Meet Inspira Advantage’s Research Mentors

Before attending medical school, Dr. Patel earned a BS in biology from Emory University, double majoring in biology and religion. He was selected for the prestigious Emory Scholars Program, a merit-based program recognizing students among the top 5% of undergraduates. As an undergraduate at Emory, he conducted research in cardiac electrophysiology, publishing seven manuscripts and five abstracts. He also received grant funding from the Emory Global Health Institute to perform qualitative research, and spent two years after college doing orthopedic surgery research at Mount Sinai West. 

During medical school, Dr. Patel mentored medical and undergraduate students in clinical research and was the lead medical student responsible for facilitating research studies and communicating with the faculty. Students he has mentored have been published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery and Seminars in Arthroplasty: JSES and have presented their work at Ortho Summit. 

Dr. Patel’s 85+ peer-reviewed publications include case reports, case series, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, and he has directly led or supervised about 60 research projects. His work has been published in many journals, including the Journal of Orthopaedics, the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Seminars in Arthroplasty: JSES, and many others. He has received many honors and awards throughout his training, including the National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award, the Samuel J. Roessler Scholarship, the Medical Student Research Scholarship, and numerous grants from the Ohio State University College of Medicine. 

Dr. Patel strongly believes in working with each student to develop a tailored approach for success. He equips each student with the skills and mentorship necessary to succeed in research. Known for his approachability, enthusiasm, and supportive teaching style, Dr. Patel strives to make the research process accessible and rewarding, empowering students to develop into confident, independent researchers.

Before pursuing graduate studies, Dr. Gupta earned a Bachelor of Science with microbiology honors from the University of Delhi. She went on to earn a Master’s degree, receiving the competitive Catch Them Young Fellowship from the Government of India. She went on to complete a PhD after earning a Graduate Fellowship from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Her thesis explored anti-hemoglobin antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and malaria patients. Dr. Gupta is driven by a passion to uncover the causes of, and cures, for chronic diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and heart disease. 

Dr. Gupta completed her advanced postdoctoral training at the University of Texas Health San Antonio, focusing on cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Her work explores how cancers like breast, ovarian, and skin cancer resist treatment, helping design smarter combination therapies to train the body's immune system to fight tumors. Additionally, her work in cardiovascular science showed how key cellular pathways impact tissue damage and healing following a myocardial infarction (heart attack). 

Recognized for her scientific leadership, Dr. Gupta has earned numerous top awards, including the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Young Investigator Travel Award, the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Trainee Poster and Travel Awards, and First Place at the San Antonio Postdoctoral Research Forum. Her research is published in top scientific journals, including Nature Communications, Science Advances, Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, Cancer Research, Autophagy, Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, and Leukemia. She also served as a Co-Principal Investigator on one of the three projects of a federally funded P01 grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Gupta has worked as an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health San Antonio for over three years, where she teaches courses in tumor immunology and vaccine biology. She was once nominated as Teacher of the Month. She previously served as a Voelcker Mentor at the Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy. 

Trained by leading medical and scientific mentors, Dr. Gupta focuses on "bench-to-bedside" translation and turning laboratory discovery into real treatments for patients. Dr. Gupta has designed and taught graduate courses on vaccine science, organized scientific journal clubs, and coached students on winning competitive awards and research grants. As a dedicated mentor, she has guided trainees at every stage of their academic journeys to remarkable achievements, including publications, guiding theses towards successful completion, and helping them become more competitive medical school applicants.

Before pursuing graduate training, Dr. Shah graduated with a Bachelor’s in pharmacy from Vivekanand Education Society's College of Pharmacy in India. While pursuing her PhD, Dr. Shah served as a graduate research assistant at Wayne State University. Her research experience spans translational neuropharmacology, molecular biology, transcriptomics, data analysis, scientific literature evaluation, and manuscript preparation. Dr. Shah has authored or co-authored seven peer-reviewed publications in Digital Health, The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Frontiers in Neurology, and other journals. She also led an innovative regulatory submission simulation initiative supported as Principal Investigator by a $25,000 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Award, helping graduate students develop skills in scientific writing, electronic common technical document (eCTD) structures, project management, and cross-functional collaboration.

Dr. Shah has extensive experience teaching and mentoring students in graduate-level regulatory affairs, clinical research, pharmacology, and biotechnology. As an assistant teaching professor at Northeastern University, she designed and delivered graduate-level courses to diverse student populations, including international students. Some of the courses she has taught include Human Experimentation – Methodological Issues, Clinical Trial Design Optimization and Problem Solving, Introduction to FDA Pharmaceutical Regulation, and Biomedical Product Development. She has been nominated multiple times for the College of Professional Studies Excellence and Teaching Award. She also taught pharmacology at Fanshawe College and contributed to curriculum development at several post-secondary institutions. 

Beyond academia, Dr. Shah is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Regulatory Affairs Chronicle and an Advisory Fellow with ElioMedica, where she reviews scientific content for accuracy, clarity, and regulatory alignment. She also previously served as a reviewer for MDPI. These roles have strengthened her ability to evaluate evidence, communicate complex concepts, and guide learners in developing rigorous, evidence-based research skills.

As a research mentor, Dr. Shah excels at breaking down complex scientific concepts, providing constructive feedback, and helping students approach challenging research questions with confidence. Her mentoring emphasizes critical thinking, scientific integrity, effective literature searches, interpretation of evidence, and clear academic writing. She takes a structured approach, helping students identify areas for improvement, strengthen their arguments, and become more independent researchers.

Having taught students from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, Dr. Shah understands that research can feel overwhelming, particularly when students are undertaking their first major project or preparing for competitive academic opportunities. She is passionate about making research more accessible and helping students build the skills and confidence to turn their curiosity into meaningful scholarly work. She finds it especially rewarding to see students progress from uncertainty to independently analyzing evidence and communicating their ideas with clarity.

Before pursuing a PhD, Dr. Bolling earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cornell University, where she was a Pauline and Irving Tanner Dean’s Scholar. She then pursued a Master’s degree in developmental neuroscience and psychopathology at the University College London. She previously served as an academic mentor at University of Chicago, where she guided Master’s students pursuing degrees in psychology, and as a graduate student research mentor at Yale University, where she mentored undergraduate students and postgraduate fellows. She also once partnered with an online social science research program affiliated with the Harvard International Relations Council.

