Tyler Ayalin, M.D.
Hometown: Chicago suburbs
Undergraduate: GPPA at University of Illinois-Chicago; Alpha Phi Omega and Tau Beta Phi
Medical School: University of Illinois Chicago
Achievements and Awards: USMLE top 9% of country, Academic chair for Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association
Outside of Medicine: playing the saxophone, intramural sports, tennis, golf, swimming, cycling, and snowboarding. Tyler has completed the Chicago Marathon and Triathlon

 

 

Abby Balger, M.D.
Hometown: Michigan
Undergraduate: Michigan State; Phi Beta Kappa
Life before Medical School: worked as a marketing sales rep and as research assistant on migrant farmworkers health, and project manager on research for nutrition education for children
Medical School: Wayne State University
Achievements and Awards: USMLE top 1% of country; board member and co-chair of World Health Student Organization
Outside of Medicine: gourmet cooking, snowboarding, skiing, white water rafting, yoga, music, travel

 

 

David Cummins, M.D.
Hometown: south suburbs of Chicago and northwest Indiana
Undergraduate: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Life before Medical School: 10 years as a paramedic/firefighter
Medical School: Indiana University
Achievements and Awards: Gold Humanism Honor Society
Outside of Medicine: David and his wife have adopted four children through foster care. David enjoys outdoor activities, home brewing handcrafted beer, and gardening.

 

 

Drew Dean, M.D.
Hometown: Wisconsin
Undergraduate: Carlton College; 4 year varsity letter winner in football and baseball
Life before Medical School: worked with autistic children as in-home behavioral therapist
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Achievements and Awards: USMLE top 18% of country; volunteered in admissions office, free student clinic
Outside of Medicine: downhill skiing, cooking, team sports

 

 

 

Christian Den Ouden, M.D.
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
Undergraduate: Hope College
Life before Medical School: CNA, waiter, international medical missions
Medical School: University of Iowa
Achievements and Awards: USMLE score top 1% of country
Outside of Medicine: snowboarding, tennis, volleyball, golf, cooking, travel, practicing Spanish

 

 

 

Ben Harris, M.D.
Hometown: New York City
Undergraduate: Columbia University; involved in gene mapping research, served as psychology TA
Medical School: Mt. Sinai School of Medicine; involvement in EMRA
Achievements and Awards: receipient of EMRA's Dr. Alexandra Greene Medical Student Award and ACEP's Medical Student Professionalism and Service Award
Outside of Medicine: bicycling, canoeing, reading, traveling

 

 

 

Matt Larsen, M.D.
Hometown: Idaho
Life before College: 2 year Church mission
Undergraduate: Boise State University; top 5% of graduating class
Medical School: St. Louis University
Achievements and Awards: USMLE top 1% of country
Outside of Medicine: Matt and his wife have two children; volunteering as educator and mentor for Boy Scouts of America; skiing, dirt biking, camping, basketball, baseball, running, reading

 

 

Manisha Patel, M.D.
Hometown: Northwest Indiana
Undergraduate: Indiana University; involved in molecular/cellular biology research; tennis instructor
Medical School: Indiana University; involved in research; ED extern, volunteer as health fair coordinator
Achievements and Awards: age ranked tennis player
Outside of Medicine: playing tennis, running marathons, painting, cooking

 

 

 

Drew Shedd, M.D.
Hometown: Texas
Undergraduate: Baylor University; paramedic and CPR instructor
Medical School: University of Texas at San Antonio; top 7% of class; volunteer during Hurricane Katrina; medical missions trip to Mexico; involved in research on traumatic shock; coauthor of textbook chapter
Achievements and Awards: AOA Honor Society, Gold Humanism Honor Society, USMLE top 1% in country
Outside of Medicine: softball, running, weight training, backpacking, fishing skiing, mountain biking, and spending time with his wife

 

 

Chris Yenter, M.D.
Hometown: Wisconsin
Undergraduate: Marquette University; worked as nursing home CNA and anatomy TA
Medical School: Chicago Medical School; top 6% of class; member of admission committee, free clinic volunteer, participated in Honduras medical mission
Achievements and Awards: AOA Honor Society, Gold Humanism Honor Society, USML top 5% in country
Outside of Medicine: fishing, hunting, camping, skiing, intramural sports, cooking, baking, movies

 

 

 

Erin Zimny, M.D.
Hometown: Michigan
Undergraduate: Hillsdale College; conducted research in South Africa
Life before Medical School: 2 years as a high school science and special education teacher; ED research coordinator
Medical School: Wayne State University; worked as private math and science tutor, volunteer at free clinic; student representative for Detroit AMA
Achievements and Awards: Gold Humanism Honor Society; USMLE top 7% in country
Outside of Medicine: volleyball, basketball, swimming, gardening and cooking/baking