Empowering your journey toward a health profession, the Health Professions Advising Peer Guide team is your dedicated ally. Comprised of passionate pre-health students, our Peer Guides closely understand the unique challenges of navigating the pre-health landscape at UNC. Equipped with specialized training and resources, they offer invaluable mentorship and foster a supportive community for students aspiring to enter health professions.
Our Peer Guides welcome all current UNC students to weekly drop-in hours—no appointment necessary! Whether you’re exploring medicine, dentistry, or any health-related field, our doors are open to you.
Stay updated on drop-in hours through our HPA Instagram (@unc_hpa) and the HPA newsletter.
Weekly Drop-In Schedule (open to current UNC students)
MONDAY: 4:00pm – 6:00pm via Zoom
TUESDAY: 3:30pm – 5:30pm at the Undergraduate Library Rm 211
WEDNESDAY: 4:00pm – 6:00pm via Zoom
THURSDAY: 2:00pm – 4:00pm at the Health Sciences Library Rm 217B
FRIDAY: 12:30pm – 2:30pm at the Undergraduate Library Rm 211
Zoom Information (Log in to your UNC Zoom Account, and select “JOIN”)
Personal Meeting ID: 655 611 4647 Passcode: 324576
Meet the Peer Guide Team!
Cecilia Oviedo Barcenas (Pre-Dental)
Hometown: Jefferson, NC
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major with a Chemistry Minor
Future Aspirations: I aspire to be an orthodontist in the future!
PG Hours: Monday 4-6pm Zoom
Claire Peters (Pre-Med)
Hometown: High Point, NC
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology and Medical Anthropology Majors with a Chemistry Minor
Future Aspirations: After undergrad, I plan on attending medical school and exploring the various specialties.
PG Hours: Thursday 2-4pm HSL
Enes Eroglu (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Oak Ridge, NC
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Computer Science Major with a Neuroscience Minor
Future Aspirations: Neurosurgery
PG Hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:30 UL
Casen Whitehead (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Holly Springs, NC
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Environmental Health Sciences and Psychology Majors with a Chemistry Minor
Future Aspirations: My dream healthcare career is to be an Anesthesiologist.
PG Hours: Tuesday 4:30-5:30 UL
Iman Abdi (Pre-MPH)
Hometown: Apex, NC
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Public Policy Major with a Medical Anthropology Minor
Future Aspirations: I hope to have a career in public health, specifically maternal and child health, to reduce healthcare disparities. I plan to get an MPH after working for a few years.
PG Hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:30 UL
Emily Peong (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Kings Mountain, NC
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Neuroscience Major with a Chemistry Minor
Future Aspirations: Bettering mental health and becoming a future neurologist
PG Hours: Friday 12:30-2:30pm UL
Bobby Peters (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Health Policy & Management Major with a Spanish for the Medical Professions Minor
Future Aspirations: I hope to have a career combining clinical work (likely in primary/preventative care) with work on health policy to design a stronger health system.
PG Hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:30 UL
Harper Boatwright (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Asheville, NC
Year: Junior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major
Future Aspirations: My goal is to become a pediatric oncologist, hoping to help further research on treatment of residual cancer or MRD in pediatric patients.
PG Hours: Friday 12:20-2:30pm UL
Manasa Raghavan (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Dublin, CA
Year: Junior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Health Policy and Management Major with Biology and Chemistry Minors
Future Aspirations: I hope to be a practicing physician (currently thinking emergency medicine), but also work in heathcare policy.
PG Hours: Thursday 2-3pm HSL & Friday 12:30-2:30 UL
Natalie Deeb (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Cary, NC
Year: Junior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Neuroscience Major
Future Aspirations: I am pursuing a career in psychiatry on the pre-med track, but I am also still exploring clinical psychology and its related paths.
PG Hours: Friday 12:30-2:30pm UL
Morcos Saeed (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Egypt
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Neuroscience Major
Future Aspirations: A dream career in Neurosurgery.
PG Hours: Wednesday 4-6pm Zoom
Grace Pugh (Pre-PA)
Hometown: Asheville, NC
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Global Studies Major with a Biology Minor
Future Aspirations: I’m planning to take a gap year or two after graduation to hopefully participate in a global health program somewhere abroad. Afterwards, I’m planning to apply to PA school and continue working within the global/public health sphere.
PG Hours: Thursday 2-4pm HSL
Olivia Draper (Pre-Vet)
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major with Chemistry and Sexuality Studies Minors
Future Aspirations: I hope to go to veterinary school to receive my DVM and eventually practice either small animal medicine or specialize in an area like veterinary dermatology.
PG Hours: Monday 4-6pm Zoom
Mohamed Ghareeb (Pre-Dental)
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Year: Junior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major
Future Aspirations: Provide affordable dental care to people in need
Marcel Melendez (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Greenwich, CT
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major with a Chemistry Minor
Future Aspirations: I hope to complete my MD and eventually work in cardio-thoracic surgery. I currently do clinically based research at the Yale Aortic Institute in New Haven, Connecticut which is focused on the diagnosis and prevention of aortic aneurisms.
PG Hours: Monday and Wednesday 4:45-6pm Zoom
Manir Hede (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Hillsborough, NJ
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major
Future Aspirations: I hope to become a Health Policy and Management Major in Gillings, where I then hope to earn an MD or MPH from Gillings.
PG Hours: Thursday 2-3pm HSL
Caroline Carter (Pre-Med)
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
Year: Senior
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biology Major with Chemistry and Medicine, Literature, and Culture Minors
Future Aspirations: I hope to complete an MD program and become a pediatrician that takes care of underserved communities.
PG Hours: Monday and Wednesday 5-6pm Zoom
Brooks Gray (Pre-Nursing)
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
Year: Sophomore
Major(s)/Minor(s): Pre-Nursing
Future Aspirations: My intended profession is a RN and to become someone who makes a difference in the healthcare community while providing for my family.
PG Hours: Wednesday 4-5pm Zoom and Thursday 4-5pm HSL