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These experts have been hand-picked by our team.
Below is our list of 10 of the best med school admissions coaches with surgery backgrounds in the USA. Please note that this is a curated list of top experts and not an explicit ‘ranking’ of them.
Dr. Mohanty is an orthopedic surgery resident at Mass General Brigham through the Harvard Combined Orthopedic Residency Program. He graduated with an MD from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, where he served on the admissions committee for 3 years, reviewing and interviewing applicants.
Dr. Mohanty’s academic focus is translational orthopedic spine research, particularly machine-learning–based risk stratification and surgical outcome prediction in adult spinal deformity.
He has co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts and delivered podium presentations at national and international meetings across orthopedic and spine journals, including Clinical Spine Surgery, the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, and JOR Spine. Dr. Mohanty’s work has been recognized with the Rhodes Prize for Surgical Scholarship, a University of Pennsylvania nomination for the Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowship, and multiple podium awards from the North American Spine Society and Scoliosis Research Society.
Dr. Mohanty understands what top medical schools seek in students. Students coached by Dr. Mohanty have been accepted into multiple BS/MD programs and medical schools, including the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, Thomas Jefferson University, Yale University, Harvard University, UCLA, NYU, Boston University, Tufts University, and others.
Dr. Jiser is a board-certified general surgeon with expertise in minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, as well as bariatric surgery. He earned a BS in biology from Cornell University before completing an MD at New York Medical College, where he served on the admissions committee. He completed his general surgery residency at New York Medical College.
Dr. Jiser founded weight-management programs at Lowell General Hospital, Emerson Hospital, and Nashoba Valley Medical Center, each of which earned American College of Surgeons Center of Excellence certification under his leadership. He has also served as Chief of Surgery, Medical Director of Surgical Services, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, and Board Chair of the Lowell General Hospital Physician Hospital Organization.
Dr. Jiser has worked extensively with pre-medical and medical students, offering shadowing experiences in the clinic, on patient rounds, and in the operating room. As a coach, he prioritizes getting to know each student to assess their strengths and areas for improvement. Dr. Jiser is approachable and strives to create an environment where students feel comfortable discussing their interests, asking questions, and setting goals.
Dr. Adjei graduated with an MD from Tufts University School of Medicine before pursuing a general surgery residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She served as an interviewer at the Tufts University School of Medicine and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, providing her with insider knowledge into what elite medical schools and residencies expect from applicants.
Throughout her career, Dr. Adjei has been dedicated to supporting students as a Faculty Advisor for the National Youth Leadership Forum in Medicine and as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ambassador and Administrative Chief Resident at her residency program. Additionally, Dr. Adjei’s research has been funded by two National Institutes of Health grants. She has an active research portfolio with publications and presentations in transplantation and organ utilization.
Dr. Adjei takes pride in helping applicants uncover their authentic stories and showcase their strengths to medical school admissions committees with confidence. Her admissions guidance philosophy is that every student’s journey into medicine is unique and worth celebrating. Dr. Adjei is committed to helping students get accepted to medical school while staying true to themselves throughout the process.
Dr. LaRivière graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) with an MD and PhD in pharmacology. He served on the University of Colorado MSTP Admissions Committee for five years while also mentoring junior students. Now a general surgery resident at the University of Colorado, Dr. LaRivière serves as an applicant reviewer for the program.
Dr. LaRivière has received numerous prestigious awards, including the NHLBI Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA (F31), the American Transplant Foundation Steve Farber Award, and the Alden Harken Clinical Science in Surgery Award. He has published 10 abstracts and 14 publications in peer-reviewed journals, including the American Journal of Physiology—Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, the American Journal of Surgery, and the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Dr. LaRivière excels at guiding students through the application cycle, ensuring they remain focused and organized throughout. He understands how to help applicants find their inner voice and craft compelling narratives that showcase their strengths and experiences to admissions committees. Dr. LaRivière has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds, guiding them to acceptance at MD and MD/PhD programs. Students he has worked with have been accepted to top medical programs at the University of Minnesota, Columbia University, the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Michigan State University, and the University of Washington.
Dr. Gruszczynski is an otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeon at South Florida ENT Associates. He graduated with an MD from the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine on a full scholarship, then completed his otolaryngology residency at the University of Virginia. Dr. Gruszczynski served on the University of Virginia Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Residency Acceptance Committee as Chief Resident Interviewer.
As a medical student, Dr. Gruszczynski founded the Leadership in Medicine and Surgical Skills courses at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. He designed these courses to empower future physicians with technical and professional skills. At the University of Virginia, he served as a lecturer and proctor for tracheostomy and surgical skills training for medical students. He also served on the University of Virginia General Medical Education Committee. Dr. Gruszczynski’s academic work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including The Laryngoscope, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and Facial Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine.
Dr. Gruszczynski draws on his background in academic medicine and insights from serving on the University of Virginia Otolaryngology Residency Acceptance Committee to guide the next generation of physicians. He has guided numerous students to acceptance at medical schools such as Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, and Sidney Kimmel Medical College.
Dr. Zarif is a board-certified surgeon who completed his residency at Lenox Hill Hospital-Northwell. He attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, graduating magna cum laude with a PharmD degree, before earning an MD from Temple University School of Medicine. Dr. Zarif has served on the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative at Temple University and Lenox Hill Hospital-Northwell’s residency admissions committee.
