

Family Medicine

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." ~ Sir Winston Churchill Tutor Bio

Dr. Leila Javidi is a Family Medicine Resident with her Masters in Public Health at Mount Carmel St. Ann's, a wonderful community hospital in the heart of Columbus, Ohio (Go Bucks!) where she is actively involved in curriculum development, recruitment, patient safety and medical mission trips. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Saint George’s University and completed her core clerkships at NYU-Lutheran in Brooklyn, NY. Although she had never before considered herself a “standardized test guru”, over the course of her first few years of medical school she developed a fool proof study style that she is eager to share with her students. She loves to teach and she prides herself on her ability to motivate students to achieve their maximum potential. She is most known by her students for her sense of humor, her ‘pep talks’ and her ‘no-excuses’ study mentality.

Kevin Kleffman Medical Tutor, MD/PhD '21 BIO

Fun Fact:

My radial artery runs over the back of my wrist, and you can see it beat on my hand (you can't feel my pulse in the normal spot).

What's under your bed?

suitcases, scuba diving equipment, protein powder jug, one or both of my cats.

Favorite Game:

Super Smash Brothers Melee or Brawl

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Kevin Kleffman

Medical Tutor, MD/PhD '21

Scores

MCAT - 36
Step 1 - 254

School

NYU

Specialty

Oncology

"Be good... and if you can't be good, be careful!" ~ My Nana Tutor Bio

Kevin graduated from University of California – Berkeley with honors and carried out his award-winning senior thesis research at University of California – San Francisco. He is currently a second year MD-PhD student at NYU School of Medicine, where he is researching metastasis in melanoma for his doctoral thesis. Kevin has a longstanding passion for education and has tutored privately for various subjects including SAT, math, and chemistry. Utilizing his enthusiasm and compassion, Kevin is committed to giving students confidence, making learning fun, and helping students achieve their full potentials.

Dr. Leslie Klyachman Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Favorite travel destination:

The Alps

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Dark chocolate covered Almonds with green tea

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

What’s your go-to karaoke song? It’s gonna be me by *NSYNC

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Leslie Klyachman

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1-253
Step 2CK- 253

School

St. George’s University School of Medicine

Specialty

Internal Medicine

“A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure.“ – Unknown Tutor Bio

Leslie is a graduate of St. George’s University School of Medicine and will begin her residency training in Internal Medicine at Stonybrook! Leslie is a dedicated and passionate tutor who understands the unique challenges that need to be overcome when studying for the USMLE exams. Leslie has a strong passion for working with students having tutored during her undergraduate training at the University of Buffalo. During her time at Buffalo, Leslie also played soccer and conducted research on neurocognitive plasticity. We have no doubt that her unique style of tutoring, which involves nurturing her students while also challenging them to be the best they can be, will help guide you to your testing goals.

Chris Koumas Medical Tutor BIO

Theme song:

Cinderella man – Eminem

Biggest superstition:

My room has to be immaculate and all surfaces sanitized before every single exam

Who is your favorite iconic hero:

Achilles of Troy, obviously

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Chris Koumas

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 261
Step 2 CK - 259

School

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Specialty

Neurology

“Παν μέτρον άριστον”, which roughly translates to “Moderation is the key to success” Tutor Bio

Chris is a dedicated and highly supportive tutor who has a passion for medical education and helping students reach their full potential. He never tested very well on standardized exams until the USMLE exams, and he feels that he owes his success to well-organized and meticulous preparation. Chris knows that it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of content covered by these exams, but he believes that having a tailored study schedule helps students focus on their daily goals and feel reassured that if they stay on track with each day, they will ultimately reach their goal. Although he first started teaching in various undergraduate pre med courses in college, he learned more about medical education in medical school where he facilitated various small and large group sessions, provided one on one tutoring for course exams and USMLE Step 1, developed new OSCE cases, and created a study guide for the neurology clerkship. He loves helping students navigate their way through difficult questions by strategically dissecting vignettes and simplifying seemingly challenging concepts. Chris always strives to achieve a balance between being as supportive and nurturing as possible while challenging his tutees during each session. You can count on him to be as invested in your success as a tutor can possibly be.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Alpha Omega Alpha, Gold Humanism Honor Society, Multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals

Rebecca Krain Medical Tutor BIO

Go-To Karaoke Song:

I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys

What’s in your white coat?

An endless amount of Clif Bars

Fun fact:

I can wiggle my ears

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Rebecca Krain

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 245
Step 2 CK - 260

School

Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Interest

Dermatology

“It always seems impossible until it’s done." – Nelson Mandela Tutor Bio

Rebecca is an energetic and dedicated tutor who is passionate about helping others succeed on the USMLE. Although Rebecca has had success on her shelf and USMLE exams, she did not always excel on standardized tests. It took Rebecca time, effort, and self-reflection to understand what study strategy best fit her learning style, and she is eager to do the same for you. Rebecca has extensive teaching experience, from tutoring undergraduate chemistry to spending a year tutoring and mentoring students through an AmeriCorps program called City Year. As your tutor, Rebecca will work closely with you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, all while providing an open and non-judgmental environment. She will break down difficult and complex subjects into concepts that are easier to understand. More importantly, she will be your mentor and friend throughout this journey, helping you reach your full potential!

Dr. Steven Krueger Medical Tutor BIO

Fun Fact:

My family and I were on Family Feud with Steve Harvey!

Favorite Pizza Topping:

BBQ Chicken

Superpower:

Taking twenty-minute power naps

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Steven Krueger

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2 CK - 278

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

Dermatology

“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” ~ Fortune Cookie Tutor Bio

Steven is an energetic and supportive tutor who combines his academic success and passion for teaching to help students achieve their goals. His favorite part of being an MST tutor is watching students grow into smarter, more confident test takers! Steven tailors his sessions to each individual student’s needs. During each meeting, he aims to address the two major components of board exams: content and testing strategy. He accomplishes this with students by breaking down complicated vignettes, asking stress-free “pimp”-style questions, and building a strategic and organized plan of attack for test day. Most importantly, he squashes self-confidence issues with motivational speeches, texts, and emails in the weeks and days leading up to the exam. Steven is personally invested in his students’ success. On the spectrum of drill sergeant to cheerleader, consider Steven to be like Kirsten Dunst in Bring It On!

Dr. Nichole Lang Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Kiwi and pineapple

Favorite Iconic Hero:

Samwise Gamgee

Favorite Travel Destination:

Ecuador!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Nichole Lang

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 250

School

UMASS

Specialty

TBA

“Simplify, simplify, simplify.” ~Thoreau  // “Don’t you think one ‘simplify’ is enough, Henry?” ~Emerson Tutor Bio

Nichole graduated summa cum laude from Wheaton College (IL) with degrees in psychology and Spanish literature. She then went on to get her M.A. in psychology at UMASS-Dartmouth and spent a few years before med school helping kids, teens, and adults get the better of depression, anxiety, and behavior dysregulation. During graduate school, she tutored neuroscience, statistics, and research methodology. Now a third year student at UMASS Medical School, her interests include research on Chagas disease, community medicine, and aerospace medicine. She strongly prefers Star Trek to Star Wars but does not discriminate based on people’s preferences for one or the other.

Howard Lee Medical Tutor BIO

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Hufflepuff

Fun Fact:

I’m in a Youtube video with a million views

What’s in your white coat?

My stethoscope and only one pen that I lend out often. I like to live dangerously.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Howard Lee

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 264
Step 2 CK - 265

School

Duke University

Specialty

Radiation Oncology

Failure is just practice for success. Tutor Bio

Howard grew up in Washington State before attending Pomona College and majoring in molecular biology (he tells people he majored in lab). He went on to Duke University for medical school and finished his clinical rotations with all Honors before returning to Seattle, WA for his scholarly year. He is taking an additional research year to pursue a project combining immunotherapy and radiation. Ever since college he has loved teaching, having mentored for general, organic, and biochemistry courses. He looks forward to getting to know his students and helping them reach their full potential!

Samantha Levin Medical Tutor BIO

Theme song:

Wanna be cool – Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment

Fun fact:

I worked on organic farms in Australia after college

Favorite travel destination:

New Zealand

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Samantha Levin

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 257

School

UMass

Specialty

TBA

Through every dark night, there's a bright day after that / So no matter how hard it get / Stick your chest out, keep your head up, and handle it! ~ Tupac Tutor Bio

Sam is a 3rd year medical student at UMass, and studied biochemistry at the University of Chicago. She has been a tutor and teaching assistant for advanced science courses during college and after graduation. Though she is still very much a pluripotent medical student, she has a budding interest in emergency medicine. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, yoga, pickup sports, gardening, and is a podcast fiend. She loves helping students understand complex topics or difficult questions by working through basic principles. She believes that with the combined powers of common sense and a balanced lifestyle, anything is possible.

