Last updated: July 2026 · Written by the MatchPal Advising Team & reviewed by Dr Joseph Gofman, DO. It’s late July. Somewhere between your Sub-I shifts and your program list spreadsheet, there’s a Google Doc titled “PS draft” that is either blank or has been rewritten eleven times. For years, the standard advice has been […]
As a medical student, the journey through applications, interviews, and ultimately securing your desired residency or fellowship can feel overwhelming. One critical component of this process is the Letter of Intent (LOI)—a document that can significantly influence program directors’ decisions. Whether you’re hoping to secure a position in a competitive specialty or solidify your place
Blog Post #15: The Ultimate Letter of Intent Template Read More »
What Are Signal Tokens? Signal tokens are a relatively new component of the residency application process, first introduced in 2022 for some specialties and adopted to more specialties in the years since. Think of the signal token as a “super-like”- it is a finite number of signals that you can send to the programs you
Blog Post #10: Signal Tokens for Match 2025 Explained Read More »
Exams Tutored: USMLE Step 2, COMLEX Level 2
Medical School: Marian University Wood College of Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Exams Tutored: USMLE Step 1/2
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Exams Tutored: USMLE Step 1/2, COMLEX Level 1/2
Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Exams Tutored: USMLE Step 1/2, COMLEX Level 1/2
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas
Bio: Coming soon!
Specialty: Triple Board Combined Training in Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry
Residency Program: Brown University
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Specialty: Plastic Surgery
Residency Program: Wright State University
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Tristan brings an elite academic record and a passion for specialty-specific mentorship to the team. A graduate of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Tristan’s medical school career was distinguished by exceptional performance; he graduated at the top of his class and achieved a 276 on USMLE Step 2. His leadership and contributions to the medical community were recognized when he was named LECOM Erie’s 2025 Student Doctor of the Year.
Tristan’s background in education is extensive, having served as a tutor for all preclinical medical school courses for three years. He also brings five years of experience as a youth baseball coach and hitting instructor, honing a coaching style that is both disciplined and focused on individual growth. At MatchPal, he focuses on helping students bridge the “Institutional Gap” by providing access to the mentorship and specialty-specific resources that are often unavailable at their home institutions.
Tristan joined the MatchPal team because he values the opportunity to provide the high-level, practical guidance needed to navigate the complexities of the residency application process for one of the most competitive fields students can apply for.
Outside of the hospital, Tristan is a sports enthusiast who continues to coach baseball. He is also a devoted dog owner, having adopted his Catahoula leopard dog/pit mix during his very first semester of medical school.
Specialty: Pathology
Residency Program: University of Michigan
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Specialty: Orthopedic Surgery
Residency Program: Broward Health
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Aja brings a legacy of high-level institutional leadership to the Orthopedic Surgery team. A graduate of NSU-KPCOM, Aja’s medical school career was defined by advocacy and executive leadership as the Student Government Association (SGA) President. Her impact on the academic community was further distinguished when she was selected as the keynote speaker for the White Coat Ceremony and honored with the prestigious President’s Award.
Aja is a seasoned educator whose teaching background spans from serving as a high school math and science tutor to working as a certified yoga teacher. This unique combination of academic rigor and mindfulness allows her to help mentees bridge the institutional gap many DOs face when applying Orthopedics. She specializes in deconstructing the complexities of the Ortho application process into a streamlined, winning strategy. Aja enjoys the process behind providing specialized guidance and support for students to reach their highest potential – inside and outside of the Match.
Outside of the hospital, Aja is an Ironman triathlete, a feat that reflects the same discipline and endurance she brings to her surgical training and her mentorship.
Specialty: Orthopedic Surgery
Residency Program: Community Memorial Health
Medical School: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Residency Program: Intermountain Health – St Joseph Hospital
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Tori is a former ski instructor, swim coach, and rock-orchestra violinist. Why does that matter to you? Because she has spent her entire life teaching high-stakes skills to all kinds of learners. She doesn’t believe in cookie-cutter advice; she literally adapts her entire consulting style to match how you process information, stripping the anxiety right out of the match process.
As the former President of the Global Health Club and a veteran of clinical rotations in Kenya and Guatemala, Tori knows how to market unique clinical experiences. She is a master at helping you articulate your leadership, volunteer, and research experiences so you stand out on paper and in interviews. Tori is a perfect match for the student who feels overwhelmed by the noise of the match and wants a structured, highly personalized, and supportive mentor to lock their application into place to get an excellent Internal Medicine residency spot!
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Residency Program: University of California, Irvine
Medical School: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Specialty: General Surgery
Residency Program: Northwell Health – North Shore University Hospital & Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Medical School: City University of New York School of Medicine
Bio: Katerina is is a dual AOA and Gold Humanism Honor Society inductee. Coming from a medical school that did not heavily prioritize surgical specialties or research, she learned to bridge the “institutional gap” by building her own opportunities.
