Peer Support Network
The Peer Support Network is a group of students who have volunteered their time to meet with other students to support them in different aspects of their journey through medical school.
Our UMSOM peer support leaders are Certified Peer Educators through the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). They have been trained in active listening and resource management and help use their personal experiences to help support your journey. Examples could include wanting to chat, finding resources on campus, emotional support, questions on specific courses, residency applications, USLME step studying etc.!
Students interested in becoming a Peer Support Leader have the opportunity at the beginning of every academic year in August to apply to be trained and become a volunteer. You must be an MS2 or above to apply and invitations to apply will come via email to the class list-serves.
Peer support leaders are NOT therapists and meeting with them is NOT a form of Mental Health Treatment. Meeting with a peer support leader should not be substituted for Mental Health Treatment. If you need help connecting with mental health treatment, a psychiatrist or a therapist, please contact the University of Maryland Baltimore's Student Counseling Center at 410-328-8404 or go to http://www.umaryland.edu/counseling/ . You can also connect with regional mental health support through 988. *If you are having an emergency health situation, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.*
Your connection with a peer support leader will be confidential and the things you share with the peer support leader will stay confidential, unless there is imminent dangerousness involved (at which point the peer support leader will work with you to connect to the correct resource/person for help).
If you are interested in being connected with a peer support leader, please fill out the form at the top of the page.
Someone from the Peer Support Network will be in contact with you within a week.
MS4 Molly Carbonell
Hi all! I’m Molly (MS4) and I’m super excited to be part of this new network at UMSOM. One of the best parts of my experience here has been the network of friends, mentors, and faculty I’ve been able to create and the support I’ve received from all of them. Medical school can be difficult and isolating and, without people to lean on, things can build up fast. I’m excited to hopefully be part of your support network and a resource you can use for anything going through this tough but rewarding journey!
MS4 Radhika Gholap
Hi everyone! My name’s Radhika, and I’m so excited to be one of the new Peer Support leaders. Medical school can be incredibly difficult, and it is normal to feel anxious, isolated, overwhelmed, or just generally lost in the sauce. On the bright side, I know firsthand that talking it out with friends can be a huge form of stress relief to help process both the good and the bad. As a previous Crisis Counselor, I hope to be an empathetic ear and a sounding board to provide some support and encouragement. Whether you want to just vent or have specific questions on school or balancing emotional wellbeing with clinical demands, I’m here!
MS4 Maria Som
Hi! My name is Maria and I’m so excited to be a part of the Peer Support Network! Having gone through three years of medical school, I can speak to how exhilarating and exhausting this time of our lives can be. My family and friends have been an invaluable support system these past few years, but sometimes it's nice to talk to people within the medical community who just “get it”. I’d love to be a sounding ear for you – happy to chat about anything, give advice, be your cheerleader/shoulder to cry on, or just listen if you need to vent :)
MS4 Alanna Stefano
Hi all! I’m Alanna, an MS4, and I’m so excited to be part of the Peer Support Network. We all know that medical school is not only a great learning experience, but also mentally, emotionally, physically, and even socially draining! It can be hard to reach out for help, and even harder to admit that you might need it (trust me, I’ve been there!). Whether you need some motivation, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, someone to help you fight the imposter syndrome, or just a chat, I’m here to support you! Anything and everything is open for discussion - especially Grey’s Anatomy, pop culture drama, and whatever book you’re currently reading. This is always a safe and private space. I look forward to meeting you!
MS4 Sarah Sweet
Hello friends! My name is Sarah, and I am thrilled to participate in the Peer Support Network. Medical school should be an exciting time in our lives, however, often stress and exhaustion interfere. I hope to serve as a resource for anyone to speak with whether they are thriving or surviving this crazy adventure we are on together. Please do not hesitate to reach out, and I am excited to get to know more of our community!
MS4 Nicol Tugarinov
Hi everyone! My name is Nicol, and I am super excited and thrilled to be a part of the Peer Support Network! Medical school can be amazing and super overwhelming and all things in between at one point or another during these four years. It’s always helpful to be able to talk things out with others, whether it’s telling someone about what a fantastic day you had in the hospital, about something super interesting you learned, recapping a particularly difficult experience with a peer or a patient, or getting your thoughts out on the table about something that you’ve been struggling with. Nothing is too big or too small and I’m happy to listen to all of it. Please reach out to me if you want to talk, rant, vent, laugh, cry, etc. This is an open and safe space for all. Looking forward to meeting you!
