Express Videos Authors

Feredun Azari, MD

Feredun Azari, currently a general surgery resident at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, was born and raised in Baku, Azerbaijan, and received his bachelor’s degree from George Mason University in 2013. Subsequently, he entered University of Virginia School of Medicine. During medical school, Feredun, was heavily involved in research related to cardiothoracic, transplant, and vascular surgery. During his senior year he was heavily involved in the development of the medical student education curriculum, which included lectures, anatomic dissections, and video presentations on high-yield surgical concepts tested on Shelf and USMLE exams. In his spare time Feredun enjoys cooking, playing/watching soccer, and spending time with family.

Kevin Buda, DO

Kevin studied neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. He attended the University of New England for medical school, where he served as class president and spent much of his free time teaching first-year students in the cadaver and clinical skills labs. Kevin is currently a resident at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where his research has included large database research and multiple meta-analyses in interventional cardiology. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys trail marathons, archery, and jiu-jitsu.

Bliss Chang

Bliss is a fourth-year medical student at Harvard. He was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, and attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham for college along with his twin brother. He then spent a year conducting research on the structural basis of neurodegeneration at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Gottingen, Germany. At Harvard, Bliss was deeply involved in several medical education activities including creating Shelf review sessions and teaching underclassmen. He is currently writing a book on evidence-based medicine with Elsevier and another book on medical student rotations with Springer. He is also working on a medical education startup. His hobbies include flying around the world on Delta, weightlifting, and hiking. Bliss is currently applying for residency in internal medicine and hopes to pursue a career blending clinical care, translational research, and medical education.

Lindsay Friedman

Lindsay grew up in Illinois and traveled south for college, attending Saint Louis University where she played Division I softball and studied biology and psychology. She then ventured east to The George Washington University for a master of science in anatomical and translational sciences. For her medical education, Lindsay came back to Chicago to attend Rush Medical College. She is pursuing surgery and will be applying for residency in 2020. During time off, Lindsay enjoys working with her hands flipping houses, experimenting in the kitchen, and playing softball near Lake Michigan.

Dan Griffin, DO

Dan was born and raised in Mississippi. He attended Mississippi College, where he played baseball and obtained a degree in biology. After graduation, he attended William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he met his wife and graduated in 2015. He is currently a Pulm/CC fellow at UMKC. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his family.

Pete Haftkowycz, MD

Pete was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and is currently an intern surgical resident at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. He earned his undergraduate degree from Baldwin-Wallace University in 2010, majoring in philosophy with minors in biology and neuroscience. He continued his education at Saint James School of Medicine on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where he enjoyed the sunny beaches and conquering volcanos. While on the island, Pete served as the anatomy TA for three semesters, which is how he discovered his love for teaching. He is a dedicated traveler, seeks out new adventures around the world, and thoroughly enjoys hiking, camping, and cycling. Pete also operates a YouTube channel dedicated to short, simple lectures revolving around Step 1 material.

Amir Khalil

Amir is a Pakistani, born in Oman and raised all over the United States—in Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin. He attended Marquette University as an undergraduate and earned a BS in biomedical sciences. He is currently an MS4 at Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM), applying to Internal Medicine for the 2020 match! Amir has a vested interest in medical education because he has tutored his peers in the preclinical curriculum at RUSM, created free YouTube content on immunology topics, and designed comprehensive study guides. In his free time, you can find Amir exploring Chicago where he currently resides or watching the Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers!

Christine Lomiguen, MD, MSMEd

Christine is an assistant professor of pathology and medical education at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). She was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated with a degree in biomedical engineering from Rutgers University.  She attended medical school in her parents’ home country of the Philippines at Our Lady of Fatima University in Manila.  From 2017 to 2019, she served as Director of General Pathology at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York.  In 2019, she earned her master’s degree in medical education from LECOM, which helped enhance her love for teaching the basic sciences, conducting educational research projects and generating publications with her students. She was recognized by the American Medical Association Women Physicians Section as a 2019 Inspiration Award Honoree for sharing wisdom, expertise, and passion for medicine to inspire others. In 2020, she was named a Woman Making History by the Mercy Center for Women. In her spare time, she enjoys shameless karaoke, outdoor adventures with her dog Rusty, and naps with her pet rabbit, Buttercup, and cat, Socks. She lives with her partner, Mark, in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Alexandria Mason

Alex was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew up in Washington, DC. She earned her BS in psychology and biology at Virginia Tech, where she spent the best 4 years of her life. (Go Hokies!) Alex is currently a third-year medical student at West Virginia University School of Medicine. She is interested in pursuing a career in obstetrics and gynecology and is very passionate about women’s health. In her free time, she loves playing soccer, reading 19th century gothic horror novels, and practicing good sleep hygiene.