Dr. Zarif has served as an attending physician in general surgery at New York-Presbyterian, where he was on the faculty at Columbia University Medical Center. He pursued additional training in microvascular techniques at Columbia University's microsurgery lab and honed his skills during a rotation with the traumatology service at the world-famous Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
Dr. Zarif specializes in the management of traumatic, sports-related, and degenerative conditions of the hand and wrist. His expertise spans a wide range of hand conditions, including trauma-related injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological issues, tendinopathy, arthritis, and vascular pathologies, with a focus on both operative and non-operative management.
Dr. Zarif’s approach to counseling is holistic. He believes that no single factor, including MCAT score, GPA, or undergraduate institution, should keep an applicant out of contention. He emphasizes the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity and finding the right fit for each medical school applicant.
Dr. Malige is an orthopedic surgeon and partner at Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. He graduated with an MD from the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University before completing an orthopedic surgery residency at St. Luke’s University Health Network, where he served as Chief Resident and admissions committee member for the program.
Following residency, Dr. Malige pursued a prestigious sports medicine fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles. There, he served as an assistant team physician for many professional and collegiate athletic organizations, including the Los Angeles Rams, Angels, Dodgers, Galaxy, and the Anaheim Ducks, as well as Pepperdine University athletics.
Dr. Malige has authored over 50 publications and book chapters on topics including shoulder arthroplasty, ACL reconstruction, throwing elbow injuries, and biologic treatments. He has given lectures and presentations at numerous national orthopedic conferences, and his work has earned multiple research grants and awards, including the prestigious Charles Neer Award for excellence in shoulder and elbow research. Dr. Malige serves on the editorial boards for Arthroscopy, the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, and BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders.
Dr. Malige draws on his experience serving on the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Admissions Committee at St. Luke’s University Health Network and his work as a counselor to help students reach their goals. Students whom Dr. Malige has coached have been accepted to medical schools and orthopedic residency programs across the country, from New Jersey to California.
Dr. Reeson graduated with an MD from Creighton University School of Medicine–Phoenix, where she served on the admissions committee for four years, reviewing over 200 applications, conducting interviews, and advising on admissions decisions. She is currently completing her orthopedic surgery residency training at Rush University Medical Center.
During medical school, Dr. Reeson collaborated with Arizona State University’s School of Biomedical Engineering on the development of novel synthetic meniscus materials. She has authored several publications and received research awards, including First-Place Poster at the Association of Women Surgeons Southwest Regional Conference. Dr. Reeson’s research has been published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, the American Journal of Surgery, and others.
With four years of admissions committee experience, Dr. Reeson has mentored students who have been accepted to medical schools at Creighton University, Tufts University, Loyola Stritch, the University of Nebraska, Kansas City University, the University of Kansas, the University of Arizona, the University of Colorado, and others. Dr. Reeson believes the med school admissions process doesn’t need to be overwhelming. She is skilled at helping students stay organized, manage anxiety, and present their most authentic selves in their applications.
Dr. Okafor is a former Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) athlete and current orthopedic surgery resident at Loyola University Medical Center, where she serves on the admissions committee as an interviewer and an application reviewer. Dr. Okafor graduated with an MD from Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, where she formerly served as an interviewer and application reviewer.
Over the past decade, Dr. Okaor has guided students to acceptances at nationally recognized programs at UCSF, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Emory University, Georgetown University, University of Maryland, University of Wisconsin, Rush Medical College, SUNY Downstate, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Howard University, Drexel University, University of Houston, and others. Students she has coached have also matriculated into leading osteopathic programs, including VCOM, NYITCOM, Rowan SOM, Lincoln Memorial University–DCOM, and University of Pikeville–KYCOM.
Dr. Okafor excels at helping pre-med students create compelling personal statements that highlight their passions, purpose, and resilience. Her coaching model reflects her own trajectory, from Division I athlete to WNBA professional to surgical resident physician. She believes that preparation is key, performance is the result, and confidence is built when students put significant effort into the process.
Dr. Dele-Oni is a general surgery resident at Boston University Medical Center. She graduated with a DO from Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she served as an admissions interviewer for four years. Dr. Dele-Oni currently serves on the Boston University Medical Center’s Graduate Medical Education Resident and Fellow Engagement Steering Committee, where she supports residency recruitment and retention efforts.
Dr. Dele-Oni’s research interests span plastic and reconstructive surgery, breast surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. She has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, including a recent surgical review focused on optimizing outcomes in breast reconstruction. Her work has been published in Nature Communications, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, and Current Breast Cancer Reports.
Dr. Dele-Oni has served as Co-Chair of the Student National Medical Association’s National Osteopathic School Committee, and she co-founded the Journey for Underrepresented in Medicine Program (J.U.M.P.-START), which provides hands-on exposure, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.
Dr. Dele-Oni’s approach is narrative-driven and student-centered. She prioritizes understanding applicants beyond their MCAT scores and GPA to help them create cohesive applications that reflect their lived experiences, values, and aspirations. Students Dr. Dele-Oni has coached have been accepted to medical schools at Rutgers University, Emory University, the University of Massachusetts, Touro College, the University of Kansas, and other prestigious institutions.
We developed this list of the best surgery-trained medical school admissions coaches based on the key things you should look for in an admissions consultant, including their:
We only considered professionals who:
Surgical training emphasizes precision, accountability, and high-stakes decision-making—qualities directly relevant to helping applicants craft the best medical school applications.
We prioritized candidates who served on admissions committees at their medical school or residency program and who:
Surgery-trained former admissions committee members understand what competitive applications look like and can help students ensure their materials align with the expectations of top med schools.
You can learn more about the behind the scenes of what working with a consultant is like here: https://www.inspiraadvantage.com/blog/what-working-with-a-med-school-consultant-actually-looks-like.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Grok
Claude
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