Advisors
The path to medical school is often difficult. The UC San Diego Post Baccalaureate Program has at its core the philosophy that mentoring and advising is a key to success. Hence, each student is linked with a faculty advisor who shepherds the student throughout the Post Bacc year. Advisors offer consistent guidance through the process of applying to medical school, including help with the AMCAS and AACOMAS applications, essay writing and building an application portfolio.
Each advisor was invited to join the program because of her or his experience serving on or leading medical school admissions committees and their genuine commitment to helping students. All advisors are renowned UC San Diego faculty members who work in academic medicine and each advises no more than six students.
Additionally, an individual from the previous cohort is selected each year to serve as student liaison between the program and incoming cohort members. The liaison offers a unique, insider’s perspective on the program and provides students with additional peer-based insight and resources.
The success of the UC San Diego Post Bacc Premed Program is owed largely to the deep personal connections fostered by the advisors, liaison and administration with their students. Advisors include:
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Edward Chao, DO
Associate Clinical Professor, Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine
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Farah Sheikh, PhD
Professor of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine
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Susan J Lee, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Rheumatology, UC San Diego School of Medicine
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Hemal Patel, PhD
Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Anesthesiology, UC San Diego School of Medicine
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Natalie Rodriguez, MD
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, UC San Diego
Assistant Medical Director UC San Diego Student-Run Free Clinic Project
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Parag Sanghvi, MD
Clinical Professor, Radiation Medicine and Applied Science
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Tatum Simonson, PhD
Associate Professor UC San Diego School of Medicine
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Program Faculty and Staff
The UC San Diego Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program was designed by UC San Diego, UC San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies faculty and staff, all of whom are deeply knowledgeable and experienced with medical school admissions requirements and the MCAT. Key program faculty and staff include:
Faculty
- Steve Schneid, MHPE - Health Sciences Educator, UC San Diego
- Neal Dykmans, PhD Student-Researcher, Psychology, UC San Diego
- Various Biological Sciences academic faculty
Administrative Staff
- Celerina Cornett, MPH, MAS - Director, Healthcare Education, UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies
- Jennifer Trefftzs, MS - Program Manager of the Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program