She served on Hiring, Academic Progress, and Admissions committees—she knows what happens behind closed doors – and what makes candidates stand out from the stack. As a former Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), she knows how to build a resume that commands respect. Whether you are navigating a school with limited resources or trying to break into the competitive sub-specialty of Gen Surg, Dr Jou has the blueprint to get you there.
Fun Fact: She is a trivia enthusiast who made it to the in-person audition round for Jeopardy!
Specialty: ENT (Otolaryngology)
Residency Program: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas
Bio: Carsten brings a strong clinical and entrepreneurial background to the team. A graduate of VCOM-Carolinas, Carsten demonstrated exceptional clinical aptitude during his medical training, earning Honors in every core rotation during his third year.
His commitment to surgical innovation is evidenced by his research and development of a clinical mouthwash solution for Oral Leukoplakia. Beyond the laboratory, Carsten possesses a unique creative and business perspective; he founded his own T-shirt company that merged anatomically correct designs with artistic creativity.
Carsten is a dedicated educator with experience ranging from anatomy tutoring to coaching lacrosse. He focuses on helping students navigate the hidden curriculum of the residency application process, providing a relatable perspective for applicants who may not be the top of their class in terms of grades. By prioritizing high-performance Sub-Internship rotations, extracurricular development, and intentional networking, he helps students stand out in ENT.
Outside of the hospital, Carsten is an avid mountain biker and skier who enjoys spending his time on the trails and slopes.
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Residency Program: Creighton University School of Medicine – Phoenix
Medical School: Drexel University
Bio:Davin brings a robust background in academic coaching and student advocacy. He inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society, a distinction reflecting his academic excellence and was further recognized with the Mary Yankosky Award in Radiology and the Vivek Subramani Memorial Award for leadership, compassion, and service.
Mentorship and education have been central to Davin’s journey. As an Academic Coach and Peer Mentor, he has spent years helping students develop personalized study strategies and navigate the complexities of board exams and residency application planning. He is also a digital educator, producing specialized radiology content on his YouTube channel, @RadBlocks, to support and guide students pursuing a career in the field.
Davin offers a practical and grounded perspective to his mentees, having successfully navigated the rigors of medical school and residency as a spouse and father of three. He joined MatchPal to provide personalized, experience-driven guidance that helps students anticipate challenges and build sustainable strategies for success. He specializes in helping students manage the competing demands of clinical training, research, and leadership while maintaining a balanced life.
Outside of the hospital, Davin is originally from Canada and a former college rugby player. He is a devoted family man who enjoys writing poetry and is a self-proclaimed enthusiast of all things Disney.
Specialty: Dermatology
Residency Program: St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Specialty: Anesthesiology
Residency Program: Northwell Health – North Shore University Hospital & Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
Specialty: Anesthesiology
Residency Program: Duke University
Medical School: Robert Larner College of Medicine at University of Vermont
Bio:Nicholas is a non-traditional academic standout whose journey to residency is defined by resilience, elite clinical execution, and a fierce commitment to paying it forward. Coming to medicine later in life, he worked multiple entry-level healthcare jobs and faced the heartbreak of an entirely unsuccessful first application cycle. Instead of backing down, Nicholas used that initial rejection to completely re-engineer his approach to medicine – a perspective that makes him a powerhouse advisor for students navigating their own high-stakes application hurdles.
His academic and clinical rigor earned him a spot as an ASA MSARF Research Fellow, where he spearheaded high-yield clinical anesthesia research detecting ventilator-induced lung injuries during advanced laparoscopic procedures. He also helped create new clinical and research pipelines for rising second-year medical students at his alma mater. He has mentored countess pre-med and medical students on board study strategies and essay editing.
Nicholas translates this exact philosophy of fierce advocacy into his role as a MatchPal Advisor to help future anesthesiologists crack the code to competitive residency matching. Outside of the hospital, Nicholas is a lifelong athlete who pushes boundaries. During medical school alone, he trained for and competed in two amateur boxing matches, and played a season of competitive rugby where he took home his team’s MVP award!
Specialty: Anesthesiology
Residency Program: University of California – San Francisco
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Bio: Mitchell offers high-level perspective that combines academic rigor with behind-the-scenes admissions expertise. A graduate of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Mitchell earned both an MD and an MS in Genomic Medicine while achieving a 266 on USMLE Step 2. He successfully matched into his top choice program at UCSF.
Mitchell brings a distinct advantage to his mentees through his tenure on the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine admissions committee. In this role, he reviewed applications, interviewed candidates, and participated in final admissions decisions, providing him with a firsthand understanding of how committees interpret and rank applicants. He leverages this insight to help students move beyond generic descriptions and build applications that actually resonate with reviewers.
As a seasoned educator, Mitchell has served as a medical school admissions counselor, USMLE peer coach, and pre-clinical tutor. He joined MatchPal because he values individualized, experience-driven mentorship over a one-size-fits-all approach. Outside of the hospital, Mitchell is a dedicated weightlifter and former personal trainer who applies the same principles of discipline and goal progression to his mentorship as he does to his fitness.
Specialty: Anesthesiology
Residency Program: University of California – Davis
Medical School: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Coming soon!