Andrew Lin Medical Tutor BIO

What’s your favorite travel destination:

Kyoto, Japan

What’s your favorite power-up snack:

Almonds + freshly squeezed carrot juice

Favorite game:

Zelda: The Wind Waker

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Andrew Lin

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 255

School

New York University School of Medicine

Specialty

Ophthalmology

"Work in silence, let the success make the noise" - Frank Ocean Tutor Bio

Andrew is a creative, diligent and compassionate tutor who understands the dedication and commitment it takes to excel on Step 1. From high school to college and now medical school, he has consistently been involved in mentorship and community building. From his extensive mentoring and tutoring background, Andrew understands that students learn in a variety of ways, from brute memorization to flash cards to drawing. In fact, his past mentees and students have taught him over the years that there are infinite ways to flourish and succeed. It is this cornerstone that serves as the basis for his approach to helping you develop a strategic and organized plan of attack: by breaking down complicated vignettes, dissecting lab results, and evaluating complex answer choices. He will work closely with you to bolster your weaknesses and identify your strengths, all while encouraging accountability through honest feedback. Andrew believes that his experiences of mentorship, advisement, and community building are just as important as the medical content he delivers to his students. While working together, he will be honing and developing the skills you will need for career success, to ultimately help you to achieve your goals in medicine and beyond.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Publications:

Hamilton JZ, Kadunce NT, McDonald MD, Rios L, Matlin AR: Hydroxylamine catalyzed Nazarov cyclizations of divinyl ketones, Tetrahedron Letters 2015; 56(47):6622-6624.

McDonald MD, Paik HH, Fairman R, Foley P, Jackson B, Wang G, Stavropoulos SW: Outcomes of type 2 endoleaks detected on venous phase CT arteriography. Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging 2017; in press.

Abstracts:

McDonald MD, Sandsmark DK, Palakshappa J, Mikkelsen ME, Anderson BJ, Gutsche J: Long-Term Outcomes Following Extracorporeal Life Support for Acute Respiratory Failure. IARS, SOCCA, AUA Joint Conference, Chicago, Il. Apr 2018. Notes: Poster Presentation.

McDonald MD, Vernick W, Gutsche J: Acute Respiratory Failure Managed via Interfacility Transport for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Three-Year Experience. IARS, SOCCA, AUA Joint Conference, Chicago, Il. Apr 2018. Notes: Poster Presentation.

Select Awards/Societies:

Graduated with Top of the Class Distinction, Perelman School of Medicine Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Phi Beta Kappa Liberal Arts Honor Society American Chemical Society Organic Chemistry Award

Tayson Lin Medical Tutor BIO

If your life were a movie, book or TV show, what would it be?

Forrest Gump, because I never give up. Run, Forrest, Run!

What’s in your white coat?

Granola bars, lots of them. I am always hungry!

Fun fact:

I lived in Singapore and Taiwan prior to coming to America.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Tayson Lin

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 261
Step 2 CK - 269

School

Wayne State University School of Medicine

Specialty

Diagnostic Radiology

"In order to help more patients, one can either work twice as hard or teach others to become the best physicians that they can be. Dedicate your career to the latter, and pass on the good work for generations to come.” – Unknown Tutor Bio

Tayson is an encouraging, dedicated, and caring tutor who takes pride in medical education. From his own Step 1 and 2 experiences he has learned that the key to success is to focus one’s effort on a few time-tested resources; these are the skills that he cannot wait to share with you! Teaching has been Tayson’s calling since his undergraduate career. He has taught a variety of subjects from teaching English to inner-city youths to calculus-based physics in undergraduate classrooms. Watching his students succeed has been a gratifying experience for him. In fact, many of Tayson’s prior students are now in medical school, and they credit their academic successes to his efforts. Tayson is a veteran teacher, and you can rely on him to learn test strategies, efficient resource utilization, memory tricks, and time management. Medical school is rewarding, especially when you are effectively gaining the knowledge needed to provide great patient care. Tayson is enthusiastic about making your journey in medicine fun, and he will teach you how to rock the boards and the wards!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Honors:

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa

Peer Reviewed Online Publications:

Lin T., Lin D., Zhang Z., Shah BA. Metastatic endometrial serous carcinoma to the breast. Appl Radiol. 2017;46(11):42-45 Awan LB., Bhandarkar G., Kim J., Lin T.

Primary mammary angiosarcoma in a male. Appl Radiol. 2017;46(10):33-25 Awan LB., Bhandarkar G., Kim J., Lin T. Primary mammary angiosarcoma in a male. Appl Radiol. 2017;46(10):33-25

“Folate-Functionalized Nanoparticles for Targeted Anti-Chlamydial Drug Delivery.” Proceedings of the 2013 National Conference for Undergraduate Research. Accepted August 2013.

Dr. Melissa Lumish Medical Tutor BIO

Theme Song:

"Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen

Fun Fact:

I have a twin (she's also a tutor!)

Favorite Travel Destination:

Aruba

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Melissa Lumish

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 257
Step 2CK - 258

School

NYU

Specialty

Internal Medicine

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." – Maya Angelou Tutor Bio

Melissa graduated with honors from Cornell University in 2010, with a degree in Human Biology, Health and Society and a concentration in dietetics. She spent two years at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, first as a dietetic intern and subsequently as an inpatient dietitian covering oncology and cardiology wards. Melissa is currently a fourth year medical student at NYU School of Medicine. She scored 257 on Step 1 and 258 on Step 2CK and has recently been inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Melissa has several years of teaching experience, first as a clinical preceptor for dietetic interns and more recently as a clinical co-instructor for the Practice of Medicine course for second-year medical students at NYU.

Dr. Nick Lunig Medical Tutor BIO

Superpower:

The ability to always have a new pair of socks in my drawer. Or the ability to fly. But probably socks.

Go-To Karaoke Song:

"One Week" by the Bare Naked Ladies. I feel like it really shows off my range.

Favorite Travel Destination:

I recently returned from a trip to Iceland, which is an unbelievable country. The landscapes are so unique and impressive. They also have puffins.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Nick Lunig

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 258
Step 2 CK - 260

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

Pediatrics

“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali Tutor Bio

Nick graduated from UMass Medical School and recently started his residency in pediatrics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (because kids are way cooler than adults). After graduating from Boston College, Nick moved to Houston, Texas where he taught 6th and 8th grade math for three years. He also bought cowboy boots. After teaching, Nick returned to being a student, where he received high-honors in all of his third year clerkships and excelled on their shelf exams. He is excited to return to the world of teaching and is ready to help his fellow medical students ace their exams.

Dr. Daniel Maselli Medical Tutor BIO

What's under your bed?

My Scottish Highland bagpipes.

Fun Fact:

I was in an improv comedy troupe called "Quipfire!" in college that performed on campus and on tours in Chicago and LA.

My Style:

I only wear dress socks with animals on them.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Daniel Maselli

Medical Tutor

Scores

MCAT - 37
Step 1 - 260
Step 2 CK - 259

School

University of Massachusetts
Fellowship: Mayo Clinic

Specialty

Internal Medicine

"Humor is the great thing, the saving thing after all. The minute it crops up, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations, and resentments flit away, and a sunny spirit takes their place." ~ Mark Twain Tutor Bio

Dan is a graduate from Princeton University, where he studied molecular biology and neuroscience and performed in an improv comedy troupe. He then went on to the University of Massachusetts Medical School where he demonstrated a record of academic excellence, and was inducted into both the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dan is pursing a residency in Internal Medicine and is confident that, wherever he ends up, he wants medical teaching to be a large part of his career.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society

Gold Humanism Honor Society

Dr. Michael McDonald Medical Tutor BIO

What’s your favorite power-up snack?

Cheese. All of the cheese.

Where’s your favorite travel destination?

The beach!

What’s under your bed?

Likely my two cats, Octavia and Augusta.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Michael McDonald

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 263
Step 2 CK: 265

School

Perelman School of Medicine - University of Pennsylvania

Specialty

Anesthesiology

Seek simplicity, and distrust it. ~ Alfred North Whitehead Tutor Bio

Michael is a confident, energetic, and insightful tutor who brings nearly a decade of formal tutoring and teaching experience to clerkship and board prep. He has learned that building a strong foundation of physiology will go a long way when layering in pathophysiology during exam prep and has integrated this approach into his tutoring. Michael began tutoring for math and the sciences in high school, and grew his expertise over his four years tutoring and teaching for the MCAT at Kaplan before transitioning to Med School Tutors. He loves seeing his students succeed and has a passion for medical education, which is why he plans to find time to continue tutoring during his residency in Anesthesiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Michael prides himself on providing his students with a comprehensive and individualized approach to both studying and test day. While providing the support his students require, he holds them accountable and pushes them with difficult probing and honest feedback along their path to test day to identify both strengths and weaknesses. Michael becomes personally involved in his student’s success, and hopes to have the pleasure of having you as his next student!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Publications:

Hamilton JZ, Kadunce NT, McDonald MD, Rios L, Matlin AR: Hydroxylamine catalyzed Nazarov cyclizations of divinyl ketones, Tetrahedron Letters 2015; 56(47):6622-6624.

Abstracts:

Select Awards/Societies:

Dr. Kerri McKie Medical Tutor, MD BIO

What’s in my white coat?

Lara Bar, three pens, deodorant (not kidding even a little bit!)