Dr. Bolling’s research has utilized neuroimaging methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), coupled with behavioral experiments, to better understand cognitive processes in children, adolescents, and adults. Her early research focused on youth with autism spectrum disorders. Later, she expanded her research to examine how cognitive and perceptual biases relate to anxiety and depressive symptoms in adults. Overall, her research has endeavored to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying social, cognitive, and affective processing in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Bolling has 25+ publications in peer-reviewed academic journals, such as NeuroImage, Developmental Science, Social Neuroscience, Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, and Brain Topography. She has also presented her research at international conferences, such as the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), the Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM), the Social & Affective Neuroscience Society (SANS) Annual Meeting, and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Annual Meeting. Beyond academia, she has experience in scientific publishing. After completing her PhD, Dr. Bolling worked as a staff editor for the scientific journal PLOS ONE, where she evaluated research articles in the behavioral and social sciences, neuroscience, and mental health. Additionally, she coordinated the peer-review process for manuscripts under consideration for publication in the journal.

Dr. Bolling has mentored a wide range of researchers. Past students have praised her talent for simplifying complex ideas, as well as her ability to make them feel comfortable asking questions while engaging with challenging topics. As a mentor, Dr. Bolling specializes in teaching students the fundamental skills necessary to excel in academic research using a clear, detailed, and structured approach. She helps students find and evaluate relevant academic literature, develop original research questions, devise appropriate methodologies to address their research questions, and objectively evaluate and report their results. She especially enjoys working with students who are new to academic research, helping them build confidence and acquire the tools necessary to explore topics they find personally and intellectually meaningful.

Dr. Yakisich’s research spans pharmacology, oncology, and molecular and cellular biology, with particular interests in neuroscience, chemotherapy, cancer stem cells, and translational oncology. He developed the stemness phenotype model, a paradigm-shifting model of cancer stem cells with important clinical implications. His work also uncovered an ultrasensitive window of time in human cancer cells, identifying a potential new target for preventing metastasis using existing FDA-approved drugs. During his research career, Dr. Yakisich has led over 50+ projects, often as a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator. He has also served as a reviewer, guest editor, and Editor-in-Chief of leading journals. As a professor, Dr. Yakisich teaches several courses for the PharmD program at Hampton University, including Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences, and Interprofessional Education.

As a research mentor, Dr. Yakisich has trained high school, undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD students across Argentina, Sweden, and the United States. He has mentored researchers at Hampton University and the New Horizons Governor’s School for Science and Technology, guiding projects in cancer biology, cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and physiology. Students he has mentored have published in journals such as the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, International Journal of Cell Biology, Journal of Cellular Physiology, and Pharmaceutics, and have gone on to attend the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and the University of Alabama, among other schools. 

Drawing on his experience as a professor, journal editor, and principal investigator, Dr. Yakisich helps students understand both the science behind their projects and what it takes to produce publishable research.

Following graduate school, Ana transitioned into the biotechnology industry as a laboratory technician and then research veterinarian at Morphocell Technologies, leading and supporting pre-clinical research projects focused on advancing human health. Working within multidisciplinary teams, she contributed to study design, experimental execution, data interpretation, and scientific communication, helping translate research findings into meaningful scientific outcomes. 

During her graduate training, Ana served as Lead Author on two peer-reviewed publications in Viruses. She contributed to study design, conducted laboratory research, analyzed data, prepared manuscripts, and coordinated revisions throughout the peer-review process. She also presented her findings at scientific conferences, contributing to research in veterinary virology and molecular epidemiology.

At the University of Calgary, Ana mentored high school students through the Heritage Youth Researcher Summer Program and the Verna J. Kirkness Science Education Program, introducing them to biomedical research, laboratory techniques, and scientific inquiry. She also supported incoming international graduate students as a peer mentor by providing academic guidance, university resources, and assistance with adapting to graduate studies and life in Canada.

As a research mentor, Ana's greatest strengths are her ability to make complex scientific concepts approachable, encourage critical thinking, and create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and learning from challenges. She understands that starting a research project can feel overwhelming, particularly for students new to scientific inquiry. By breaking the research process into manageable steps and tailoring her guidance to each student's interests, learning style, and goals, Ana helps students build confidence while developing scientific writing, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Ana understands that there are many paths to a successful career in science. She is passionate about helping students discover how research can broaden their opportunities in veterinary medicine, medicine, and biomedical science. Whether guiding students as they refine a research question, navigate scientific literature, or communicate their findings, Ana strives to foster curiosity, resilience, and scientific integrity. For her, one of the most rewarding aspects of mentorship is watching students grow into confident, independent thinkers who recognize their ability to make meaningful contributions to science.

Dr. Spediacci began her academic career at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned a degree in communication studies. Before entering veterinary medicine, she worked in animation and feature film production, including at DreamWorks Animation, and later returned to school as a non-traditional student to pursue veterinary medicine. At UC Davis, she combined clinical training with research experience and student leadership, including involvement with the Behavior Medicine and Animal Welfare Club. Dr. Spediacci later built a career in veterinary education and learning science, serving as Senior Veterinary Learning Strategist and Director of Learning at the American Animal Hospital Association. 

As a research mentor, Dr. Spediacci brings together her backgrounds in veterinary medicine, scientific research, editing, and instructional design. She brings hands-on research and mentorship experience to guiding pre-vet students through the research process, and she is passionate about mentoring the next generation of veterinary professionals.

Dr. Albanese earned a Bachelor of Science in avian biology from the University of Georgia before pursuing doctoral training in poultry science. Her PhD research focused on the biology, molecular virology, and molecular parasitology of avian pathogens, building a strong foundation in infectious disease research and veterinary biotechnology. Her work earned recognition through the Merck Animal Health Education Research Poultry Sponsorship Award, and she later expanded her technical training by completing a graduate certificate in bioinformatics through the Harvard Extension School.

Following her academic training, Dr. Albanese spent several years at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA working in poultry research and development and viral vaccine exploration. Her work centered on the research and development of poultry viral and bacterial vaccines, with particular emphasis on exploratory vaccine strategies for avian infectious bronchitis virus. As a project lead, she helped guide research from early scientific questions through experimental design, testing, interpretation, and broader development decisions.

Throughout her career in top-tier corporate settings and academic laboratories, Dr. Albanese has remained deeply invested in mentorship. She has guided graduate students, junior scientists, and laboratory technicians through complex molecular assays, virology protocols, and bioinformatics workflows. Under her guidance, trainees have learned not only how to execute rigorous science, but also how to effectively document discoveries for patent applications and confidently present data.

As a research mentor, Dr. Albanese is recognized for an approach rooted in empowerment through autonomy and structured project management. She specializes in teaching students how to balance the creative, exploratory side of biological discovery with data-driven execution. Her greatest strengths include guiding students through rigorous experimental design and providing clear project frameworks that help students hit milestones without burning out. She views research training as a powerful tool for building intellectual curiosity, scientific integrity, and confidence. Dr. Albanese is known for her structured approach to student development, her clear scientific communication, and her commitment to mentoring the next generation of animal health researchers.

