Meet Our Advisors
Our team is passionate about going the extra mile to transform your dreams of becoming a physician into a reality.
Surgical Specialties
Internal Medicine
Faculty
Douglas Duffee MD, MDiv, FACP
Current Faculty Attending and Former Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency
Dr. Doug Duffee MD, MDiv, FACP is a board-certified General Internist and Faculty Attending Physician for an Internal Medicine Residency. Additionally, he recently completed a 3-year term of service as Program Director for the same Internal Medicine Residency. Involved as an academic preceptor since 2012 as part of his private practice of Traditional Internal Medicine, he moved to full-time academic education in 2019. While a resident at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, he published the initial clinical description of what is now called PVC-induced cardiomyopathy.
He is actively involved in the recruiting of and working with medical students and Internal Medicine residents, having interviewed, advised, and collaborated with many over the past few years as part of building the Internal Medicine Residency program. This has also involved the reviewing of many more Residency program applications. Prior to 2019, Dr. Duffee garnered 23 years of private practice experience in 2 unique settings; a large multispecialty group in Clearwater Florida, and a solo practice (built from the ground up) in Pueblo Colorado. Additionally, he has served administratively as Chief of Staff and Board Member at Largo Medical Center in Largo Florida, and currently chairs the Research Committee, amongst other roles. In keeping with his love for the comprehensive Generalist approach to medicine, he obtained a Master of Divinity degree in theology now used in supporting the Internal Medicine Residency wellness program and in community volunteer activities.
Billy Zhang, MD
Former Associated Program Director/ Internal Medicine
Dr. Billy Zhang is a board-certified Internist with several years of experience interviewing medical school and Internal Medicine residency applicants. He studied at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences in St. Kitts and completed his internship at Drexel University/Hahnemann University Hospital and residency at Lankenau Medical Center. After residency, Dr. Zhang relocated to New York City where he served as a clinical preceptor for medical students and residents and later as an Associate Program Director for NYC HHC Woodhull Medical Center Internal Medicine residency where he was heavily involved in the primary care curriculum development. He has also assisted residency applicants in all elements of residency preparation of all specialties, including the development of personal statements, building effective applications to communicate clear messages, and giving feedback to improve interview skills, especially in students where English was a second language. Currently, Dr. Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Education for the California University of Science and Medicine, School of Medicine and cares for patients in Southern California. In addition, he provides primary care didactics to local residency programs.
Akwasi Aduboffour, MD
Internal Medicine Graduate / Johns Hopkins Hospital
Dr. Akwasi Aduboffour is an Internal Medicine graduate of the Osler Internal Medicine Residency Program at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. During medical school, he pioneered outreach initiatives, led student-run clinics, and received national recognition for his efforts to address healthcare disparities. Throughout residency, he secured grant funding, presented research at national meetings including the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and received a national award recognizing his contributions to research and advancement in cardiac rehabilitation.
Dr. Aduboffour has extensive experience mentoring medical students and residency applicants, serving on expert advisory panels for medical and pre-medical students. He provides guidance on research development, securing U.S. clinical experiences, CV and application strategy, professional development, and long-term career planning.
Antoine Bejjani, MD
Internal Medicine Hospitalist / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), PA
Dr. Antoine Bejjani is a hospitalist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Originally from Lebanon, he completed his medical education at the American University of Beirut, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. After graduating, Dr. Bejjani moved to the United States and worked in the Thrombosis Research Group at Brigham and Women's Hospital for two years. As a research fellow, he collaborated with various cardiology faculty members on numerous research projects. Dr. Bejjani then moved to Pittsburgh for his Internal Medicine residency at UPMC, which he completed in June 2026.
During his residency, Dr. Bejjani mentored medical students and participated in interviewing Internal Medicine residency applicants. He is interested in pursuing a cardiology fellowship.
Adeeb Sebai, MD
Internal Medicine & Vascular Medicine Physician
Dr. Adeeb Sebai is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and Vascular Medicine specialist currently practicing at United Vein & Vascular Centers. He recently completed his Vascular Medicine fellowship at the University of Chicago – NorthShore and previously completed his Internal Medicine residency at McLaren Oakland, Michigan State University in 2023.He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree summa cum laude from Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia, where he was recognized with numerous honors, including the Dean’s List, First Degree Honors, and a Merit-Based Scholarship.
Before residency, Dr. Sebai worked as a research collaborator at the Mayo Clinic and served as an instructor at Alfaisal University, where he taught medical students in USMLE preparation courses and mentored many aspiring physicians pursuing residency in the U.S. Dr. Sebai is actively involved in advancing the field of vascular medicine. He serves on the Venous Task Force of the American Society for Vascular Medicine and was selected by the American Heart Association to moderate expert panel discussions on vascular care. His diverse experience has equipped him with valuable insight, which he now uses to guide applicants through the residency match process, research involvement, and strategic application planning.
Fellows
Mohanad Hamandi, MD,
Cardiology Fellow/ Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
Dr. Hamandi completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Presbyterian program and is currently a cardiology fellow at the Mayo Clinic. He earned his medical degree from Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Germany, and prior to residency, completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in structural heart interventions at Baylor Heart Hospital in Dallas. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, 2 book chapters and 70 abstracts to date.
Dr. Hamandi has mentored numerous medical students and residents in both research and the residency/fellowship application process. During residency, he served on the recruitment committee, interviewing applicants and gaining valuable insight into what programs look for. He also played a key role in recruiting research associates during his postdoctoral fellowship. He is actively involved with the American College of Cardiology, particularly through the Fellows-in-Training section. With his extensive experience in research, mentorship, and competitive applications, Dr. Hamandi offers strategic advising and personalized interview preparation for IMGs applying to Internal Medicine and for residents seeking to match into competitive cardiology fellowships.
Asim Khanfar, MD
Internist & Clinical Informatics Fellow / Rochester General Hospital, New York
Dr. Khanfar is an Internist and Clinical Informatics Fellow at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York. He earned his medical degree from the University of Jordan, where he led multiple research projects and served as President of the International Federation of Medical Students' Association (IFMSA), University of Jordan branch. Following medical school, he worked as a Clinical Trials Associate at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, contributing to research on influenza vaccination strategies in solid organ transplant patients.
During his training, Dr. Khanfar has mentored numerous international medical students and graduates pursuing residency in the United States. He provides guidance on elective rotations, residency applications, interview preparation, and navigating the Match process.
Melis Sahinoz, MD
PGY- 5 Cardiology Fellow / Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Dr. Melis Sahinoz is a second-year cardiology fellow at Vanderbilt University Medical Center with a passion for cardiovascular prevention and imaging. Born and raised in Ankara, Turkey, she graduated with high honors from Hacettepe University School of Medicine, ranking among the top of her class. She later completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Vanderbilt, focusing on hypertension, immune cell activation, and sodium metabolism. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Vanderbilt, where she stayed to continue her training as a cardiology fellow. During residency, she served as Co-Chair of the Housestaff Advisory Council, working closely with leadership to improve the training experience for residents and fellows. Throughout her training, Dr. Sahinoz has been actively involved in translational and clinical research, leading and collaborating on projects in lipid management, cardiovascular risk prediction, and wearable health technology. She has published extensively in high-impact journals, contributed to textbook chapters, and presented her work at major national and international conferences. Her scholarly work has been cited over 500 times. Having personally navigated the challenges of the match as an international medical graduate, Dr. Sahinoz is deeply committed to mentoring and empowering IMGs. She provides personalized strategies and interview preparation to help trainees successfully match into top- tier Internal Medicine residency and cardiology fellowship programs.
Firas Bahdi, MD
Advanced GI Endoscopy Fellow/ UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Firas Bahdi is a current advanced endoscopy fellow at UCLA. He brings to the table extensive experience in guiding internal medicine residency and gastroenterology fellowship applicants. Dr. Bahdi excels in offering strategic, individualized advice and practicing mock interviews to help candidates shine in their real interviews, ultimately leading them to a successful match. Many of his mentees have matched into their top choice program including some prestigious training programs.
Dr. Bahdi earned his medical degree from the University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine before engaging in clinical research at both the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus and UCLA. He completed his internal medicine residency at Baylor College of Medicine in 2022, where he was recognized with several honors, including the Henry D. McIntosh Outstanding Resident Award, Resident as Educator Award, Best Research Award and Outstanding Ambulatory Care Award. Dr. Bahdi later completed his gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship at UCLA in 2025.
