Tutor Biographies | USMLE Tutors

VJ Kumar, MD - Head Tutor

Valedictorian of his medical class
Scored in the 99th percentile on USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK
21 years of experience in high-stakes medical test prep tutoring
Has successfully tutored 740+ students, totaling over 18,500 hrs
His students have an average score increase of 69 points on USMLE Step 1, and an average score increase of 52 points on USMLE Step 2 CK.

Michael A. Jordan, MD

MD from University of North Dakota School of Medicine
Scored 266 on USMLE Step 1 and 280 on USMLE Step 2 CK (both 99th percentile scores)
Has completed over 900 hours of Step 1/2 tutoring
Resident in Ophthalmology at University of Minnesota
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society inductee
Has taught medical students in a variety of clinical settings: pediatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry, neurology, surgery, ophthalmology.

Amy Dursteler, MD

MD from University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Bachelor of Arts in Biology from University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Has completed over 750 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring
Scored 268 on USMLE Step 1, 266 USMLE Step 2 CK
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society inductee
USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK Specialist Tutor

Scott D. Tuttle, MD

MD from University of Pennsylvania
Scored 267 on USMLE Step 1, 272 on Step 2 CK, and 265 on Step 3
Has completed over 1200 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring
BS from Northwestern University in Biomedical Engineering, specialization in Biomedical Signals and Images
Resident in Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Rochester, Minnesota
Full Medical School Scholarship - Walter and Anne Gamble Scholarship

Eliot B, MD/PhD

PhD in Pharmacology from Weill Cornell Medical College
Has completed over 600 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring
MD from Weill Cornell
BS from University of Illinois
Scored 257 on USMLE Step 1, and 268 on Step 2 CK
Past teaching experience includes Instructor for Science Honors Program at Columbia University

Nina Blank, MD

MD from Weill Cornell Medical College
USMLE Step 1 score >250, Step 2CK score >265
BA from University of Pennsylvania, summa cum laude
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society inductee
Has completed over 500 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring

Phillip Tseng, MD

MD from Duke University School of Medicine
Scored 250 on USMLE Step 1, 38 on MCAT
Has completed over 420 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring
MBA - Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business with a 3.94 GPA
Masters of Education - Arizona State with a perfect 4.0 GPA
Background in extensive tutoring and mentoring for medical students

Kyle Rismiller, MD

MD from Case Western Reserve Medical School
Scored 266 on USMLE Step 1
Perfect 4.0 GPA from University of Dayton
Integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Resident
Extensive teaching experience, numerous publications
Has completed over 400 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring

Brandon Peplinski, MD/MPH

MPH from Johns Hopkins
Has completed over 350 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring
MD from Loma Linda University
Scored 253 on USMLE Step 1 and 263 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Significant prior teaching experience including at Kaplan
Multiple published academic articles

Mikel Cody Tihista, MD

MD from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Scored 255 on USMLE Step 1 and 267 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Orthopedic Surgery resident
BS from Washington State University, magna cum laude
Has completed over 350 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring

Luke Dingman, MD

MD from University of Minnesota
BS from St. John's MN, magna cum laude
Scored 260 on USMLE Step 1 and 259 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Past President of Emergency Medical Technician Executive Board
Passionate about teaching, with experience as a TA and as a museum educator

Zachary Miller, MD/PhD

MD/PhD from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
BS Biomedical Engineering from Duke University, summa cum laude
Scored 264 on USMLE Step 1
Multiple years of medical tutoring experience - focuses on case-based questions, teaching students how to think, rather than memorization
Published academic author

Louis Anzalone, MD

MD from Louisiana State University New Orleans
B.S. from Louisiana State University, Biochemistry
Scored 256 on USMLE Step 1 and 267 on Step 2 CK
Matched into Anesthesiology Residency at University of Pennsylvania
Enjoy tutoring high school, college, and medical students in variety of subjects

Scott Cramer, MD

MD from University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
Scored 259 on USMLE Step 1 and 269 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Radiology resident
BS and MS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from University of California, Riverside
250+ hours of High-Stakes Professional Medical Test Tutoring Experience

Georgette Hattier, MD

MD from at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Scored >250 on USMLE Step 1 and >270 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Alpha Omega Alpha inductee
BA in Philosophy, Vanderbilt University
Highly published
450+ hours of High-Stakes Professional Medical Test Tutoring Experience

Mark E. Stephens, MD

MD from Texas Tech University HSC School of Medicine
Scored 257 on USMLE Step 1 and 258 on USMLE Step 2 CK
MBA from Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business
BS, Neurobiology from University of Texas, Austin
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society inductee
250+ hours of High-Stakes Professional Medical Test Tutoring Experience

