Originally from California, Jake is currently finishing his first year at Virginia Tech Carilion SOM and totally loving medical school! He spent a few years working in research, followed by 2 years obtaining his M.S. in biomedical science at the Mt. Sinai SOM in New York. Jake has been involved in mentoring low SES high schoolers since undergrad, and while at Mt. Sinai, he also volunteered for a program guiding kids from underserved communities through college applications.

As the first person in his family to pursue education beyond college and as a "non-traditional" medical student, Jake is acutely aware of some of the financial, institutional, and psychological, barriers that are difficult to overcome when applying. Diversity in medicine and academics is a huge issue, and he's excited to contribute to a solution in whatever way I can.