Dr. Kelly is a board certified Orthopaedic surgeon that spent the majority of her career in academic medicine. Dr. Kelly has had the privilege of training and mentoring medical students, residents and fellows for nearly 20 years. She also served as an Orthopaedic program director for over 5 years where she had the opportunity to evaluate and mentor residents during their 5 years of training. She enjoys research and writing in addition to practicing clinical medicine and regularly contributes to the literature in the field of Orthopaedic surgery.
Pre-Med MENTORSHIP Program
Medical School Admissions Mentorship
Our customized Pre-Medical Mentorship Program (PMMP) pairs prospective medical school students with their own expert MD mentor to navigate the application process.
MENTORSHIP OVERVIEW
Personalized Guidance for Your Med School Journey
When you enroll in our Pre-Medical Mentorship Program, you’ll be matched with a dedicated MD advisor whose sole focus is helping you become a strong medical school applicant — without the high cost of traditional admission consulting programs.
Over the course of your partnership, you’ll meet with your mentor during regularly scheduled, virtual sessions to ensure you stay on track with the application process, get answers to your questions, and more.
What’s Included
Everything You Need for a Strong Med School Application
- 12 months of unlimited access to our mentorship portal
- 8 virtual guidance sessions with your mentor
- A custom, strategically designed mentorship plan
- An advising flow chart, hand-crafted by your mentor
- Application prep, guidance, and advice
- Resume / CV review
- Assistance with personal statement writing and review
- Interview prep
- Letter of reference written by your MD mentor for your graduate school application
Looking for help with your personal statement or need a letter of reference?
HOW IT WORKS
A Program Custom-Built Around Your Goals
Here’s what you can expect when you enroll in our Pre-Medical Mentorship Program:
Introductory Questionnaire
First, you’ll complete a detailed questionnaire, giving your mentor a clear picture of your experience, goals, and needs.
Tailored Mentorship Plan
Based on the answers you provide, your mentor will create your customized mentorship program. When you first meet via Zoom, you’ll review this plan and make any desired changes.
Regular Check-Ins
Over the course of your partnership, your mentor will make sure you’re on track with your plan and applications as well as provide guidance during live virtual meetings.
WHY CHOOSE ACT MENToRING
Mentorships Designed by Healthcare Industry Leaders
There are many reasons why pre-med students choose ACT for admissions mentorship.
Individualized Attention
Unlike college admissions consultants, who may work with dozens of students in a session, our mentors meet with you one-on-one so you’re never just another number.
Budget-Friendly
While admissions consultants and application specialists charge tens of thousands of dollars in fees, we offer our medical mentorship programs for a fraction of the price.
Resource Access
As part of our mentorship programs, you get access to our membership portal, where you can find educational and career tools and connect with other pre-health students.
Immediate Enrollment
With no application required, all you have to do is enroll on our website for instant access to your chosen program, so you can get right to work.
OUR MENTORS
Meet Our Pre-Med Mentors
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Kelly Vanderhave, MD
Kelly Vanderhave, MD
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Li Ern Chen, MD, MS
Pre-Med Academic Mentor
Li Ern Chen, MD, MS
Pre-Med Academic Mentor
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.
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Anna Esparham, MD
Pre-Med Academic Mentor
Anna Esparham, MD
Pre-Med Academic Mentor
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.
FAQs
What is a pre-med mentorship?
At ACT, our pre-med mentorships are designed to help you navigate the medical school application process. As you work on your application, you’ll partner with an MD advisor who has been in your shoes and can help you navigate the process.
What’s included in ACT’s Pre-Medical Mentorship Program?
All pre-med mentorships include 12 months of unlimited access to our mentorship portal; 4 virtual guidance sessions with your mentor; a custom, strategically designed mentorship plan; a hand-crafted advising flow chart; and progress follow-up.
What if I want help with my personal statement or need a letter of reference?
All of our medical mentorship programs offer 3 different tiers of mentorship: The Basic Plan, Basic Plan + Personal Statement (PS) Review, and Basic Plan + Personal Statement (PS) Review + Letter of Reference (LOR). This gives you the flexibility to choose the level of mentorship that’s right for you.
Ready to Meet Your Mentor?
Enrolling in our Pre-Medical Mentorship Program is just the first step — get matched today to begin your journey toward medical school.
