Motivate MD Team

Hi all! My name is Helena and I'm a medical student at the Emory University School of Medicine; I'm currently interested in pursuing anesthesiology. I was originally born and raised in Connecticut and stayed for college; I received my B.A. in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health in 2020 from Yale University with a focus in medicine and public health. I love to read, write, and look at medicine through a humanistic/literary lens! But I've also dabbled in so many research fields: from hookworm research during my first year of college, bioethics research on ontological arguments around abortion during my third year, to writing a thesis on the cultural attitudes around mental health care for Vietnamese refugees after the Vietnam War during my senior year! I took two gap years after graduating, taking some time to do proteomics research as an NIH IRTA Post-Bac Research Fellow at the Framingham Heart Study. I also worked as a pharmacy tech, giving Covid-19 vaccines at the height of the pandemic!

I also love to mentor—I wouldn't be who I am without wonderful mentors along the way! I was a First-Year Counselor (""FroCo"") during my senior year and a camp counselor for Camp Kesem for two summers. At EUSOM, I'm on the executive board of the Mentorship Matching Program—a program created between the SOM and the Emory pre-health program to match med school applicants with medical students. In my free time, I've connected with former mentees and coworkers to edit their personal statements and help them with their own medical school journey— whether they end up pursuing medicine or not. I also love writing and editing for the SOM literary magazine (The Styloid Process), taking weekly dance classes, and exploring coffee shops around Atlanta (even though I don't even drink coffee!).

I know how hard the medical school process is so, congratulations for taking this step! As your mentor, I want to work with you as your teammate. I want to make sure that you're putting your best foot forward and telling your story in the way that it deserves to be heard. Each applicant is so unique and therefore, the way we approach your application will be unique too. Looking forward to working with you!

Hi! My name is Rhys (pronounced like “Reese’s Pieces”) and I am a medical student at Yale School of Medicine.

I have upwards of 9 years experience mentoring peers, most recently aiding students through the premedical path at my undergrad. I also have worked as an executive function/planning tutor for Los Angeles area high school and college students. Earlier in college, I worked as a research aide/teaching assistant helping students leverage “writing-to-learn” in order to improve their understanding of complex concepts.

After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Health Policy from the University of Southern California in 2021, I took a gap year primarily to scribe at a pediatric clinic to boost my clinical experience hours and to continue to work on a philanthropic start-up I co-founded while at USC.

At USC, I had multiple research experiences ranging from biomedical device research in a hybrid wet lab to policy analysis. I also was heavily involved in pro-bono consulting for non-profits and social enterprises.

I have personal experience approaching the common “Why Medicine?” question from a non-traditional angle (engineering major/activities and low clinical hours compared to non-clinical), tying in a non-standard major “X factor” extracurricular into the overall theme of an application, and expressing interest in dual degrees/interdisciplinary medical careers (policy, public health etc).

I look forward to helping you plan for and execute your unique path to medical school!

Dr. Silverglate is a Diagnostic Radiology resident at Duke University. During medical school, he worked with NYU’s Admissions Ambassador program that helped students decide on where to attend medical school and how to navigate the application process. After mentoring younger medical students throughout medical school, he joined MotivateMD to provide the resources, knowledge, and guidance he would have wanted when applying and interviewing for medical school and residency.

I'm from San Diego, but I'm currently enjoying the change of scenery and seasons Omaha has provided. Even though I've always wanted to go into medicine, I really enjoy the Humanities, especially reading and editing, which led me to join the editing team for a journal during undergrad. I have a service dog that comes to school with me and is very popular with my classmates. I hope to encourage others with disabilities/chronic disease to pursue careers in medicine.

Hi! My name is Kate and I’m a current medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City! I’m originally from Kingsport, Tennessee and attended Clemson University where I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering. I have had a slightly more non-traditional path to medicine and I have a lot of experience in how to best weave together your own unique story in order to stand out to admissions committees.

Hello! My name is Jessica, and I am a medical student at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. I completed my undergraduate degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology at Johns Hopkins University, along with a minor in Entrepreneurship & Management. At Hopkins, I played on the varsity tennis team, served as a peer tutor, and volunteered at the JHH Sickle Cell Infusion Center.

After graduating from college, I took on a full-time position at the Sickle Cell Infusion Center as a clinical research coordinator. I stayed in this role for one gap year, where I ran the largest registry of sickle cell disease patients in the United States, helping to characterize disparities faced in health outcomes and access to care.