Cindy Traboulsi, MD
GI Fellow/ The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Dr. Cindy Traboulsi is a third-year GI fellow at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Originally from Lebanon, she completed her medical education at the American University of Beirut where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. Upon graduating, Dr. Traboulsi moved to the United States and worked at the University of Chicago Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center. As the Lab Manager, she collaborated with various GI fellows and faculty members on numerous research projects. Dr. Traboulsi then moved to Pittsburgh for her internal medicine residency at UPMC. During her residency, Dr. Traboulsi has mentored medical students and participated in interviewing internal medicine applicants. As a GI fellow, she continues to be involved in mentorship and medical education.
Mo Tabary, MD
PGY3 Cardiology Fellow / Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. Tabary completed his medical education at Tehran University of Medical Sciences before relocating to the United States in 2021 to further pursue his clinical and research career. Following his transition, he served as a Postdoctoral Associate at the University of Pittsburgh, where his contributions to mentorship and research earned him the prestigious Postdoctoral Alumni Award in 2024.
He subsequently matched into the Integrated Internal Medicine Residency and Cardiology Fellowship Program at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he is currently a Cardiology Fellow.
In addition to his clinical and academic interests in cardiology, Dr. Tabary is passionate about medical education, mentorship, and the integration of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence into physician training and clinical learning.
Elizabeth Rimsky, MD
Cardiovascular Disease Fellow / University of Central Florida/HCA Florida Osceola Hospital
Dr. Elizabeth Rimsky is a Cardiovascular Disease Fellow at the University of Central Florida/HCA Florida Osceola Hospital. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Northwell Health–Staten Island University Hospital, where she developed a strong interest in cardiovascular medicine, structural heart disease, and electrophysiology. She earned her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. Throughout her training, Dr. Rimsky has been actively involved in clinical research, authoring and presenting multiple studies at national conferences including ACC, AHA, HRS, and TCT. Her research has focused on structural heart interventions, transcatheter valve therapies, cardiac implantable electronic devices, and cardiovascular outcomes.
Dr. Rimsky has extensive experience advising medical students and residency applicants throughout the application process, including strategic application planning, CV and personal statement development, residency interview preparation, mock interviews, and SOAP guidance. Having successfully navigated both the residency and cardiology fellowship application processes, she provides practical, individualized guidance tailored to each applicant’s goals.
Waddah Malas, MD
PGY-8 Cardiologist / Electrophysiology Fellow / Mayo Clinic
Dr. Waddah Malas earned his Medical Diploma from the University of Damascus in Syria in 2017. In 2018, he joined the Emory University Cardiovascular Research Institute, where he completed a research internship focused on women’s health and microvascular dysfunction. Dr. Malas completed his Internal Medicine training and Cardiovascular fellowship at Loyola University.
Currently, Dr. Malas is a PGY-8 Electrophysiology Fellow at Mayo Clinic. In addition to his fellowship, he continues to practice as a certified internal medicine physician. Dr. Malas is dedicated to mentoring International Medical Graduate, sharing his knowledge and experience with the next generation of physicians.
Samer Alkassis, MD
Hematology/Oncology Health Science Clinical Instructor/ UCLA
Dr. Samer Alkassis's journey began at the University of Damascus, Faculty of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. In 2016, he embarked on a new chapter by relocating to the United States. At UCLA, he served as a clinical research coordinator. Subsequently, he started his internal medicine residency at Wayne State University. In 2022, he returned to Los Angeles to continue his specialization in hematology/oncology at UCLA and graduated as the chief fellow. He also completed his Masters degree in Clinical Research during his fellowship. His aspiration is to evolve into a clinician-educator, inspiring the next generation of physicians, pioneering innovative oncological treatments, and providing unwavering support to his patients.
Heya Batah, MD
Second-Year Hematology/Oncology Fellow / Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
Dr. Batah is currently a second-year Hematology/Oncology fellow at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH and graduated from Wayne State Medical School in Detroit, MI. Throughout her training, she has been a part of multiple organizations that have helped mentor pre-medical and medical applicants. She was the President of PhiDE, a pre-medical fraternity, the Vice President of the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) for several years, and a leader for the Women in Medicine organization at her residency program.
She presented abstracts at both ASCO and ASH, winning an Abstract Achievement Award for her research in AML, and was invited to the Cancer Advances Podcast at Cleveland Clinic to discuss her research on extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. As an elective, she was chosen to be a medical media resident for ABC News in New York City, where she edited and published medical news stories aired on ABC and Good Morning America. Dr. Batah is very experienced and passionate about advising medical students and recent graduates, guiding them through the application process and helping them get into their dream programs.
Yazan Abboud, MD
Gastroenterology Fellow/ UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Yazan Abboud is currently a second-year gastroenterology fellow at UCLA. Prior to that, he completed his internal medicine residency and served as an assistant chief resident at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Originally from Damascus, Syria, he earned his medical degree in 2019 before moving to the U.S., where he completed clinical rotations at multiple centers, and a research fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
With his roles during residency as an assistant chief resident, chair of resident research, and member of the clinician educator track, Dr. Abboud has mentored international and U.S. medical students, offering personalized guidance to strengthen residency applications and improve match outcomes. Committed to education, mentorship, and research, Dr. Abboud has received numerous awards, including "Intern of the Year," "Most Scholarly Resident of the Year" (three years in a row), and the "Golden Apple Award for Medical Student Education." He has authored and co-authored publications in prestigious journals such as JAMA, Gastroenterology, and CGH, with numerous presentations at local and national conferences. He also serves as a peer reviewer for over ten academic journals, reflecting his dedication to advancing medical education and research.
Residents
Alberto Guijosa, MD
Internal Medicine Resident / Harvard | Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
Dr. Guijosa is an Internal Medicine resident at Mass General Brigham/Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a Harvard teaching hospital. He earned his medical degree from Universidad Panamericana in Mexico, graduating summa cum laude, and completed clinical rotations at several academic medical centers across the United States. Prior to residency, Dr. Guijosa completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications in hematology and oncology and received awards from the American Society of Hematology and the Society of Hematologic Oncology
Dr. Guijosa has a strong interest in medical education and mentorship. He founded Universidad Panamericana’s first peer-to-peer tutoring program, delivering more than 500 lectures. He currently directs a course preparing students for international clinical training, mentors students in the medical research elective, and serves on the university’s internship selection committee. Dr. Guijosa advises in a personal capacity and does not represent the institutions where he trains or works.
Aden Cowley, MD
Internal Medicine Resident / Duke University
Dr. Cowley is an Internal Medicine resident at Duke University with aspirations of pursuing a fellowship in Gastroenterology. He earned his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society in recognition of his academic and clinical excellence.
Throughout his training, Dr. Cowley has mentored pre-medical and medical students and provides guidance on identifying applicants' strengths, building competitive residency applications, and navigating the residency application process.
Besher Shami, MD
Internal Medicine Resident, Berkshire Medical Center
Dr. Shami is an internal medicine resident at Berkshire Medical Center. He started his medical journey as an international medical graduate at the University of Aleppo then he pursued his postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology at Aleppo University Hospital, where he was elected Chief Resident—leading and mentoring over 150 residents throughout their clinical training. In 2023, Dr. Shami moved to the United States and joined the Mayo Clinic in Florida as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Nephrology and Hypertension. His research focused on polycystic kidney disease and associated hypertension.
With extensive clinical and research experience both internationally and in the U.S., Dr. Shami offers valuable guidance to international medical graduates and medical students navigating the complexities of the U.S. residency match process.
Tanishq Kesani, MD
PGY-2 Internal Medicine Resident / Mary Washington Healthcare, Virginia
Dr. Kesani is a PGY-2 Internal Medicine resident at the Mary Washington program in Virginia, after completing his PGY-1 year in an ACGME-accredited Family Medicine residency at Onvida Health in Yuma, Arizona. He earned his medical degree from Siddhartha Medical College in India and is an ECFMG-certified international medical graduate. He has authored more than 15 peer-reviewed publications and has a strong interest in inpatient medicine and chronic disease management.
Dr. Kesani has mentored dozens of medical students and international medical graduates who have successfully matched into Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neurology. He provides guidance on switching specialties, residency application, and the Match process, helping applicants build competitive applications and maximize their chances of success.
Surgical Specialties
General Surgery
Benjamin Scott, MD
Plastic Surgery Attending / General Surgery Graduate / BID Harvard, UPMC
Dr. Scott received his B.A. in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University. Following three years playing in the Arena Football League, he completed the post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at the University of Pennsylvania and matriculated to Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, where he served on the admissions committee as a student advisor. He went on to complete general surgery training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, including a two-year post-doctoral plastic surgery research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
After finishing his general surgery training, he joined the plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh as an independent resident, completing his training in June 2026. He is currently an assistant professor in the division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, TN.
