Peer Advocate Program

My name is Jane Abbottsmith, and I am an MD-PhD candidate in Religious Ethics. I am here and always available to talk, anytime.

My name is Samiksha Chopra, and I am an MD/PhD student interested in neurology, pediatrics, and electrophysiology. A few years back I graduated from UCLA where I studied Neuroscience and Art History. When not in lab or cramming for exams, I love going on walks, making a mean chai, hosting movie nights, fostering guinea pigs, learning about apiculture, and just generally hanging out with friends at my apartment. Please reach out whenever you would like to chat...I am always ready with a warm cup of chai!

My name is Jovan Lopez, and I am an MD-PhD student from Corpus Christi, TX. I graduated from Stanford University in 2017, where I studied chemistry. Afterward, I lived in San Francisco for three years and worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a medicinal chemist doing drug design and development. For research, I’m currently exploring work in chemical biology and pharmacology. I was first in my family to go to university, and now I’m proud to say my sister is following me to New Haven to start her college career at the University of New Haven! I come from a mixed ethnic background of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Haitian. I am a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I enjoy volunteering with HAVEN Free Clinic as one of their pharmacy directors, and I’m one of the leaders of the Bioethics Interest Group. To help keep me centered amongst the myriad duties we have as students, I enjoy hosting friends at my apartment and treating everyone to a good time with homemade cocktails, baked goods, eclectic music, and ridiculous conversations.

My name is Ryland, and I am an MD-PhD student. I grew up moving around as part of a military family and ended up in California for college where I studied chemical engineering at USC (go Trojans!). Before coming to Yale, I spent two years at the NIH doing research in hematology and immunology. Within YSM, I am involved in HAVEN free clinic and the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. I plan on completing my PhD in biomedical engineering. I love playing basketball, watching movies, and spending time with friends. Please reach out to me any time about anything!

My name is Nora, and I am an MD/PhD student originally from Washington, DC. I studied the history of disability rights and feminism as an undergraduate at Harvard University, where I also worked as a sexual health peer counselor. During my gap years, I volunteered as a rape crisis counselor and did clinical research in orthopedics. I'm planning on pursuing my PhD in the History of Medicine here at Yale and love to talk about social sciences and medicine. In my free time, you can find me running, baking, singing, and binging the Office on repeat. Reach out if there's ever anything on your mind!

My name is Matt Ponticiello. I am an MD-PhD student interested in global health and psychiatry! I graduated from Cornell a couple years ago, where I studied Global and Public Health. I love to go for walks, read, write, travel, and talk. I'm always up for a good chat or text and am happy to talk about anything that might be on your mind. I remember questioning during M1 (and sometimes still now!) if I made the right choice going to medical school, so if that is you, too, then you are in good company. Please feel free to reach out about anything!

My name is Elle, and I’m an MD student from Michigan. I studied biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan before pursuing women’s and gender studies at the University of Cambridge. Around New Haven, I love curating my GoodReads list and watching movies (both the good and the bad) with friends. I’m also on the Committee on the Wellbeing of Students, so I’m passionate about helping people feel at home at Yale. Ask

My name is Frankie Carr and I'm an MD student here at YSM. I am from Houston, TX and did my undergrad at Dartmouth where I studied Biology, Chemistry, and Theater. I'm a huge Boston sports fan, board game nerd, plant dad, pub trivia geek (catch me at Gryphon's on Tuesdays), and runner. For my future career, I'm interested in Internal Medicine and Medical Education. I'm always happy to chat about anything that's on your mind and learn more about you!

My name is Laura Evans, and I'm an MD student interested in primary care and rural health. I grew up in Iowa, and then moved to Baltimore for undergrad at Johns Hopkins, where I studied Classics (Latin and Greek) and Molecular Biology. Here at YSM, I'm particularly interested in rural health and medical humanities research. When I'm not going to class or studying, you can find me baking something, going on hikes around CT, or being overly competitive at trivia with my friends. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like to chat about anything, or if you just want some freshly baked cookies. (I always have too many!)

My name is Ilhan and I’m an MD-PhD student. I grew up outside of NYC and went to Duke for undergrad, where I studied biomedical engineering and music. I plan on doing my PhD in BME and I’m considering internal medicine (possibly cardiology) in the future. Feel free to ask me about research (e.g. finding a mentor/project), G-protein coupled receptors, service in New Haven, classical/jazz music, or just about anything else.

Howdy, Sadde here. I’m an MD student born and raised in Houston, TX. In my gap year I was also in Houston working in liver research. Before that I was at Columbia studying Biology and Ethnicity/Race Studies. In New Haven, you can find me playing tennis, amassing books that I will totally find time to read, losing most trivia nights, and spending time with friends. Please reach out for whatever—advice, a can opener, or swapping good stories!

Hey everyone! I'm Bailey, and I'm an MD student. I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2010, where I majored in Government and Global Studies (Middle Eastern Studies). I served as a Teach For America corps member in San Jose, California, before moving to South Africa in 2012. I spent the next decade opening and leading a network of schools serving vulnerable communities around Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town. That experience shaped my commitment to equity, values-driven leadership, and meaningful relationships—things I hope to bring to this role as a Peer Advocate. I'm also a long-distance runner, a weightlifter, an avid traveler, and a bookworm. Always down to talk or walk—just reach out!

Hi! I’m Emily, an MD student at YSM. Before medical school, I was a professional ballet dancer, and over the years I’ve called Massachusetts, California, Indiana, and Oregon home. I’m interested in pursuing a surgical specialty and spent time doing research in orthopaedic surgery before starting med school. I’m so grateful for the support this program gave me during my M1 year—please don’t hesitate to reach out for anything, big or small. I’m always happy to text, chat, or walk and talk it out together.

Hi there, my name is Elaine! I am interested in just about everything from the medical humanities to artificial intelligence and aspire to become a radiation oncologist. Get in touch if you are curious about my New Haven favorites — there is a little-known bookstore I can't wait to tell you about, and I guarantee I know a place you've never heard of serving the best apizza in town, hands down. And remember that I am here if something else is weighing on you too.

Hi! My name is Isha and I’m an MD student from Gaithersburg, Maryland. I studied public health at the University of Maryland and spent a year working at a think tank in DC before coming to Yale. In my free time, I love rock climbing and perfecting my iced matcha latte recipe. Please feel free to reach out - I’m always happy to talk!

Hi! I'm Angela, and I’m an MD student. I grew up in rural Texas and then moved to the Bay Area for undergrad at Stanford. Outside of medicine, I love trying new coffee shops, listening to podcasts, spending time outdoors, and finding any excuse to build community over a good meal. Medical school can be exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between, but you don't have to navigate it alone. Whether you want to talk through a difficult day, celebrate a win, or just grab coffee, I'd be happy to chat!

My name is Nathan Hansen. I'm an MD student interested in geriatrics and palliative medicine. As a consequence of my years living out West in Utah and Washington state, find me paddleboarding in the summer, or XC skiing in the winter, and on the bike most any time of year. I'm here for anything from moving the impossible couch up the stairs to swapping tips on gluten-free baking or anything else on your mind.

Hello! My name is Lily, and I’m an MD student from Bradenton, Florida. I matched to Penn (C'23) through the QuestBridge program, where I studied biophysics, biochemistry, and how to be a Philly sports fan. I then worked as a research assistant at the Rockefeller University in NYC, where I learned to love the New York transit system! I enjoy going to concerts, reading a good book, and obsessing over my monsteras. I think med school can be challenging in unexpected ways, so I'm happy to chat over the phone or to go on a walk anytime. Please reach out!