Cleveland Academic Peer Support Leaders

Hi! My name is Maithili Bhagat, and I am one of the Student Coordinators for the Cleveland Learning Community. Congratulations on starting medical school. I am so excited to meet you all :)! I am a Cleveland native but went out of state for college. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and then I took a gap year to do an MBA in healthcare administration at the University of Southern Indiana. Some of my hobbies include traveling, reading, and spending time with my friends and family. 

I am very interested in neurology, and I am leading my own research on migraine care for low-income women. Some of my favorite topics include neurology, psychology, immunology, and GI. One piece of advice I have for your first year is to create a schedule for yourself that includes EVERYTHING (studying but also relaxing, hobbies, socializing, etc.). School definitely takes up a big chunk of time, but being intentional about non-negotiables for your own wellbeing is a must. 

Hello! My name is Troy Tyson, and I am one of the APSL Student Coordinators for the Cleveland Learning Community. I would like to congratulate you all on your acceptance to medical school, and I am very excited to work with each of you!I am from Youngstown Ohio, where I started as a chemical engineering student at YSU. After a year as an engineering student, I decided to switch my major to pre-medical, receiving my bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. When I am not studying, I am likely found playing pickleball, gaming, or hanging out with friends.
My favorite subjects thus far are cardiology, endocrinology, immunology, and neurology. I also am very comfortable with anatomy and physiology. I am truly willing to work on any subject with each of you. The best advice I can give you is to enjoy your summer prior to your first year, as you will have plenty of 
time to study during the semester. It is tough to get a good study rhythm going, but our APSLs are always willing to answer any questions that you may have. 

Hello! I'm Angelica Bartholomew, an APSL for the Cleveland Learning Community. Welcome to the HCOM family!I have a nursing background with five and a half years as a registered nurse in medical detox/psychiatry, epilepsy, and the neurological ICU. These experiences fueled my passion for medicine, leading me to pursue a D.O. degree after studying at the University of Mount Union for my B.S.N. and even starting an M.S.N. program at Kent State. After speaking to a close friend and past neurology resident, I decided to complete a post-baccalaureate program at Case Western Reserve University to take the prerequisites to apply to medical school. And now I am a proud Bobcat!
As a visual learner, I find teaching through questions, visuals, and clinical scenarios effective. Outside academics, I enjoy climbing, backpacking, kayaking, hiking, cycling, and teaching yoga. In medical school, I am drawn to histology, neurology, urology (especially!), and anatomy. I believe that real-world application is key to understanding content, using patient examples and clinically relevant scenarios. Weekly APSL PowerPoints were my go-to resource for exams, along with Bootcamp and Osmosis. As your APSL, I am here to help with study strategies, difficult concepts, or general advice. Feel free to reach out! I look forward to helping you succeed in medical school. 

Hi! My name is Katrina Biancofiore, and I will be one of your APSLs for the Cleveland Campus. Huge congrats on getting into medical school--you picked a good one! We can’t wait to help y’all out this year! My family bounced around while I was growing up, so my parents chose to homeschool. I lived in NY, FL, NC, and WI, but my family eventually set down roots in Chattanooga, TN, and most of them live there today. I spent my first year at The University of Alabama, then transferred to The University of TN at Chattanooga for the remainder of my undergrad years. I graduated early in 2020 with a biology degree and continued working nights as a CNA/phlebotomist on a cardiac stepdown unit in Chattanooga. I relocated to Indianapolis in 2021 with my fiancé, where I worked for a year as a medical scribe, both traveling to assisted living facilities and working in a stationary PC office. We moved to Cleveland in 2022 when Jack got a position with the Browns, and I worked in a medical billing/coding role for Oak Street Health for my second gap year. We bought a house the summer before medical school and got engaged last November!
When I am not working, I spend time hiking with my dog, watching movies, or going on cocktail lounge date nights with Jack. My strongest topics are anatomy, phys, cardio, and repro, but I am more than happy to help in any way that I can. I am interested in peds, OB/GYN, and endo right now but still deciding. My biggest tip for y’all is to remember that school will take up as much time as you give it -remember to foster your joy and identity in realms outside of school/your career. There will always be MORE you can learn, and there will always be a test or quiz that you will fail. Choose the optimistic 
outlook to the best of your ability, lean into your support network, be honest with yourself, and reach out when you need help. I can’t wait to meet y’all soon!! Come say hi, I’m always a safe space to chat with if anyone needs anything.