Usama Waqar, MBBS
General Surgery Resident / University of Colorado Anschutz
Dr. Waqar is a categorical General Surgery resident at the University of Colorado Anschutz. He earned his MBBS from Aga Khan University in Pakistan and founded PakSurg, the country's first trainee-led surgical consortium. Following medical school, Dr. Waqar joined Emory University as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Robotic Surgery. His research spans surgical outcomes, robotic surgery, and surgical education. He has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, presented at major national surgical meetings, and contributed to multiple research grant applications
Having successfully navigated the residency match process as an IMG, Dr. Waqar has mentored more than 100 international medical graduates pursuing training in the United States. He provides guidance on the residency application process, research pathways, and visa and green card options for IMGs.
Alessandro Martinino, MD, PhD
General Surgery Resident/ Duke University, Durham, NC
Dr. Martinino was born and raised in Rome, Italy, and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” in 2022. After medical school, he completed a year of clinical research in transplant surgery at the University of Illinois Chicago, followed by a year and a half of research at the Duke Transplant Research Lab. He is currently pursuing his PhD at Maastricht University, which he is expected to complete by October 2025.
Dr. Martinino recently matched into the categorical General Surgery residency at Duke University. He also serves as President of the Junior Researchers Committee of the Association of Italian Surgeons in North America (AISNA) and is a co-founder of the TUGSS Society, reflecting his strong commitment to academic surgery and international surgical collaboration. With firsthand experience navigating the challenges of the IMG journey, Dr. Martinino offers valuable insight into research, guidance on how to match into categorical General Surgery, interview preparation, and PhD pathways.
Adel Alhaj Saleh, MD
MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellow/Stony Brook University Hospital, NY
Dr. Alhaj Saleh is currently an MIS/Bariatric surgery fellow at Stony Brook Hospital, NY.
As an International Medical Graduate (IMG) with a wealth of experience, including a full surgical residency in his home country and years of work spanning four different countries across three continents, he is what you might call a non-traditional applicant! After dedicating four years to research in the U.S. and completing three preliminary years, his persistence has paid off as he finally secured a categorical spot, ultimately finishing his general surgery residency at Montefiore Medical Center.
Dr.Alhaj Saleh is deeply committed to aiding IMGs, particularly older graduates and non-traditional applicants, who are interested in surgery. His assistance can range from navigating the application process to rapidly acclimating to a new system and, ultimately, standing out as an exceptional candidate.
Tomer Lagziel, MD
PGY-3 General Surgery/ Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai / NYC
Dr. Lagziel is a surgery resident at the Icahn School of Medicine in New York, USA. A distinguished graduate, he received his Medical Doctorate with Honors from the New York State Program at Tel-Aviv University in 2023. During medical school, from 2021-2022, Dr. Lagziel undertook a research fellowship at Johns Hopkins, specializing in the Acute and Reconstructive Management of Burns, Critical Care, Trauma/Oncologic Reconstructive Surgery, as well as Surgical Education. A seasoned speaker, he has presented at numerous prestigious academic conferences, including the American Burn Association, the Academic Surgical Congress, and the American Association of Plastic Surgeons. Moreover, Dr. Lagziel has contributed to over 30 research papers published in reputable surgical journals, primarily focusing on burn surgery, plastic surgery, regenerative medicine, and critical care.
Ioannis (Yiannis) Ziogas, MD, MPH
PGY-5 General Surgery Resident / University of Colorado
Dr. Ioannis (Yiannis) Ziogas is a PGY-5 General Surgery Resident and PhD candidate at the University of Colorado. He graduated summa cum laude (top 3%) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School, Greece, in 2019. Before starting his residency in 2022, he completed a Master of Public Health from the University of Edinburgh, UK, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Pediatric and Adult HPB and Transplant Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Upon completion of his residency, he aspires to pursue a career in pediatric hepatobiliary and transplant surgery.
Dr. Ziogas has extensive experience in clinical and translational research with more than 150 publications, non-profit organization management, preparation for standardized exams (USMLE/ABSITE), and mentorship of U.S. residency applicants. He is particularly passionate about helping IMGs match into categorical General Surgery positions and is part of the General Surgery residency selection committee, where he has played a pivotal role in developing a novel holistic review method for the recruitment of IMGs at his residency program.
Elie Ramly, MD
Harvard-trained Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills/Plastic Surgery and General Surgery Graduate
Dr. Ramly is a Beverly Hills-based plastic and reconstructive surgeon, trained at Harvard’s Mass General Brigham program and fully trained in plastic surgery and general surgery in the US. After earning his medical degree at the American University of Beirut, he matched into categorical general surgery residency at Oregon Health & Science University, and subsequently matched in plastic surgery residency at Harvard where he completed his training. He has extensive research experience, having completed postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard (MGH) and NYU, with over 90 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, more than 1,775 citations, an h-index of 24, and an i10-index of 45.
Over the past decade, Dr. Ramly has served on residency and fellowship recruitment panels, reviewing hundreds of applications and interviewing dozens of candidates and has also coached dozens of students in residency interview preparation, personal statement preparation, and career development.
Rami Mustafa, MD, PhD
General Surgery Chief Resident/ St. Mary Medical Center, Philadelphia
Dr. Mustafa is an Administrative Chief Resident in General Surgery at St. Mary Medical Center, Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic. Prior to moving to the United States, he completed a General Surgery residency, fellowship training in Gastrointestinal and Surgical Oncology, and practiced as an attending general surgeon in Egypt.
Dr. Mustafa earned his PhD through a dual-supervision program with Case Western Reserve University and later completed a three-year Clinical Research Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland. His research has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. As an international medical graduate, he pursued a non-traditional pathway into U.S. surgery, completing preliminary General Surgery training at University Hospitals Cleveland and Jefferson Health before securing a categorical General Surgery position. He provides guidance on surgical residency applications, research pathways, and the IMG journey.
Khadija Bilal, MD
PGY-1 General Surgery Categorical Resident / HCA Florida Brandon, Tampa, Florida
Dr. Khadija Bilal is a PGY-1 Categorical General Surgery Resident at HCA Florida Brandon in Tampa, Florida. She graduated from Rehman Medical College in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 2024 and is passionate about guiding medical students through every stage of the Match process.
Prior to residency, Dr. Bilal completed six months of research in Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) Surgery and participated in multiple surgical observerships after graduation, gaining valuable exposure to diverse surgical practices and training environments. She has independently mentored numerous medical students on residency applications, interview preparation, and Match strategy. Having navigated the process as an International Medical Graduate, she is dedicated to helping applicants maximize their strengths and achieve their career goals.
Orthopedic Surgery
Nabil Z. Khan, MD
Orthopedic Surgery Resident / Northwell Health – Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, NY
Dr. Khan is an Orthopedic Surgery resident at Northwell Health’s Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in New York. He earned his undergraduate degree from the NYU Stern School of Business and worked in investment banking before receiving his medical degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine.
Throughout his training, Dr. Khan has mentored students at every stage of the application process, from undergraduates exploring careers in medicine to medical school and residency applicants. His background in both finance and medicine provides a unique perspective on application strategy. He provides guidance on AMCAS and secondary applications, the residency process, ERAS preparation, personal statement development, and interview preparation.
Matan Grunfeld, MD
Orthopedic Surgery resident at the University of Colorado
Dr. Matan Grunfeld is an Orthopedic Surgery resident at the University of Colorado and a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He earned his medical degree from New York Medical College, where he developed a diverse research foundation in pediatric orthopedics, cardiothoracic surgery, and a growing passion for osseointegration and limb reconstruction. He has guided numerous students through the Match process, ERAS strategy, and interview preparation. He also served as a medical school admissions interviewer and contributed extensively to medical education through mentorship, tutoring, and clinical skills instruction.
Jonathan Dalton, MD
Orthopaedic Spine Surgery Attending / St. Louis, MO
Dr. Dalton is an Orthopaedic Spine Surgery attending in St. Louis. He recently completed a combined two-year clinical and research Spine Surgery fellowship at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Philadelphia, one of the highest-volume orthopaedic spine practices in the country. Born and raised in St. Louis, he completed his undergraduate studies at Dartmouth College, earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and completed Orthopaedic Surgery residency at UPMC in Pittsburgh. His clinical and research interests include cervical disc arthroplasty, motion preservation, and degenerative lumbar disease. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and presented at numerous national and international conferences.