Dr. Butler-Struben’s interest in research began as an undergraduate at UC Davis, where she studied pharmaceutical effects on behavior in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder. Later, at San Francisco State University, she conducted comparative pain physiology research using cephalopods in the Crook Lab. Along with her internship at the San Francisco Zoo and further neuroscience research at the University of California, San Francisco, she began to study the psychology and cognition of animal welfare in captive animals. As a policy fellow with the California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine within the California Health and Human Services, she worked with researchers and legislators across the US to organize funding for research projects targeting specific underrepresented California populations.

Throughout her education, Dr. Butler-Struben has worked extensively with undergraduate students as a Lead Graduate Student Mentor at UC Davis and San Francisco State University, and as a teaching assistant, teaching courses ranging from biology to psychology and animal science. Near the end of her graduate program, she became the lead for a journal club for aspiring neuroscience students in the Educational Enrichment and Outreach Program. She has held leadership roles in her local science communication club, Science Says, and has been active in SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science). After completing her Master’s degree, Butler-Struben worked as Laboratory Manager at the UCSF Department of Otolaryngology. 

Across her research career, Dr. Butler-Struben has explored questions at the intersection of neuroscience, animal behavior, physiology, cognition, and welfare. She has contributed to work appearing in journals including Neuropsychopharmacology, Animal Behaviour, and Invertebrate Neuroscience. Her research experience is complemented by a strong background in science communication, allowing her to translate complex scientific concepts for students, collaborators, and broader audiences. 

Dr. Butler-Struben is a motivational mentor who has helped dozens of students reach their goals, from developing research proposals and presentations to attending the graduate school of their dreams. Students she has mentored have gone on to institutions including UC Davis, UCSF, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Columbia University, and the University of Southern California. Her past mentees have presented their work at venues including the Society for Neuroscience Conference, the UC Davis Undergraduate Research Conference, and the Society for Integrative Biology Conference. They have also had their work published in journals such as Neuropsychopharmacology, Animal Behaviour, and Invertebrate Neuroscience.

As an experienced mentor, Dr. Butler-Struben draws on an eclectic background of experiences to guide students. She brings varied interests that all connect through a love of learning, and she tailors her mentoring to fit each individual student, getting to know their strengths and helping them leverage them to achieve their goals. She likes to view each student holistically, getting to know them on a deep and personal level to better support their growth both academically and personally.

Dr. Yuschenkoff began her academic training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she earned a degree in biology. During her undergraduate summers, she gained broad experience through volunteer work at the Oakland Zoo, the Boston Science Museum, and a wildlife rehabilitation center. She also conducted research on the reproductive patterns of Golden Spiny mice in Israel, building an early foundation in comparative biology, animal behavior, and scientific inquiry.

At the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Yuschenkoff continued developing her interests in zoological and wildlife medicine while earning multiple awards and scholarships. Her honors included the Clark Client Communication Award, the Christine Parker Marino Memorial Wildlife Health Scholarship, the Dr. Robert H. Baker Endowed Scholarship, the Wackie Arnold Scholarship, and the Dr. Viki Krade Memorial Feline Medicine Award.

Following veterinary school, Dr. Yuschenkoff completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and a specialized internship in zoological medicine at the Phoenix Zoo. She then completed a residency in zoological medicine at the Oklahoma City Zoo and earned Diplomate status with the American College of Zoological Medicine, the highest certification available for zoo veterinarians. Her postgraduate experience also includes work as a contract veterinarian at the San Francisco Zoo and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and as an Associate Veterinarian at Groveway Veterinary Hospital. She is currently an Associate Veterinarian at the Oklahoma City Zoo and has served as lead author on seven publications.

Dr. Yuschenkoff has developed a research portfolio spanning zoo, wildlife, and exotic animal health. Her work includes studies on copper hepatopathy in sugar gliders, tramadol pharmacokinetics in Galapagos tortoises, mortality patterns in Kirk’s dik-diks, and blood gas values in ferrets. She has led approximately 10 research projects and has been recognized for her scientific communication, including receiving first place in the AEMV Poster Presentation Competition at ExoticsCon. Dr. Yuschenkoff’s research has been published in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, the Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, Zoo Biology, and other journals. Her work and professional achievements have also been featured by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and Visit OKC.

As a research mentor, Dr. Yuschenkoff supports trainees through study development, data interpretation, abstract preparation, and manuscript writing. She has mentored students as a veterinary resident and has helped guide projects resulting in two abstracts accepted for presentation at the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Conference. Her mentorship style is practical, collaborative, and grounded in helping trainees transform clinical observations into focused, publishable research questions.

Dr. Godinich has built a prolific research record across radiation oncology, cancer survivorship, public health, dermatology, and medical education. He has authored and co-authored 20+ peer-reviewed publications, with his work appearing in journals such as Cancers, JMIR Medical Education, the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Nutrients, JAAD Reviews, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. His research spans artificial intelligence applications in oncology, health disparities along the U.S.-Mexico border, cancer misinformation, and innovative medical education.

Dr. Godinich’s work has been presented at major national and international meetings, including the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). He has already received media attention, including coverage in The Times UK, tied to research on cancer misinformation and trust among cancer survivors. 

Over the course of his career, Dr. Godinich has been recognized with multiple honors and awards. His leadership spans student government, oncology and OBGYN interest groups, admissions committees, and community outreach. He has received the ASTRO-BCRF Visiting Rotation Scholarship, the MD Anderson Visiting Rotation Scholarship, Distinction in Research and Scholarship, and Best in Internal Medicine Research Award at the UTMB NSRF Conference. Brandon brings clinical training, research depth, and a genuine commitment to health equity to every role he takes on.

Mentorship and teaching are central to Dr. Godinich’s approach. He has supported medical students through completion of institution-based scholarly activity and research requirements, with an emphasis on producing submission-ready work and conference dissemination, including abstracts published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). Dr. Godinich served as a graduate research mentor at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine and as a graduate research assistant at the University of Texas School of Public Health. He has supported students in research spanning topics in behavioral & social sciences in health, cancer and tumor biology, health policy, health economics, health services and outcomes, and public health. 

In addition to research mentorship, Dr. Godnich serves as an MCAT tutor and medical school admissions coach with extensive one-on-one coaching experience. He has also taught electives for fourth-year medical students on topics including cancer immunotherapy, border health and community-based research, and artificial intelligence in medicine at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.

Wajeeha has deep expertise in perinatal epidemiology, environmental health research, and quantitative methods. Her dissertation investigates how maternal psychological distress and environmental exposures jointly shape severe neonatal morbidity. Her research draws on large-scale pregnancy cohort data to examine how prenatal stress, air pollution, and genetic factors interact to affect birth outcomes. Her work spans epidemiologic study design, linear mixed-effects trajectory modeling, mediation analysis, and gene-environment interaction using GWAS data. Wajeeha has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Diabetes Care, Environmental Health Perspectives, and Science of the Total Environment. 

