Welcome to Guiding Hands
We know the journey to medical school is tough
We’re here to help
Who are we?
Kimiya Ghassemzadeh, MS1
Co-President of Guiding Hands
Hi everyone! My name is Kimiya Ghassemzadeh, and I’m an MS1 at UC Irvine. I’m so excited to serve as one of your co-presidents for Guiding Hands this year!
Preparing for medical school, completing prerequisite coursework, and navigating the application process can feel overwhelming without the right support. That’s why our organization is committed to guiding undergraduate students through each step, offering both practical resources and mentorship along the way. Through workshops, mentor-mentee pairings, and speaker events, we aim to make this journey a little less daunting and a lot more approachable.
Outside of class, you can find me teaching Lagree, going for a run, or exploring new matcha spots. I can’t wait to meet all of you!
Crystal Wen, MS1
Co-President of Guiding Hands
Hi guys! My name is Crystal and I’m so thrilled to be a co-president for UCI’s Guiding Hands this year! I went to UC Santa Barbara for undergrad and took 1 gap year before medical school, where I worked as a medical assistant at an ophthalmology clinic. Outside of school, I love doing and teaching yoga, going on hikes, and hanging out with my kitties! Our team is here to build community and make sure that you feel supported through this tough pre-med journey. We are excited to pair pre-meds up with medical students, host mixers, workshops, and help you through the medical school application process!
Tatum Ego, MS1
Mentee Coordinator of Guiding Hands
Hello! My name is Tatum, and I am an MS1 here at UCI. I am so excited to be Mentee Coordinator for Guiding Hands this year, and I can’t wait to support our pre-med students and possibly future peers on this journey. Navigating the medical school process can be daunting and difficult, with or without connections to medicine. Through Guiding Hands, I hope that we can provide a listening ear, source of support, and sense of community.
Outside of medicine, I love to hike and do pilates, knit, bake, and spend time with friends and family. Mentorship is one of my biggest passions, so feel free to reach out if you need advice or just want to chat!
Kayla Nguyen, MS1
Event Coordinator of Guiding Hands
Hello! My name is Kayla and I'm an MS1 at UCI School of Medicine. During undergrad, I was involved in tutoring and mentoring organizations, and I’m super excited to continue providing support as a medical student through Guiding Hands and helping to organize fun mixers, socials, and workshops.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, trying new cafes, spending time with friends and family, and playing board games. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and building a welcoming, supportive community. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or just want to chat!
Danielle Forman, MS1
Mentor Coordinator of Guiding Hands
Hi everyone! My name is Danielle, and I’m an MS1 here at UCI. Having been a pre-med not long ago—taking exams and planning gap years—I truly understand the long and stressful path this can be. Having grown up in Irvine and dreaming of being a student here, I love the opportunity to share any tips and tricks I can!
As your Mentorship Coordinator, I hope to be a resource connecting aspiring pre-meds with our current medical students and to be part of creating a safe community founded on support and encouragement. Outside of academics, you’ll find me ballroom dancing or playing volleyball, checking out coffee shops, and spending time with friends and family. Whether it’s academics, extracurriculars, or daily medical student life in Irvine, I’m here to chat about it all!
Tarika Gujral, MS1
Community Coordinator of Guiding Hands
What do we do?
Fight Misinformation
Medicine is a challenging path, but along the way, there’s all sorts of misinformation out there (cough… r/premed…). We’re here to help you navigate.
Host Social Events
We host a number of events throughout the year to socialize with our mentors. See below for upcoming events!
Help you find your passions
Our primary focus is to prevent people from falling down the wrong paths. We aim to inspire you to find your true passions and callings and contribute to healthcare and society meaningfully.
Pair you with a mentor
Mentorship can be a key part of your development during your four years. Join us in our annual mentor-mentee pairing in the Fall.
Publish in our Journal
Our journal is an outlet for our medical students to write creative pieces on all things premed, medical school, and life.
Upcoming Events
Guiding Hands x CSOC x Flying Sams Medical School Application Workshop
4/23/25
The undergrad mentors for Crescent, CSOC, Guiding Hands, and Flying Sams will be hosting a medical school application workshop where you can come and work on your med school application with UCI med students present to answer any questions and review essays. This workshop will be focused on those applying within the next year. The date of the workshop has been changed to Wednesday April 23th from 5-7 pm. We know the application process can be stressful so we hope we can help answer questions and make it a little less stressful! We hope to see you all there!! :)
Fill out the RSVP form to attend.
(This event has passed; thank you to all that came through!)
Mentor Mentee UTC Social
2/26/25
Guiding Hands will be holding a social at the University Town Center Tables! This will be a relaxed opportunity for undergraduate students to socialize with medical students at UTC. Feel free to grab a snack or boba and come to socialize!
Fill out the RSVP form to attend.
(This event has passed; thank you to all that came through!)