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Cashews and Almonds

Fun Fact:

I keep a copy of Moby Dick on my bedside table and re-read at least one passage a day. I have read the entire book countless times!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Kerri McKie

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 251

School

UMass

Specialty

General Surgery

"Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less." Tutor Bio

Kerri taught middle school health education in DC public schools while working for the Grassroot Project, a non-profit founded and run by student-athletes dedicated to educating DC youth about HIV/AIDS. After leaving DC, she taught high school science in Massachusetts. At UMASS Medical School she served on the Curriculum Committee for two years, working with both professors and fellow classmates to change and improve curriculum goals and objectives. Her love for teaching and learning will continue throughout medical school and in her future career. In addition to medicine and teaching, Kerri loves coffee, running and her dog, Tally.

Clark McLaughlin Medical Tutor BIO

What is your Superpower?

My superpower is…. Well does it need to be explained? -aka. Clark Kent ;)

What is one fun fact about you:

I play 4 instruments: Piano, Trumpet, Ukulele and Pan Flute (Yes like Peter Pan)

What is your favorite travel destination?

I have traveled all over the world, but of all the places I have been to Sorrento, Italy was my favorite (google it, it’s beautiful)

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Clark McLaughlin

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 259

School

St. George's University School of Medicine

Interest

Pediatrics

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” – Philippians 4:12-13 Tutor Bio

Clark is an enthusiastic tutor who encourages students to succeed while also putting their critical thinking abilities to the test. Clark was always an "average student" until he had a very encouraging high school anatomy and physiology teacher. This teacher not only sparked Clark's interest to excel academically but also inspired within Clark a desire to help other students learn. Clark has tutored medical students in groups and individually for the last two years. Prior to this he tutored for science and math courses throughout undergrad and in high school programs. Clark even has his own Youtube Channel where he teaches subjects such as Medical Microbiology, Anatomy and Biochemistry! Clark’s tutoring strengths lie in his ability to draw connections between complex topics and in his understanding of how to make information more easily retainable. He believes that mastering test-taking strategies are equally, if not more, important than knowing material, and you can rely on Clark to help you sharpen your test-taking abilities. He will to guide you to break down complicated clinical vignettes to help expose and organize the raw information so that you can thoroughly learn. Clark will also help hone and develop the skills that you will need for long-term testing and career success, helping you achieve your goals in medicine and beyond. Throughout your studying journey you will surely appreciate his kindness, sense of humor, commitment, and motivation as he guides you to success.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Deans List St. George’s University January 2016-Present

Golden Stethoscope Award December 2017 from SGU’s Board of Clinical Skills for strongest interpersonal and clinical skills from a class of 526 students of MS1 and MS2 Basic Sciences

Neil Mehta Medical Tutor BIO

Theme song:

Power - Kanye West

How would I save the world:

Just give me some coffee and we can figure it out

Favorite power-up snack:

Everything bagel with cream cheese

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Neil Mehta

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 262

School

St. George's University

Specialty

TBA

“ ‘ “You miss 100% of the shots questions you don’t take answer” – Wayne Gretzky’
– Michael Scott”
– Neil Mehta Tutor Bio

Neil is a methodical, disciplined and compassionate tutor. During his pre-clinical years, he tutored students on the basic sciences, covering everything from the obscurities of neural crest cells and the A-a gradient to the seeming indecipherable details of ovarian tumors and spinal cord lesions. He even independently wrote multiple 50-question exams with USMLE-style questions to prepare fellow students for their upcoming exams! During his Step 1 journey, Neil realized he could “crack” the Step 1 code; there are a limited number of topics and an even more limited number of ways the board writers can ask the same question. Once he found these “keys” to the exam, it made studying that much more focused, simplified and strategic. His passion and skill in exam preparation lead him to write questions with USMLE-Rx; his experience with Rx revealed that board question authors are formulaic and think they can “trick you” but, together with Neil, you can crack their code. Neil will help you demystify Step 1 by breaking down not just the questions themselves but also the confusing choices, and come one step closer to your career as a physician.

Meriem Mokhtech Medical Tutor BIO

What's your theme song?

Just keep swimming -Dory, Finding Nemo

What color is your toothbrush?

Red

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Smoothies! I love to blend.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Meriem Mokhtech

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2 CK - 252

School

University of Florida

Specialty

Radiation Oncology

You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no results. ~ Mahatma Gandhi Tutor Bio

Meriem is a fourth year medical student at the University of Florida College of Medicine and plans to pursue a career in radiation oncology. In addition to her passion for cancer care, Meriem is actively involved in organized medicine and student mentorship. She has many years of teaching experience, and believes strongly in working smarter, not harder. She has a long history of testing success, including a MCAT score of 36 and a Step 1 score of 254. She is so excited to share her love for learning with other students!

Moses Murdock Medical Tutor BIO

What’s under your bed?

hundreds of novels

Fun fact:

I’ve climbed three (inactive) volcanoes

Favorite Travel Destination:

Costa Rica....”Pura Vida!”

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Moses Murdock

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1: 258

School

Perelman School of Medicine - University of Pennsylvania

Specialty

Internal Medicine

Why scurry about looking for the truth? / It vibrates in every thing and every not-thing, right off the tip of your nose. / Can you be still and see it in the mountain? / the pine tree? / yourself? – Hua Hu Ching, Lao Tzu Tutor Bio

Moses is a tutor who is excited about partnering with fellow students on their path to a career in medicine. He has lived the full spectrum of standardized test results: after underperforming on the SAT and being rejected from all of his dream undergraduate schools, Moses went on to hone his study techniques and practice better self-discipline. This led to him achieving a great MCAT score and earning acceptances at 15 of the 16 medical schools to which he applied. Moses will bring his 5 years of experience as a personal tutor, peer-mentor, and supplemental instructor into your sessions together. He will craft a study schedule for you that plays to your strengths while tackling your weaknesses with strategies to understand human biology on a deep, intuitive level. You can count on Moses to be there every step of the way as you embark on this test-taking journey: his warm demeanor and borderline nerdy love of science will be sure to ignite your own excitement for learning and help you achieve your goals.

Shoutouts + Accolades

21st Century/Gamble Scholar – full merit scholarship to the Perelman School of Medicine

Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow

Helped discover a new disease, published in Cell

Lu, W.; Zhang, Y.; McDonald, D.; Jing, H.; Carroll, B.; Robertson, N.; Zhang, Q.; Griffin, H.; Sanderson, S.; Lakey, J.; Morgan, N.; Reynard, L.; Zheng, L.; Murdock, H.; Turvey, S.; Hackett, S.; Prestidge, T.; Hall, J.; Cant, A.; Matthews, H.; Santibanez Koref, M.; Simon, A.; Korolchuk, V.; Lenardo, M.; Hambleton, S.; Su, H. (2014). "Dual Proteolytic Pathways Govern Glycolysis and Immune Competence" (PDF). Cell. 159(7): 1578-1590. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2014.12.001. PMC 4297473 . PMID 25525876.

Daniel Nguyen Medical Tutor BIO

If your life were a movie, what would it be?

Rush Hour 2

Fun Fact:

I played a ton of competitive tennis in high school and was ranked Texas!

What’s your favorite power-up snack?

Whey Protein Shake

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Daniel Nguyen

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 248
Step 2 CK - 256

School

Texas Tech Medical School

Specialty

Otolaryngology

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you.” – Dr. Seuss Tutor Bio

Daniel Nguyen is an energetic and enthusiastic individual who enjoys applying energy and enthusiasm to his teaching. Daniel learned from his own Step 1 prep that a positive outlook and simplifying problems were the keys to success. He hopes to not only pass along the tools he learned, but also the perspective he gained from the tough but rewarding months leading up to Step 1. Daniel has been tutoring since high school and has always enjoyed passing along knowledge, from a simple algebra question to a complex question stem on the Step 1 exam. Daniel believes that a tutor should teach students with the goal that they do better on their exam than their tutor. He is proud that the medical students who he has tutored at his school have all gone on to score higher than him on Step 1! Daniel believes that being personally invested in his students and customizing the perfect resources and strategies for them is what leads his students to success. Understanding each person's unique strengths and weaknesses, and customizing a strategy and plan to use their strengths to overcome their weaknesses is what Daniel prides himself in. He will always be in your corner and will continue to adapt your study plan in order to help you reach your personal goals.

Shoutouts + Accolades

AOA member
Has 6 publications along with many research poster presentations
Has contributions to large grant proposals and helped written multiple IRBs!

Rob Painter Medical Tutor BIO

Who is your favorite iconic hero?

Severus Snape

What's your go-to karaoke song

Beauty and a Beat (Yes Justin Bieber)

What's your favorite power up snack?

Protein bar and black coffee

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Rob Painter

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 261

School

Indiana University School of Medicine

Specialty

TBA

"Food is really and truly the most effective medicine." – Joel Fuhrman Tutor Bio

Rob is a motivated student who is passionate about sharing his knowledge in medicine. He will encourage you every step of the way so that you can succeed as well! Rob excels at taking difficult concepts and integrating them into existing knowledge so that you can not just memorize, but learn and master material. He has practiced this extensively by mentoring multiple undergrads in an academic research setting, including helping one through a poster presentation. With Rob you can expect flexibility and personalized support to help you meet your goals. He believes that a two way street of communication is key, so that you can be comfortable and get the most out of your sessions. Rob wants to see you succeed not only on your board exams but as a future physician as well. You can expect to be pushed but uplifted at every moment; imagine Jim Harbaugh with a white coat.