In addition to her dissertation work, Wajeeha leads the UROP Interdisciplinary Research Team. The team conducts satellite-based heat exposure analysis along freight corridors in Los Angeles, using NASA ECOSTRESS data to understand environmental health disparities in vulnerable communities. This work reflects her commitment to research that is both methodologically rigorous and socially meaningful, and it has strengthened her hands-on experience supervising, training, and supporting emerging researchers.

Wajeeha has received multiple honors, including the Health Equity Research Scholarship and the Distinguished Public Impact Fellowship, awarded in recognition of her commitment to research advancing health equity and community well-being. She also serves as a teaching associate at UC Irvine, bringing clarity and structure to complex quantitative and methodological topics.

As a research mentor, Wajeeha is genuinely invested in each student's growth. She guides mentees through every stage of the research process, from formulating a research question and conducting a systematic literature review to analyzing data, interpreting findings, and producing polished, publication-ready work. Her technical strengths include proficiency in R, SAS, Python, and ArcGIS, and she is skilled at breaking down complex statistical and methodological concepts into clear, accessible steps.

Wajeeha's approach to mentorship is grounded in her belief that learning to think like a researcher is one of the most transformative skills a student can develop. She knows what it takes to navigate the demands of rigorous graduate-level research while managing real life, and she brings that understanding and empathy into every mentoring relationship. Her goal is to help students complete a project, find their scholarly voice, and develop their intellectual independence.

Dr. Das’ doctoral training emphasized advanced epidemiologic methods, biostatistics, spatial analysis of infectious diseases, population health data analysis, and grant writing. Her work integrates statistical and predictive modeling, time-series analysis, qualitative methods, and geospatial epidemiology, and she is proficient in tools, such as R, SPSS, Stata, ArcGIS, Dedoose, and Qualtrics. Her primary research focuses on rabies control, zoonotic disease surveillance, and health systems strengthening in low- and middle-income countries.

At the University of Minnesota’s Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, Dr. Das led a spatial population prediction model estimating the distribution of free-roaming dogs in Kenya. This work was supported by a $10,000 Graduate Student/Resident Internal Grant Award and contributed to high-impact publications and applied insights for rabies control planning. She has also conducted systematic reviews, field-based epidemiologic surveys with veterinary professionals in Kenya, time-series analyses of dog bite surveillance data, and stakeholder-engaged rabies control workshops.

Dr. Das has authored and co-authored 13 peer-reviewed publications. Her work has been published in journals including Pathogens, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, PLOS ONE, and Heliyon. She has presented her research at major international conferences, including the International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics and the International Conference on One Health, as well as national veterinary medical conferences. She is also an active peer reviewer for journals including PLOS ONE, PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Journal of Small Animal Practice, and Public Health Challenges.

Teaching and mentorship are central to Dr. Das’ career. She previously served as an assistant professor at Sylhet Agricultural University, where she taught veterinary epidemiology, public health, bioinformatics, and veterinary jurisprudence while co-supervising Master’s students and mentoring undergraduate researchers. At the University of Minnesota, she served as a residency program teacher, supporting graduate-level learning and experiential training focused on biosecurity and public health systems. Beyond research and teaching, Dr. Das has served in multiple leadership roles, including Program Representative for the Council of Graduate Students at the University of Minnesota and General Secretary of the Bangladesh Student Association.

As a research mentor, Dr. Das is known for her structured, analytical, and highly supportive approach. She believes strong research begins with asking precise, meaningful questions and building a clear methodological roadmap. She guides students through every stage of the research process, from refining research questions and conducting systematic literature reviews to designing studies, performing statistical analyses, and preparing manuscripts for submission. Her strengths include demystifying quantitative methods, strengthening academic writing, and helping students develop confidence in presenting their work. Dr. Das emphasizes accountability, clarity, and incremental progress, ensuring that each student builds both technical competence and independent scientific thinking.

With 10 years of mentorship experience, Dr. Das’ passion for mentorship stems from her own journey navigating international research environments and interdisciplinary collaborations. She views research not only as a credential-building activity but as a process that cultivates critical thinking, intellectual rigor, and leadership in public health.

Before completing a PhD, Dr. Nair earned a BA in psychology and sociology from the University of Mumbai. She also holds an MA in clinical psychology from SDNT Women’s University and an MS in exercise sciences from Ithaca College. Her research portfolio spans federally, state-, and foundation-funded work aimed at developing nicotine and tobacco dependence interventions for underserved populations and reducing cancer-related disparities in sexual and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) populations. She also has an emerging research program focused on training healthcare providers in the use of psychedelics as therapeutic interventions for mental health, with an emphasis on improving equitable access to these innovative treatments.

Dr. Nair has served as a Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on National Institutes of Health grants and as a Lead and Senior Author on multiple peer-reviewed publications. Her scholarship reflects a strong commitment to translating rigorous research into practical, community-relevant impact. She has more than 45 publications, and her research has appeared in journals such as Nicotine & Tobacco Research, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and many others. 

As a professor at the University of South Florida, Dr. Nair teaches Health Policy and Clinical Prevention and Health Promotion in Diverse Populations. She has also worked as a professor at the University of Arizona. With over 10 years of mentorship experience, Dr. Nair has extensive experience mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. As a research mentor, her greatest strengths lie in helping mentees translate ideas into methodologically rigorous projects. She specializes in grant writing, study design, and aligning research questions with real-world impact. She is particularly skilled at working with students to clarify their research identity and strengthen their writing. 

For Dr. Nair, mentorship is collaborative, respectful, value-based, and highly individualized. She strives to meet mentees where they are at, whether it’s a foray into exploring a research idea or preparing for publications in high-impact journals. She believes that strong research mentorship can be transformative and a learning experience for everyone involved, from the individual conducting the research to the communities that benefit from scientific inquiry and discovery. 

While in Serbia, Dr. Stanic worked as a physician-scientist and clinical pathologist at the Clinical Center of Vojvodina. She gained experience as a Co-Investigator and Principal Investigator at the Clinical Center of Vojvodina’s Children’s Hospital. She also served as Principal Investigator of the Endocrinology Diagnostics and Human Reproduction Lab. She mentored medical students in the Department of Pathophysiology, as well as residents across laboratory medicine and pathology, supporting their academic development and research training. As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Stanic oversaw study design, regulatory strategy, patient recruitment, and data analysis across metabolic disorders, hypertension, and hyperparathyroidism in investigator-initiated clinical studies. 