MS3 Anna Christou
Hi, I’m Anna (M3), and I’m very happy to be a part of the Peer Support Network! The strong sense of community is one of my favorite things about UMSOM, and I’ve found that talking with my classmates has helped me navigate stressful situations. I’m excited to talk about study strategies, mental health, research, or just life in general with you all.
MS3 Nycole Hidalgo
Hi, my name is Nycole and I am so excited and honored to be a part of the Peer Support Network team! Medical school is a unique experience and peer mentors understand the excitement, anxiety, and stress you may encounter during your journey. My goal is to listen to your unique experiences, celebrate all the wins, and support you during difficult times. Whether it's grabbing coffee, developing wellness routines, or practicing yoga together, I look forward to empowering you all through your medical school journey!
MS3 Philip Khoury
Hi everyone! My name is Phil! I am honored to be on the Peer Support Network. Medical school is a very unique experience that can be alien to those who are not intimately aware of how grueling the path to becoming a doctor can be. That's why it is so important to lean on those who are sharing in this experience with you. It is so important to remember why you chose to get into medicine and to hold onto the compassion and humanism that inspired us to help others. Feel free to reach out to talk about the good, the bad, the ugly or if you want to share medical school memes from instagram!
MS3 Hima Konduru
Hi! I’m Hima (MS3). In my own experience so far in medical school, there have been amazing, exciting moments as well as stressful ones. Through it all, a strong sense of community and support from those around me has been fundamental to appreciating this journey. I believe in having open, safe conversations about our highs, lows, and everything in between. I am so excited to be a part of the Peer Support Network and be someone who fosters this type of environment. I’m always here to listen and chat!
MS3 Ryan Lashgari
Hello! I'm Ryan a MS3. I joined Peer Support Network because medical school is a unique experience that often those outside of medicine have trouble understanding. I hope to be a resource for fellow medical students during the ups and downs of medical school. Feel free to reach out and chat whenever. No need for it to be constructive, If you just want to vent about attendings, shelves, coursework, or anything that comes with this insane experience I am happy to listen.
MS3 Sarina Maini
Hi! I’m Sarina (MS3). I’m thrilled to be a Peer Support leader and I’m passionate about fostering a supportive community where asking for help and talking about mental health should not be shamed. I eagerly look forward to chatting with my peers about a wide range of topics from academic challenges to time management and managing life and personal development beyond being a medical student. I’m excited to make this journey less isolating and more fun together!
MS3 Christine Wan
Hi there, I’m Christine (MS3)! We all know that medical school can be one rollercoaster of a ride, and I want you to know that you’re not alone in this journey. Whether you’re struggling with school-life balance, study strategies, motivation, or just want to chat, I’m here for you - so, don’t hesitate to reach out. Welcome to our supportive community!
MS2 Ryan McCarragher
Hi! I’m Ryan, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the Peer Support Network. Medical school can be a super exciting and often long-awaited time, but it can also be really stressful. I know for me, being able to talk through it all with friends was one of the most helpful things for relieving my stress and making it all feel more manageable. If you are feeling overwhelmed, looking for study advice, want the insider tips about M1, or just want to chat, please reach out! I am here to try to make life in med school feel less daunting and help in any way I can :)
MS2 Zain Shamsuddin
Hi everyone! My name's Zain and I'm a M2. A little about me, I love going for hikes, playing basketball, and eating an unreasonable amount. Juggling med school can be tough, and I'm here to help you navigate any academic, emotional, or personal hurdles you might face. I'm here to be a totally confidential sounding board — no judgments, just support. Whether you need to vent, brainstorm solutions, or just chat about life, I'm here for you. Let's tackle this journey together and make the tough times a little easier. 😊
MS2 Reshmi Talwar
Hi, my name is Reshmi, and I am excited to be a part of the Peer Support Network! Medical school is an amazing and fulfilling, but it is also common to feeling overwhelmed, drained, and isolated at times. Whenever I feel this way, my support system of friends and family always help me with comforting advice, coping strategies, and a listening ear. I hope to offer that same support to all of you. If you ever want to talk about anything, no matter how big or small, please don't hesitate to reach out. Remember, you are not alone!