Our Advisors

Meet Our Admissions Experts Below.

RYAN KARMOUTA, MD, MBA

Ryan is the founder of AcceptMed. He graduated summa cum laude from New York University on a prestigious scholarship where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. As an undergraduate, he had extensive tutoring, mentoring, and teaching experience.  

He graduated from the dual MD/MBA program at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School. During his time in medical school, he served as a private admissions advisor for many prospective medical students and prospective MBA students. Ryan is currently finishing his dermatology training at UCLA Medical Center.

In his free time he loves surfing, hiking, and adventuring with his dog Ella.

ZUJAJA TAUQEER, MD, DPHIL

Zujaja graduated summa cum laude from Macaulay Honors College at City University of New York and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. She subsequently won a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to pursue a doctorate in history at the University of Oxford. She graduated from Harvard Medical School where she received merit scholarships for her academic performance, and then did residency in ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania - Scheie Eye Institute. She is completing a fellowship in retina surgery at Associated Retinal Consultants/Beaumont Hospital in Detroit. Zujaja has served as an admissions advisor to prospective applicants to medical school, grad school, and for competitive international fellowships. She enjoys helping students discover their voice and applicant story to help them get into the school of their choice.

AGATHA BRZEZINSKI, MD, MPH

Originally from Oregon, she graduated cum laude from the University of Portland where she received a BS in Biochemistry, a BA in Spanish, and played Division I golf. After graduation, she moved to Warsaw, Poland as a US Student Fulbright Grantee in Medicine Sciences where she studied pediatric rheumatological diseases at the University of Warsaw. On returning to the US, she was awarded an Intramural Research Training Award at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and worked at the main NIH campus and at Johns Hopkins studying infectious diseases. She then began her MD at Harvard Medical School. While at Harvard, she also received an Masters in Public Health from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health and sub-concentration in Humanitarian Studies, Ethics, and Human Rights. She is completing her residency back home on the West Coast in Emergency Medicine at UCLA Ronald Reagan/Olive View.

HOWARD YAN, MD, MBA

Born and raised in Dalian, China, Howard moved to Los Angeles where he initially attended Pasadena City College. After one year, he transferred to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) graduating with a B.S. in biology. As an undergraduate, he was the president of the pre-medical society and enjoyed tutoring and mentoring students, especially those who shared similar non-traditional backgrounds. Subsequently Howard moved to Boston where he pursued the dual MD/MBA program at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School. During this time, Howard served on the admissions committee for Harvard Medical School where he interviewed and selected incoming students. He is now on the path to become an interventional radiologist, completing his residency at Stanford University.

REBECCA HAMMOND, MD

Rebecca graduated from Swarthmore College with Highest Honors, having also received the school's first ever "Perfect Score" award in organic chemistry for acing every test. She spent the next two years in Norway on a Fulbright Grant, working on a tuberculosis diagnostics project with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, prior enrolling at Harvard Medical School. She was an All American in Track and Field while at Swarthmore, and continued to run semi professionally on the European track circuit while she conducted her Fulbright research. While at Harvard, she began her career as a professional obstacle course racer, rising to second in the world in her first year of the sport. Rebecca's successes led to her being cast as a 'Defender' character on LeBron James's CBS show 'Million Dollar Mile', which filmed during her final year at Harvard Medical School. Since graduating in 2019, she has become a full time professional athlete. She ultimately plans to pursue residency in psychiatry. Rebecca has extensive experience as a writing coach, and has recently started work as a life coach. She enjoys helping people find that sweet spot where their voice resonates with their goals of communication - an ability relevant for everything from successful application essays to interpersonal relationships.

DANIEL PEARSON, MD, PHD

Daniel grew up in rural Washington State in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains. While at Willamette University, he ran varsity track and graduated summa cum laude with a major in Biology. He then spent two years as a post-baccalaureate research fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During this time, he helped characterize the genomic architecture underpinning the heritability of type 2 diabetes in the laboratory of Dr. Francis S. Collins, the former head of the Human Genome Project and current director of the NIH.

He joined the Harvard/MIT MD-PhD program at Harvard Medical School and received his PhD from Harvard University in the biomedical and biological sciences in 2018. There Daniel focused on the role of RNA metabolism in stem and progenitor cell biology in the laboratory of Dr. George Q. Daley, Dean of Harvard Medical School. While in graduate school, he developed a passion for mentorship and teaching while serving as a teaching assistant at Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. He is currently a resident in Clinical Pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital. In his free time Daniel enjoys fishing, kickboxing, and teaching his son how to cook.