As a researcher, Dr. Stanic’s work focuses on cardiometabolic diseases, hypertension, and biomarker-driven research. This work is complemented by residency training in laboratory medicine, where she developed expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and immunology. Her research portfolio spans cardiometabolic diseases, neuroscience, oncology, pediatrics, and lung pathology. Dr. Stanic’s work has contributed to advancing the understanding of disease mechanisms and biomarker relationships, including novel insights into the interaction between endocrine and cardiovascular systems.

Dr. Stanic conducted pre-clinical and translational pathology studies at Georgetown University as a National Institutes of Health and American Heart Association grant-supported Investigator. Her work examined neuroinflammation in COVID-19 and cardiorenal injury in a calorie-deficit model, with an emphasis on the identification and validation of biomarkers for inflammation, fibrosis, and microglial activation. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in prominent journals, such as the International Journal of Endocrinology, the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, and Medicina. She has presented her findings at major scientific meetings, winning the Top Poster Award at the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) Annual Meeting. She currently works as a translational research scientist at Georgetown University. 

Dr. Stanic’s work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Ruth L. Kirschstein (NRSA) Postdoctoral Research Training Award at the Department of Medicine Georgetown University Medical Center, the National Institutes of Health Research Award, the First Place Early Stage Investigator Award, and competitive research presentation honors. She has extensive experience mentoring students and trainees at Georgetown University and the University of Novi Sad Graduate School of Medicine in clinical research and laboratory medicine, guiding them through study design, data interpretation, and scientific writing.

Dr. Stanic has over a decade of research mentorship experience, guiding undergraduate and graduate trainees in translational medicine research methods and laboratory techniques. Her mentoring approach is structured, practical, and results-driven. Dr. Stanic works closely with students to develop strong, publication-ready research projects, emphasizing critical thinking, scientific rigor, and clear communication. Students gain experience in clinical research methodology, biomarker analysis, and the development of impactful poster and oral presentations for scientific conferences, along with strong academic writing skills. She is passionate about helping students build meaningful research experiences and accomplish their academic and career goals.

Prior to medical school, Dr. Sharma graduated magna cum laude with honors in biology and a minor in the biological basis of behavior and healthcare management. At Penn, she served as a research peer advisor for the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.

At Perelman, Dr. Sharma was actively involved in various initiatives that demonstrated her commitment to healthcare innovation and community service. She has worked with the Penn Medicine/Wharton Fund for Health and Wharton Investment Venture Associates, exploring the intersection of business and medicine. Additionally, Dr. Sharma co-founded an accelerator for social determinants of health startups through Penn HealthX, demonstrating her dedication to addressing these factors.

Dr. Sharma's research experience includes working at the Center for Surgery and Health Economics, where she has contributed to advancing knowledge in the field of surgery and health economics. She was awarded two research fellowships as an undergraduate and three research fellowships in medical school, by the Agnew Surgical Society, the Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Safety, and the Center for the University of Pennsylvania's Dermatology Oncology Center. 

Dr. Sharma has authored 20+ peer-reviewed journal articles in surgery, oncology, anesthesia, gastroenterology, and dermatology, including several first-author publications. She has been published in numerous selective journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the Journal of General Internal Medicine, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and others. She has also presented oral and poster presentations at multiple conferences, including the International Association for Health Professions Education Conference, Physicians for Human Rights National Student Conference, and the Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting. She has also been featured in several academic and media publications.

Dr. Sharma's approach to mentoring is characterized by her enthusiasm, empathy, and dedication to helping others achieve their goals. She is excited to work with pre-med students from diverse backgrounds and provide personalized guidance and support throughout the research process. Having supervised and led eight research projects over the course of her career, Dr. Sharma has helped guide students through research in immunology, cancer & tumor biology, cell biology, and health policy, economics, services, and outcomes. 

Dr. Sharma strongly believes in individualized coaching approaches and supporting non-traditional paths in medicine or "medicine plus" research interests. She is a firm believer in maximizing productivity through deliverables. Her passion for mentoring and experience in research advising make her an invaluable coach for anyone looking for guidance towards research success.

Christian’s journey began at UCLA, where he studied psychobiology, global health, and music history. He navigated college as a first-generation student at UCLA, serving as a caseworker and student leader for the Mobile Clinic Project, a street-side clinic delivering medical care and social services to individuals experiencing homelessness. He traveled to rural Nicaragua to deliver health care and public health services and spent two years teaching local underserved youth public health and nutrition. After graduating cum laude from UCLA, Christian took two gap years and managed large-scale, community-based clinical research studies targeting addiction medicine and HIV/AIDS patients in Los Angeles.

Christian’s formative healthcare and public health experiences and passion for advancing health and racial equity inspired him to apply to and attend the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA’s Program in Medical Education for Leadership and Advocacy (PRIME-LA). He completed his MS1 and MS2 years of medical school at UCLA before pursuing a career focused on research and equity, with the dream of becoming a civil rights and health justice attorney. He graduated from Brown University’s School of Public Health with a 4.0 GPA and received multiple merit-based scholarships for excellence in health policy and leadership.

Christian’s research experience spans clinical medicine, health technology, public health policy, medical education, and health equity. He has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications in journals Medical Science Educator, Applied Clinical Informatics, Cureus, AMIA Symposium Proceedings, and the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. His work has been presented at national and international conferences, including the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) Annual Symposium, global health conferences, and academic medical centers across the country. His research has addressed topics ranging from telemedicine access and clinical decision support tools to anti-racism curricula in medical education and health policy decision-making.

Before becoming the Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Policy Manager at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Office of the General Counsel, Christian served in multiple research-related roles. He has worked as a staff research associate and telemedicine researcher at UCLA Geffen’s Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine, a health policy and economics researcher at UCLA Health, a researcher in the Mayo Clinic’s Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, a clinical research coordinator at UC Irvine Health, and the Health Technology Project Manager for Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care. 

In these roles, Christian has led and supported multidisciplinary research teams, managed IRB-approved studies, conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses, and helped translate research findings into real-world clinical and policy impact. He has mentored junior researchers, medical students, and trainees by providing guidance on study design, literature review, data analysis, abstract and manuscript preparation, and conference presentations. These experiences directly inform Christian’s work as a research mentor, where he helps students develop leadership, ownership, and confidence in their research trajectories.

A public health researcher, former medical trainee, and experienced research mentor, Christian has a strong record of guiding pre-medical students through research development and academic storytelling. Christian works closely with pre-medical and medical school applicants to help them identify research opportunities and clarify their academic narratives. He specializes in mentoring students through all stages of the research process, from identifying meaningful research questions and navigating lab or clinical research environments to developing abstracts, posters, and manuscripts, and translating research experiences into compelling personal statements and interviews. 

Christian is known for his supportive, structured, and equity-centered mentoring style. He places particular emphasis on helping first-generation, underrepresented, and non-traditional students build confidence, articulate their intellectual growth, and recognize the value of their lived experiences as future physicians and scientists. His approach integrates rigor with encouragement, helping students develop strong analytical skills while also cultivating clarity, resilience, and purpose.

