Helping Pre-Health Students & Aspiring Medical Professionals Get Certified

After earning my diploma from the Altoona Hospital School of Nursing, my career began at the bedside in a local hospital. I was trained to cover Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care & Medical/Surgical units, Post-anesthesia care, and Home Health Case Management while utilizing multiple platforms to advance my education and leadership skills throughout the years. I returned to the classroom while working full time to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Mount Aloysius College and advanced into leadership roles that included managing the Infection Prevention Program and becoming the Quality Director at a local hospital. I furthered my education through Aspen University to earn my Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on Community Health and Epidemiology. I later became the Director of Nursing and earned my Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Capella University. My passion for continuing my own education, combined with my desire to train other healthcare professionals, led to a role assisting in the development of a Bachelor of Science in Care Coordination program for an online university, and I then continued on to earn my Certification in Legal Nurse Consulting. Currently, I am a Corporate Improvement Specialist for a large hospital organization and have recently extended my experience into this teaching opportunity. I feel strongly about helping others persevere to fulfill their career goals through education and am so grateful for online learning experiences making this possible. I look forward to being part of your journey toward meeting your goals as well.

As the Director of Partnerships and Enrollment at Advanced E Clinical Training (ACT), Cassidy Floyd brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role. With over a decade of expertise in student enrollment and program management, Cassidy has become a trusted advisor to students embarking on their educational journeys. Her commitment to student success is at the heart of her work, ensuring that every individual finds the right path to achieve their academic and career ambitions.

Her extensive background includes advising students across a wide range of disciplines, helping them navigate their educational choices and aligning their academic pursuits with their long-term career goals. Cassidy’s passion for education is evident in her commitment to mentoring students, offering personalized guidance that empowers them to unlock their potential and achieve their dreams.

Cassidy believes that every student has unique strengths and aspirations, and she is dedicated to helping them realize their fullest potential. Through her strategic planning and hands-on approach, she ensures that each student receives the support and resources they need to succeed in their chosen field, particularly in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry.

Sarah Simon is an experienced administrative and marketing professional with a passion for public health. She holds a Master of Public Health in Health Management and Policy from New York University, where she was Vice President of the Healthcare Consulting Organization. Sarah is committed to serving low-income communities and addressing health disparities.

With a background in project management, crisis management, and conflict resolution, Sarah is skilled at improving office operations and supporting teams. Sarah’s dedication to public health and her ability to work independently have consistently made her an asset to any organization she joins.

Janny Ukaegbu is an accomplished program consultant and events lead with a strong background in human resources and organizational development. With a Master of Arts in Human Resources Management & Organizational Development from Marymount University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from St. John’s University, Janny combines strategic leadership with a passion for empowering future healthcare professionals.

Janny plays a pivotal role in expanding access to Advanced Clinical Training’s nationally accredited medical certification programs for pre-health students. She oversees the planning and execution of high-impact events and educational training, connecting medical students with career development resources.

With a strong commitment to workforce development and healthcare education, Janny leverages her expertise to create opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals. Her ability to integrate program management with strategic event planning makes her a valuable leader in healthcare training and workforce development.

Anna Esparham, MD, is a triple board-certified physician in integrative medicine, pediatrics, and medical acupuncture. She currently serves as the Medical Director for the country’s first-of-its-kind pediatric headache treatment center at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

At a national level, she serves as the Program Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Integrative Medicine. She has conducted several research studies, published several peer-reviewed manuscripts, and been featured in national media. 

As an academic physician, she mentored many students, residents, fellows, and trainees in their careers to become great physicians. She also interviewed medical student applicants at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Esparham has created and designed several medical academic curricula and built innovative clinic models. She also has a background in coaching, as she coaches women on how to heal from chronic conditions as the founder of Health Is PowHer, LLC.

Dr. Li Ern Chen is a highly accomplished healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience spanning clinical practice and leadership roles. She holds an MD from Washington University School of Medicine and an MS in Clinical Science from UT Southwestern, along with board certifications in both general and pediatric surgery.

Dr. Chen’s career has evolved from her surgical background to focus on healthcare innovation, value-based care, and population health. She has held significant leadership positions including Chief Population Health Officer at Catalight, Chief Medical Officer at ChenMed, and Vice President roles at both Mercy Health and Baylor Scott & White Health, where she drove improvements in surgical services, patient safety, and clinical outcomes. Currently, she runs her own healthcare consulting firm, advising on value-based care and innovation.

Throughout her career, Dr. Chen has maintained an active academic presence with numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and presentations, while also serving on national committees and mentoring students and medical professionals. Her work consistently focuses on improving healthcare delivery, patient outcomes, and operational efficiency, particularly in pediatric and value-based care settings.

Lee Phan is a graduate of Barry University in Miami Shores, FL, where she earned her Master of Clinical Medical Sciences and Physician Assistant degree. She attended the University of Colorado Boulder prior to PA school, where she received her B.A. in Integrative Physiology with a minor in Business Analytics. Upon discovering her interest in the field of medicine, she worked in multiple roles within healthcare as a pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, medical scribe, and medical assistant. As a first-generation Vietnamese American with no prior close connections to PA, Lee was faced with several common obstacles when applying to PA school, including the lack of resources available, difficulty in finding a reliable mentor who fully understood the process, and the financial hardships that limited her ability to apply to many schools. Through trial and error, she has paved her own unique path to becoming a PA and is now inspired to provide the resources that she wishes were available during her pre-health journey. In addition to pursuing her passion for medicine, she hopes to help other students gain the confidence they need to become strong candidates and focus their attention on what really matters within the application process.

Sarah is a physician assistant practicing in Neurosurgery for the last 4 years. She earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Indiana University, Indianapolis, after completing her B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in medical sciences at Indiana University Bloomington. Her patient care experience included roles as a CNA, Physical Therapy Technician, and surgical Patient Care Technician.

Post-graduation, she completed a Physician Assistant Fellowship in Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ. A first-generation college graduate, Sarah overcame numerous challenges to become a PA without a director mentor so now her passion is to help those around her succeed through shadowing, precepting, and providing guidance to pre-Health students.