Sarju Panchal Medical Tutor BIO

Fun fact:

I enjoy many outdoor activities including mountaineering, skiing, running, and hiking.

Which house would the Sorting hat place you?

Gryffindor!

Favorite game:

Poker!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Sarju Panchal

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 266
Step 2 CK - 267

School

University of Missouri School of Medicine

Specialty

Internal Medicine

"Practice makes perfect" Tutor Bio

Sarju is an inspiring, passionate and highly efficient tutor. He has had ample experience taking exams in pharmacy and medical school, and he understands the key strategies to succeed on tests and beyond. Sarju learned from his own medical school experience that the key to success is comprehension strategically mixed with repetition. Sarju has had tutoring experience in medical school and has given multiple lectures in pharmacology to graduate-level classes. His passion for medical education stems from a desire to support his colleagues and to maintain his own knowledge base. You can expect to learn strategies to retain large pieces of information, hone your test-taking skills and, most importantly, learn self-sufficiency tips to succeed in your medical career. Sarju will work with you to create a solid study plan, identify and hone in on your weaknesses and provide timely feedback. With Sarju as your tutor, you can expect a strong camaraderie with a mutual goal for your success. Expect to be challenged and pushed in a manner that is fun and useful for you!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Academic awards: AOA, Rhoads scholarship

Major publications: Use of nanoparticles in drug resistant tumor cells.

Doctor of Pharmacy, St. Louis College of Pharmacy (2013)

DR. Nat Pedley Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Fun Fact:

I played semi-professional baseball in Berlin

Biggest Superstition:

I always keep a two dollar bill in my wallet, in case of emergency.

When I dance, people tell me I look like...

I have hemiballismus, but I think I look like I have Sydenham chorea.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

DR. Nat Pedley

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

MCAT - 38
Step 1 - 255
Step 2 CK - 265
Step 3 - 253

School

Columbia University

Specialty

TBA

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars" ~ Oscar Wilde Tutor Bio

Nat is currently completing a dual MD/MBA program at Columbia University. He will pursue a residency in internal medicine upon graduation in May 2018. Nat has a strong medical testing record, including 255 on Step 1 and 38 on the MCAT. With his business degree, Nat hopes to help transform primary care delivery and get involved in healthcare policy work.

Scott Perkins Medical Tutor BIO

Fun Fact:

I used to buy and sell cutting boards

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Pickles, peanuts and string cheese

What's your superpower?

Googling

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Scott Perkins

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 259

School

Duke University

Specialty

Radiology

The worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades. ~ Demetri Martin Tutor Bio

Scott always felt like an average test taker, but quickly learned that he just wasn’t studying the right way for standardized exams. From the SATs to the MCAT, and finally Step 1, Scott realized how to get inside the mind of a test question writer and perform better and better on his exams. Scott has functioned as a teacher or a tutor on every level from elementary school students to medical students. Through the Socratic method and guided student-led explanations, Scott has helped countless students master both the material and the test. As a Step 1, COMLEX, and coursework tutor for over two years, Scott has seen what does and does not work for test preparation and he is dedicated to helping you realize your goals. You can expect more than just a tutor, but also a mentor who is at your disposal when you need it.

Victoria Podsiadlo Medical Tutor BIO

Fun Fact:

Before deciding she wanted to be a doctor, she was studying welding at her vocational high school

Go-To Karaoke Song?

Believe In A Thing Called Love (a real crowd pleaser) – The Darkness

What’s Under Your Bed?

3 Skateboard decks, 2 Playstation2 Guitar Hero Guitars, and probably my cat.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Victoria Podsiadlo

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 242
Step 2 CK - 250

School

University of Massachusetts

Specialty

Radiology

"Not all those who wander are lost." – J.R.R Tolkien Tutor Bio

Like many medical students, Victoria initially experienced some struggles while preparing for Step 1 (including a very disheartening practice score early on) but was able to tailor her studying to master the topics that she found the most daunting (we’re talking about you biochem!), and will help you to do the same! She learned that too many resources made for ineffective work, so she will help to keep you focused and efficient all while being your biggest cheerleader every step of the way! Victoria has experience in developing curriculum for medical students, as she was a co-designer of an elective that focused on caring for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities and organized many educational events for student interest groups. She was also a teaching assistant for an honors neuroendocrinology class during undergrad, so she knows how to help students that desire high achievement. Her students can count on her to always provide honest feedback and hold her students accountable, to share in their successes and failures (because no student is perfect!), to be sensitive to the individual needs of her students, and to work collaboratively to help students achieve their goals by honing test-taking strategies and teaching you to play and win the “standardized test game”.

Ann Prybylowski Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Dark chocolate covered pretzels

Favorite Game:

SET!!!

Favorite Go-To Karaoke Song:

A Whole New World (Yes, I want to be a Disney Princess)

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Ann Prybylowski

Medical Tutor

Scores

MCAT - 39
Step 1 - 273
Step 2 CK - 281

School

University of Pennsylvania

Specialty

Pediatrics

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou Tutor Bio

Ann is a first year pediatrics resident at Lurie Children's Hospital. Ann has an excellent record on standardized exams including the MCAT (39), USMLE Step 1 (273), USMLE Step 2 CK (281), and the clinical shelf exams. She has extensive teaching experience after tutoring for the MCAT while attending Duke University. She is also passionate about community service; she has worked at a women's refugee clinic as well as a harm reduction clinic. She is really excited to work with students to achieve their goals on the USMLE exams as part of the Med School Tutor team.

Dr. Kaitlin Qualls Medical Tutor, MD BIO

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Slytherin! I promise we're not all evil!

One fun fact about you:

I once went shark cage diving in South Africa!

What's under your bed?

During the day, my cat Juneau; otherwise, suitcases & shoes

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Kaitlin Qualls

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 254
Step 2 CK - 263

School

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Specialty

Radiation Oncology

"Practice makes perfect" Tutor Bio

Kaitlin is a driven, encouraging, and organized tutor who understands the challenge and stress associated with achieving a great score on standardized tests. During her own preparation for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2, she learned that dedication, a strong support system, and choosing your resources wisely were required for success. Kaitlin first got involved in teaching as a TA for the Human Physiology course for junior & senior biology majors during her senior year at Boston College. Her passion for teaching continued as she tutored first and second year medical students in pre-clinical coursework and USMLE Step 1 through the tutoring program at her medical school. She has found it incredibly rewarding to see students she’s worked with succeed academically and is personally invested in her students’ success. Kaitlin will help you break down complicated clinical vignettes and choose the best resources for your individual needs. She will hold you accountable throughout your study period and work with you to develop study strategies that work best for you. Throughout your work together, Kaitlin will encourage you and push you to be the absolute best you can be!

Dr. Brian Radvansky Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Theme Song:

"Real American" (Hulk Hogan's Theme Song)

Fun Fact:

Appeared on Who Wants to be a Millionaire

Go-To Karaoke Song:

Big Pimpin'

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX, SHELF

Dr. Brian Radvansky

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1: 264
Step 2 CK: 258
Step 3: 257

School

Rutgers Medical School

Specialty

Anesthesiology

"Do the best you can with what you've got." ~ Brian Tutor Bio

Brian believes that excellence comes from never taking "no" for an answer, and putting as much work into organizing one's studying as into studying itself. After producing an incredibly average MCAT score, he decided he was going to quadruple his efforts in preparing for Step 1. His greatest successes have brought students who were going to drop out of medicine altogether for fear of not matching to matching into their specialties of choice. He reminds students the importance of performing well on a single test, or even learning how to sell themselves can make an extreme difference in their futures. Students can rely on Brian to hold them accountable and make sure that they don't sabotage themselves with excuses. He can help them to totally reevaluate their approach to USMLE questions in a methodical, protocolized way that ultimately leads to more correct answers and a higher score. With his help, you will trim the excesses, and put all of your collective efforts into only the work that will improve your score.
Through his residency admissions consulting, Brian has consistently revamped students applications by helping them to highlight their best (and sometimes hidden) characteristics, and get them to match into the programs they had ranked number one. He can help you to master your personal statement, and craft the story as to why your program of choice needs to have you as a resident. Brian will help you find that all too difficult balance of being proud of and selling your accomplishments, without coming forth as someone who is merely checking boxes to bolster their application.

Shoutouts + Accolades

AOA Honor Society

Dr. Java Remonde Medical Tutor, MD BIO

What is your go-to karaoke song?

No scrubs – TLC

What is your favorite game?

Counter-Strike Global Offensive

What's your superpower?

