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Jillian Niceley, DO

Exams Tutored: USMLE Step 2, COMLEX Level 2

Medical School: Marian University Wood College of Medicine

Bio: Jillian is an innovative student leader, researcher, and academic mentor who graduated in the top quintile of her medical school class. Recognized for her initiative and passion for student scholarly activity, Jillian founded Marian University’s first student-run medical journal to lower the barrier for trainees looking to publish research. She also served as the Research Executive on the Student Government Association, where she organized the university’s annual research symposium and built institutional frameworks to support student publication and presentation efforts.

Throughout her medical education, Jillian served as an official Peer Mentor and Peer Tutor, helping fellow trainees navigate clinical requirements, study strategies, and academic hurdles. As a first-generation medical student from an osteopathic institution, Jillian experienced firsthand what it takes to build a competitive application without a pre-existing roadmap. Her personal journey fuels her passion for helping applicants advocate for themselves, find high-yield research opportunities, and turn daunting milestones into approachable goals. Jillian joined Matchpal because of its deeply student-centered mission and intentional approach to mentorship. She specializes in guiding first-generation and DO applicants, helping them demystify the match, build compelling research profiles, and approach the application cycle with total clarity and confidence.

Outside of clinical training and mentorship, Jillian is an avid baker who loves perfecting the art of sourdough bread.

Sarina Maini, MD

Exams Tutored: USMLE Step 1/2

Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine

Bio: Coming soon!

Megan Lytus, DO

Exams Tutored: USMLE Step 1/2, COMLEX Level 1/2

Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bio: Megan is an elite academic performer, clinical leader, and dual-honor society inductee (Gold Humanism Honor Societyand Sigma Sigma Phi) who achieved top-tier national board scores, including a 264 on USMLE Step 2 and a 752 on COMLEX Level 2. Serving as President of the Emergency Medicine Interest Group during medical school, she established herself as a passionate leader in acute care medicine, student advocacy, and specialty networking.

Megan’s dedication to teaching is grounded in her work as an institutional Anatomy Teaching Assistant, Clinical Skills TA, and private USMLE/COMLEX board tutor. As a first-generation medical student, Megan had to navigate the steep learning curve of medical school independently, developing high-efficiency study habits and advanced test-taking techniques along the way. Having conquered that path, she now dedicates her time to passing on those hard-earned strategies to the next generation of physicians.

Megan joined Matchpal because of its unified mission to provide medical students with modern, evidence-based advising from residents who recently aced the process. She specializes in helping students optimize their board study schedules, eliminate low-yield habits, and build strong professional networks within Emergency Medicine to ensure a successful residency match.

Outside of medicine, Megan loves spending time outdoors and taking her two-year-old Golden Retriever on trips to explore new state parks and beaches.

Grant Hagglund, DO, MA

Exams Tutored: USMLE Step 1/2, COMLEX Level 1/2

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas

Bio: Grant is an exceptional scholar, board strategist, and institutional leader who scored a 262 on USMLE Step 2. Inducted into the Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society, Grant’s medical school career was defined by high-level academic service. He served as Chair of the Honor Code Council, a member of the Curriculum Oversight and Financial Aid committees, a VCOM Ambassador, and held specialized fellowships as both a Simulation Intern and Surgical Dissection Intern. His dedication to community service and global health also earned him the national TOUCH Silver Award.

Grant’s passion for medical education is backed by extensive teaching experience. A non-traditional student who completed a Master’s degree before medical school, he has spent years refining high-yield learning systems. Throughout his didactic years, Grant served as an official Anatomy Lab and Clinical Medicine Peer Tutor, creating school-wide Anki decks, powerpoints, and mock practicals. He has guided countless students through lecture exams, board prep strategy, and overall study habit optimization—developing a reputation as a go-to academic mentor.

Grant joined Matchpal because of its focus on individualized, outcome-driven guidance. He understands that peak board performance and match success require a tailored approach rather than cookie-cutter advice. Drawing on his non-traditional path, Grant excels at diagnosing a student’s unique learning style, building custom study schedules, and providing the extra push needed to help applicants cross the finish line with top-tier scores.

Outside of medicine, Grant is an avid sports fan who follows Chelsea FC, Columbus Crew, and Ohio State football (and carries an endless supply of obscure sports trivia). He enjoys traveling with a goal to visit all 50 states, exploring new cultures, and holds a surprisingly impressive talent for hula-hooping.

Perpetual Taylor, MD

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: Perpetual is an accomplished clinician, communicator, and educational leader who was honored as her medical school’s commencement speaker and received the prestigious Excellence in Psychiatry Award. Throughout her training at UConn, she served on the official Medical School Admissions Committee, acted as a student representative for Clinical Skills & Clinical Reasoning, served as Mentorship Chair for the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), and led as President of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA).

Perpetual’s passion for teaching and mentorship spans every stage of the academic pipeline. She began mentoring in college as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut, went on to tutor preclinical medical coursework and the MCAT, and later expanded her practice to USMLE Step 2 board coaching. Having sat on admissions panels and evaluated hundreds of candidates, she brings an insider’s perspective on what truly makes an applicant stand out on paper and in interviews.