Anjali Mitra, MD

MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
BS from New Jersey Institute of Technology, summa cum laude
Scored 260 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Past teaching experience as a peer mentor, chemistry TA, and directed the Student Family Health Care Center at Rutgers NJMS

Kamal Amer, MD

MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
BS Biology from Rutgers
President of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
Scored 250 on USMLE Step 1
Extensive volunteer experience and 5 years of tutoring experience
Published academic author

Mark Kwarciak, MD

MD from University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Basseterre, St. Kitts
BS Biology, University of Western Ontario
Experienced tutor, with five years of medical instruction, including as a medical school teaching assistant in cell biology, physiology, immunology and behavioral sciences
Scored 245 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Over 350 hours of Step 2 CK and Step 3 tutoring

Erica Linnell, MD

MD from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Resident Physician at Brown University, Psychiatry
Scored 252 on Step 1 and 266 on Step 2 CK
Has completed hundreds of hours of tutoring for Step 1 and Step 2 CK

Michael Ingargiola, MD

MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
4th Year Resident Physcian at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Scored >255 on both Step 1 and Step 2 CK
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society inductee
400+ hours of High-Stakes Professional Medical Test Tutoring Experience

Rahul Gulati, MD

MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Resident Physician at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Scored 262 on Step 1
Numerous publications and extensive teaching background

Jacob Dockterman, MD/PhD

MD/Ph.D from Duke University School of Medicine
Scored 273 on USMLE Step 1, 269 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Harvard College Class of 2013 - Molecular and Cellular Biology
Long history as both a mentor and tutor
Has completed over 800 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring

Vijay Vanchinathan, MD

PGY-4 Resident Physician, Dermatology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical Center
MD, University of Rochester, NY
BA in Human Biology from Stanford University
Scored 254 on USMLE Step 1
Four years of experience tutoring
Multiple published academic articles

Benny Wong, MD

MD from Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine
BS Biological Sciences Neurobiology from Cornell
Scored 248 on USMLE Step 1; 257 on USMLE Step 2
10 years (1100 hours) of teaching and tutoring experience
Specializes in High-Performance MCAT Tutoring

Ozair Rizvi, MD

MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
BS Rutgers, 3.9 GPA
Scored 255 on Step 2 CK
Valedictorian, Woodbrige High School, NJ
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society nomination
Multiple academic scholarships

Jack C. Smith III, MD

Board-certified Cardiologist
MD from Texas Tech University
Specialist tutor for Step 2 CK and Step 3
Eight years experience as an interventional cardiologist
Extensive experience teaching both residents and medical students

Cary S. Politzer, MD

MD from Duke University School of Medicine
B.S. Neuroscience with Departmental Distinction, Duke University
Scored 251 on USMLE Step 1
4 years of tutoring experience

Rose Tillis, MD

MD from University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Scored 251 on USMLE Step 1 and 252 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Plastic Surgery resident at Duke University
BS in Biology from University of Florida, Summa Cum Laude
Alpha Omega Alpha honor society member
Experience in tutoring and mentoring pre-medical and medical students for both pre-clinical classes and board exams

Alexander Suarez, MD

MD from University of Pennsylvania with a certificate in Healthcare, Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology
Scored 248 on USMLE Step 1, 251 on Step 2 CK
Neurosurgery resident
BS in Bioengineering from Rice University
Extensive research in orthopedic surgery, quality improvement, patient safety, and healthcare innovation

Clayton Conner, MD

MD from University of Louisville School of Medicine
Scored 255 on USMLE Step 1, 243 on Step 2 CK
Dermatology resident at Wright University
MS in Physiology & Biophysics, University of Louisville School of Medicine
BS in Biology from University of Kentucky
Extensive teaching experience, numerous publications
Has completed over 750 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring

Bryan Broderick, MD

MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Johns Hopkins Internal Medicine Resident
Scored 251 on USMLE Step 1 and 269 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Inductee
8 years of prior tutoring and teaching experience, including as a TA at Rutgers
Volunteer at local NJ community organizations and free clinics

Pranavi Vemuri, MD

MD from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
BS from The College of New Jersey
Scored 253 on USMLE Step 1 and 260 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Passionate about Women's Health issues, and founder of OB/GYN interest group at Rutgers
Has completed over 550 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring
PGY-3 Resident in OB/GYN at Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Christopher Hennessy, MD

MD from Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine
BS from SUNY Geneseo
Scored 259 on USMLE Step 1
Tutors MCAT as well (received a score of 40)
Loves teaching and helping others - has extensive experience tutoring students at all levels

