INTERIM

My Background

I completed my undergraduate studies at USC and pursued medicine because of the opportunity to be present with patients during vulnerable moments and support them through difficult situations.

I come from a Middle Eastern background and have spent much of my clinical and volunteer work serving underserved Spanish-speaking communities across Los Angeles County.

Clinical and Community Experience

Many of my experiences in healthcare have involved working with Spanish-speaking patients and communities that face barriers to care, including language barriers, lack of access, and limited healthcare resources.

These experiences reinforced how important representation and language-concordant care can be. Patients often feel more comfortable and understood when their physicians share similar backgrounds or cultural experiences.

Mentorship Experience

Over the past several years I have mentored more than 15 students individually and longitudinally as they navigated different stages of the pre-med journey.

Through these experiences, I realized how little mentorship many students receive while trying to figure out the process on their own.

Paying Mentorship Forward

I was incredibly fortunate to have mentors who helped guide me through different stages of the pre-med journey. Their advice and encouragement made a huge difference in helping me move forward with confidence.

Because of that support, I feel a strong desire to pay that mentorship forward and help other students who may not have the same access to guidance.

Students Without Connections

Many talented students are fully capable of becoming excellent physicians, but they are navigating the pre-med process without physicians in their family or mentors who can help explain how the system works.

My goal is to help make that path clearer and less isolating for students who feel like they are figuring everything out on their own.

Representation in Medicine

Through my clinical work and volunteering with underserved communities, I have seen how important representation can be in medicine.

Patients often benefit when physicians share cultural backgrounds, language, or lived experiences with the communities they serve. Supporting students from diverse backgrounds and expanding access to mentorship ultimately helps strengthen healthcare for the communities physicians serve.

Service

Supporting students who hope to serve underserved communities and pursue medicine with a sense of purpose.

Encouragement

Providing mentorship that is both honest and supportive so students feel capable of pursuing medicine even when the path feels uncertain.

Transparency

Helping students understand the unspoken parts of the pre-med process so they can make informed decisions with less guesswork.

Representation

Encouraging more students from diverse backgrounds to pursue medicine and serve the communities that need them.

Priority Applicants

Priority is given to students without physicians in their family or strong healthcare connections. Applications from Hispanic students are especially encouraged, given well-documented gaps in physician representation and mentorship access.

Students Without Connections

This mentorship is for students from underserved, immigrant, first-generation, or low-resource backgrounds, and for anyone trying to figure out the pre-med path without strong advising or family connections in medicine.

Students Interested in Service

This is a strong fit for students who hope to serve underserved communities, value representation in medicine, and want to build a career that is both meaningful and community-centered.

All Students Welcome

Even if you do not fit the priority categories above, you are still welcome to apply if you feel this mentorship would be helpful for your journey.

Course Planning and Academic Direction

I can help you think through pre-med course planning, academic priorities, and how to build a realistic path forward without unnecessary overwhelm.

Personal Statement and Application Strategy

I can help you shape your story, strengthen your writing, and think strategically about how to approach the application process.

Extracurricular and Research Guidance

I can help you think through extracurricular choices, research opportunities, and how to build experiences that are meaningful rather than just checking boxes.

Honest Advice About Medicine

You can ask candid questions about the realities of medicine, medical training, and whether this path feels aligned with your goals and values.

Step 1: Apply

Submit the mentorship application and share a little about your background, goals, and what kind of support would be most helpful right now.

Step 2: Initial Conversation

If selected, we will start with an initial one-on-one conversation to talk through your goals, questions, and where you are in the process.

Step 3: Ongoing Check-Ins

Many students continue mentorship longitudinally, checking in again at different stages of the pre-med journey as new decisions and questions arise.

Step 4: Support Over Time

The goal is to provide individualized guidance over time, not just a single session, so that students feel more supported as they move forward.

What You Can Expect

• Free virtual mentorship on Zoom
• Individualized one-on-one guidance
• An initial conversation with the possibility of ongoing check-ins
• Priority for students without physicians in their family or strong healthcare connections, with Hispanic students especially encouraged
• A supportive space for questions about academics, applications, and the path to medicine

Submitting an application does not guarantee a mentorship spot.

What the Application Asks

The application is meant to help me understand your background, where you are in the pre-med journey, and what kind of support would be most helpful.

• Your school and year in school
• Whether there are physicians in your family
• Why you are seeking mentorship
• What you most want help with
• Your long-term goals in medicine
• Your availability for an initial conversation

If selected, I will reach out with next steps for scheduling.

Who is eligible for mentorship?

Any pre-med student is welcome to apply. Priority is given to students without physicians in their family or strong mentorship networks in healthcare. Applications from Hispanic students are especially encouraged.

Do I have to be Hispanic to apply?

No. All students are welcome to apply. The priority categories reflect the communities I especially hope to support, but the mentorship is open to anyone who feels it would be helpful.

Is this mentorship really free?

Yes. Mentorship is offered free of charge.

Is this just one session?

No. While mentorship may begin with an initial conversation, my goal is to offer longitudinal support over time so students can continue checking in as their journey progresses.

Is mentorship virtual?

Yes. Conversations take place over Zoom.

How do I contact you?

The best way to reach me is through the application form. I do not post my personal contact information publicly on the website.