ANAHITA (ANIE) NOURMAHNAD, MD

Anie was born in Iran and grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia. As an undergraduate at Haverford College, she received a Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant and Departmental High Honors for her research, which used computational models to characterize crystals. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S in chemistry, Anie spent two years between college and medical school teaching advanced chemistry and performing anesthesia research at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She subsequently enrolled at Harvard Medical School and received multiple merit-based and community service scholarships. During medical school, she took courses at MIT as part of the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program and developed a special interest in technological innovations for the operating room. She also continued her love for mentoring as the HMS co-president of the American Medical Women's Association. Anie and her younger sister are proud to be the first sisters to obtain their MD degrees from the HST program.

Currently, Anie is an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery resident at the University of Miami. In her free time she loves going to the beach, playing her ukulele, and improving her squash skills. She enjoys mentoring students who are passionate about a future career in medicine.

GEORGE BUGARINOVIC, MD

Soon after his birth in Belgrade, Serbia, George’s family moved to Ontario, Canada, for five years before ultimately settling in Kansas City. An integral piece of his roots, the universal language of basketball served as a key facilitator in his immigrant integration and personal development. Studying public health and natural sciences as a Bloomberg Scholar at Johns Hopkins University, George led the varsity basketball program to its best season in school history his senior year. Graduating with university honors in 2015, he received the Jostens Trophy, Academic All-America, and Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship recognitions for his academic and athletic endeavors. 

George spent his gap year conducting developmental biology research at the Stowers Institute and working as a pre-medical mentor with an international education company, helping establish a summer medical program for US undergraduates in Serbia. Through this mentoring passion, he has co-authored a pre-medical admissions guide and worked with over 1,000 pre-medical students via webinar, large group, and individual settings. Graduating from Harvard Medical School in 2020, George is currently an orthopedic surgery resident with Stanford University Health Care. In his free time, he enjoys exploring nature, playing sports, watching Netflix, and following the NBA.

MICHAEL GIROUARD, MD, MBA

Michael is originally from Maine and graduated magna cum laude with degrees in chemistry and French literature from Williams College, where he sang a cappella and served as tutor/TA for multiple courses. He spent two years working as an HIV health policy and economics researcher at the Massachusetts General Hospital before attending Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School for their dual MD/MBA program. At Harvard, Michael served in multiple leadership roles, including in the HMS LGBTQ student group and the HBS Healthcare Club, and also conducted novel research in opioid use disorder. As a first-generation college student, Michael is passionate about mentoring and advising students from all backgrounds to help them tell their story and achieve their fullest potential. Michael is now attending residency in the Internal Medicine UCPC Primary Care Track at the University of California, San Francisco. Outside of work, Michael enjoys cycling, skiing, and crossword puzzles.

DAMIR LJUBOJA, MD, MBA

Damir was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia but relocated to Houston, Texas as a refugee of the Yugoslav civil war. Against all odds, he graduated top of his high school class and received a full academic scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin. While obtaining degrees in Biology and Humanities, Damir dabbled in device development, stem cell research, and still found time to row for Texas Crew and became Academic All-American. As an undergraduate teaching assistant, Damir mentored and tutored fellow students. Damir graduated as a Dean’s Honored Graduate (top 1% of his class), Phi Beta Kappa, and was a 2012 New England Journal of Medicine Scholar.

Damir then spent the next six years in Boston, obtaining an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MD with Honors in a Special Field, magna cum laude, from Harvard Medical School. He upheld his undergraduate passions for research and mentoring. Utilizing his business and medical background, his research provided insights into the intersection of finance and healthcare, particularly in radiology. For this work, he received recognition and awards from national and international radiology organizations alike. He also continued mentoring pre-medical and pre-business students, one of whom was recently admitted to Harvard Medical School. 

He is now on the path to becoming an interventional radiologist and will complete his residency at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In his spare time, Damir enjoys trying his hand at mixology with his home bar, exploring local restaurants, HIIT, and traveling as often as he can.