My name is Nate Emerson, and I will be one of your APSL Session Leaders. Congratulations on your acceptance to medical school! I am excited to meet and work with you all as you begin your journey at HCOM! I think you will be amazed at the culture of support and comradery here. I am from the small town of Shelby, Ohio. I went to undergrad at Ohio Northern University, originally studying in the pharmacy program. I eventually switched to the pre-med track and 
graduated with a major in Philosophy and minor in Biology. In my free time, I enjoy golfing, watching movies, and playing music with friends.
Some of my favorite subjects include psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, anatomy, and physiology. When it comes to learning strategies, I am a huge proponent of mastering your conceptual understanding. Memorization is a must in medical school, but there is only so much time you will have to commit all that information to memory. Understanding core concepts will make your studying more efficient and leave you with extra time to ingrain those details. Always feel free to reach out for help with tricky concepts or general study advice

My name is Olivia Gabram, and I am one of your APSL session leaders for the Cleveland Learning Community. I am so excited to be a resource for you during this transition to medical school. Congratulations on committing to this journey; you have made such a great decision pursuing medicine!I am from Chagrin Falls, OH (a Cleveland suburb) and attended The Ohio State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition focusing on biochemistry. In my free time, you can catch me hiking with my dog, rewatching Gilmore Girls for the 100th time, or attending yoga classes. 
Some of my favorite subjects thus far have been pathophysiology (any body system), cardiology, endocrinology, renal, and neurology. However, I am happy to help in any subject. For your first year, I would recommend relating everything back to the patient. We learn best when something connects to us on a personal level and becomes real beyond just words on a page. I also recommend adopting an active recall study method based on understanding, not perfection. Our curriculum is all about building a good foundation that is layered upon each semester and so strive for a good basis in understanding this first year. Please do not hesitate to reach out, we are excited to meet you all!

Hello! My name is Rachel Gawsyszawski, and I am one of the APSL Session Leaders for the Cleveland Learning Community. Congratulations on your acceptance to OU-HCOM! I am so excited to be working with all of you this year. I am from Brunswick, Ohio but I studied biology and chemistry at Purdue University Fort Wayne in Indiana. During my gap years, I was a PCNA in the Cardiac Post Procedure Unit at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital. In my free time I enjoy doing yoga, paddle boarding, and painting. 
My favorite subjects so far have been cardiology, nephrology, and psychology. One piece of advice I have is to be sure to take the time during your first few weeks of medical school to figure out which study methods work best for you. What works for others will not necessarily work for your unique learning style. Also, it can be easy to get bogged down with all the outside resources available to you. I would recommend finding the ones that fit your learning style and 
utilizing only a few. Lastly, be sure to spend some time with family, friends and loved ones throughout your first year. You will need a good support system around you as you begin this new journey. I am here to help you solidify content material and get you acclimated to medical school, so please do not hesitate to reach out. Congratulations again, and I look forward to working with you!

Hello, my name is Ben Gendics, and I am an APSL for the Cleveland Learning Community. Congratulations on your acceptance to OU-HCOM. This is a huge accomplishment, and we are all so excited to meet and work with you this fall!I am from Grafton, OH, a small town thirty minutes west of Cleveland. I received my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Hillsdale College (MI) where I also played football. In my free time, I enjoy lifting weights, going out with my friends, playing video games, and traveling.
I am interested in orthopedics, and I am currently doing research on a new surgical technique for irreparable rotator cuff tears. Although my favorite subjects are anatomy and physiology, I also find cardiology and neurology fascinating. My one tip for you as you start this new chapter of your life is to never stop doing the things you love. Medical school is challenging and time demanding, but it is not your life. Always make time for yourself and those close to you.