Binging Netflix series without developing a DVT

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Java Remonde

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 260+
Step 2 CK - 260+

School

Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

Specialty

Radiation Oncology

“Respect your parents. They graduated school without google.” – Will Ferrell Tutor Bio

Java is from a small town in eastern North Carolina that has a whopping total of two stop lights. His dedication to teaching started over a decade ago at East Carolina University where he served as a lead tutor in multiple subjects for his university’s peer tutoring curriculum. He graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction and attended The Brody School of Medicine where he piloted a tutoring program dedicated to USMLE Step 1 preparation for preclinical students. He also received the national Alpha Omega Alpha Student Research Fellowship grant and served as a mentor for an American Association for Cancer Research program devoted to guiding underprivileged high school students. Coming from a small town, he appreciates the importance of proper guidance/mentorship and is excited to use this to help students achieve their academic goals. He believes that providing a structured framework will equip students with an organized plan of attack to tackle their most challenging subjects. He is personally invested in his students' success which will be evident to you throughout your tutoring together. When he’s not working or teaching, he enjoys spending time with his family, PC gaming, building computers, and woodworking.

Michael Rossi Medical Tutor BIO

If your life were a movie, book or TV show, what would it be?

Parks & Rec (I used to work for the Dept. of Natural Resources)

One fun fact about you:

My Dad and I apply to be on Jeopardy every year; still waiting for my shot.

What's your favorite game?

Eucher

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Michael Rossi

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 253

School

Rush Medical College

Specialty

TBA

"Do not fear death so much, but rather the inadequate life." – Bertolt Brecht Tutor Bio

Michael is a dedicated tutor who understands that preparing for Step 1 is more than simply acquiring knowledge, it’s also an exercise in strategy and determination. Through collaboration and choosing the best, individualized approach, Michael will work to hone students’ test-taking ability. He has found that intentional planning helps students approach exam prep in a successful manner that allows them to maximize their study time. Michael has a strong track record of work in medical education, including helping to implement a new medical school curriculum, working as a medical school question test writer, and serving on a USMLE strategic planning workgroup for students. His experience in these fields allows him to offer insight into breaking down complex, multi-step questions into digestible, conquerable bits of knowledge. As you work with him, you will sense his calming encouragement that will help you achieve your goals both on exams and in future pursuits.

Dr. Nick Rowan Medical Tutor BIO

Theme Song:

"Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins

What's in your white coat?

Lots of tongue depressors

Fun Fact:

I've had the hiccups since I was 18

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX, SHELF

Dr. Nick Rowan

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 247
Step 2 - 259

School

Rutgers

Specialty

Otolaryngology

"Illegitimi non carborundum" ("Don't let the bastards get you down.") Tutor Bio

Nick is a charismatic, detail-oriented, and thorough tutor who is able to distill complicated topics into simple and understandable concepts. His firm grasp on topics ranging from congenital disorders to complex neuroanatomy allows him to translate even the most complex problem into something his puppy can understand. Though scheduling test preparation can be difficult, Nick has demonstrated expert time management skills previously as a Division I athlete and now as a full-time clinician-scientist and surgeon. Over the years from undergraduate study on the beach in California to competitive surgical subspecialties in some of the most prestigious programs in the country, Nick has been an effective and enthusiastic teacher and mentor who might share a few, or 600, "Dad" jokes along the way. Despite his own busy schedule, Nick is someone who is personally invested in his student's outcomes and one of our most seasoned veterans at MST.

Michael Rudkins Medical Tutor BIO

What’s in your white coat?

Any free snacks I’ve come across…

Who is your favorite iconic hero?

Michael Scott

If my life were a TV show it would be…

How I Met Your Mother

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Michael Rudkins

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 252
Step 2 CK - 252

School

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Specialty

Radiology

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore Tutor Bio

Michael is a thoughtful, meticulous, and encouraging tutor who is able to simplify complicated subject matter into easy-to-understand concepts. During his own studying, Michael learned that focusing on a few high-yield resources and time management are the keys to success. Michael has many years of tutoring experience and knows how to adapt to different learning styles; he is a charismatic teacher and loves to see his students excel. Michael will help students choose the best resources for their needs and develop a strategic and organized plan of attack for his students (as long as they don’t mind his dad jokes along the way).

Jacob Schrum Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Game:

Settlers of Catan

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Dunkin’ Donuts black coffee. As a native Iowan, this is proof that New England has grown on me.

What’s in your white coat?

That’s a good question…I’ve been in the lab so long I think I lost it.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Jacob Schrum

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 273

School

UMass

Specialty

Immunology

Show me a man who lives alone and has a perpetually clean kitchen, and 8 times out of 9 I'll show you a man with detestable spiritual qualities. ~ Charles Bukowski Tutor Bio

Jacob is an MD/PhD student at UMass Medical School, where he is finishing up his thesis research on how the immune system fights malarial infection. He has yet to cure a single case of malaria, but he has also avoided infecting anyone with malaria. (First, do no harm.) During his PhD, Jacob served as tutor for a variety of preclinical courses at UMass, and he also is a small group leader for the school’s in-house Step 1 prep course. When he is not pipetting or tutoring, Jacob enjoys running, reading, and eating at Chipotle.

Dr. Rishi Sethia Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Where's your favorite travel destination?

Costa Rica

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Oreos

One fun fact about you:

I went sandboarding in the driest desert in the world, the Atacama in Northern Chile.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Rishi Sethia

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 267
Step 2 CK - 267

School

The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Specialty

Otolaryngology

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever." Tutor Bio

Rishi is a resourceful, diligent, and well-rounded tutor who is passionate about helping students achieve their goals. Rishi learned from his own Step 1 prep about the importance of scheduling and accountability and will use these skills to ensure your success. Rishi has benefitted from many mentors in his life and is dedicated to paying it forward by providing excellent tutoring and mentorship to as many students as possible. He has extensive tutoring experience with students at all levels and tailors his teaching to each individual's learning style. He will provide accountability and honest feedback, bolster both weak areas and strengths, and optimize your study schedule to achieve maximum efficiency. Rishi tends to fall more towards the "drill sergeant" teaching style, but maintains a level of friendliness that leaves students encouraged and confident.

Shoutouts + Accolades

AOA Member

Publications

1. Sethia R, Wiet GJ. Preoperative preparation for otologic surgery: temporal bone simulation. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015 Oct;23(5):355-359. doi: 10.1097/MOO. 0000000000000181. Review.

2. Orczyk JJ, Sethia R, Doster D, Garraghty PE. Transcriptome response to infraorbital nerve transection in the gonadally intact male rat barrel cortex: RNA-seq. J Comp Neurol. 2016 Jan 1;524(1):152-159. doi: 10.1002/cne.23831. Epub 2015 Jul 16.

3. Malekpour M, Kulwin C, Bohnstedt BN, Radmand G, Sethia R, Mendenhall SK, Weyhenmeyer J, Hendricks BK, Leipzig T, Payner TD, Shah MV, Scott J, DeNardo A, Sahlein D, Cohen-Gadol AA. Effect of Short-term ε-Aminocaproic Acid Treatment on Patients undergoing Endovascular Coil Embolization following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. J Neurosurg. 2017 May;126(5):1606-1613. doi: 10.3171/2016.4.JNS152951. Epub 2016 Jun 17.

4. Sethia R, Kerwin TF, Wiet GJ. Performance Assessment for Mastoidectomy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Jan;156(1):61-69. doi: 10.1177/0194599816670886. Epub 2016 Oct 3.

5. Bohnstedt BN, Ziemba-Davis M, Sethia R, Payner TD, DeNardo A, Scott J, Cohen-Gadol AA. Comparison of endovascular and microsurgical management of 208 basilar apex aneurysms. J Neurosurg. 2017 Jan 13:1-11. doi: 10.3171/2016.8.JNS16703. [Epub ahead of print].

6. Sethia R, Mahida JB, Subbarayan RA, Deans KJ, Minneci PC, Elmaraghy CA, Essig GF Jr. Evaluation of an imaging protocol using ultrasound as the primary diagnostic modality in pediatric patients with superficial soft tissue infections of the face and neck. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 May;96:89-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2017.02.027. Epub 2017 Feb 28.

7. Ozbay I, Yumusakhuylu AC, Sethia R, Wei L, Old M, Agrawal A, Teknos T, Ozer E. One-year quality of life and functional outcomes of transoral robotic surgery for carcinoma of unknown primary. Head Neck. 2017 Aug;39(8):1596-1602. doi: 10.1002/hed.24801. Epub 2017 May 17.

8. Sethia R, Yumusakhuylu AC, Ozbay, I, Diavolitsis V, Brown N, Zhou S, Wei L, Old M, Agrawal A, Teknos T, Ozer E. Quality of life outcomes of transoral robotic surgery with or without adjuvant therapy for oropharyngeal cancer. Laryngoscope. 2017 Aug 3. doi: 10.1002/lary.26796. [Epub ahead of print].

Dr. Paras Shah Senior Medical Tutor, MD, MS BIO

What's in your white coat?

Tons of Quarters, so after a long case I can buy some Almond Joy chocolates.

Favorite Game:

MONOPOLY! It's a risky game because there's bound to be arguments and hurt feelings.

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

Anything that can be dipped in HOT SAUCE

Tutors For

USMLE, SHELF

Dr. Paras Shah

Senior Medical Tutor, MD, MS

Scores

Step 1 - 259
Step 2CK - 261

School

Albany Medical College

Specialty

Urology

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11 Tutor Bio

Paras was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society for his academic prowess and dedication to his community. He has been a tutor and teacher of advanced sciences, medical subjects and USMLE for the last 6 years, and his commitment to his students’ success is without compare.

