About Dr. Stephanie Smith-Founder/Learning Consultant
Background and Qualifications
Dr. Stephanie Smith holds a Doctorate in Education, a Master’s degree in Counseling, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. In addition, she is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She has over 24 years of experience in higher education administrative leadership, over 16 of those years working in a medical school setting with medical students, and the past three years with residents, fellows, and attendings for academic success. She has held the position of Dean of Students at a medical college, and a Director of Student Development at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine-Phoenix. She has a passion for working with medical professionals from students to residents/interns, and those in clinical practice. From personal experience she notes that many client learners struggle with standardized testing as they progress through the training continuum. As such, she builds positive relationships and takes a holistic approach to assisting individuals by utilizing learning styles assessment, time management, and development of a customized academic action plan when working with learners to reach their goals.
The unique benefit of this service is that Dr. Smith has extensive experience and success with this type of consultation service. She provides quality commitment to her client learners with a personal touch that builds relationships quickly. She provides a safe, confidential place for individuals to be honest with their strengths and challenges with regard to their academics and learning process. She normalizes the process, unconditionally gives her support, and creates an environment where individuals can have a positive growth mindset. This assistance gives the individuals an increased sense of calm and self-assurance toward their development and helps them be accountable to the action plan we create. Regular progress check points allow for this ongoing coaching relationship that is unique to medical professionals in various settings.
Dr. Shavonia Wynn
Dr. Shavonia Wynn holds a Doctorate and Master's in Education and has over 9 years of experience helping pre-meds and medical students at a mid-sized College of Medicine in the southwest region of the United States and a premier pre-med undergraduate institution. Her coaching plans will help you progress towards academic success and stay accountable while you are preparing for your standardized exam. Her coaching style is similar to what you would experience during athletic training or training for the Olympics. With over 9 years of experience COACHING pre-meds and medical students for academic success for the MCAT, USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, and USMLE Step 3, she has expertise that includes resource suggestions that best fit your learning style, helping you make a customized and detailed learning schedule, coaching you through imposter syndrome, strategies for score improvement, test-taking skills, and serve as an accountability partner.
Matthew Hermanson
Matthew received a BS in Biology followed by a Master's in Education from Truman State University. He has been working in education at various levels for over 12 years, specializing in medical education for six years. For the last six years, he has worked for the University of Kansas Medical Center. He has worked with medical students studying for course content, Step 1, shelf exams and Step 2. Additionally, he has worked with students in their coursework, as well as licensure exams, in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, speech-language pathology and many others.
Matthew decided to become a Learning Specialist because he wanted to work within the education field at a more advanced content level. He is passionate about helping learners who are excited about learning medicine and aiding them in finding ways to be more successful as they work towards realizing their dream of a career in their medical careers. Each person, at some point in our academic lives, will reach their personal limitations or hit that wall that they just can't get over alone. Matthew is excited to spend his time helping amazing and intelligent learners find new ways to be successful.
Matthew believes in building practical and organized study plans that incorporate an individual’s learning style and content strengths/weaknesses so that each plan is unique to the learner. He knows that when learners are preparing for major exams, they have many different variables to balance, so he works with them to identify and manage those factors to build and execute an efficient and effective study plan. He believes in using various types of data to modify and adjust a learner’s study strategy as they progress through their plan.
Cindy Boglin
Cindy Boglin is a dynamic higher educational professional with over 30 years of experience dedicated to student and academic success. She strives to help students understand who they are as learners and find ways to harness their strengths to achieve maximum results. Cindy spent seven years working with medical education students and founded the learning specialist role at the UA College of Medicine - Phoenix campus. Through her work at the College, Cindy developed a rich knowledge of tips and techniques for students in all levels of medical education. Cindy was born and raised in Michigan and received her bachelor of arts from Adrian College and her master of arts from Michigan State University. When not working with students, Cindy enjoys spending time with her family and working to help rescue dogs find loving new homes.
Adeste Sipin
Adeste Sipin’s main passion is to help people realize their wildest potential. With over 20 years in higher education and 5 years working with medical students, Adeste will use the knowledge gained from helping others succeed to help you develop the skills, mindset, and an individualized plan to reach your goals. While everyone has different learning preferences, uses varying resources, and deals with distinct life responsibilities, everyone has the same STEPS they must clear to become a doctor. Adeste will coach you, help you reframe attitudes, cheer you on, and hold you accountable as he helps you through challenging multiple choice exams like USMLE Step 1, USMLE STEP 2 CK, USMLE Step 3, and board exams. One thing he always reminds students is this, “As others have figured out a way, so shall you. Let’s eliminate the IF, solidify the WHEN, and work together on the HOW.” Adeste was born and raised in Carson, CA but currently lives in Las Vegas, NV. He received his bachelor’s from UCLA and a masters in Interdisciplinary Studies (Life Coaching/Sociology) from Liberty University.
Dr. Nicole Piemonte
Nicole Piemonte, PhD is an Associate Professor of Medical Humanities and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Creighton University School of Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona. She received her PhD in Medical Humanities from The University of Texas Medical Branch where she studied philosophy, medical ethics, literature and medicine, and medical pedagogy. She has published two books with The MIT press, Afflicted: How Vulnerability Can Heal Medical Education and Practice (2018) and Death and Dying (2021).
As a professionally trained coach, Nicole works one-on-one with practicing physicians to help them reconnect to meaning and purpose in their work so that they can move forward in new directions, both personally and professionally. For the last ten years, she has coached, mentored, and taught medical students, and she has developed a specific focus on resident coaching for the last seven years. Nicole loves working with resident trainees and truly values the opportunity to help them develop skills for studying, time management, clinical reasoning, and self-confidence.
Dr. Matt Michaud
Throughout Matt's professional life he strives to find balance between his work and his hobbies; a tough challenge when learning is so much fun. He spent the first decade of his life after graduate school as a counselor in Student Affairs using assessment, MBTI, and student development theory to motivate underprepared students. He worked successfully in Alaska and Florida developing learning communities. He then developed his hobby of massage therapy creating a professional wellness community, which eventually returned him to education where he developed and promoted a national training company in the massage industry. His hobby of natural medicine then became a calling and pursued further education as a naturopathic doctor. He graduated in 2013 as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.
After graduation he thought he would work as an anatomy professor but found more balance helping students connect knowledge of anatomy, pathology, and physiology. He has over 7 years working with medical students and residents to build their self-management and learning skills/strategies to be successful on exams and throughout their medical careers. He combines his basic science content knowledge, years of working with students and learners, and skills in learning strategies to provide holistic consultation. His passion is also to provide these strategies through small and large group workshops. His energy and knowledge make him very approachable in these settings.