Suraj Patel, MD

MD from Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine
Scored 257 on USMLE Step 1 and 267 on USMLE Step 2 CK
BS in Psychobiology from University of California, Los Angeles
Emergency Medicine Resident
Extensive teaching experience, numerous publications

Beiyi Shen, MD/PhD

MD from Weill Cornell Medical College
Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Scored 248 on USMLE Step 1 and 258 on USMLE Step 2CK
Several years of past tutoring experience

David Olshan, MD

MD from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Scored 251 on USMLE Step 1
BA from Cornell University
Extensive teaching experience, numerous publications
Has completed over 450 hours in high-stakes professional medical tutoring

Paras Vakharia, MD

Dermatology Resident at The University of Texas Southwestern
Scored 265 on USMLE Step 1, 273 on USMLE Step 2 CK, 245 on USMLE Step 3
MD from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Doctor of Pharmacy, Louis College of Pharmacy, Summa Cum Laude
Extensive research and teaching experience

Janice Hu, MD Candidate

Scored 260+ on USMLE Step 1
Harvard University, MSc in Global Health
MD Candidate at Duke University School of Medicine
Alpha Omega Alpha honor society member
Pursuing residency in Anesthesiology
Numerous years (and over 800 hours) of teaching experience and volunteering in the healthcare arena internationally

Nicholas Joseph Volpe, MD Candidate

MD Candidate at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Scored 263 on USMLE Step 1 and 271 on USMLE Step 2 CK
MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
BA from University of Pennsylvania
Extensive teaching experience

Suraj Rambhia, MD

MD from Stony Brook University, School of Medicine
Scored 246 on USMLE Step 1 and 247 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Graduated Summa Cum Laude with double major in Pharmacology and Biomedical Engineering
Interventional Radiology Resident at Washington University
Numerous publications, book chapters, posters, presentations and former Intel STS Semifinalist.

Michael Ewing, MD

MD from University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Scored 259 on USMLE step 1 and 268 on Step 2 CK
BS in Finance from University of Alabama, summa cum laude
Vice President of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
Entering Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
Extensive teaching, mentoring, and publication history

Joshua Ladner, MD

MD from Harvard Medical School
BS from United States Military Academy, West Point
Full academic scholarships at Harvard Medical School and United States Military Academy, West Point
Scored 249 on USMLE Step 1, 265 on Step 2 CK, and 39 on MCAT
Extensive experience in high-stakes, professional medical tutoring (over 2 years)
Numerous publications, scholarships, military awards, and honors

Brenda French, MD

Internal Medicine Resident
MD from Thomas Jefferson University
Scored 256 on USMLE Step 1; 253 on Step 2 CK
Bachelors of Science in Biology, Biotechnology, Psychology, and Biomedical Engineering Sciences from Tufts University
Clerkship honors in nearly all medical specialties
Tutoring experience in extensive medical disciplines
Multiple publications and research experience in the study of Surgical Pathology and Dermatology

Ashwin Malhotra, MD

PGY-3 Resident Physician, Neurology at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center
MD from Stony Brook University, School of Medicine
Scored 256 on USMLE Step 1 and 252 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Matched Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center for 2020
Bachelors in Biochemistry and English; as well as a background in Finance
8+ years of tutoring sciences and application preparation experience: strengths include Neurology, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, and Graduate School Applications
8 years of Basic Science and Clinical Research Experience

Kenaz Bakdash, MD

Integrated Radiology/ Diagnostic Radiology Resident, University of Colorado
Scored 258 on USMLE Step 1, 260 Step CK
MD from Indiana University School of Medicine
Alpha Omega Alpha Inductee
350+ hours of High-Stakes Professional Medical Test Tutoring Experience

Shawn Robinson, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgery fellow, University of Texas
MD from Drexel University
Scored 253 on USMLE Step 1, 253 on Step 2 CK
MS in Physiology from Georgetown University
Numerous awards and publications
300+ hours of High-Stakes Professional Medical Test Tutoring Experience

Sarah Parauda, MD

MD from Weill Cornell Medical College
Scored 266 on USMLE Step 2 CK
BA from Cornell University, summa cum laude
Matched into Neurology residency at New York Presbyterian-Cornell
Years of tutoring and teaching experience, interested in pursuing a career in medical education
450+ hours of High-Stakes Professional Medical Test Tutoring Experience

Daniel Adran, MD

MD from Boston University
Scored 267 on USMLE Step 1, 277 on Step 2 CK
BS from University of California, Berkeley in Molecular and Environmental Biology
200+ hours in specialized USMLE tutoring
5+ years tutoring in Biochemistry and Physiology
700+ hours of High-Stakes Professional Medical Test Tutoring Experience

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