Perpetual joined Matchpal because she values the power of resident-led mentorship. She knows that working with advisors who have recently conquered board exams and navigated the modern residency match provides applicants with relatable, empathetic, and highly actionable guidance. Drawing on her faith and background in psychiatry, Perpetual excels at helping students overcome self-doubt, rebuild confidence in their academic abilities, and approach the application cycle with clarity and peace of mind.

Outside of medicine, Perpetual brings high energy and creativity to everything she does—a trait reflected in her title as her high school’s Senior Class Clown. She loves dining out, learning new languages, exploring personality frameworks like the Myers-Briggs, and teaching herself to play an entire band’s worth of instruments, including the drum set, electric guitar, keyboard, bass, and Nigerian talking drum.

Tristan Palmer, DO

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.

Adam Berry, DO

Specialty: Pathology

Residency Program: University of Michigan

Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bio: Adam is a nationally recognized leader, anatomy fellow, and veteran educator whose medical school career is defined by extraordinary service and academic excellence. Named RVUCOM-SU’s Student of the Year in 2022, Adam was inducted into three distinct honor societies: Sigma Sigma Phi, Gold Humanism, and Omega Beta Iota. His national advocacy for osteopathic education was extensive, serving for two years as a student representative on the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) board and on the Sigma Sigma Phi National Board of Directors. He was also honored as the National SOMA Officer of the Year in 2022.

To deepen his clinical expertise, Adam completed a dedicated Predoctoral Anatomy Teaching Fellowship, spending an extra year in medical school mastering advanced anatomy, dissecting, writing medical school exam questions, and delivering lectures. With over 1,000 hours of total teaching experience—including 200+ hours dedicated specifically to USMLE and COMLEX board coaching—Adam has led institutional tutoring for complex organ blocks like Renal and Anatomy, while also serving on official medical school admissions interview panels.

Adam joined Matchpal because he deeply believes in the power of near-peer mentorship and connecting applicants with residents who recently conquered the modern match. Known for his empathetic approach to high-stakes education, Adam specializes in helping high-achieving applicants overcome academic roadblocks, conquer exam anxiety, and build long-term, self-sufficient strategies that unlock peak performance.

Outside of medicine, Adam is a devoted dad who recently achieved the major parenting milestone of successfully introducing his two daughters to the world of Pokémon.

Aja Erskine, DO

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.

Kortney Ponce, DO

Specialty: Orthopedic Surgery

Residency Program: Community Memorial Health

Medical School: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bio: Kortney is an exceptional clinician, scholar, and dual-honor society inductee (Gold Humanism Honor Society and Sigma Sigma Phi) who graduated in the top 10% of her medical school class. Recognized for her outstanding bedside manner and clinical sharpness, she was awarded CHSU-COM’s prestigious “Clinical Excellence” award for compassionate care during clerkships. Her leadership background includes serving as Secretary of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) student chapter and working as a Teaching Assistant for both clinical skill acquisition and osteopathic principles.

Kortney’s dedication to education and mentorship spans every level of the medical pipeline. Beyond tutoring medical students through coursework and clerkships, she has mentored dozens of pre-meds as a Pre-SOMA advisor and built dedicated mentorship channels for students aspiring to match into Orthopedic Surgery. Her educational background is uniquely rich—before medicine, Kortney was an NCAA Division I collegiate softball player at Yale University and studied conservation biology, spending a summer conducting animal behavior research on giraffes at the San Diego Zoo.

Kortney joined Matchpal because of its commitment to making high-tier, specialized mentorship accessible and affordable to applicants from all walks of life. Drawing on her experience as a Division I athlete, she emphasizes mental conditioning alongside application strategy. Kortney excels at helping students build absolute confidence, master high-yield ERAS framing, and cultivate the mental resilience needed to tune out the noise and dominate competitive application cycles.

Outside of clinical training and mentoring, Kortney loves spending time at the beach, exploring U.S. National Parks, and staying active outdoors.

Tori Weingarten, DO

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!

Benjamin Falkenstein, DO

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Residency Program: University of California, Irvine

Medical School: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bio: Benjamin is a dedicated educator, board strategist, and longitudinal mentor who has spent nearly a decade refining the art of medical instruction. His passion for teaching began long before medical school, serving for three years as a Systemic Physiology Teaching Assistant at UC Davis. At CHSU-COM, he continued this academic leadership as a Clinical Skills TA for two years, while also serving as Vice President of a global health outreach organization and regularly speaking on institutional board preparation panels to guide junior students through high-stakes exam prep.

With extensive experience as a USMLE and COMLEX tutor since 2024, Benjamin specializes in breaking down complex physiology and clinical reasoning into actionable test-taking strategies. His teaching philosophy centers on cognitive empathy—understanding each student’s unique thought process and adapting concepts to fit how their brain naturally processes information. This individualized diagnostic approach allows him to not only fill knowledge gaps, but fundamentally retrain how students analyze board questions and approach complex application strategy.

