Eleana L.

Eleana was admitted to the University of Illinois College of Medicine through the Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions (GPPA), a competitive BS/MD pathway. During college, she investigated the prevalence of lung cancer across select Chicago ZIP codes to examine the impact of proximity to environmental risk factors and later joined a neurobiology lab, where she contributed to a publication. Eleana also served as the Chair of Active Minds, advocating for mental health support among young adults, and as a Director of Global Medical Brigades, helping expand access to healthcare through volunteer clinics domestically and internationally. More recently, Eleana has been developing a pre-health undergraduate course to be offered at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Eleana's passion for teaching began in middle school, when she coached students preparing for Science Olympiad tryouts. In high school, she tutored classmates in AP Biology and AP Chemistry, and during college she served as both a peer learning assistant and a teaching assistant. These experiences across multiple educational settings have shaped her student-centered approach, enabling her to tailor instruction to each learner's unique goals, strengths, and learning style. 

As an MCAT tutor, Eleana emphasizes consistent, intentional progress over last-minute cramming, helping students build strong foundations while balancing coursework, extracurricular activities, personal commitments, and mental well-being. These experiences shaped her student-centered teaching philosophy, enabling her to tailor her approach to each learner’s unique goals, strengths, and learning style.