SARAH OSMULSKI, MD

Sarah was borned and raised on the Jersey shore before she headed to Boston to attend undergraduate at MIT. At MIT she majored in Biology (Course VII) with a minor in Brain & Cognitive Sciences (Course IX). At MIT she was a 6-time All-American with the Women's Swimming and Diving Team and was extensively involved in teaching and tutoring for the Chemistry and Biology departments as well as mentorship for pre-medical students. Upon graduating from MIT, she went straight to Harvard Medical School, where she graduated with magna cum laude honors. At HMS, she was involved in mentorship for pre-medical and medical students and she was a two-time member of the Committee on Admissions. Sarah is currently an anesthesiology resident at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Outside of work, Sarah is passionate about the outdoors, she can be found running and biking around Boston, or ski mountaineering or mountain biking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

ATOUSA NOURMAHNAD, MD

Atousa was born in Iran and grew up near Philadelphia. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Swarthmore College with a B.S in Engineering as the top engineering student of her class. Upon graduating in 2017, Atousa spent a gap year at the California Institute of Technology; her research on the effects of ultrasound on gas-filled proteins was later published in Nature Nanotechnology. Following in the steps of her older sister, she enrolled at Harvard-MIT for medical school. Atousa and her sister are exceptionally proud to be the first pair of sisters to graduate as HST-trained physicians. Currently, Atousa is a resident in orthopedic surgery at UCLA. Outside of work, she enjoys HIIT, pilates and weight lifting. Atousa has always been passionate about mentoring and is excited to work with the next generation of aspiring physicians.

SYMONE ISAAC-WILKINS, MD, MBA

Symone grew up in Boston and graduated from Harvard College with degrees in human developmental and regenerative biology (HDRB) and health policy. During college, she conducted stem cell research, sang in a choir, and served as a tutor to both high school and college students. After graduating, she spent two years working as a project manager at Athenahealth before attending Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School for their dual MD/MBA program. During her gap years, she also served as an interviewer for the Harvard College admissions committee. At HMS, Symone served in multiple leadership roles, including in the SNMA student group and the Harvard chapter of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. She also conducted research at the intersection of surgery and healthcare economics. While pursuing her MD/MBA, Symone served as a premedical tutor for Harvard. In this role, she wrote committee letters for medical school admissions, helped students tell their story and prepare for interviews, and she presented students to the HMS admissions committee. Symone is passionate about supporting students as they realize their fullest potential. She is now a urology residency at the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine. When she is not at work, Symone enjoys exploring new restaurants, running along the Baltimore waterfront, and reading.

DAVID COOKMEYER, MD

David was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He moved up to Pennsylvania for his undergraduate training at Haverford College, where he majored in Chemistry. Anie (one of our other tutors) was actually his TA in organic chemistry! While at Haverford, he became passionate about immunotherapeutic approaches to treating cancer, as he worked in a CAR-T cell focused lab at the University of Pennsylvania. It was at this time that he also became interested in teaching and mentoring, as he worked as a chemistry tutor and teaching assistant. He graduated from Haverford magna cum laude with high departmental honors. After one post-undergraduate gap year working as a full time research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania, he matriculated into Harvard Medical School’s Health, Science, and Technology (HST) curriculum. While in medical school, he continued to do immunotherapy-related research, working for the Sharpe lab for two additional years as a full-time graduate research assistant. He graduated in 2023 from Harvard cum laude, and has since returned to his home state of North Carolina to begin his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He aspires to eventually apply for fellowship in Hematology/Oncology and pursue a career in academic medicine as a clinician-investigator and medical educator.

In his free time, David enjoys playing chess, cooking, playing music on his guitar and fiddle, listening to podcasts and music, and playing video games. He has one adorable cat who he will happily show you pictures of and he is hoping to get another very soon. He is also happy to meet with applicants near North Carolina’s Research Triangle in person, if applicable.

ANTHONY FRAGA, MD

Born and raised in South Texas, Anthony attended Yale University, where he pursued a degree in Molecular Biology and achieved the highest honors in his field. During his time there, he held the position of Editor-in-Chief at the renowned Yale Journal of Medicine and Law. Anthony also collaborated with a vascular surgeon to develop a novel vein harvesting device tailored for coronary bypass procedures. His work resulted in both the acquisition of a patent for the device and significant funding for its commercialization. After graduating, Anthony enrolled at Harvard Medical School, where he actively participated in the Harvard Healthcare Investment Club and worked as a business development associate at an AI-driven biotechnology company. Additionally, he co-authored several publications on quality improvement in prestigious medical journals. Currently, Anthony is pursuing an Anesthesiology residency at Stanford University. During his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, exploring diverse culinary experiences, and pursuing his musical passions as a part-time DJ and saxophonist. He is enthusiastic about helping aspiring students in realizing their dreams of becoming physicians.