Dr. Dalton brings more than a decade of admissions and test-preparation experience to advising. He has extensively advised applicants through medical school, residency, and fellowship application cycles, and participated in admissions committees for both medical school and residency. He provides guidance on personal statement development, ERAS application strategy, and building competitive applications across medical and surgical specialties, with particular attention to helping international medical graduates effectively present their training and clinical experience to U.S. programs.
Neurosurgery
Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery / University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)
Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar is an attending neurosurgeon and Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He earned his medical degree from Alfaisal University College of Medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, graduating summa cum laude as valedictorian and at the top of his class. Following medical school, he completed a 10-month postdoctoral research fellowship in Neurosurgery at the University of Utah and a one-year Neurosurgery internship at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine in New York. He subsequently completed his Neurosurgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), followed by a Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Neurosurgery fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar is actively involved in teaching medical students interested in neuroscience and neurosurgery. He was selected by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons to serve as the Neurosurgery Publications Resident Fellow and was also selected as a member of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies. He has authored more than 200 publications and delivered numerous presentations at national and international conferences.
Rawad Abbas, MD
PGY-4 Neurosurgery Resident / Mayo Clinic, Arizona
Dr. Abbas is a PGY-4 Neurosurgery resident at Mayo Clinic. Originally from Lebanon, he earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 2020. Following medical school, he moved to Philadelphia, where he spent four years conducting neurosurgical research at Thomas Jefferson University. His work focused on cerebrovascular and neurovascular research, including intracranial aneurysms, endovascular treatment, and clinical outcomes. He led multiple studies evaluating endovascular devices for intracranial aneurysms and contributed to the development of large-scale neurovascular research databases.
Dr. Abbas is actively involved in medical education and mentorship. He mentors medical students pursuing Neurosurgery and other surgical specialties and participates in interviewing Neurosurgery residency applicants. His career interests include Pediatric and Endovascular Neurosurgery.
Mirhojjat Khorasanizadeh, MD
Neurosurgery Resident/ Medical College of Wisconsin
Dr. Khorasanizadeh completed his medical degree at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Following his graduation, he served as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Neurosurgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, from 2020 to 2022. Subsequently, he started a Neurosurgery Pre-Residency Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, from 2022 to 2024. Dr. Khorasanizadeh has successfully matched into Neurosurgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He is dedicated to mentoring future applicants, particularly those aspiring to enter neurosurgery or explore the pre-residency fellowship path.
Trent Kite, DO
PGY-1 Neurosurgery Resident / Allegheny Health Network
Dr. Kite is a PGY-1 Neurosurgery resident at Allegheny Health Network and earned his medical degree from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. During medical school, he completed a dedicated Neurosurgery Research Fellowship at Allegheny Health Network and was inducted into the Sigma Sigma Phi Osteopathic Honor Society.
Dr. Kite has contributed to more than 35 peer-reviewed publications and scholarly works and has over three years of experience providing USMLE and COMLEX tutoring, as well as medical school and residency advising. As an osteopathic applicant who successfully matched into Neurosurgery, he is committed to helping students, particularly those from disadvantaged and non-traditional backgrounds, build competitive applications and pursue highly competitive specialties.
Drew Thibault, DO
PGY-2 Neurosurgery Resident / Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
Dr. Thibault is a PGY-2 Neurosurgery resident at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree with Highest Honors from Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine after graduating at the top of his class. During medical school, he completed an Anatomy Teaching Fellowship, where he taught anatomy, developed curriculum, and mentored medical students.
Dr. Thibault has authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications, presented his research at national and regional meetings, and received multiple research awards. As an osteopathic applicant who successfully matched into Neurosurgery, he provides guidance on building competitive applications, research productivity, away rotations, interview preparation, and the residency application process for highly competitive specialties.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Andrea Amabile, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
Dr. Andrea Amabile is an integrated cardiothoracic surgery resident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. After graduating as valedictorian from medical school and obtaining a Master of Biostatistics in Italy, he joined the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Yale University, where he led the Clinical Outcomes Research Group as a postdoctoral associate (2021–2022) and research faculty (2022–2023).
He has authored more than 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, with a particular focus on minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery. His work has been presented at national and international conferences, including STS, AATS, EACTS, WTSA, ECTSS, SRS, ISMICS, ICC, HVS, ACC, ESC, and AHA. He is a recipient of the Benson R. Wilcox Award from the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association.
Dr. Amabile was the first trainee invited to serve on the Board of Directors of the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS). He also holds appointments on the Robotic Data Working Group and the Residents Committee of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), where he contributed to the development of the first European robotic cardiac surgery registry. In addition, he is a board member of the Global Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (GTSRA). His prior leadership roles include President of the Junior Researchers Committee of the Association of Italian Surgeons in North America (AISNA) and Secretary of the Yale Italian Society.
Urology
Donald Falbo, DO
PGY1 Urology Resident/ Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA
Donald Falbo is a Urologic Surgery resident at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, PA. He completed his undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University and earned his medical degree from Rocky Vista University (RVUCOM) in Denver, Colorado. While at Ohio State, he graduated with Research Distinction after successfully defending a thesis on cytotoxicity studies of 3D-printed nitinol bone fixation devices.
He also worked as a Patient Care Assistant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH, where he was recognized as Employee of the Year in 2020 prior to starting medical school. During his time at RVUCOM, he served as Vice President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons club. Dr. Falbo is passionate about all aspects of the Match, especially guiding medical students through the application and interview process.
David Hinojosa-Gonzalez, MD
PGY-3 Urology Resident/ Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
David Hinojosa-Gonzalez is a PGY-3 Resident in Urology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He graduated in 2020 from Tecnologico de Monterrey’s medical school in Mexico and later joined Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School for a 2-year research fellowship. He has authored various publications related to the match and IMGs, as well as mentored and prepared numerous peers in the Match process in all aspects of applications ranging from personal statements, ERAS CV and interview preparation. He’s an avid researcher with over 100 publications and presentations, which helped him carve his way into the field where only <2% of the resident workforce are IMGs. Outside of medicine he enjoys music, being a proficient piano and guitar player as well as soccer enthusiast.
Christopher J Kim, MD, PharmD
Urologist/ Duke University Graduate/ Practicing in Georgia
Christopher J Kim, MD, PharmD graduated from Duke University Medical Center in 2024 and is now practicing in Georgia. Dr Kim completed his PharmD in 2011, graduating Summa Cum Laude and worked at Hackensack University Medical Center as a staff pharmacist prior to entering medical school in 2014. Dr Kim was awarded a full academic scholarship to Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. During his time in urology residency, he has authored many peer-reviewed research articles and mentored several international medical school graduates in both research as well as the residency match process. In his free time, he loves to go hiking and try new restaurants in the triangle.
Ophthalmology
Filippos Vingopoulos, MD
PGY3 Ophthalmology Resident/ Stanford University
Dr. Vingopoulos matched into Ophthalmology residency at Stanford University after completing 4 years of post-doctoral research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. As an international medical graduate (IMG) from Greece, he adeptly navigated the competitive residency match system, which included interviews at more than 10 esteemed residency programs. Ultimately, he achieved his first-choice placement in this highly competitive field.
With recent experience in the residency match system, Dr. Vingopoulos has assimilated the knowledge and expertise from his esteemed mentors at institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, Weill-Cornell, NYU, and Stanford, all of whom boast decades of experience serving on residency committees. Dr. Vingopoulos's mentoring approach has been highly personalized, offering one-on-one guidance to over 50 medical students hailing from prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, Tufts, BU, and Weill-Cornell and helping them match into competitive specialties. He has also mentored several international medical students and graduates into matching their dream specialty and focuses on cultivating essential soft skills for interview preparation and takes a holistic view of each applicant, going beyond the CV to develop eloquent, well-rounded candidates sought after by residency committees—those who are the ideal match for their respective teams.
Nadim Azar, MD
PGY3 Ophthalmology Resident/ University of Utah
Nadim Azar, MD, graduated with high distinction from the American University of Beirut with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2017. He earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut in 2021. He then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Duke Eye Center where he focused on research in ocular immunology, artificial intelligence in ophthalmology and pioneering innovative methodologies for detecting dry eye disease. He has presented his research at numerous conferences and has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. Dr. Azar is passionate about mentoring and guiding medical students, particularly in the field of ophthalmology.
OBGYN
Natalia Queenan, MD
OB/GYN Resident / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Dr. Queenan is an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, where she was inducted into both the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society.
Dr. Queenan has an extensive research background, including two years of head and neck cancer research at Massachusetts General Hospital, resulting in multiple peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international meetings. She has mentored U.S. medical students and international medical graduates throughout the residency application process, providing guidance on personal statements, application strategy, interview preparation, and the Match.