Vikram Shankar Medical Tutor BIO

What's in your white coat?

Discarded Twix and KitKat wrappers

Go-To Karaoke Song:

"Lose Yourself" by Eminem

Biggest Superstition:

I always wear a pair of lucky boxers for big exams/presentations.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Vikram Shankar

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 260+
Step 2 CK - 260+

School

Washington University St. Louis

Specialty

Ophthalmology

"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." ~ Marcus Aurelius Tutor Bio

Vikram received his MPH and is pursuing his MD at Washington University in St. Louis, and will be pursuing a residency in ophthalmology. Vikram began tutoring and mentoring students in high school as a math and reading tutor for Kumon. He continued to teach throughout college, working as an MCAT and undergraduate tutor in the basic sciences. He scored >260 on Step 1 and above the 95th percentile on all his clerkship shelf exams. He loves teaching, as it allows him to invest in his students' success while refining his own knowledge base.

Dr. Josh Shapiro Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Favorite Iconic Hero:

John Elway - Go Broncos!

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Ravenclaw

Favorite Travel Destination:

Croatia

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Josh Shapiro

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 268
Step 2 CK - 264
Step 3 - 246

School

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Specialty

Orthopedic Surgery

"Nothing stills an inquiring mind more than the conviction that it knows." – Seneca Tutor Bio

Josh graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is a resident in orthopedic surgery at the University of North Carolina. Josh has a strong record in standardized examinations, including a score of 268 on USMLE Step 1 and 264 on USMLE Step 2CK. Prior to joining the Med School Tutors family, Josh had been a tutor for USMLE Step 1, basic science coursework, and NBME shelf examinations. Josh is an avid teacher with a commitment to excellence and aims to achieve excellence with all of his students.

Shoutouts

Shoutout to my wife Christine who has been my number 1 supporter every step of the way

Christopher Showers Medical Tutor BIO

Theme Song:

My theme song changes with my mood, but it's always something by Brahms.

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

I'm embarrassed to admit that I mix black beans and canned tuna (with a heavy dose of salt). It's kinda the best...

How would you save the world?

Education (I'm trying!). Deficits in language literacy and math literacy are crippling and dangerous.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX, SHELF

Christopher Showers

Medical Tutor

Scores

MCAT - 37
Step 1 - 256

School

Columbia University

Specialty

Neurology

"Active studying is all about scratching down illegible repetitions of facts recently read onto cheap legal pads, then throwing them out! I wanna see a wastebasket full of discarded brain dumps!" ~ Chris Tutor Bio

Chris graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill magna cum laude in Chemistry with distinction in biomedical research. Following two years of research in neuro-pharmacology, he entered the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Remaining engaged in neuroscience, Chris has received research fellowships to study neural stem cells at Stanford University and malignant brain tumors as a Doris Duke Research Fellow at Columbia and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. As a senior mentor, Chris has worked with junior medical students at Columbia to prepare them for both the Shelf Exams and USMLE Step 1.

Check out Chris' Tutor Spotlight here: https://www.medschooltutors.com/blog/tutor-spotlight-christopher-showers

Brad Sifrig Medical Tutor BIO

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Hopefully Slytherin. I’m not saying I’d go bad, but I’d like to keep my options open.

Fun Fact:

I can read Braille.

If your life were a TV show, what would it be?

The Office. I aspire to be Michael Scott one day.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Brad Sifrig

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 272

School

University of Florida

Specialty

Ophthamology

Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it, because what the world needs is people who have come alive. ~ Howard Thurman Tutor Bio

Brad is a fourth year medical student at the University of Florida College of Medicine and plans to pursue a residency in ophthalmology. Brad has a record of excellence on standardized exams, scoring a 35 on his MCAT (96th percentile) and a 272 on his USMLE Step 1 (100th percentile). He did equally as well on shelf examinations throughout third year, scoring in the 99th percentile on the Family Medicine, Neurology, OB-GYN, and Surgery exams. In addition to his history of testing excellence, Brad has a plethora of experience and training as a tutor having worked as a paid tutor for multiple years at his undergraduate university.

Dr. Lauren Sinnenberg Medical Tutor, MD BIO

If your life were a tv show, what would it be?

Gilmore Girls

Favorite Iconic Hero:

Rosie the Riveter

Fun Fact:

I was featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd"

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Lauren Sinnenberg

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 258
Step 2 CK - 272

School

University of Pennsylvania

Specialty

Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital

"Alis volat propriis" (Rough translation: "she flies by her own wings") ~ Jesse Quinn Thornton Tutor Bio

Lauren is a caring, articulate and insightful tutor who is a natural fit here at MST. Not only has she excelled in medical school and on her board exams, but her extensive volunteer experience - which includes work as an EMT as well as at clinics and healthcare programs - demonstrates her genuine desire to help others. Lauren brings this unique combination of conceptual mastery, mental acuity, and compassion in all her work with students. With over 600 hours of tutoring with MST, she has the experience needed to craft a highly individualized study schedule unique to your strengths, weaknesses, timeline, and goals. Through a holistic emphasis on clinical reasoning, test-taking skills, and structured studying, Lauren will empower you with the tools needed to succeed on your exam - all with the warmth, astuteness and personal investment for which she is known. We have no doubt she will be a tremendous ally for you!

Dr. Evan Stone Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Fun Fact:

"Evan" in Hebrew means "Stone" in English, so Evan's name is "Stone Stone!"

Favorite Food:

Bar-style cheese pizza

Favorite Travel Destination:

Tel Aviv

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Evan Stone

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 265
Step 2 CK - 274

School

Sackler School of Medicine

Specialty

Radiology

"This too shall pass!" Tutor Bio

Evan is a fun, energetic, and driven tutor who despite having long-term success with multiple-choice tests, found during his own studies for the USMLEs that it takes more than just memorization and pattern recognition; it takes an understanding of personal strengths and weaknesses to achieve academic goals! Having taught for over two years with Med School Tutors while balancing his rigorous residency, Evan has helped numerous students conquer Step 2 CK, as well as shelf exams and COMLEX Level 2. Evan is known for his intuition and strengths in utilizing an individualized approach to question dissection and analysis, identifying and correcting cognitive barriers, and most importantly, connecting deeply to the success of his students. He loves receiving e-mails from prior students ecstatic with their successes and career paths! Working with Evan will be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and him!

William Su Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Game:

Super Smash Bros

Favorite Travel Destination:

Japan!

What's under your bed?

Way too many old Amazon boxes

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

William Su

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 261
Step 2 CK - 259

School

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Specialty

Radiation Oncology

"I, I shake it off, I shake it off" – Taylor Swift Tutor Bio

Will is a dedicated and encouraging tutor who is passionate about helping students excel on the USMLE. He has been teaching others since high school starting with statistics and chemistry and has continued to teach during his journey through medicine. He is particular about ensuring students understand the principles that can be applied to broad concepts instead of rote memorization. He is efficient when tackling questions and adapts to each student’s individual needs. Having recently gone through the USMLE preparation process recently, Will understands the importance of a disciplined and realistic study regimen. He will partner with you on this road to success and will push you to achieve your goals.

Tom Sullivan Medical Tutor BIO

Theme song:

Heroes by David Bowie

Favorite TV Show:

Rick and Morty

Favorite power-up snack:

Anything with peanut butter!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Tom Sullivan

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 260

School

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

"A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge" – Tyrion Lannister Tutor Bio

Tom is a dedicated, compassionate and encouraging tutor who has experience helping students succeed throughout medical school. He has always been a passionate teacher, starting as early as high school working as a climbing instructor with young kids. He has spent time as a teaching assistant, and has volunteered many hours as a student mentor and tutor for pre-medical students. Tom also continually acts as a tutoring resource for his colleagues throughout medical school, and was selected to lead his peers as a chief student in core clinical rotations. By obtaining a masters in biomedical sciences, Tom has an unshakeable foundation in the preclinical sciences, including biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and especially neuroscience. Tom learned from Step 1 that the key to success was to have a few strong resources in his corner, and to focus on weaknesses, living by the mantra, “you’re only as strong as your weakest link." Through hard work and dedication, Tom lives to see his students perform at their true potential. Using an adaptive study plan with a focus on test taking strategy, personal strengths, and shoring up weaknesses, Tom will push any student to excel.

Shoutouts + Accolades

2018 Gala Academic Scholarship
2017 Lester Lages Endowed Academic Scholarship Fund

Dr. Darren Sultan Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Movie or TV show?

If my life were a tv show, it would be called INFP.

Favorite travel destination?

Zambia

How would you save the world?

