Peer Support Network

If you are interested in being connected with a peer support leader:

• Fill out the Peer Support Network Referral Form.
• Someone from the Peer Support Network will be in contact with you within a week. 

Zain Shamsuddin (Co-President): Hi! I’m Zain, an MS4 interested in radiation oncology. I’ve always enjoyed mentoring and supporting others, and one of my favorite parts of medical school has been building relationships with classmates and helping them navigate the many challenges and transitions that come with training.  Whether you’re dealing with academic stress, career decisions, relationships, family concerns, or something entirely different, I’m happy to chat. Sometimes it helps to talk things through with someone who’s been in a similar position.  Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing and watching basketball, hiking, being outdoors, and trying new restaurants and coffee shops.

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Reshmi Talwar (Co-President): 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.

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Sarah Sabet (Vice President): I am here to reiterate that medical school is HARD. High highs (if/when we're lucky) and low lows, there is no sugar coating the challenge that is navigating being a student while simultaneously being a however-year-old human being. The past 2 years, I have also learned the ways our unique struggles (for me, one has been my neurodivergence and navigating my ADHD in such a neurotypical space) only pile on to the fun. It would be an immense privilege to be whatever you need in this moment - a soundboard, decider of sorts in times of decision fatigue, someone to check in on you every X amount of days - whatever you’re able to trust a peer to be there for you with.

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Lauren Bernard: Medical school can be a wild ride. Whether you’ve had a great moment in anatomy lab, a tough experience in POM, are deep in the grind of Step studying, or just need to vent—it really helps to talk it out. As someone who’s from out of state, I’m also happy to be a listening ear for others navigating that experience.

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Ryan McCarragher: 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. 

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Noor Ul Huda Awan: Before med school, I worked as a crisis counselor, which helped me develop a deep appreciation for listening and being present for others during difficult moments. Going through the ups and downs of medical school myself and seeing my friends struggle with the same has deepened my empathy for what we all carry behind the scenes.

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Christine Wan: 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.

Nischal Ada: Medical school is hard but it’s also been a really fun time. What helped me make this possible was the friends I made, and I want to help be there for you for academic support so that you can spend more time doing the things you love, with the people you love!

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Lucille Jumah:  My name is Lucille, and I’m an MS3. As a Maryland native, I am proud to call UMSOM my med school home. I currently have a wide variety of specialty interests and I am enjoying the opportunity to learn what each area of medicine has to offer. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with loved ones and rewatching my favorite shows whenever I have the chance. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as one of your Peer Support Network Mentors. Medical school is both rewarding and challenging, and I look forward to being a source of support, encouragement, and guidance as we navigate not only the journey of becoming physicians, but also the realities of living in and experiencing the world around us.

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Angela Lee: Medical school is an incredibly meaningful experience, but it can also feel overwhelming, isolating, or just plain confusing at times. I’ve found that some of the most helpful moments in my own journey have come from honest, no-pressure conversations with peers who have been where you have been and likely struggled with the same things. Whether you’re looking for study tips, need a space to vent, want to talk through life outside of med school, or just feel like grabbing a drink and chatting.

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Kenneth Tieu: Hey I'm Kenneth, it's nice to meet you! Medical school is such a formative time in our lives. It is exciting, rewarding, challenging, and overwhelming. There may be times during our journey in medical school where we doubt our capabilities, but I just want to reiterate one fact: you belong here. I'm here to support you in any way that I can and to lend a listening ear.

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Isabelle Veloso: I'm so excited to join the Peer Support Network to help make the day-to-day grind of medical school a little bit easier! I hope to assist students in finding the sweet spot between studying efficiently and taking time for fulfilling, self-care activities.

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Claire Wegner: Medical school is incredibly rewarding, but it can also feel overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally challenging at times. What helped me the most was having people I could talk to who truly understood what I was going through. I’d love to be that person for you—someone who’s been there, who gets it, and who’s always happy to listen.

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Clarissa Xia: Medical school is a time full of transitions, new experiences, and growth, which can be both exciting and stressful. Whether you need someone to celebrate your successes with you, are looking for study tips, or want to process a stressful experience, I'm here to listen and support you.

Akshaya Balaji: None of us are meant to do this alone. The challenges, successes, and uncertainties of this journey are so much easier to navigate when we have a community. I've found so much value in learning from and connecting with my classmates, and I hope to provide that same support to others. Whether you want to discuss coursework, research, balancing life outside of medicine, or simply need someone to listen, I'm always happy to chat!

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Lily Fritz: Medical school is one of the most rewarding and exciting times in our lives. However, you quickly learn that life does not slow down or stop while you're in it. Having people who understand these experiences can make difficult moments more manageable and remind you that you are not facing them alone.

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Isabelle Hannula: Medical school can be a really challenging time. Connecting with my peers and students who had been through similar experiences made a huge difference in my own journey. I would love to be that person for you - whether you want to talk through study strategies, balancing school and life, adjusting to new experiences, or anything else on your mind.

• 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.