Faraj Touchan, MD, FACOG, MIGS
Teaching Faculty, RWJ-Barnabas Health OB/GYN Residency Program
Faraj Touchan is a board-certified Minimally Invasive and Robotic Gynecologic Surgeon with specialized expertise in complex pelvic surgery and endometriosis excision. He serves as faculty for the RWJ-Barnabas Health OB/GYN Residency Program, where he trains residents, mentors trainees, and acts as a robotic surgery proctor and residency interviewer.
Previously, Dr. Touchan was an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo, contributing to surgical education and advancing minimally invasive training. Internationally recognized for his work in robotic endometriosis surgery, he remains committed to improving patient outcomes and advancing the field through mentorship, education, and continued clinical innovation. In addition to his surgical practice, Dr. Touchan remains committed to academic advancement through teaching, mentorship, and ongoing collaboration in the field of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
Plastic Surgery
James D. Fisher, MD, PhD
PGY-6 Plastic Surgery Resident/ University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Fisher completed his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Dr. Fisher enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), where he pursued both an MD in the School of Medicine and a PhD in the School of Engineering. He has served on the admissions committee as a student representative for the School of Medicine, the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD Program) and the Swanson School of Engineering’s Department of Bioengineering. He has conducted nearly 100 student interviews over the course of his training. Further, Dr. Fisher has mentored dozens of students over the years, the vast majority of which have successfully gone on to matriculate into top tier medical schools and successfully match.
Dr. Fisher is currently a PGY-6 plastic surgery resident at the University of Pittsburgh. He is passionate about basic science research and helping medical students match into residency.
Roland Assaf, MD
Plastic Surgery Resident / Larkin Health System
Dr. Assaf is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery resident at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami. He earned both his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the American University of Beirut. Following medical school, he joined the Global Smile Foundation in Boston as a Research Fellow, where he spent two years advancing research in cleft lip and palate surgery. During his fellowship, he authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters while participating in Sustainable Health Programs that provided comprehensive cleft care to underserved communities worldwide. He ultimately matched into the highly competitive specialty of Plastic Surgery as an IMG.
Dr. Assaf enjoys mentoring aspiring physicians and advises medical students and international medical graduates pursuing careers in the United States. He provides guidance on research opportunities, the residency application process, and navigating the path to becoming a physician in the U.S.
Joseph Moffitt, MD
Microsurgery Fellow / University of South Florida
Dr. Moffitt is a Microsurgery Fellow at the University of South Florida, where he also completed his Integrated Plastic Surgery residency. During residency, he was actively involved in evaluating visiting medical students, interviewing residency applicants, and reviewing applications, providing him with direct insight into the residency selection process. He earned his medical degree from McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
Dr. Moffitt enjoys mentoring medical students through the residency application process and provides practical guidance on presenting a strong residency application.
Otolaryngology (ENT)
Jay Shah, MD, MBA
PGY 1 Otolaryngology Resident/ Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Dr. Jay Shah earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine and his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business as a Samvid Scholar. He is currently an Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery resident at Emory University in Atlanta, where his interests center on the intersection of surgery, healthcare delivery, and entrepreneurship.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Neuroscience and minors in South Asia Studies and Chemistry, where he also served as Student Body Vice President. His research focuses on healthcare disparities and surgical outcomes, with lead-author publications in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, and Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. Dr. Shah is deeply committed to teaching, leadership, and mentorship. He has served as a teaching assistant in Anatomy, Quality Improvement, and Otolaryngology courses, supporting the academic and professional development of medical students. His MBA training further enhanced his skills in structured communication, case-based discussion, and public speaking—tools he uses to help students prepare effectively and present themselves with confidence during interviews.
Jake DiFatta, MD
Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery Resident / University of Missouri
Dr. DiFatta earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine and is currently an Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery resident at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. During medical school, he served as an orientation leader, guiding incoming first-year students, and as a member of the admissions committee, where he reviewed applications and conducted interviews. He also gained leadership and advising experience as the student lead of multiple now-published research projects and as captain of two championship-winning intramural sports teams.
Dr. DiFatta mentors residency applicants pursuing surgical specialties, providing evidence-based guidance on application strategy, personal statement development, networking, clinical rotations, and research involvement.
Joshua Wright, MD
Otolaryngology Resident/ Duke University, NC
Dr. Wright is a PGY-3 Otolaryngology resident at Duke University’s Department of Head and Neck Surgery. Born in Jamaica, he graduated as valedictorian from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Faculty of Medical Sciences with distinction.
Prior to residency, Dr. Wright completed research fellowships at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital and Duke University and have published numerous peer-reviewed publications in craniofacial surgery, pediatric airway, laryngology and health equity. He has presented at major national and international conferences and received several awards. He is passionate about mentoring aspiring medical students and improving access to surgical care in underserved communities.”
Lucas Shapiro, DO
PGY-1 Otolaryngology Resident / Broward Health, Florida
Dr. Shapiro is a PGY-1 Otolaryngology resident at Broward Health in South Florida. He earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland. During medical school, he served on the admissions committee and Student Government Association, helping guide students through specialty selection and the residency application process. He graduated with honors and completed a Transitional Year program before beginning his categorical Otolaryngology residency.
Dr. Shapiro provides mentorship to applicants across a wide range of specialties, with a focus on application strategy, personal statements, networking, and building a compelling residency application.
Other Specialties
Pediatrics
Elham Rayzan, MD
Pediatric Resident/ Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Rayzan is originally from Tehran, Iran, and received her MD from Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the Research Center for Immunodeficiencies in Tehran. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, where her work focused on defining the transcriptome of recent thymic emigrants (T cells involved in GvHD) and engineering CAR T cells expressing resistant granzyme B to enhance therapeutic efficacy—prior to matching into the Pediatric Residency Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Having successfully navigated the U.S. residency application process as an international medical graduate, Dr. Rayzan brings invaluable insight and mentorship to other IMGs—particularly those aspiring to match into pediatrics or pediatric subspecialties. She is deeply committed to advancing global pediatric hematology/oncology through both research and education.
Daniel Kang, MD, MEd, FAAP
Former Program Director / Pediatric Hospitalist
Dr. Daniel Kang, MD, MEd, FAAP is a double board-certified Pediatric Hospitalist. He completed his pediatric residency at UC Irvine and was also Chief Resident. He stayed at UC Irvine where he served as Associate Program Director and then Program Director for the pediatric residency program, with over 80 residents, including combined Child Neurology and Pediatric Genetics residents. He now serves as Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education, helping to provide oversight to all residency and fellowship programs at UC Irvine. In addition, he received his Master of Education for the Health Professions from Johns Hopkins University, his alma mater.
Given his prior roles in residency leadership, he has conducted hundreds of interviews over the years and has been heavily involved in the recruitment process. With his passion for mentoring and working with students, Dr. Kang is also an assigned career advisor for the school of medicine, guiding medical students through the application and interview process, reviewing personal statements and application materials, and aiding with mock interviews. Overall, he is well-versed and experienced with the application process, and looking forward to partnering with you.
Nour Gebara, MD
PGY-6 Pediatric Critical Fellow/ Texas Children’s Hospital - Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. Gebara is a pediatric critical care fellow at Texas Children’s Hospital- Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, USA. In 2018, she earned her Medical Diploma from The American University of Beirut. She then moved to the United States and worked as a research fellow/visiting scholar at the Department of Endocrinology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh as part of the Center for Pediatric Research in Obesity and Metabolism (CPROM). She was able to publish several manuscripts and attend conferences during that time. In 2020, she started her professional training in Pediatrics at UPMC-Children’s hospital of Pittsburgh. She continued to work in research and published a couple of case reports. Following residency training, Dr. Gebara secured a fellowship spot at Texas Children’s Hospital- Baylor College of Medicine, where she is currently completing her training and hopes to remain involved in research.
Family Medicine
Meherunnisa Abdal, MBBS
Family Medicine Physician / Primary Care Physician, Texas
Dr. Abdal is a board-certified Family Medicine physician currently practicing primary care in Texas. She completed her residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at the Permian Basin and earned her MBBS from Fatima Jinnah Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan. As an international medical graduate, Dr. Abdal understands firsthand the challenges of navigating the U.S. residency application process. Her own journey included setbacks and red flags, which she overcame through perseverance, strategic planning, and determination to successfully secure and complete residency.
Dr. Abdal works with applicants to understand their individual circumstances, identify areas for improvement, and develop personalized strategies for the residency application process. She provides practical guidance, encouragement, and perspective to applicants navigating their path to residency.