Christina Palomo

Christina was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from high school, she swapped her city life for southern hospitality and attended Northwestern State University in Louisiana, where she graduated magna cum laude with a BS in biology and a minor in physical sciences. She is a graduating fourth-year medical student at Northeast Ohio Medical University and will be starting an otolaryngology head and neck surgery residency this summer. In her free time, Christina likes to nap, clean, hike, work out, and cook.

Achyut Sompura, MD

Achyut Sompura, a native of Southern California, is a Caribbean Medical School graduate currently tutoring and lecturing at a USMLE Review Program in Florida. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona, majoring in anthropology and minoring in pre-health and art history. In 2018 he worked as a nonmedical HIV case manager in Chicago. In his free time he enjoys attending trivia nights with friends, community theater, cooking, and getting soil under his nails while working in the garden. He plans on a long career in the promotion of child and adolescent health, traveling wherever and whenever opportunity arises.

Ari Stone

Ari Stone is a rising fourth-year medical student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, currently dedicating a year to research. He plans to pursue residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Ari has worked as a tutor and premedical advising coach for more than 5 years, helping hundreds of students prepare for the MCAT and beyond. Over the past year, he has been excited to branch out into USMLE curriculum with First Aid. Ari is passionate about medical education, public health advocacy, and making science accessible. In his free time, he enjoys live music, outdoor adventures, creative writing, and running.

Sreedivya Veturi

Sreedivya is a third-year medical student at Saint James School of Medicine on the St. Vincent campus. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2014. Sreedivya has always had a passion for teaching and for public health and has been volunteering in the health industry since high school. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and artistic endeavors.

Dan Griffin, DO

Dan was born and raised in Mississippi. He attended Mississippi College, where he played baseball and obtained a degree in biology. After graduation, he attended William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he met his wife and graduated in 2015. He is currently a Pulm/CC fellow at UMKC. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his family.

Feredun Azari, MD

Feredun Azari, currently a general surgery resident at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, was born and raised in Baku, Azerbaijan, and received his bachelor’s degree from George Mason University in 2013. Subsequently, he entered University of Virginia School of Medicine. During medical school, Feredun, was heavily involved in research related to cardiothoracic, transplant, and vascular surgery. During his senior year he was heavily involved in the development of the medical student education curriculum, which included lectures, anatomic dissections, and video presentations on high-yield surgical concepts tested on Shelf and USMLE exams. In his spare time Feredun enjoys cooking, playing/watching soccer, and spending time with family.

Kevin Buda, DO

Kevin studied neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. He attended the University of New England for medical school, where he served as class president and spent much of his free time teaching first-year students in the cadaver and clinical skills labs. Kevin is currently a resident at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where his research has included large database research and multiple meta-analyses in interventional cardiology. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys trail marathons, archery, and jiu-jitsu.

Bliss Chang

Bliss is a fourth-year medical student at Harvard. He was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, and attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham for college along with his twin brother. He then spent a year conducting research on the structural basis of neurodegeneration at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Gottingen, Germany. At Harvard, Bliss was deeply involved in several medical education activities including creating Shelf review sessions and teaching underclassmen. He is currently writing a book on evidence-based medicine with Elsevier and another book on medical student rotations with Springer. He is also working on a medical education startup. His hobbies include flying around the world on Delta, weightlifting, and hiking. Bliss is currently applying for residency in internal medicine and hopes to pursue a career blending clinical care, translational research, and medical education.

Lindsay Friedman

Lindsay grew up in Illinois and traveled south for college, attending Saint Louis University where she played Division I softball and studied biology and psychology. She then ventured east to The George Washington University for a master of science in anatomical and translational sciences. For her medical education, Lindsay came back to Chicago to attend Rush Medical College. She is pursuing surgery and will be applying for residency in 2020. During time off, Lindsay enjoys working with her hands flipping houses, experimenting in the kitchen, and playing softball near Lake Michigan.