Benjamin joined Matchpal because of its deep commitment to personalized, student-first care. He believes that moving away from generic, one-size-fits-all consulting is the key to helping applicants achieve breakthrough results on their board scores and residency applications.

Outside of academics and clinical training, Benjamin is an avid tennis player and a passionate coffee enthusiast who loves discovering new espresso spots.

Katerina Jou, MD

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!

Carsten Steinmetz, DO

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.

Davin Evanson, MD

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.

Aditi Choskshi, DO

Specialty: Dermatology

Residency Program: St. John’s Episcopal Hospital

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bio: Aditi is a resilient, research-focused clinician who successfully navigated the highly competitive path into Dermatology as an osteopathic applicant. Her medical school career was defined by campus leadership, global service, and high-impact scholarship. She served as President of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association club, Secretary of the Student Association of Research club, and Sun Heroes Committee Chair for the Student Dermatology Association. Her commitment to health equity also led her on a medical mission trip to Nicaragua, where she delivered specialized dermatologic care to underserved populations.

Driven by a passion for clinical innovation, Aditi built an extensive academic footprint with numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and national poster presentations. She further elevated her expertise by completing a dedicated research year at the University of Miami, focusing on cutting-edge laser and energy-based devices in dermatology. As an experienced mentor who guided over 20 medical students through the residency application process, she excels at helping applicants build meaningful research portfolios, secure high-yield projects, and refine their academic writing.

Having successfully matched into Dermatology as a reapplicant, Aditi offers invaluable first-hand insight to students facing steep odds, red flags, or previous application setbacks. She understands the unique hurdles osteopathic applicants face in hyper-competitive specialties and provides honest, data-driven strategy to help reapplicants reassess their files, strengthen weak spots, and approach the match with total confidence.

Aditi joined Matchpal because she believes in the power of near-peer, specialty-specific mentorship. Outside of the clinic, she maintains an active lifestyle through weightlifting, Lagree, and swimming—a sport she competed in for a decade and still enjoys on her days off.

Alec Toufexis, DO

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: Alec is an elite academic performer, educator, and board prep strategist who earned both his DO and a Master’s in Academic Medicine through a specialized dual-degree program focused on clinical instruction, research, and educational development. His personal board performance stands at the absolute pinnacle of national testing, boasting a 273 on USMLE Step 2 and a 788 on COMLEX Level 2.

Alec’s passion for medical education is woven throughout his entire training. As an Academic Medicine Scholar, he developed board-style exam questions and authored lectures on therapeutics and anesthetics that were directly integrated into NYITCOM’s official curriculum. He led over 100 hours of clinical skills, OMM, and head-and-neck anatomy lab instruction, while also serving as Treasurer of the Anesthesiology Interest Group. His research footprint is equally diverse, featuring work in pulse oximetry health disparities, virtual reality applications in Parkinson’s disease, and machine learning in neuroimaging—with multiple presentations at national conferences.

Alec joined Matchpal because he believes high-tier, individualized mentorship should be accessible, structured, and personal. Having mentored dozens of medical students through preclinical coursework, board prep, and the residency match, he excels at converting overwhelming milestones into manageable, step-by-step strategies. Whether helping a student master high-yield exam concepts or craft an unshakeable ERAS application, Alec brings proven academic frameworks to every coaching session.

Outside of medicine, Alec is an entrepreneur who founded his own T-shirt printing company and is actively working on a lifelong goal to visit every U.S. National Park.

Nicolas Hutt, MD

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!

Mitchell Hueniken, MD

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.

Cameron DeLaere, DO

Specialty: Anesthesiology

Residency Program: University of California – Davis

Medical School: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bio: Cameron is an exceptional academic performer and experienced board strategist who brings elite execution, discipline, and data-driven methods to the Matchpal team. Graduating in the top 10% of his medical school class, Cameron scored a 716 on COMLEX Level 2 (98th percentile). His national leadership in medical education is further highlighted by his selection to the NBOME National Student Experience Panel, where he helped advocate for and shape the testing experience for osteopathic medical students nationwide.

With 2 to 3 years of private USMLE and COMLEX tutoring experience, Cameron has mastered the art of test-taking psychology and high-yield board prep. Having balanced the rigorous demands of medical school and board exams alongside a background in Division I athletics, he specializes in teaching students how to optimize their study efficiency, build rock-solid discipline, and perform with total confidence under high-stakes pressure.

Cameron joined Matchpal because of its commitment to practical, near-peer mentorship. He believes that connecting applicants with advisors who have recently conquered the modern exam and match landscape makes the process significantly more relatable, actionable, and accessible. As an advisor, Cameron helps students cut out low-yield studying, build bulletproof board strategies, and present a top-tier academic profile on their residency applications.

Outside of medicine, Cameron is an avid athlete and sports fan. You can usually find him on the golf course, playing basketball, or cheering on the Green Bay Packers and LA Lakers.