Yash Thakker, MD
PGY-3 Family Medicine Resident/ Penn Medicine Doylestown Health
Dr. Ash is a PGY-3 Family Medicine Resident at Doylestown Health. He graduated from AMC MET Medical College in 2020 and practiced as a general practitioner for two years before matching at the Doylestown Health family medicine residency program in 2023.
He was able to overcome being an old IMG who had low step scores with a strong and well-rounded application — he is confident that he can help you achieve that as well. As your advisor, Dr. Yash will provide personalized advice tailored to your unique situation, optimize your application and personal statement, recommend networking strategies, and help you improve your interviewing skills. While helping candidates through The Match Guy, he does not represent Doylestown Health or its residency programs.
Mohammed Anwer, M.D., M.B.B.S.
Family Medicine Graduate | ER & Urgent Care Physician
Dr. Mohammed Anwer is a board-certified family medicine physician with a diverse international medical background and a passion for acute care medicine.
He holds dual degrees in MD and MBBS. His first medical school was in Yemen, Taiz University School of Medicine, with an MBBS degree. His 2nd medical school was at a Caribbean medical school, Xavier University School of Medicine, reflecting his exceptional medical training. He completed one year of internal medicine residency in Yemen before he was forced to leave because of the war. He did 3 years of research at the University of Kentucky before matching into Family Medicine. He recently completed his Family Medicine residency, where he gained extensive experience in hospital medicine, emergency care, and urgent care settings. He is passionate about helping applicants with the Match process, specially IMGs with older year of graduation and those interested in family medicine.
George Bissada, MBBS
Family Medicine Resident/ Heritage Valley Health System, Beaver, PA
Dr. Bissada is a Family Medicine resident at Heritage Valley Health System. He earned his medical degree from Alexandria University in Egypt in 2021. Following medical school, he completed two years of clinical research at the University of Utah. After completing his residency, he plans to pursue a fellowship in Sports Medicine.
Dr. Bissada is passionate about medical education, evidence-based practice, and mentoring international medical graduates. He offers strategic guidance on matching into Family Medicine, including how to strengthen your application, improve your chances of success, and prepare effectively for interviews.
Emergency Medicine
Vivianne Benbrook, MD
Emergency Medicine Resident / University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Dr. Benbrook is an Emergency Medicine resident at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and earned her medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Prior to medical school, she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant across multiple clinical specialties and earned a Master of Science in Biomedical Science. She also served as an undergraduate biology instructor at Regis University.
Dr. Benbrook provides individualized guidance to students pursuing residency training in the United States, with a particular interest in Emergency Medicine, research, and navigating the residency application and match process.
Mumin Hakim, MBBS, MBA
Emergency Medicine Attending/ Pain Medicine Fellow / Montefiore Medical Center
Dr. Hakim is a Pain Medicine Fellow at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. He graduated from the Jacobi/Montefiore Emergency Medicine Residency Program, affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in June 2026, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Hakim earned his medical degree from Yenepoya Medical College in Mangalore, India. His journey in the United States began as a Research Fellow at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to pursuing Emergency Medicine, he completed two years of General Surgery residency training at Montefiore Medical Center and a fellowship in Burn Surgery at Jacobi Medical Center.
He is passionate about medical education and mentorship, particularly for medical students pursuing Emergency Medicine and International Medical Graduates navigating the USMLE and residency Match process. Dr. Hakim believes that early mentorship can have a lasting impact on career development and remains committed to supporting future physicians throughout their training. In addition to his clinical training, Dr. Hakim earned an MBA from the University of Cumbria in the United Kingdom. His academic interests include acute pain management, regional anesthesia, ultrasound-guided procedures, medical education, and the integration of pain medicine within Emergency Medicine practice.
Psychiatry
Adeolu Funso Oladunjoye, MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow/ Harvard | MGH, Boston, Massachusetts
Funso Oladunjoye, is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow at MGH/Harvard. He originally hails from Nigeria where he completed his medical education. In the U.S., he earned an MPH in Maternal & Child Health with Epidemiology from Boston University School of Public Health. He has held research roles at prominent institutions including the University of Texas at Houston and Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Then he completed his psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine before pursuing fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Harvard.
He serves as the Deputy Editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry Residents Journal and is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association's Public Psychiatry Fellowship. He served as co-chair of the state’s resident and fellow committee of the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians Resident and fellow committee collaborating in efforts towards education and advocacy. His academic contributions include over 100 publications and numerous awards such as the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry Regional Award, the American Society of Addiction Medicine Ruth Fox Scholarship Award, and the BCM Alpha Omega Alpha Honor medical society. He is currently a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow at Mass General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
Derek Pipolo, MD
Psychiatry Resident / University of California, Irvine
Dr. Pipolo is a Psychiatry resident at the University of California, Irvine, with an academic appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree in Argentina, where he also completed several years of Neurosurgery residency training before pursuing a career in academic psychiatry in the United States. He later joined the Division of Medical Psychiatry at Stanford University, contributing to clinical research and authoring multiple peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
As an international medical graduate, Dr. Pipolo has navigated every stage of the residency application process, from obtaining U.S. clinical experience and research positions to matching into a competitive Psychiatry residency program. He provides guidance on building competitive applications, strengthening CVs, preparing for interviews, and navigating the Match process for IMGs.
Alexander Malati, DO
PGY-4 Psychiatry Resident/ University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas
Alexander Malati is a psychiatry resident at the Baptist Health–University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Psychiatry Residency in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he currently serves as Chief Resident. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in May 2022 and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma in 2017.
Dr. Malati has a deep appreciation for the challenges of the Match process, having experienced it from multiple perspectives. As the son of a first-generation IMG, he witnessed firsthand the rigors of immigrating to the U.S. to pursue a medical career. He and his wife successfully couples matched despite being only the second graduating class from his medical school.
Now matched into his goal fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UAMS, Dr. Malati brings both personal and professional insights to the Match process. Over the past two years, he has gained extensive experience in residency recruitment, providing him with a strong understanding of the Match from a program’s perspective.
Camille Chan, MD
Psychiatry Resident / Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health
Dr. Chan is a Psychiatry resident at Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health. She completed her undergraduate studies at Cornell University and earned her medical degree from the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University. She has a strong interest in the future of Psychiatry and hopes to pursue Geriatric Psychiatry.
As a first-generation college graduate and physician, Dr. Chan has dedicated herself to mentoring pre-medical and medical students. She provides guidance on identifying applicants’ strengths, building well-rounded applications, and navigating the residency application and interview process.
Neurology
Marinos Sotiropoulos, MD
Behavioral Neurology Fellow, Harvard Medical School & Mass General Brigham, Boston, MA
Dr. Sotiropoulos grew up in Athens, Greece and graduated from the University of Athens Medical School in 2019. Cultivating a profound interest in medical education and instructional improvement, he participated in the development of a modern, multimodal Neuroanatomy lab experience and taught neuroanatomy, neurology, neuroscience and teaching skills to medical students, graduate students and the general public. He then moved to Boston to pursue a postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Neuroimmunology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he researched clinical outcomes, serum biomarkers and molecular immunology in multiple sclerosis.
He completed residency at the Mass General Brigham Neurology Residency Program at Harvard Medical School, where he served as chief resident and graduated with a certificate in medical education, the Best Resident Feedback Award and the Senior Resident Teacher of the Year Award. He is currently a Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry fellow, focusing on functional neurologic disorders. He teaches neurology and neuroanatomy at multiple levels and researches the best ways to teach neurology and neuroanatomy to medical students, residents and non-neurologists. Outside medicine, he is interested in investigative journalism, fashion, architecture and design.
Anesthesiology
Yun-Han Chen, MD
Anesthesiology Resident/ University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Chen completed his medical degree at Barts and The London School of Medicine in the UK, followed by Foundation Year and Core Anaesthesia Training. He then worked as a trust registrar before moving to the U.S., where he spent two years involved in clinical research in anesthesiology. During this time, he was promoted twice—eventually serving as the Lead Research Coordinator overseeing both local projects and NIH multi-center studies.
Despite the challenges of being an older graduate, Dr. Chen successfully matched into a top anesthesiology residency program in the U.S. His journey has given him a deep understanding of how to strategically strengthen an application when traditional metrics aren’t in your favor. As an advisor, Dr. Chen is passionate about helping international medical graduates navigate complex pathways to match successfully into anesthesiology residency.