Christian’s passion for mentoring pre-medical students is rooted in the belief that research is not only a credential but a formative process that sharpens critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and curiosity, qualities essential to excellent physicians. He is deeply committed to helping students grow into thoughtful, equity-minded clinicians and researchers who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to medicine and public health.

He began his academic journey at Princeton University, where he majored in molecular biology and graduated with honors. Dr. Ng then attended Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine for his MD, again graduating with honors in research. Dr. Ng is a reviewer for several leading medical and orthopedic journals, including The Spine Journal, Spine, the Journal of Spine Surgery, the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and World Neurosurgery. He is also a Section Editor for Hip Surgery, the Journal of Anthroplasty, and Orthopedics at Frontiers in Surgery, as well as a guide editor for the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Dr. Ng also serves as an Elite Reviewer and Editorial Board member for the Journal of Arthroplasty. 

Dr. Ng is a member of the North American Spine Society (NASS) Committee Member (Early Advisory Council, Continuing Medical Education Committee) and an Abstract Reviewer for the Cervical Spine Research Society (CSRS), NASS 2025. He was named Outstanding Author in 2025 by the Journal of Spine Surgery, and was a top 5 national winner for the Northeast Region REF Resident Research Symposium. Dr. Ng is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Thessalus Capital, a healthcare investment firm featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, and CNBC. He is a consultant for 14 orthopedic device companies, including VB Spine, Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, and Pacira, and serves as a medical affairs consultant at Ferghana Partners Group, an investment bank specializing in life sciences and specialty chemicals. 

With 10+ years of research mentorship and coaching experience, Dr. Ng has helped students gain acceptance to medical schools at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, UPenn, Columbia, Brown, NYU, UPitt, Johns Hopkins, Rutgers, and Duke. He has supported students across various research disciplines, including bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biostatistics, molecular biology, public health, and systems and quantitative biology. He has also supported students pursuing research in health policy, health economics, health services, outcomes research, biomedical informatics, clinical informatics, and data science. 

Dr. Ng creates a supportive and non-judgmental environment for students, helping them overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. As a research mentor, Dr. Ng excels at merging his practical experience with academic inquiry, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the scientific inquiry process. His diverse background brings a unique perspective on healthcare and innovation to his mentorship and advisory roles. 

Before pursuing PhD training, Dr. Korch graduated with a BSc in biology and biochemistry from the University of Winnipeg and a pre-Master’s in biology from the University of Manitoba. As a Full Professor of Pharmacology, Dr. Korch leverages her wealth of expertise to mentor future healthcare professionals. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University on a full scholarship, where she also mentored undergraduate students. Currently, Dr. Korch serves as the Pharmacology Course Director for PAs at Midwestern University, teaching infectious disease pharmacology to students across various disciplines, including medical, physician assistant, dental, optometry, veterinary, and biomedical sciences students. 

However, her contributions to the field extend beyond teaching. She has presented her research at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals, demonstrating her commitment to advancing medical knowledge. Her research focuses on cancer cell metabolomics and mechanisms of microbial latency, and she actively involves students in her research laboratory. Dr. Korch has been published in multiple journals, including the Journal of Bacteriology, Molecular Microbiology, Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, and others. Dr. Korch has also served as a member of international and USA PhD thesis committees.

As a mentor, Dr. Korch excels in sharing her knowledge and experiences with aspiring healthcare professionals. She has deep expertise in microbiology, cancer and tumor biology, infectious disease, and pharmacology. Her guidance helps students build confidence as they conduct meaningful research, and Dr. Korch is motivated by students' "light bulb" moments. Many students have successfully continued to graduate healthcare programs, benefiting from her expertise and support.

Dr. Pastewait is a Distinguished Graduate from the US Air Force Academy, graduating as the top cadet in the field of chemistry. He earned his first Master’s degree from the University of Maryland in College Park. Upon graduation, Dr. Pastewait worked as a chemist for the Air Force Research Laboratory for four years. In this role, he conducted research on the synthesis, characterization, and testing of rocket propellant. In the field of computational chemistry, he used advanced software to design and characterize energetic materials for chemical propulsion systems, and in physical chemistry, he designed experiments to investigate new propulsion applications for next-generation liquid propellants—his research was published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry. He also deployed to Southwest Asia multiple times in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Upon his return, Dr. Pastewait entered the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine on the Health Professions Scholarship Program. At this time, he began mentoring and tutoring other dental students in both didactic and clinical courses. He was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society. 

After graduation, Dr. Pastewait worked as a general dentist for three years before applying for an orthodontic residency. While attending the UNC Adams School of Dentistry Orthodontic program, Dr. Pastewait conducted research on cleft lip and palate patients using artificial intelligence software. His team analyzed cone beam CT images to investigate various defect factors. He also used artificial intelligence to develop an automated method for tooth labelling and landmark identification on intraoral scans. Furthermore, he co-authored two chapters of the textbook Machine Learning in Dentistry. 

His education and mentorship skills were further honed when he became the Orthodontic Course Director for an AEGD-1 program. Using his previous research and admissions committee experience, Dr. Pastewait helped residents with their research projects and poster presentations. They performed research in multiple areas, including third molar treatment modalities, the health risks of electronic cigarettes, and advanced pediatric dentistry techniques. He also served as an interviewer and selection committee member for the US Air Force AEGD-1 Program and the Health Professions Scholarship Program.

Dr. Pastewait has experience guiding students in research across biochemistry, biomedical engineering, chemistry, health policy and economics, health services, biomedical and clinical informatics, and data science. Students he has worked with have been accepted to top dental schools, including Rutgers University, Columbia University, the University of Colorado, Midwestern University, Lincoln Memorial University, Medical University of South Carolina, Indiana University, New York University, and the University of Southern California.

As a research mentor, Dr. Pastewait draws upon his extensive research, education, and clinical experience to guide prospective healthcare professionals throughout the research and publication process. 

Dr. Saltzberg holds a BA in psychology, graduating cum laude from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and earned his MD from Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School. He completed his pediatrics residency at Northwestern University’s Children’s Memorial Hospital. After six years of practice, Dr. Saltzberg returned to training in emergency medicine at the University of Nevada.

Dr. Saltzberg has also taught in residency programs at Northwestern University and Chicago Medical School. He also helped create a remote clinical curriculum for basic science students at Chicago Medical School. With 35+ years as an admissions committee member, he is acutely aware of the role research plays in medical school admissions. 

Known for his holistic, student-centered approach to research mentorship, Dr. Saltzberg has supported students through multiple research areas. These disciplines include biomedical engineering, development and stem cell biology, epidemiology, genetics, microbiology, infectious disease, neuroscience, physiology, integrative biology, and health services and outcomes research.

