The official student-produced guide to our school, city, and life in medical school.

First-year medical students write the Dis-Orientation Guide for the next incoming class, making it the definitive source for how to happily survive and thrive at Washington University School of Medicine.

Welcome

Take in some words of wisdom from the Dean of the Medical School and the Dean of Admissions.

Why WashU

This year, 105 students choose Washington University School of Medicine. Read the stories of our class to see why we chose WUSM.

The Gateway Experience

You likely have thousands of questions about what it is like to be a medical student. We have answers from the people who know best — actual medical students.

Perspectives

Delve into the unique perspectives of our diverse student body, including cultural backgrounds, relationships, and religion, and see how they impact our studies.

Life (in COVID)

Our tips to help you make the most of your time in St. Louis. We have tips on how to stay fit, find the best places to eat, travel the world, and get around St. Louis (COVID-friendly style).

Finding Community

Being in a new place while socially distant can be tough. Find out how our class created opportunities to bond with one another.

Housing

Moving can be scary. Here, we have valuable information that can help make your transition a little bit easier, including information on our favorite apartments.  

Advice

Adjusting to medical school can be difficult. Here, graduating M4s and some of our M1 class’s most popular WUSM faculty share words of wisdom for your time in St. Louis.


Meet the Guide Editors

Editors-in-Chief

Frances Avila-Soto

Frances Avila-Soto

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Hi, all! I’m originally from Puerto Rico and grew up in a small town in rural Ohio. I graduated with a B.S. in biomedical science from The Ohio State University. In my free time, I enjoy running in Forest Park, yoga, baking (or attempting to bake, really), binge-watching comedies on Netflix, and drinking lots of coffee.

Amrita Bhat

Amrita Bhat

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Hi, everyone! My name is Amrita, and I’m from Los Altos, California. Before starting medical school at WashU, I completed my undergrad at the University of Southern California, where I studied neuroscience and narrative studies. Outside of med school, I enjoy baking, reading, yoga, and spending time with my dog. 

Melinda  Staub

Melinda Staub

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Hi, all! My name is Melinda and I am originally from the Pacific Northwest. I attended Vanderbilt University where I majored in Women’s and Gender studies and Medicine, Health, and Society. In my free time, I love to run in Forest Park, read, and explore St. Louis with my friends.

Tara Suresh

Tara Suresh

Web Editor-in-Chief

Hi, everyone! I grew up in St. Louis and studied neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis. I enjoy swimming, baking, and going on walks in Forest Park. 

Section Editors

Jackson Burton

Jackson Burton

Life (in COVID) Section Editor

Hey, everyone! I’m from Park City, Utah, and got my B.S. at Yale University in molecular biology before coming straight through to WUSM after graduating in 2020. I love doing any kind of exercise outside, but my favorite activities are skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and rock climbing. I’ve really enjoyed my time in St. Louis so far (some highlights: Forest Park, great classmates and friends, and tons of local beer).

Jared Garland

Jared Garland

Housing Section Editor

Hey, y’all! My name is Jared, and I’m from Boston, Massachusetts. I went to Duke University for college and majored in neuroscience, with a double minor in biology and history. Following that, I took two gap years to do military rehabilitative and neurological research. In my free time, I love to cook and bake, explore Forest Park (particularly around Art Hill), work out, and watch sports. 

Paul Lee

Paul Lee

Gateway Experience Section Editor

Hi, everyone! My name is Paul, and I’m from Dunlap, Illinois. I majored in biochemistry and biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania and took a gap year after graduation working as a research assistant. In my free time, I enjoy playing video games, watching tennis highlights on YouTube, and curating my Spotify playlists.

Rebecca Lin

Rebecca Lin

Gateway Experience Section Editor

I’m from Livingston, New Jersey, and went to undergrad at the Johns Hopkins University, where I double majored in cognitive science and medicine, science, and the humanities. During quarantine I have relearned how to play the piano, started growing baby succulents, played a lot of Dance Dance Revolution, and watched the entirety of The Office (for the first time).

Bella  Melena

Bella Melena

Why WashU Section Editor

Hi! My name is Bella Melena. I’m originally from Arvada, Colorado. I went to Drury University for my bachelor’s in biochemistry. I did a gap year in Colorado after graduation, studying diabetic kidney disease in adolescents with type 2 diabetes, and am excited to continue research here! I enjoy playing tennis, annoying my friends, and cooking new recipes!

Shireen Roy

Shireen Roy

Perspectives Section Editor

Hi, y’all! I grew up mostly in Plano, Texas, and went to school at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, where I majored in psychology. Before med school, I got my MPH from the Yale School of Public Health. Outside of school, I love reading, baking, taking long walks in Forest Park, obsessing over pop culture, and hanging out with friends. I also love animals — dogs, cats, crows, you name it! Feel free to ask me about public health, pets in med school, or anything else you can think of!

Anusha Sanka

Anusha Sanka

Life (in COVID) Section Editor

Hi, y’all! I am from Portland, Oregon, and graduated in 2019 from Case Western Reserve University with degrees in psychology and cognitive science. I also spent my gap year at Case finishing up my Masters in Public Health. As a huge foodie, I love exploring the different restaurants in St. Louis with my friends. I also enjoy hiking and anything outdoorsy, playing tennis, and binging the occasional show.
Emily Terain

Emily Terain

Housing Section Editor

I’m from Plainfield, Illinois, where I lived up until college. I then studied neuroscience at the University of Chicago before going straight through to medical school here at WashU. In my free time I like playing piano, reading, and going on runs in Forest Park (something college me would be shocked at!).

Kevin  Yin

Kevin Yin

Finding Community Section Editor

I’m Kevin, and I was born in Shanghai, China, but moved around a lot growing up and now my family lives in Toronto, Canada. My first time living in the U.S. was when I started at Washington University in St. Louis for my undergraduate studies, and now I am continuing my life in St. Louis through the Medical Scientist Training Program (yay for St. Louis!). In my spare time, I love knitting, anything related to food or fitness, and most importantly spending quality time with my dog Roux.

Lydia Zhong

Lydia Zhong

Advice Section Editor

I’m from the warm and sunny state of California and studied molecular biology at Princeton University. I can always appreciate a good puzzle and quality time with friends, especially if games are involved! When there’s enough time, I love binge-reading novels and have recently started to read some non-fiction … book recommendations needed! 

Visual/Media Editors

Lili Barbar

Lili Barbar

Visual/Media Editor

I’m from Beirut, Lebanon, and studied biology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, for undergrad. After college, I spent two gap years doing research in New York before moving to St. Louis to start medical school. In my free time, I love traveling, spending time with friends, rock climbing, and exploring new restaurants around St. Louis.

Sneha  Chaturvedi

Sneha Chaturvedi

Visual/Media Editor

I grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and moved to St. Louis for undergrad. I majored in biology with a concentration in neuroscience at WashU and couldn’t get enough of St. Louis, so I decided to stay for another 8+ years as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program. I’m interested in neuroscience and immunology for my PhD. My hobbies include drawing, hiking, listening to angry music while studying, and trying to eat the spiciest food I can find.

MaeMae Huang

MaeMae Huang

Visual/ Media Editor

Hi! My name is MaeMae, and I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. I studied Biochemistry and Educational Studies at Washington University, and I decided to stay here for medical school too! In my free time, you can find me trying out new restaurants, watching the Bachelor, and spending time with friends and family. 

Thank you to everyone involved in editing, curating, and writing!

Special thanks to Melinda S., Sneha C., and Christina S. for helping design the cover!