Alwin Mathew, MD, MEng
Anesthesiology Resident / Houston Methodist, Houston, TX
Dr. Mathew is an Anesthesiology resident at Houston Methodist. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University before earning his MD and Master of Engineering degrees concurrently through the EnMed program at Texas A&M and Houston Methodist.
Dr. Mathew has extensive experience mentoring medical students and international medical graduates throughout the Match process, with a particular focus on applicants with non-traditional backgrounds or lower metrics.
Adam Watkins, MD
Anesthesiology Resident/ University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Watkins earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Florida State University, graduating magna cum laude with minors in Chemistry and Film Studies. During his undergraduate years, he was active in tutoring student-athletes and community volunteering. At Geisinger School of Medicine, Dr. Watkins served as Class Council President and received multiple awards for professionalism and service. He conducted research in orthopaedics, pharmacology, and community health, collaborating with institutions like the Hospital for Special Surgery and Geisinger Health System. Passionate about mentorship, Dr. Watkins has guided dozens of U.S. medical students through the residency match process across multiple specialties. As a first-generation college student and future physician, he is committed to empowering others to recognize their strengths and achieve their goals.
Kareem Joudi, MD
Anesthesiology Resident / NYU Langone Manhattan
Dr. Joudi is an incoming Anesthesiology resident at NYU Langone Manhattan and is currently completing his Transitional Year at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, a Stanford-affiliated community hospital. He attended Brown University’s combined BS/MD program, PLME, and earned his medical degree from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Throughout medical school, Dr. Joudi was actively involved in mentorship through peer advising and mentoring pre-medical students. He also started a mentorship program for underrepresented students interested in Anesthesiology, supported by a grant from the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Dr. Joudi has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and presented his work at leading academic societies, including ASA, IARS, SOCCA, AAN, and SOAP.
Radiology
Hamza Ibad, MBBS
Diagnostic Radiology/Molecular Imaging resident/ Johns Hopkins University
Hamza Ibad is a Diagnostic Radiology/Molecular Imaging resident at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Ibad was born in New York, and raised in Toronto, Canada while holding strong roots to Pakistan. Dr. Ibad graduated from the Aga Khan University Medical College, Pakistan in 2021 and pursued a post-doctoral research fellowship at Johns Hopkins in the Department of Radiology (Musculoskeletal Division). Dr. Ibad's research and clinical interests include deep-learning applications for automated image interpretation, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia-related health outcomes. He is passionate about the globalization of radiology and medical education. In his free time, Dr. Ibad is an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy, basketball, and baking.
Mohammad Mirza-Aghazadeh-Attari, MD, MPH
Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology Advisor
Mohammad is a transitional year resident who will begin his diagnostic radiology residency at Johns Hopkins. He earned his MD-MPH from Tabriz University in 2021 and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in Interventional Radiology at Johns Hopkins in 2022.
Mohammad is deeply committed to academic medicine and scientific journalism. He serves on the trainee editorial boards of Radiology: Imaging Cancer and the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, and he was awarded the Society of Interventional Radiology’s Research Scientist Award during his postdoctoral fellowship. He is also actively involved in organized radiology communities, serving on multiple committees within the Society of Interventional Radiology, the Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Interventional Oncology. Mohammad will be pursuing training in Interventional Radiology as part of a dual certification ( Diagnostic Radiology - Interventional Radiology) track after obtaining American Board of Radiology eligibility.
Vasan Jagadeesh, MD
Diagnostic & Interventional Radiology Resident / Stanford University
Dr. Jagadeesh is a Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology resident at Stanford University. He earned his medical degree from the UC San Diego School of Medicine, where he was selected to deliver the commencement address at graduation.
With more than five years of advising experience, Dr. Jagadeesh has guided pre-medical and medical students through every stage of the application process, from building competitive applications and personal statements to residency applications and scholarship negotiations. His academic interests include surgery, interventional radiology, and medical education, with multiple research presentations and publications.
Neda Khalili, MD, MPH
Radiology Resident/ Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine
Dr. Neda Khalili is a radiology resident at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. She earned her medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran, and went on to complete postdoctoral research fellowships at the Neuroradiology Division of Johns Hopkins University and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Neda is passionate about radiology education, mentorship and increasing medical student engagement with the field. She has mentored medical students and research fellows through clinical clerkships, research projects, and the residency application process. She has held leadership roles within the American Association for Women in Radiology (AAWR) Members-in-Training Committee and the American College of Radiology (ACR) Resident and Fellow Section. Neda has also helped develop a mentorship program connecting mentees with mentors in radiology. She is committed to supporting aspiring radiologists and enjoys working with applicants to build compelling, personalized residency applications.
Darwish Alabyad, MD, MS
PGY-1 Radiology Resident/ George Washington University in Washington
Originally from Syria, Dr. Alabyad embarked on his journey in the U.S. during his high school years. He recently completed his medical studies at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, where he actively participated in numerous quality improvement research initiatives in collaboration with the Neurology Department at Emory University School of Medicine. He also received Master’s of Science from Georgetown University in Physiology and Biophysics. Dr. Alabyad is a Diagnostic Radiology resident at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He aspires to specialize in Neuroradiology in the future.
Julian Purrinos, MD
PGY-2 Diagnostic Radiology Resident / University of Miami
Dr. Purrinos is a PGY-2 Diagnostic Radiology resident at the University of Miami / Jackson Health System. He earned his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. During medical school, he authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, presented research at national conferences, and served on the medical school's admissions committee.
As a first-generation physician, Dr. Purrinos understands the importance of mentorship and individualized guidance throughout the application process. Training at one of the nation's most diverse academic medical centers, he has worked closely with international medical graduates and provides guidance on building competitive applications, preparing for interviews, and navigating the residency match process.
Dermatology
Nina Rossa Haddad, MD
Dermatology Resident/ Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD
Dr. Haddad is a Dermatology resident at Johns Hopkins Medicine and an international medical graduate from Lebanon. Having successfully navigated the challenges of matching into one of the most competitive specialties as an IMG, Dr. Haddad is passionate about mentoring others on similar paths. She has guided over 10 undergraduate and medical students—including MD-PhD candidates—through the application process and many of her mentees have gone on to match at top-choice programs.
She has an exceptional research background, with publications in leading journals including Nature Communications, JAAD, and JID, along with multiple national oral presentations. Her work has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the Johns Hopkins Research Excellence for Outstanding Achievements Silver Award and a Clinical Research Scholar Grant from the American Acne and Rosacea Society (AARS) to support her continued research at Hopkins. Dr. Haddad provides personalized, strategic guidance to help applicants navigate every step of the competitive dermatology residency process.
Mo Afarideh, MD, MPH
Dermatology Resident/ Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN
Dr. Afarideh is a Dermatology Resident at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) and a former Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Autoimmune Skin Diseases Unit. His research focuses on autoimmune blistering disorders, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and dermatomyositis, including clinical trials on novel therapeutics and validated scoring systems. He previously received the Dr. Smith H. and Lucille Gibson Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award at Mayo Clinic, where he studied gaps in dermatologic epidemiology across different age groups in the U.S. Dr. Afarideh has extensive experience advising IMGs on the dermatology match process and mentoring aspiring dermatologists.
Anthony Thompson, MD
Dermatology Resident, PGY-2 / University of Central Florida
Dr. Thompson is a PGY-2 Dermatology resident at the University of Central Florida. He completed his intern year at Lakeland Regional Health, where he received awards for excellence in patient care and quality metrics. He earned his medical degree from Florida State University College of Medicine, graduating first in his class and earning induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. His research has been published in leading dermatology journals.
Dr. Thompson has more than seven years of admissions committee experience for both medical school and residency applicants. Having recently navigated the dermatology match process, he provides guidance on building competitive applications, developing strong personal statements, and preparing for interviews.
Alicia Podwojniak, DO
Dermatology Resident / Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey
Dr. Podwojniak is a Dermatology resident at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. She completed her intern year in Internal Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital and earned her medical degree from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, where she was inducted into the Sigma Sigma Phi Osteopathic Honor Society.
Dr. Podwojniak has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented her work at national meetings. As a DO applicant, she learned firsthand how to identify and develop meaningful research opportunities. She provides guidance on research involvement, residency applications, and building a strong academic portfolio. A first-generation college graduate and physician, she is committed to individualized mentorship and helping applicants navigate the residency application process with confidence.
Pathology
Alexis Bousamra, MD
Pathology Attending / Former Associate Program Director, Allegheny Health Network
Dr. Bousamra has been part of the Pathology faculty at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) since 2015. He also served as Associate Program Director from 2017 until 2020 at AHN. After earning his medical degree in 2007 from the American University of Beirut (Lebanon), he completed two years of Anatomic Pathology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, followed by a Pathology residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He became board-certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP) in 2013.