Dr. Lingaya completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, graduating with university honors from the Honors Program with a dual degree in evolutionary anthropology and biology. As an undergraduate, he pursued research domestically and internationally, including fieldwork in rural Ghana and global health exploration in the Middle East as a Marsh Fellow. His diverse international experiences formed the cornerstone of his medical school application, earning him admission to 13+ institutions. 

At the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Lingaya was awarded the prestigious Hymen Oren Scholarship—a full-tuition merit-based award recognizing future leaders in medicine. He also served as a Graduate Success Partner for five years, mentoring undergraduate pre-med students at the University of Michigan and guiding them through the admissions process. 

Dr. Lingaya has served as a research mentor for the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives at the University of Michigan and has experience guiding students through behavioral and social sciences research. Dr. Lingaya has research expertise in epidemiology, public health, biomedical and clinical informatics, data science, and health services and outcomes. His work has been published in Urology Practice and Urology. 

As a first-generation college student and immigrant from the Philippines, Dr. Lingaya’s commitment to research mentorship is personal and mission-driven. The mentorship he received throughout his medical education journey played a pivotal role in his success. He is passionate about paying that support forward, particularly to students navigating similar barriers. Recognized for his honesty, clarity, and strategic acumen in working with students, Dr. Lingaya offers candid, constructive feedback. He excels at identifying both strengths and opportunities for growth while fostering an environment of trust and mutual respect. 

Dr. Ford’s higher education journey began at Davidson College, where he graduated with honors in neuroscience, earned his department’s top research award, and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He attended Davidson College on a music performance scholarship as a saxophone player and was a member of a selective four-year leadership program, the Chidsey Leadership Fellows.

After graduating from Davidson College, Dr. Ford earned his MD and PhD in neuroscience from Emory University, where his doctoral research focused on the biological basis of social behavior and neuropsychiatric drug development. His scientific portfolio includes nine peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals, including Nature Reviews Neurology, the Journal of Comparative Neurology, and Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. He also has over 20 poster presentations and five oral presentations at national and international conferences.

Dr. Ford’s extensive mentorship experience includes serving as a research mentor for undergraduate students at Emory University. He has also been Lead Author on translational neuroscience studies, literature reviews, natural history studies, op-eds on clinical trials, and other written works. Currently, Dr. Ford works as a translational medicine consultant, performing “dry lab” research for leading biotechnology companies, and he previously spent many years conducting wet lab research during his academic training. His research expertise spans neuroscience, genetics, rare diseases, animal models, translational research, and clinical natural history studies. This breadth allows him to guide students in designing rigorous "dry lab" and clinical data projects that are feasible, high-impact, and immune to the logistical delays of traditional wet labs.

As a mentor, Dr. Ford leverages his two years on the Emory MD-PhD Program Admissions Committee to reverse-engineer the application process, teaching students how to frame their research in ways that resonate with faculty reviewers. Students Dr. Ford has coached have been accepted to Ohio State University SOM, Georgia Medical College, University College London, and various Florida medical schools.

Dr. Ford’s mentorship has yielded exceptional results: he has successfully supported many undergraduates in earning co-authorship and first-authorship on peer-reviewed manuscripts. Furthermore, as a guest speaker at the 2021 Atlanta Science Festival and a recent winner of the communication-based game show 25 Words or Less, Dr. Ford is an expert in science communication. He excels at teaching students how to distill complex scientific concepts into concise, compelling narratives.

Dr. Hooks conducted clinical research as a research assistant at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Focusing primarily on nephrology and surgical research, Dr. Hooks received grants from the National Institutes of Health and National Kidney Foundation. She has over 12 years of research mentorship experience, guiding students in research across biochemistry, health policy, health economics, health services, and physiology. She also has experience mentoring students conducting research in cancer, tumor, cell, and integrative biology. Students who have worked with Dr. Hooks have been accepted to top institutions such as Columbia University, Harvard University, Yale University, USC, UC Irvine, and the University of Maryland.

Dr. Hooks’ career reflects a passion for both medicine and entrepreneurship. She has practiced as a hospitalist, founded a private practice specializing in medical weight loss and aesthetics, and now serves as Medical Director of a healthcare company. Her leadership extends beyond clinical work, through her work as a mentor at Pinnacle Business Academy, providing professional development for physicians and medical trainees alike. She is also the CEO of Phoenix Med Health PLLC, and is currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Recognized for her dedication to student success, Dr. Hooks is committed to empowering future physicians to navigate the challenges of the research process with confidence. 

Dr. Shafton earned an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Michigan and began his career in investment banking. However, he felt that his calling was to become a doctor. Inspired by a research assistantship at the University of California, San Francisco (where he co-authored his first scholarly publication), he pivoted to medicine, completing a postbaccalaureate pre-medical program at Harvard University. He pursued research in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and volunteered on the pediatric oncology ward at Boston Children’s Hospital. He was then accepted to the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he received a merit-based scholarship covering full tuition for his second year and engaged in several research projects. After completing his residency, Dr. Shafton later transitioned to urgent care medicine, where he treated more than 12,000 patients across a wide range of conditions. 

As a research mentor, Dr. Shafton specializes in guiding students through the development of literature-based medical research projects. He works closely with students to refine feasible research questions, identify high-quality sources, synthesize evidence, and produce clear, well-structured academic writing that meets scholarly standards. His mentorship style is structured, thoughtful, and student-centered, with an emphasis on intellectual ownership, ethical scholarship, and understanding the realities of peer review and publication.

Dr. Shafton is particularly passionate about supporting students who may not have traditional access to academic research environments. He believes that learning how to ask strong questions, critically evaluate evidence, and communicate ideas clearly is foundational to becoming an excellent physician. His goal is not only to help students complete a strong research manuscript, but to equip them with durable skills that will serve them throughout medical school and their future careers.

Before starting medical school, Dr. Painter earned a BS in biology from the University of Richmond. He worked for four years as a Mathematics Research Fellow in the University of Richmond Department of Mathematics and served as a teaching assistant for the University of Richmond Department of Chemistry. As an undergraduate, Dr. Painter earned numerous awards recognizing both his research and leadership, including the Clarence J. Gray Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Leadership, the William Myers Inorganic Chemistry Award, and the Pinchbeck Prize. 

Dr. Painter conducted two years of research on viral pathogenesis at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, serving as a visiting graduate student in ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. At Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and received the Alpert Medical School Summer Research Assistantship Grant.

An avid researcher, Dr. Painter has published more than 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts, textbook chapters, and abstracts on topics including radiology, sports medicine, medical education, virology, and nephrology. Dr. Painter has been published in multiple prestigious medical journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology Case Reports, PLoS Pathogens, the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Global Research and Reviews, the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine, and the Journal of Arthroplasty. He has presented his research at national and international conferences.