Hi! My name is Vinny Gentile, and I am an APSL for the Cleveland campus Learning Community. Congratulations on taking this next step in your journey through medicine. We are all so excited to meet each one of you and help you in any way that we can. I am from Youngstown, Ohio, where I attended YSU as a pre-medical student and earned a bachelor's degree majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry. I also played four years of college football at YSU, so I am always down to talk ball! Outside of the classroom, I really enjoy doing anything outdoors. I spend most of my free time hunting, fishing, or taking my pup for walks in the woods with my fiancé. However, I do squeeze the occasional video game in every now and then. 
I am very interested in orthopedics and will be serving as the president of Ortho Club this upcoming year. Feel free to ask questions about the club or orthopedics in general. Some of my favorite subjects are anatomy and physiology, cardiology, and neurology. I also feel comfortable tutoring most other subjects, so don't hesitate to reach out. Your first year of medical school can seem quite intense. Just remember that taking care of yourself comes first, and that we are here for any help you may need! 

Hi! My name is Chris Haddad, and I am an APSL for the Cleveland Learning Community. Congratulations and welcome to OU-HCOM! I can’t wait to work with all of you this year. I am from Westlake, Ohio and studied biology at John Carroll University. I also perform research at the Cleveland Clinic. It is important to work hard and play hard. Remember to prioritize your mental and physical health. You will probably find me at the gym, gaming, playing basketball or playing chess. And studying, of course!

I am more than happy to assist with any subject, but I enjoy general physiology, hematology, immunology, endocrinology, cardiology. Make sure to take advantage of all the resources available to you! The APSLs were a huge help in my first year, and I would like to extend that favor to you. I find that the topics I can explain simply are the ones I remember most. I would recommend explaining topics elegantly to yourself or to your small group as a simple and effective study strategy. Medical school is rigorous, but we are here for you! 

Hi, everyone! My name is Kortney Holland, and I am an APSL Session Leader for the Cleveland campus. Congratulations on beginning your journey at HCOM. We are so excited to meet and welcome you into the HCOM family. We are here to help you every step of the way! I am from Copley, Ohio. I attended John Carroll University, where I studied chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry, was part of the EAP program, and played club volleyball. I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, playing the piano, and going to the gym. 
I am interested in anesthesiology, so my favorite subject is pharmacology, but I also really enjoy biochemistry, neurology, and microbiology. As a first year, I went to APSLs for general study advice which helped tremendously. APSLs are here for you and remember that we were in your position not too long ago! Reach out if you want to go over difficult material, learn memory tricks I used, get any study advice, or just general advice. Medical school is a tough road, but we are here to help you find a good balance to put your wellbeing first. I am looking forward to meeting you all!

Hello, my name is Kole Jarzembak. I went to Kent State University to obtain a Bachelor of Biology degree. I am incredibly excited to meet you and help you adjust during your toughest times in your first year of medical education. Some of my favorite subjects are anatomy (I love working in the lab), neurology, cardiology, microbiology, clinical skills, and immunology. But please feel free to reach out to me for any other issues you may have. 
To best help you learn, our sessions will focus on building up from the basic sciences into clinical thinking and problem solving. I will teach you the content and then ask you reteach me to ensure your mastery and our future success together as health care providers. And remember….
If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together.

Hello! I'm Morgan Manns, and I will be one of the APSLs for Cleveland’s Learning Community at HCOM. Congratulations on taking the exciting step of beginning your medical school journey! Welcome to our HCOM family! Originally, I am from Massillon, Ohio. I studied biology at Kent State University. When I am not studying, I love exploring the outdoors through hiking and jogging, and I also enjoy spending time with friends and swimming. My academic interests lie in immunology, endocrinology, and microbiology. I am also a part of research at Cleveland Clinic with oncology.
As you start this new chapter, one tip for you is to remember to make the most of the resources available to you at HCOM. Whether it be through APSLs, your COMrade, our professors, or the various other resources, know that everyone is here to support you and more than willing to help answer your questions. I find going over difficult topics with someone else makes them easier to remember. It is always great to get different perspectives from others. Make sure you 
set time for your wellbeing and give yourself time to relax. I am looking forward to being able to help you and being a part of your journey here at HCOM.