Since starting medical school, I have become heavily involved in cervical cancer research, volunteering at the Chinese Hospital in downtown San Francisco, and advocating for vulnerable populations. As a first-generation medical student, I understand how overwhelming the application process is and how vital near-peer guidance can be. I've helped several applicants through their application writing and interview process, who will all be matriculating to medical school this upcoming fall. I look forward to helping you curate your own story, put your best foot forward, and pursue your dream career!

Hi! I'm a fourth year med student at Pritzker UChicago. I received my undergrad degree in Public Health at UC Berkeley. I'm passionate about high value care, FQHC quality improvement, and gastroenterology. In my free time I love hiking, eating at restaurants, and going to concerts!

I’m an MD student at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine with a strong background in creative writing and prose since high school. I’m passionate about helping applicants craft clear, authentic narratives that reflect their motivations for pursuing medicine!

My name is Emily and I’m a current MD-PhD student at Emory University. Not knowing anyone in medicine growing up, I had to carve my own path and find ways to independently explore the field. I worked as an EMT through high school and college to learn more about patient care and prehospital medicine.

Throughout college, I was interested in solely pursuing an MD. However, as I became exposed to the world of research, I realized the important role that research plays in medicine and the amount of progress that still needs to be made to improve care globally. I envision a career that includes running a laboratory while still seeing patients clinically, which motivated me to apply to MSTPs.

I love working with students to craft a narrative about how they got to where they are and why they chose to apply to medical school. Oftentimes, there are themes throughout a student’s application that they can focus on to create a convincing and well-rounded application! Every journey is a story, you just need to figure out how to tell it. I look forward to helping you with your application!

Greetings! My name is Riya, and I am a fourth-year medical student. I graduated Cum Laude from UCLA with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychobiology.

During my undergraduate years, I became involved in research investigating brain gut microbiome interactions in food addiction and have continued that involvement into medical school. I have a keen interest in neuroimaging as a tool to study obesity-related changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity and the impact of various social determinants of health. My contributions have culminated in several publications, including a book chapter. I am additionally interested in oncologic imaging and nuclear medicine, and have continued to be involved in this area of research in medical school.

Aside from medical studies, I am passionate about community service and volunteer at a clinic that provides care for patients without health insurance. My clinical experience spans working with unsheltered populations and hospice care patients. Writing is another passion of mine, and I have had the privilege of publishing several articles on an online forum, KevinMD, and a brain-gut health website, ABiome. Additionally, I enjoy teaching and mentor first-year medical students in physiology, and tutor college and high school students in Math and Science subjects.

I am a first-generation graduate student and the first in my family to become a physician. I am passionate about supporting and empowering future applicants in their journey in applying to medical school and navigating a career in medicine. I have been part of the Motivate MD team for over a year now and have worked with many students through personal statement guidance, secondary essay writing, and interview preparation. I also currently serve as an MMI interviewer with my medical school admissions committee. I look forward to supporting you in your journey in medicine!

I am a medical studentat California Health Sciences University. My academic path began in San Jose, followed by studies in Public Health at UC Berkeley and a Masters at Yale. Taking gap years for clinical exposure and application refinement, I worked in vascular surgery and a healthcare startup. I work with students to really bring their essays to life, bringing in anecdotes to make it more personal!

Hello applicants! I am an Orthopaedic Surgery resident at Stony Brook University Hospital with a passion for mentoring students through the medical school and residency application process. I understand firsthand how stressful and overwhelming it can be to navigate applications, personal statements, interviews, and the pressure of trying to stand out in highly competitive fields—especially when strong guidance can be difficult to find.

My goal is to make the process more approachable, strategic, and less overwhelming for applicants. I work with students to build authentic, compelling applications and essays that highlight their unique story, strengths, and experiences while helping them present themselves with confidence. Whether it’s medical school applications, ERAS, or personal statements, I aim to provide the mentorship and honest feedback I wish more students had access to during the process.

Outside of medicine, the most important part of my life is my family. My wife and I have a son and a German-Australian Shepherd mix named Ovi, after my favorite hockey player, Alex Ovechkin. One of my favorite memories was bringing our son to his first hockey game at just 8 weeks old, which happened to be the game Ovechkin broke the NHL all-time goal scoring record.

I also enjoy traveling whenever I can. My wife and I got engaged in Norway and got married in Italy. Some of our best experiences together have come from exploring new places and cultures outside of the demands of medicine. I think it’s important for students and trainees to realize that, while medicine is incredibly demanding, it’s still possible to build a fulfilling life outside the hospital and prioritize the people and experiences that matter most to you.