Subsequently, Dr. Bousamra moved to Houston, TX to complete two fellowships in Surgical Pathology and Breast Pathology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He currently practices general Surgical Pathology with an emphasis on Breast Pathology. Dr. Bousamra has extensive experience interviewing residency applicants and has given his residents several sessions on social skills and networking. He offers valuable insight into the residency Match and interview process.
Luna Tello, MD
Cytopathology Fellow / Emory University
Dr. Tello is a Cytopathology Fellow at Emory University. She earned her medical degree from the University of Balamand in Lebanon and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in breast pathology at the American University of Beirut before matching into the Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency program at Emory University.
As an international medical graduate, Dr. Tello successfully navigated the U.S. residency application process and has advised medical students and residency applicants on CV development, personal statements, research, and interview preparation. During residency, she participated in interviewing and evaluating applicants for the pathology residency program. She provides guidance on the residency application process, research pathways, and the IMG journey.
Cody Marshall, DO
Attending Pathologist/ UPMC Jameson Hospital.
Dr. Marshall is a community hospital based pathologist within the UPMC health system, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2019, he earned his medical diploma from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. In the fall of 2019, Dr. Marshall began his Anatomical and Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine residency with Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. In 2023, Dr. Marshall completed his residency, passed his licensing exams, and began a fellowship in cytopathology. Dr. Marshall completed this fellowship in the spring of 2024 and started a second fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Gastrointestinal Pathology. After this was completed Dr. Marshall decided to stay within the UPMC network and began practicing at UPMC Jameson community hospital in 2025.
PM&R
Mustafa Reha Dodurgali, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Resident / Yale School of Medicine
Dr. Mustafa Dodurgali is a PGY-3 PM&R resident at Yale School of Medicine. He graduated from medical school in Turkey. Aspiring to pursue his medical career in the United States, he moved to Boston, MA, in 2022 to join the Spaulding Neuromodulation Center at Harvard Medical School as a research fellow. During his time in Boston, he completed the Principles and Practice of Clinical Research (PPCR) program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, receiving the Clinical Research Scholar Award in 2022. He continues to be a Teaching Assistant for the program and was recognized with the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award in 2023 and 2024 for his contributions to medical education.
Dr. Dodurgali began his PM&R residency in 2024. His academic interests include sports and pain medicine, neuromodulation, rehabilitation technologies, and the integration of artificial intelligence in medical education. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) Residents & Fellows Council and plays an active role in national leadership and mentorship initiatives within the PM&R community. His work reflects a strong commitment to advancing the field of rehabilitation medicine and fostering the next generation of physicians.
Hannah Uhlig-Reche, MD, MPH
PM&R Attending & Medical Director / San Antonio, TX
Dr. Uhlig-Reche is a board-certified Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) physician who owns a private practice and serves as an attending and Medical Director at an acute rehabilitation hospital in San Antonio, TX. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UT San Antonio, where she completed her PM&R residency and previously served as Chief Resident of Research and Quality Improvement. Prior to residency, she earned her dual MD/MPH degree from UT Health Science Center at Houston.
She has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, presented at various conferences, and previously served as a PM&R Staff Physician at the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. Her honors include being named an AAPM&R Innovators & Influencers Honoree in 2025 and receiving the U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award in 2020. Dr. Uhlig-Reche has extensive interview and mentorship experience, which she uses to help applicants prepare for their careers.
D.O. Advisors
Alicia Podwojniak, DO
Dermatology Resident / Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey
Dr. Podwojniak is a Dermatology resident at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey. She completed her intern year in Internal Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital and earned her medical degree from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, where she was inducted into the Sigma Sigma Phi Osteopathic Honor Society.
Dr. Podwojniak has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented her work at national meetings. As a DO applicant, she learned firsthand how to identify and develop meaningful research opportunities. She provides guidance on research involvement, residency applications, and building a strong academic portfolio. A first-generation college graduate and physician, she is committed to individualized mentorship and helping applicants navigate the residency application process with confidence.
Trent Kite, DO
PGY-1 Neurosurgery Resident / Allegheny Health Network
Dr. Kite is a PGY-1 Neurosurgery resident at Allegheny Health Network and earned his medical degree from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. During medical school, he completed a dedicated Neurosurgery Research Fellowship at Allegheny Health Network and was inducted into the Sigma Sigma Phi Osteopathic Honor Society.
Dr. Kite has contributed to more than 35 peer-reviewed publications and scholarly works and has over three years of experience providing USMLE and COMLEX tutoring, as well as medical school and residency advising. As an osteopathic applicant who successfully matched into Neurosurgery, he is committed to helping students, particularly those from disadvantaged and non-traditional backgrounds, build competitive applications and pursue highly competitive specialties.
Drew Thibault, DO
PGY-2 Neurosurgery Resident / Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
Dr. Thibault is a PGY-2 Neurosurgery resident at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree with Highest Honors from Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine after graduating at the top of his class. During medical school, he completed an Anatomy Teaching Fellowship, where he taught anatomy, developed curriculum, and mentored medical students.
Dr. Thibault has authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications, presented his research at national and regional meetings, and received multiple research awards. As an osteopathic applicant who successfully matched into Neurosurgery, he provides guidance on building competitive applications, research productivity, away rotations, interview preparation, and the residency application process for highly competitive specialties.
Donald Falbo, DO
PGY1 Urology Resident/ Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA
Donald Falbo is a Urologic Surgery resident at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, PA. He completed his undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University and earned his medical degree from Rocky Vista University (RVUCOM) in Denver, Colorado. While at Ohio State, he graduated with Research Distinction after successfully defending a thesis on cytotoxicity studies of 3D-printed nitinol bone fixation devices.
He also worked as a Patient Care Assistant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH, where he was recognized as Employee of the Year in 2020 prior to starting medical school. During his time at RVUCOM, he served as Vice President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons club. Dr. Falbo is passionate about all aspects of the Match, especially guiding medical students through the application and interview process.
Lucas Shapiro, DO
PGY-1 Otolaryngology Resident / Broward Health, Florida
Dr. Shapiro is a PGY-1 Otolaryngology resident at Broward Health in South Florida. He earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine after completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland. During medical school, he served on the admissions committee and Student Government Association, helping guide students through specialty selection and the residency application process. He graduated with honors and completed a Transitional Year program before beginning his categorical Otolaryngology residency.
Dr. Shapiro provides mentorship to applicants across a wide range of specialties, with a focus on application strategy, personal statements, networking, and building a compelling residency application.
Alexander Malati, DO
PGY-4 Psychiatry Resident/ University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas
Alexander Malati is a psychiatry resident at the Baptist Health–University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Psychiatry Residency in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he currently serves as Chief Resident. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in May 2022 and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oklahoma in 2017.
Dr. Malati has a deep appreciation for the challenges of the Match process, having experienced it from multiple perspectives. As the son of a first-generation IMG, he witnessed firsthand the rigors of immigrating to the U.S. to pursue a medical career. He and his wife successfully couples matched despite being only the second graduating class from his medical school.
Now matched into his goal fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UAMS, Dr. Malati brings both personal and professional insights to the Match process. Over the past two years, he has gained extensive experience in residency recruitment, providing him with a strong understanding of the Match from a program’s perspective.
Cody Marshall, DO
Attending Pathologist/ UPMC Jameson Hospital.
Dr. Marshall is a community hospital based pathologist within the UPMC health system, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2019, he earned his medical diploma from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. In the fall of 2019, Dr. Marshall began his Anatomical and Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine residency with Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. In 2023, Dr. Marshall completed his residency, passed his licensing exams, and began a fellowship in cytopathology. Dr. Marshall completed this fellowship in the spring of 2024 and started a second fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Gastrointestinal Pathology. After this was completed Dr. Marshall decided to stay within the UPMC network and began practicing at UPMC Jameson community hospital in 2025.
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Elie Bitar
Head of the Support team
A highly motivated and ambitious medical graduate from Syria, interested in general surgery, with a stellar academic record and a keen interest in health and research. Possessing strong leadership and communication skills, multilingual abilities in English, Arabic, Russian, and German, and a passion for music as a guitarist and singer.
Bisan Al Hajjar
Motivated medical student with a strong passion for learning and exploration. Known for solid academic performance, excellent communication skills, and fluency in English and Arabic. In addition to medicine, enjoys karate, basketball, and piano, reflecting discipline, teamwork, and creativity.
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