Pete Haftkowycz, MD

Pete was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and is currently an intern surgical resident at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York. He earned his undergraduate degree from Baldwin-Wallace University in 2010, majoring in philosophy with minors in biology and neuroscience. He continued his education at Saint James School of Medicine on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where he enjoyed the sunny beaches and conquering volcanos. While on the island, Pete served as the anatomy TA for three semesters, which is how he discovered his love for teaching. He is a dedicated traveler, seeks out new adventures around the world, and thoroughly enjoys hiking, camping, and cycling. Pete also operates a YouTube channel dedicated to short, simple lectures revolving around Step 1 material.

Amir Khalil

Amir is a Pakistani, born in Oman and raised all over the United States—in Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin. He attended Marquette University as an undergraduate and earned a BS in biomedical sciences. He is currently an MS4 at Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM), applying to Internal Medicine for the 2020 match! Amir has a vested interest in medical education because he has tutored his peers in the preclinical curriculum at RUSM, created free YouTube content on immunology topics, and designed comprehensive study guides. In his free time, you can find Amir exploring Chicago where he currently resides or watching the Milwaukee Bucks and Green Bay Packers!

Christine Lomiguen, MD, MSMEd

Christine is an assistant professor of pathology and medical education at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). She was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated with a degree in biomedical engineering from Rutgers University.  She attended medical school in her parents’ home country of the Philippines at Our Lady of Fatima University in Manila.  From 2017 to 2019, she served as Director of General Pathology at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York.  In 2019, she earned her master’s degree in medical education from LECOM, which helped enhance her love for teaching the basic sciences, conducting educational research projects and generating publications with her students. She was recognized by the American Medical Association Women Physicians Section as a 2019 Inspiration Award Honoree for sharing wisdom, expertise, and passion for medicine to inspire others. In 2020, she was named a Woman Making History by the Mercy Center for Women. In her spare time, she enjoys shameless karaoke, outdoor adventures with her dog Rusty, and naps with her pet rabbit, Buttercup, and cat, Socks. She lives with her partner, Mark, in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Alexandria Mason

Alex was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew up in Washington, DC. She earned her BS in psychology and biology at Virginia Tech, where she spent the best 4 years of her life. (Go Hokies!) Alex is currently a third-year medical student at West Virginia University School of Medicine. She is interested in pursuing a career in obstetrics and gynecology and is very passionate about women’s health. In her free time, she loves playing soccer, reading 19th century gothic horror novels, and practicing good sleep hygiene.

Christina Palomo

Christina was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from high school, she swapped her city life for southern hospitality and attended Northwestern State University in Louisiana, where she graduated magna cum laude with a BS in biology and a minor in physical sciences. She is a graduating fourth-year medical student at Northeast Ohio Medical University and will be starting an otolaryngology head and neck surgery residency this summer. In her free time, Christina likes to nap, clean, hike, work out, and cook.

Achyut Sompura, MD

Achyut Sompura, a native of Southern California, is a Caribbean Medical School graduate currently tutoring and lecturing at a USMLE Review Program in Florida. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona, majoring in anthropology and minoring in pre-health and art history. In 2018 he worked as a nonmedical HIV case manager in Chicago. In his free time he enjoys attending trivia nights with friends, community theater, cooking, and getting soil under his nails while working in the garden. He plans on a long career in the promotion of child and adolescent health, traveling wherever and whenever opportunity arises.

Ari Stone

Ari Stone is a rising fourth-year medical student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, currently dedicating a year to research. He plans to pursue residency in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

Ari has worked as a tutor and premedical advising coach for more than 5 years, helping hundreds of students prepare for the MCAT and beyond. Over the past year, he has been excited to branch out into USMLE curriculum with First Aid. Ari is passionate about medical education, public health advocacy, and making science accessible. In his free time, he enjoys live music, outdoor adventures, creative writing, and running.

Sreedivya Veturi

Sreedivya is a third-year medical student at Saint James School of Medicine on the St. Vincent campus. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 2014. Sreedivya has always had a passion for teaching and for public health and has been volunteering in the health industry since high school. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and artistic endeavors.