Dr. Painter has supervised or led over 30 research projects and has supported students in research areas such as microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, virology, anatomy and physiology, immunology, biostatistics, epidemiology, general medicine, and multiple clinical specialties including sports medicine and radiology. With over 13 years of admissions experience, Dr. Painter's former students and mentees have been admitted to top medical, PhD, and law school programs. 

Beyond medicine, Dr. Painter has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to education and mentorship. While in medical school, he designed and taught multiple science courses for high school and middle school students, including programs through Brown University's Pre-College Programs and The Wheeler School in Providence, RI. Dr. Painter’s teaching philosophy emphasizes accessibility, curiosity, and empowerment—helping students see themselves as capable scholars and future professionals. 

Dr. Malige’s combined love of biomechanics and sports inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Following residency, he pursued a prestigious sports medicine fellowship at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, training under world-renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache. During his time there, he served as an assistant team physician for multiple professional and collegiate athletic organizations, including the Los Angeles Rams, Angels, Dodgers, Galaxy, and the Anaheim Ducks, as well as Pepperdine University athletics.

An accomplished researcher, Dr. Malige has authored over 50 publications and book chapters on topics including shoulder arthroplasty, ACL reconstruction, throwing elbow injuries, and biologic treatments. His research has been published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, the Journal of Orthopaedics, the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, and others. Dr. Malige has also lectured and presented at numerous national orthopedic conferences, and his work has been recognized nationally, earning him multiple research grants and awards, including the prestigious Charles Neer Award for excellence in shoulder and elbow research. He also serves on the editorial boards for Arthroscopy, the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, and BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. Additionally, he currently serves on multiple committees for the American Orthopaedic Association and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Dr. Malige has worked with numerous students interested in biomedical engineering research and other disciplines. Students who he has mentored have been accepted to multiple medical schools and orthopedic residency programs across the country, from New Jersey to California. 

Dr. Reddy earned a BS in cellular and molecular biology, graduating summa cum laude from Augusta University. He completed his medical education at the Medical College of Georgia, where he was awarded the Presidential Scholarship, a full-tuition, four-year merit-based award, as well as the Medical Scholars Research Scholarship.

Following medical school, Dr. Reddy trained as a neurosurgery resident at the University of Southwestern Medical Center. During residency, he managed the care of hundreds of patients and supervised medical students on clinical rotations. Dr. Reddy has an exceptional research background, with over 1,000 hours of laboratory and clinical research experience resulting in more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index of 40. His research productivity places him among the most published trainees of his cohort and allows him to advise applicants with strong academic and research ambitions on how to present scholarly work authentically and strategically.

Motivated by a desire to make an impact at scale, Dr. Reddy transitioned from clinical training into healthcare consulting, where he now works closely with C-suite leaders across the healthcare ecosystem. He currently works as an Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, where he advises leading health systems on growth strategy, clinical operations, and organizational transformation.

Dr. Reddy has experience leading students through research in many areas, including biostatistics, cell biology, systems/quantitative biology, physiology, integrative biology, neuroscience, public health, biomedical informatics, clinical informatics, and data science. He also has experience coaching students in research related to health policy, health economics, and health services and outcomes. Dr. Reddy is committed to demystifying the research process and helping students build confidence and skills.

Dr. Offenbacher’s work has been recognized through multiple distinctions, including induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Society, the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Young Investigator Award, the Pediatric Research Day Oral Presentation Award at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, and the Best Teaching Fellow Award. She also earned membership in the Leo M. Davidoff Society for excellence in teaching and was recently recognized with the Jewish Orthodox Women’s Medical Association Mentorship Award. 

Dr. Offenbacher’s professional experience spans clinical practice, academic medicine, and ongoing research activities. She has over 20+ publications and has had her work showcased in multiple prestigious journals, including Clinical Cancer Research, Pediatric Blood & Cancer, and the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. Her research centers on cancer metabolism, metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment, with particular emphasis on osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Dr. Offenbacher has led multiple funded translational projects and serves as Principal Investigator on studies aimed at moving promising therapies from bench to bedside. 

As a research mentor, Dr. Offenbacher has experience guiding researchers through topics in cancer, tumor, cell, stem cell, and developmental biology. She also has mentorship experience in research projects related to behavioural and social sciences in health, health services and outcomes, and public health. Students who Dr. Offenbacher has coached have been accepted to prestigious programs at Yale University, Cornell University, Columbia University, the University of California, San Francisco, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Dr. Offenbacher is deeply committed to coaching and enjoys guiding students through all stages of research—from hypothesis generation and experimental design to data analysis and scientific writing—while helping them develop as thoughtful, independent investigators.

Before attending the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Dr. Mohanty was accepted to the BS/MD program at The College of New Jersey with New Jersey Medical School, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude, and earning the Biology Faculty Award for excellence in academics, service, and research. During medical school, he served in multiple educational leadership roles, including as an elected representative to the Undergraduate Medical Education Council and Vice President of Medical Student Government, partnering with senior faculty to redesign Penn’s four-year MD curriculum and assessment framework. He was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society in recognition of scholarship, leadership, and compassionate patient care.

Dr. Mohanty has a long record of high-impact scholarship spanning basic and translational musculoskeletal biology and clinical outcomes research. His work bridges mechanistic discovery and patient-centered impact—his translational research includes studies of developmental signaling pathways and musculoskeletal biology relevant to intervertebral disc degeneration and bone health. His clinical research focuses on improving decision-making and outcomes in spine surgery using rigorous epidemiology, propensity score methods, and machine learning.

Dr. Mohanty has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts across leading orthopedic and spine journals, including Clinical Spine Surgery, the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, and JOR Spine. He has also delivered podium presentations nationally and internationally. He has led research teams as a Lead Author and Clinical Research Project Lead to produce 35 high-impact publications and presentations, alongside dozens of first-author contributions and national/international presentations. His 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.

With years of research experience, Dr. Mohanty has guided students as they conduct research across biostatistics, developmental biology, stem cell biology, and health services and outcomes. Students he has mentored have been accepted to multiple top institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Emory University, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine, the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, the University of Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt University, and Yale University.

As a mentor, Dr. Mohanty supports students who want to build durable research skills across the basic and clinical sciences. Mentees can expect structured guidance in developing a strong question, designing a feasible study, managing data responsibly, conducting appropriate analyses (including statistics and applied ML when relevant), and producing clear, conference- and publication-ready writing and presentations. Dr. Mohanty values clarity, intellectual honesty, and consistent follow-through, and enjoys helping students translate curiosity into publishable, clinically meaningful work.