Who We Are

Erin Bakal, MS, Ed.D.

Academic Specialist, Raleigh

Erin is the Academic Specialist at the UNC School of Medicine Raleigh site. She serves as the dyad partner with the Clinical Phase Academic Coach on the Raleigh site. She works with students in the Application phase as well as the Raleigh Kenan Urban Scholars program

Kristin Chally, MD

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Asheville

Dr. Chally is an Emergency Medicine physician and Clinical Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine - Asheville campus.

Link to Asheville-specific resources:
https://sites.google.com/site/ashevillecampus/home/testing-educ-resources

Gita Fleischman, MD

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Raleigh

Dr. Fleischman is an Otolaryngologist at Wake Med and Clinical Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine - Raleigh site.

Paula Herrera

Office of Academic Excellence Coordinator

Paula serves as the OAE coordinator. She helps contact students, coordinate meetings, and serves as a liaison between the OAE faculty members and students. She provides administrative support to the rest of the OAE team. She is the friendly face for students at the front desk of OAE in Student Affairs, and the person behind the OAE@med.unc.edu address.

Meredith B. Hughes, MEd

Director of Student Affairs, UNC SOM Wilmington Campus

Meredith is the Director of Student Affairs at the UNC School of Medicine - Wilmington campus. She serves as the dyad partner with the Clinical Phase Academic Coach on the Wilmington campus. She works with all students in the Application and Individualization phases as well as with the Wilmington Kenan scholars and the Wilmington FIRST program.

Animesh Jain, MD

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Chapel Hill
Director, Office of Academic Excellence

Dr. Jain is a Gastroenterologist and Clinical Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine - Chapel Hill campus.

Meredith Klifto, MD

Ophthalmologist and Foundation Phase Academic Coach

Dr. Klifto is an Ophthalmologist and Foundation Phase Academic coach at UNC School of Medicine

Amy Levenson, MD

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Chapel Hill

Dr. Levenson is a Pediatric Endocrinologist and Clinical Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine – Chapel Hill Campus

Tiffany Long, MD

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Chapel Hill

Dr. Long is in the division of Geriatric Medicine and is a Clinical Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine - Chapel Hill campus.

Keyona Oni, MD

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Charlotte

Dr. Oni is a family medicine physician and Clinical Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine, Charlotte Campus.

Laura Parente, MD

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Wilmington

Dr. Parente is a Pediatric hospitalist and Clinical Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine - Wilmington campus.

Kunal Patel, MD, PhD

Foundation Phase Academic Coach

Dr. Patel is a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Physician and Foundation Phase Academic coach at UNC School of Medicine

Craig Reed, MD

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Chapel Hill

Dr. Reed is also a gastroenterologist and a Clinical Phase Academic Coach at Chapel Hill.

Ben Shirley, Ed.D

Medical Education Learning Specialist

Dr. Shirley is the Medical Education Learning Specialist for the Office of Academic Excellence. His primary focus is enhancing student success by providing evidence-based learning and study strategies to students during the Foundation and Application phases. He is located at the Chapel Hill campus.

Kathleen Wang, MD

Foundation Phase Academic Coach

Dr. Wang is a Pediatric Allergist / Immunologist and Foundation Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine

Josh Zavitz, DO

Clinical Phase Academic Coach, Greensboro

Dr. Zavitz is an emergency medicine physician and Clinical Phase Academic Coach at UNC School of Medicine, Greensboro Campus.