I’d get everyone a Seamless account.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Darren Sultan

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1: 260+
Step 2: 260+

School

NYU School of Medicine

Specialty

Plastic Surgery

I don’t understand the question and I won’t respond to it – Lucille Bluth when asked to choose, “Plate or platter?” Arrested Development Tutor Bio

Darren is a creative, idealistic and uniquely dedicated tutor with a passion for standardized tests. He imagines a role John Keating would take were he to adopt a penchant for unpacking medical vignettes. With former experience in MCAT question writing and a tutoring history dating back to his high school years, he has long been dedicated to his fellow students’ success. Aside from his interest in USMLE exams, Darren dedicates much of his time to research in dysfunctional wound healing, gender affirmation and global surgery. He is an excellent test-taker, and his commitment to his own achievement is paralleled by his dedication to helping others reach the same goals. In addition to the cheerleading-esque support he provides, Darren guides students using an efficient and methodical approach to answering questions, reading figures and interpreting phrases.

Dr. Amit Suneja Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Fun Fact:

I once hitchhiked from California to Texas

Favorite Travel Destination:

Any mountain located anywhere

If your life were a TV show, what would it be?

The Office

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Amit Suneja

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

MCAT - 39
Step 1 - 250+
Step 2 CK - 250+

School

Columbia University and Johns Hopkins

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” ~ Disputed/Unknown Tutor Bio

Amit is currently an MPH student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who recently finished his third year of medical school at Columbia University. Amit has stellar academic record, including graduating from Rice University with a 4.0 GPA, 39 on the MCAT, over 250 on both Step 1 and Step 2 CK, and Honors in 6 of his clinical rotations. He has diverse teaching experience, including starting a mentoring and tutoring program for middle school-age refugees, working as a public school teacher, and teaching pre-clinical students. He is deeply committed to helping students reach their full potential.

Solymar Torres Medical Tutor BIO

Fun fact

My name means Sun and Sea in Spanish, which is very fitting since I grew up in the island of Puerto Rico, in a town about 15 minutes away from the beach

Favorite power-up snack?

It can go from a cup of yogurt with granola if I'm a little tired to an entire bag of gummy worms if I'm exhausted

In what house would the Sorting Hat place you?

Anywhere as long as the company is good! Slytherin, because we tend to be ambitious and achievement-oriented but we can be charming too

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Solymar Torres

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 257

School

Perelman School of Medicine – University of Pennsylvania, MD Candidate 2020

Specialty

Surgery

"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." – Thomas Edison Tutor Bio

Friends would describe Solymar (they call her Soly) as energetic, creative and compassionate. While in college, Soly realized she had a knack for teaching, as friends would come to her for help with complex courses such as Organic Chemistry. After struggling for months to prepare for the MCAT, but ultimately achieving a great score, Soly decided to share these hard-learned lessons by becoming a Kaplan MCAT tutor and has helped dozens of students reach their goal. Now in medical school, Soly continues to nurture her passion for helping others by volunteering at a clinic for uninsured patients as well as working towards her Masters in Health Policy Research. Soly is personally invested in her students’ success and enjoys seeing them gain confidence and clinical knowledge as she guides them through their Step 1 preparation. She will develop a customized study schedule that’s tailored to your progress, timeline and goals. She will help you choose the best study resources for your needs and make sure you use them effectively. In her sessions, she breaks down complicated topics and vignettes while also honing on test-taking strategies. Most importantly, Soly is a great listener and will provide insightful feedback and encouragement to help you reach your full potential.

Shoutouts + Accolades

Graduated Summa cum laude with a B.Sc in Cell and Molecular Biology
Twenty-first Century Scholar - Merit-based scholarship for medical school

Michael Trainer Medical Tutor BIO

Go-to Karaoke Song:

"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness

What's your favorite game?

Euchre

Favorite TV Show:

Parks and Recreation

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Michael Trainer

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 254

School

Mercer University School of Medicine

Specialty

Neurology or Child Neurology

“We should take care not to make the intellect our god. It has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality. It cannot lead, it can only serve.” – Albert Einstein Tutor Bio

Michael Trainer is a 3rd year medical student at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah, Georgia. He understands the rigor and mental toll of standardized exams and has the focus and know-how to get you through it in one piece. Michael’s teaching career includes experience as an undergraduate tutor for the UGA Athletic Association, instructor for the Duke Talent Identification program, and the founder of peer-to-peer tutoring services at his medical school. His teaching style centers around breaking down complicated vignettes and helping students navigate the “game” part of the exam, with a focus on making the most efficient use of your time studying and on test day.

Alex Tymkowicz Medical Tutor BIO

What’s in your white coat?

Hopefully, nothing these days (EM for the win!) but I’ve been known to carry a large coffee thermos and an extensive amount of snackage in my pocket when I had to be on rounds.

Where’s your favorite travel destination?

Anywhere with a view and good friends. Some of my recent favorites have been camping in Mount Hood National Park and paddle boarding in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

Gold Digger by Kanye West. I’ll even include Jamie Foxx’s hook for your unfortunate ears.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Alex Tymkowicz

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 250
Step 2 CK - 252

School

University of Iowa

Specialty

Emergency Medicine

"The (wo)man on the top of the mountain didn’t just fall there." – Anonymous Tutor Bio

Alex is a supportive and practical tutor who is excited to set other students up for success in mastering the USMLE. She thinks the keys to victory are an organized but flexible study schedule, proper resource utilization, and proactive identification of weaknesses. Alex strongly believes that this dedicated study time can be both productive and pleasant. She will work hard to create a positive, welcoming environment that bolsters your morale and she will create for you a detailed schedule that still allows you to continue doing the things that make you happiest each day. Alex has a history of tutoring that extends back to high school and has recently led two cohorts of Step 1 bound students to academic success. She enjoys the warm and fuzzy feeling of helping someone learn and she hopes to continue prioritizing teaching throughout her residency and into her career as a physician. Alex promises to provide you with direct accountability and honest feedback so that you can achieve your goals on the timeline you desire. Her greatest tutoring skill is thinking of unique memory hooks to help you tackle the more esoteric material as well as providing real-life applications to help you remember the more high-yield material you will need for the USMLE and beyond. Alex hopes to be your insightful tutor, encouraging friend, and devoted mentor throughout this process and can’t wait to help you achieve success!

Brian Velasco Medical Tutor BIO

Where's your favorite travel destination?

Sri Lanka

Fun fact:

I once solved a Rubik's cube in 50 seconds #nerd

What superpower do you want?

Teleportation

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Brian Velasco

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 260

School

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Interest

Orthopaedic Surgery

"You know what they say. 'Fool me once, strike one, but fool me twice... strike three'" - Michael Scott Tutor Bio

Brian is a friendly, enthusiastic, self-driven tutor who is hoping to pursue a career in Orthopaedic Surgery. He learned from his Step 1 prep that the keys to doing well were keeping the resources simple and being committed and disciplined to the study schedule. Brian has always had a strong passion for teaching, mentoring and simply helping others. He has had numerous tutoring experiences including tutoring undergraduates, nursing students and his fellow peers in medical school. He is highly involved in his medical school’s mentoring program where he advises students how to best prepare for Step 1 and school exams. By balancing comprehensive review with question practice, he will help further develop your fund of knowledge, clinical reasoning and test-taking skills. On top of studying techniques, you can count on Brian to give you continuous motivation and encouragement to help you achieve your goals!

Dr. Ayyappan Venkatraman Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Theme Music:

"Misdemeanor" by Ahmad Jamal

Favorite Game:

Metal Gear Solid (only the best video game series ever made!)

When I dance, people tell me I look like...

Bugs Bunny

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Ayyappan Venkatraman

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

MCAT - 40
Step 1 - 250
Step 2 CK - 258

School

Columbia University

Specialty

Psychiatry

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ~ Teddy Roosevelt Tutor Bio

Ayyappan is a passionate tutor who strongly believes in a tailored approach to each student's test preparations. Tutoring with MST since 2014, he has a wealth of tutoring experiences to draw from to help navigate even the most difficult study situations. Not only that, but Ayyappan's experience as a psychiatry resident at the University of Pennsylvania has helped him refine his one-on-one counseling and individualized instruction. He sees himself like an Olympic coach of test preparation - creating study plans not just to learn the material but also to get a student mentally prepared for the big day. Ayyappan is also an excellent resource for residency admissions advice and career counseling. He has a non-traditional medical background that has given him great perspective on all of the angles needed to have a great application. More than anything, he wants to help students find their own specific path to incredible success in medicine.

Jonathan Villanueva Medical Tutor BIO

Where's your favorite travel destination?

Japan

Fun Fact:

I am Canadian

What superpower would you want?

Telepathy

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Jonathan Villanueva

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 259

School

Perelman School of Medicine – University of Pennsylvania

Specialty

Anesthesia

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” – Steve Jobs Tutor Bio

Jonathan is an energetic, insightful, and charismatic tutor who wants to help other medical students achieve their career aspirations. After honing his test-taking skills over many different standardized exams, Jonathan knows that the key to success on Step 1 is using a minimal number of resources to their maximum potential, as well as having a good work-life balance. He enjoys tutoring for the satisfaction of helping students understand and remember complex subjects and concepts. You can depend on Jonathan to help you select the best resources for your individual learning style and he will work with you to create a study schedule that is tailored to your needs and goals. At the same time, Jonathan will make sure that you incorporate aspects of wellness into your study routine to keep you motivated and avoid burnout. Together, you and Jonathan will work hard but also have some fun along the way as you prepare for the USMLE exams.