Hey, all! I am Atia Najjar, one of the Session Leaders for the Cleveland APSLs. Welcome to OUHCOM, and we cannot wait to call you all classmates! Myself and all the other APSLs are here to make your first year an easier journey. I grew up in Strongsville, OH, and I am now from Westlake, OH. I studied philosophy with a certificate in bioethics at Cleveland State University where I served as the president of the school’s MSA. I took a gap year where I continued my research in migraine medicine and managed one of my father’s businesses for the time being. On campus, you will know of my presence as I am a “loud” person. Fun fact: I won “most likely to use the Microphone” during our first-year superlatives. I am also currently on the HCOM soccer team.
My favorite subjects are neuro, anatomy, and pharmacology. I have also been told that I am pretty good at pulmonology and OMM. In general, I like to learn and spread knowledge. I owe a handful of my success during the first year to utilizing the APSL one-to-one tutoring sessions. They made my life easier in school and were helpful all around, not just in academics, but as mentors. They taught me how to study for exams, what information to focus on, and of course,that having a life outside of school is important. I want to help you all in the same way, puttingyou on the right track for academic efficiency. 

Hi! My name is Sadie Salamone, and I am an APSL Session Leader for the Cleveland Learning Community. Congratulations on your acceptance to medical school and welcome to HCOM! We are so excited to meet you and will always be here to help if you need anything at all!I am from Akron, Ohio. I attended the University of Dayton for undergrad, where I majored in Pre-Medicine and minored in Psychology and Medicine & Society. I love exercising, spending time with friends and family, doing puzzles, and being outside, especially near the beach. 
Some of my favorite subjects so far have been cardiology, neurology, anatomy, and microbiology. One piece of advice I have is to remember that there will always be time to study. It is so important to take breaks and do things you enjoy, especially on stressful days. Medical school can feel like a time of trial and error as you discover your most effective study strategies. If some methods aren’t necessarily working for you, it’s best to keep moving forward and prioritize approaches that best suit your learning style. There are always so many people who want to help, so please never hesitate to reach out! 

Hello! My name is Norah Wilson, and I am an APSL for the Cleveland Learning Community. Congratulations on your HCOM acceptance, and welcome to the family! We are so excited to meet you all and help in any way we can.I am from Westlake, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland) and studied chemistry, French, and fine arts at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Additionally, I worked as a study consultant in college helping undergraduates with time management, so come to me with any scheduling questions. I took one gap year and worked as an ophthalmologist scribe and physician assistant at Johns Hopkins Hospital. When I have the time, I like to draw, paint, and thrift with my friends.
I’m interested in OB/GYN, so my favorite subjects are reproduction and embryology, but I also really enjoy cardiology, endocrinology, and anatomy. Medical school is definitely a marathon, not a sprint, so don’t focus on learning everything as quickly as possible. We revisit everything, and what matters most is the preservation of your own mental health and stamina! 

Hello! My name is Nick Wischmeier, and I am one of the APSLs on the Cleveland campus. Congratulations on your acceptance into OUHCOM! This great school has wonderful students and faculty—best of luck in your future endeavors. I am from North Royalton, Ohio, a small suburb outside of Cleveland. I graduated in 2023 from the University of Toledo, where I majored in biology with a concentration in neuroscience and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. I worked as a scribe in the Toledo Trauma Center and then as an ER tech. I also conducted research at UTCOMLS in neuroscience, specifically focusing on epilepsy. 
My favorite subjects are anatomy, physiology, neurology, and cardiology. I am a strong visual learner, and I love seeing each topic's big picture. Strategies that I find helpful include drawing, summarizing, and creating flow charts. My philosophy on learning necessitates knowing the “why” behind answers to strengthen your foundation and ability to recall. Adjusting during your first year of medical school can be very challenging, but remember, you deserve to be here! Take time to enjoy yourself, family, and friends whenever possible.