Hello! My name is Ajibola Bakare (Aji), and I am a IM resident at the Conway Regional. I attended medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine and completed my undergraduate degree at Transylvania University, where I majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry. I also have experience serving on an admissions committee, which has given me insight into the medical school application process. I look forward to helping guide you on your journey to becoming a physician!

Hi! My name is Aman and I am a medical student at Creighton School of Medicine - Phoenix.

After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Human Biology and minor in Music Production from the University of Southern California in 2023, I took a gap year working in healthcare administration to learn about the business side of healthcare.

At USC, I had multiple research experiences ranging from AI-based radiomics research to wet lab stem-cell research. Additionally, I was heavily involved in the music program at USC. I studied music production/performance and facilitated community outreach programs to teach music. My "Why Medicine" was very personal and unique because it tied into my passion for music and human connection.

I have multiple years of experience serving as a mentor and peer tutor for the pre-med office at USC. I also served as a teaching assistant for the drumline at USC, helping students learn abstract rhythms note-by-note. Similarly, I look forward to helping you plan for and execute your unique path to medical school every step of the way!

Amanda Moser is a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine with nearly two years of experience as an editor and advisor with MotivateMD. Through this role, she has worked closely with applicants to refine personal statements, secondaries, and interview strategies, helping them effectively communicate their unique stories. Her passion for mentoring stems from a strong belief that the admissions process should feel accessible and empowering rather than overwhelming. In addition to her advising work, Amanda serves as a student interviewer with the PSOM Admissions Office, where she evaluates applicants and contributes to the selection process. This dual perspective—as both an advisor and admissions participant—allows her to provide thoughtful, insider guidance tailored to what admissions committees are truly looking for.

I'm Andrea, a third-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine. I was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the United States when I was five years old and grew up in Queens, NYC. My Ecuadorian roots remain a huge part of who I am and have shaped the way I view community, family, and service. After graduating from New York University, I completed Drexel's DPMS post-baccalaureate program before matriculating into medical school, giving me a firsthand understanding of the many different paths that can lead to a career in medicine.

One of my favorite things about mentorship is getting to know people and hearing their stories. Throughout college and medical school, I have enjoyed supporting students as they navigate academics, medical school applications, career decisions, and the ups and downs that come with pursuing medicine. I believe everyone brings something valuable to the table, and I love helping students recognize the strengths and experiences that make their journeys unique.

My research has primarily focused on neuroscience and vascular surgery, and I am still exploring where my own path in medicine will ultimately lead. Along the way, I have been fortunate to find community through organizations like LMSA and through mentors who believed in me during moments when I wasn't always sure of myself.

Because my journey to medicine has not been a straight line, I understand how challenging and uncertain this process can feel. Those experiences have taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of asking for help when you need it. They have also shaped the way I mentor others, with honesty, empathy, and the belief that there is no single "right" path to becoming a physician.

I joined Motivate MD because I know how much meaningful mentorship can change someone's trajectory, and I hope to provide applicants with the same encouragement, support, and sense of community that helped me along my journey.

Hi! My name is Angelyn, and I’m currently an MD/MA candidate at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, where I’m also pursuing a Master’s in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics. My interest in medicine has always been closely tied to my love for storytelling, ethics, and deeply understanding what makes each person who they are. Moreover, I’m the first in my family to pursue medicine and a child of immigrant parents, so I understand the particular challenges that can bring, and am especially passionate about supporting students who are navigating that.

I know how vulnerable it can feel to share personal writing and experiences, and I see it as a privilege to be trusted with that. Whether it’s advising, editing, or interview prep, I promise to give thoughtful, honest, and encouraging feedback, just like the support that helped me most during my own application process.

My goal is to walk alongside you to help you bring out the strongest, most authentic version of your story and make sure it comes across clearly to admissions committees. Every application is unique, and I’m excited to help you shape yours into something you’re proud of submitting. Thank you for letting me a part of this process with you!

Medical School: Ohio State University Undergrad: University of Notre Dame Dr. Nalin is a radiation oncology resident at MD Anderson Cancer Center. During medical school, he was actively involved in tutoring, mentoring, and coordinating academic programs for medical students. Dr. Nalin joined Motivate MD to utilize his teaching, leadership, and communication skills to guide students through the medical school and residency application process