Dr. Clay Walker Medical Tutor, MD BIO

Fun Fact:

Played D3 soccer in college and played in the NCAA tournament twice

If my life were a TV show, what would it be?

Breaking Bad... Just kidding, I actually don't like chemistry

Favorite travel destination:

Anywhere as long as the company is good!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Clay Walker

Medical Tutor, MD

Scores

Step 1 - 246
Step 2 CK - 264

School

The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Specialty

Physical medicine and rehabilitation

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." – Time Notke Tutor Bio

Clay is a dedicated, patient and supportive tutor who just completed both USMLE exams. With those experiences still fresh in mind, Clay understands the stress of studying for board exams and is excited to share his study strategies with students. He believes that with a regimented study schedule, regular exercise and plenty of sleep, everyone can achieve their test taking goals. Clay has served as a paid tutor throughout undergrad and medical school so he brings multiple years of tutoring experience to his work with MST. What he enjoys most about tutoring is finding out how a student learns best, and then tailoring sessions and study schedules to fit that mold. Clay considers his strengths at MST to be breaking down complicated vignettes; developing killer, detailed, and customized study schedule based on students’ study preferences and progress; and being personally invested in students’ success. He knows that the only way to be successful is by giving your best effort, and he’ll be sure to support you in doing so!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Junior AOA

Published in Telemedicine and e-Health

Ben Woodle Medical Tutor BIO

What's in your white coat?

An iPad, stethoscope, and energy bar.

Go-To Karaoke Song:

"Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond

Fun Fact:

I've stepped foot on every continent except Antarctica.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Ben Woodle

Medical Tutor

Scores

246 - Step 1
256 - Step 2CK

School

St. George's University

Specialty

TBA

"It always seems impossible until it's done." ~ Nelson Mandela Tutor Bio

Benjamin is a 4th year medical student at St. George’s University and pursuing a residency in Anesthesiology. At SGU, Ben excelled in and outside the classroom. While at SGU, he participated in many extracurricular activities and served as President of the Student Government Association. Despite his busy schedule, Ben maintained over a 95% WMPG and scored a 246 on Step 1 and a 256 on Step 2CK. This year, Ben has received Academic Honors on every shelf exam and clinical rotation. Ben loves to teach difficult topics. His true passion is to help his students achieve their full potential through focusing on high yield concepts and questions.

Dr. EJ Wright Medical Tutor, MD, MBS BIO

What’s under your bed?

All my camping gear and my puppies during thunderstorms ☺

What’s your go to karaoke song?

Meatloaf – “I would do anything for love” yea...I know

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Rx bars for life!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. EJ Wright

Medical Tutor, MD, MBS

Scores

Step 1 - 261
Step 2 CK - 260

School

St. George's University

Interest

Emergency Medicine

"Nothing truly worth having in life comes easy" – Teddy Roosevelt Tutor Bio

EJ is a disciplined, enthusiastic and dedicated tutor who knows the value of hard work which enabled him to crush his board exams. The steps are not easy and during his preparation, he learned that there are many ways to excel, but perseverance and adaptability are a foundation that always lead to success. EJ remembers how difficult and overwhelming these exams can be, but learned to use strategy to his benefit to keep the exam simple and approachable to reduce the overwhelming stress and pressure. EJ has been teaching for over 10 years, starting out as a chemistry TA, BLS instructor, and Lieutenant on his rescue squad. He then carried his love for education into medical school where he served as a tutor for medical students struggling in basic science as well as participating in advanced airway and phlebotomy workshops. EJ’s passion for education and firm belief in giving back to medicine enabled him to help multiple students on the brink of failing succeed through techniques that breakdown the complex information, and keep things simple, all while trying to have fun in the process. Students can rely on EJ to teach them his “Wright-Way” stem approach that they can immediately incorporate into their test taking strategy. Together, you and EJ will design a detailed and customized study schedule that’s tailored to your progress, timeline, and goals. Throughout this process, he will keep you on track by bolstering your weak areas and advising you on the right resources to use while honing and developing the skills you will need for long term testing and career success. EJ believes that teaching is a team sport, and with him and MST by your side, anything is possible!

Shoutouts + Accolades

Other Degrees:
Masters in Biomedical Science – Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 2014

Honors and awards:
Iota Epsilon Alpha Honors Society, Cordis Neurovascular Scholarship, Student Appreciation Award for Leadership and Service

Manuscript Publications:
1. Wright EJ, Martin JF, Sirchio K. Beware the devastating outcome of a common procedure. JetEM 2019(4)1.

2. Martin JF, Wright EJ, Hill GJ. Fahr’s Disease: A Rare Puzzle for an Emergent Neurological Presentation. J Emerg Med 2016(50)4:667-669

3. Georgiadis AL, Hussein HM, Wright EJ, Suri MFK, AlKawi A, Qureshi Current Statin Use is Associated with Higher Recanalization Rates among Patients Treated with Endovascular Procedures for Acute Ischemic Stroke.
•The 32nd International Stroke Conference, Feb 7-9, 2007, San Francisco, CA
•The 59th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology

4. Suri MFK, Hussein HM, Patel A, Berezina T, Wright EJ, Divani AA, Qureshi AI.
External Validation Of A Scheme To Identify Persons For Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis Screening.
•The 32nd International Stroke Conference, Feb 7-9, 2007, San Francisco, CA

Danwei Wu Medical Tutor BIO

Favorite Power-Up Snack:

A family size bag of kettle cooked potato chips.

How would you save the world?

Incrementally

Favorite Iconic Hero:

Forest Gump

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Danwei Wu

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 252
Step 2 CK - 260

School

University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Specialty

Pediatric Neurology

What I say is that, if a man really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow. ~ A.A. Milne (Author of Winnie the Pooh) Tutor Bio

Danwei was awarded the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Research Fellowship during her second year of medical school. During her fellowship, she delved into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of autism. Her other research interest include neurodevelopment and neural plasticity. She is passionate about research and hopes to pursue a career in academic medicine. Her passions also include teaching and medical education. Danwei is currently a Peer Academic Coach in medical school and is known for her impressive collection of notes and figures.

Johnny Wu Medical Tutor BIO

What's your theme song?

Europe – The Final Countdown

What's your favorite game?

Portal 2

What's your favorite power-up snack?

Mountain Dew!

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Johnny Wu

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 259
Step 2 CK - 257

School

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Specialty

Internal Medicine

“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” —Arnold Schwarzenegger Tutor Bio

Johnny is a thoughtful and attentive tutor who knows the importance of individualized learning. As someone who preferred to understand rather than memorize, he found that succeeding on the boards was a difficult but lasting achievement. As a result, he still uses preclinical knowledge regularly while on rotations for his chosen specialty, Internal Medicine. Johnny has always loved to teach, whether it was as a SAT tutor, chemistry TA, or medical student. As your tutor, Johnny teaches like he learns—from the fundamentals. He will patiently explore key concepts that tie multiple diseases together and give you the confidence to apply your knowledge. If you work with him, he will both challenge and nurture you to be the very best version of yourself!

Shoutouts + Accolades

I've co-authored an abstract on pediatric autism and a case report on Salmonella arteritis!

Alison Yoder Medical Tutor BIO

What’s your favorite power-up snack?

Chips and Queso

Fun Fact:

I foster dogs (and have two foster failures…I never gave them back)

When I dance, people tell me I look like:

my dad…but I think I look like Katy Perry’s back-up dancer

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Alison Yoder

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 256
Step 2 CK - 270

School

Baylor College of Medicine

Specialty

Radiation Oncology

“I think you mean, why is there silverware in the pancake drawer?” – Chris Turk (Scrubs) Tutor Bio

Alison is an encouraging teacher who loves working with students to overcome their Step exams. She went through quite the “identity crisis” and struggled intially with her own Step 1 studying, but once she found the resources that worked for her, her prep became…not necessarily fun, but manageable! She loves helping other medical students hit their studying groove the same way that she did. Alison has been tutoring math and science since high school, and one day hopes to work at an academic institution so she can continue teaching. As a previous engineer, she is great at helping students think through problems analytically and dissect them step-by-step. She motivates and challenges her students throughout the exam prep process, and will be a great addition to your medical school studies!

Dr. Zachary Zimmerman Medical Tutor BIO

If your life were a movie, what would it be?

I hope it would be cool enough to be Space Jam!

Favorite Game:

Cards Against Humanity

Fun Fact:

I was a Classics major in college, studying Ancient Greek language, poetry, art, and architecture.

Tutors For

USMLE, COMLEX

Dr. Zachary Zimmerman

Medical Tutor

Scores

Step 1 - 257
Step 2 CK - 268

School

Florida State University

Specialty

Otolaryngology

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." ~ Wayne Gretzky Tutor Bio

Zach is a fourth year medical student at Florida State University College of Medicine pursuing a residency in otolaryngology. He has been committed in his medical studies, has honored every rotation, and was inducted into AOA for his volunteerism, professionalism, academics and leadership. Zach has a passion for medical education and has been a teaching assistant, a USMLE q-bank question author/editor, and a mentor throughout medical school.