NAVID GHAFFARI, MD

Navid is from southern California and grew up playing soccer, tennis, and the piano. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Neurobiology. During college, Navid served as President of the Anteater Ambassadors Network for three years and conducted research on Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory. He published a paper in Frontiers for Young Minds and was also featured in a memory documentary. His interest in neuroscience and travel led him to spend half a year in Basel, Switzerland investigating the epigenetics of PTSD and memory. While at Harvard Medical School, Navid built upon his passion for mentorship and engaged in multiple programs to support pre-med and medical students at universities around the country. After performing an impromptu comedy show for his medical school colleagues, he founded the Harvard Medical School Comedy Club. This inspired him to complete a scholarly project entitled “Utilizing Humor to Promote Medical Student Wellness and Resilience.” Navid is currently a Consultant for Tarsus Pharmaceuticals and serves on the National Board of Directors for the Trauma Intervention Program, a non-profit organization that provides emotional first aid for victims of traumatic incidents. Navid enjoys traveling, languages, and history. He is a big fan of long city walks and is an avid tea and coffee drinker.

ZINAN ZHANG, MD, PHD

Zinan graduated summa cum laude in Chemistry from Princeton University with certificates in Neuroscience and Global Health and Health Policy. He was awarded the Everett S. Wallis Prize for exceptional performance in organic chemistry. At Princeton, he studied bacterial communication in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and synthesized quorum sensing inhibitors to combat antibiotic resistance. He also received scholarships to pursue catalysis research at the University of Edinburgh, optogenetics research at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, and x-ray crystallography research at the National Institutes of Health.

In 2015, he joined the Harvard/MIT MD-PhD program with funding from the NIH Oxford-Cambridge scholarship. For his dissertation, he characterized four new rare genetic diseases (primary immunodeficiencies) in Dr. Michael Lenardo’s lab (NIAID) and Prof. Kenneth Smith’s lab (University of Cambridge). During his time in medical school, he also worked at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute on targeted protein degradation. He has presented his research at numerous international conferences and published works in Science, Nature, PNAS, Nature Chemical Biology, Journal of Experimental Medicine, and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. He graduated from Harvard Medical School with an MD with Honors in a Special Field and was awarded the James Tolbert Shipley Prize for exceptional research. During graduate school, he was a non-resident tutor at Harvard College and graduate residential advisor at MIT and has mentored Harvard, MIT, Princeton and international students applying to medical school and MD-PhD programs.

Currently he is a resident physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and will complete dermatology residency at the Harvard Combined program. In his free time, he likes to swim, bike, and travel.

BAILY NAGLE, MD

Originally from a small town in Colorado, Baily joined the military after high school and went to the Air Force Academy where she graduated with honors. She then went to Harvard Medical School where she was the Vice President of her class. She co-authored several papers with partner institutions both within the Harvard community and internationally. Her work on leadership earned her several positions with a variety of professional organizations and non-profits. She is currently a resident at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital. Her passions outside of work include baking and running (so she can bake more). She has been a tutor and medical school admissions advisor for students from different backgrounds for the past decade.

GREG PETERS, MD

Prior to pursuing acareer as a physician, Greg served as a firefighter and emergency medical technician in the Bronx, NY, where he was born and raised. During the course of his medical education and training at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital, he has found a natural home in the emergency department where he enjoys recreating the camaraderie of his firehouse and providing a service available to anyone at any time. While at Harvard, Greg served on the Harvard Medical School Admissions Committee. He has also found special fulfillment in leading a research program focused on prehospital management of asthma exacerbations, a condition that plagues the Bronx and similar communities worldwide due to its entanglement with an array socioeconomic factors. Greg’s favorite aspect of his work as a physician is found in mentoring students and junior trainees to find their identity as physicians and develop their passions for research, education, advocacy, and other related pursuits. In his free time Greg enjoys going to the beach with his wife, watching Seinfeld reruns with his cat, and following his favorite sports teams despite their inevitable collapse each year.

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