The Peer Support Network at Albert Einstein College of Medicine connects M.D. students, Ph.D. students, and dual M.D./Ph.D. students with peers to openly discuss academic and personal concerns, receive tailored advice, and gain confidence on their journey through medical and graduate school. Peer tutors are available to help students master course content and excel academically, while peer mentors provide personal advice, share life experiences, and offer support on matters ranging from coping with stress to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

If you have questions about the Peer Support Network, contact the office of academic support and counseling at oasc@einsteinmed.edu or 718-430-3154. If you have interacted with a mentor or tutor, we want to hear from you. Please complete the peer support feedback form to tell us about your experience. 

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Complete this form to be matched with a mentor or tutor in Einstein’s Peer Support Network.

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Peer Mentoring

Sometimes it is easier to speak with another student about academic or personal issues. Einstein connects students with upper classmates who have lived through similar experiences and who are ready to lend a helping hand. Peer mentors at Einstein are a community of M.D., Ph.D., and dual M.D./Ph.D. students who support one another in academic and personal pursuits during medical school and help each other productively manage stressors. They provide a confidential and nonjudgemental space to share experiences and resources, advice on academic issues, time management, family and relationship issues, interpersonal challenges encountered during training, and more. To serve as a peer mentor, students must complete at least one year of training.  

Peer Advisor Leaders for Clerkships

Peer advisor leaders, also called PALs, at Albert Einstein College of Medicine are peer mentors that support M.D. students during clerkships. Upper-year medical students who have completed clerkship rotations offer guidance to junior peers including advice on how to succeed on rotations, tips for how to prepare for the National Board of Medical Examiners subject exams, academic support in key topics for each clerkship area, and advice for navigating the clinical environment.  

Mentors organize study sessions that cover important topics for each clerkship area, reinforce core concepts, clarify difficult topics, and provide practical tips for clinical practice. Interactive learning components include case-based discussions, question and answer sessions, and hands-on workshops that make the learning process more engaging and applicable to real-world scenarios. Mentors also offer insights into pursuing residencies, share experiences with the application process, interviews, and choosing a specialty. 

Peer advisor leaders are currently only available for the obstetrics and gynecology and surgery clerkships. 

Peer Tutoring

Peer tutoring is available to all Einstein students who wish to learn more effective study strategies, get reinforcement on concepts from course materials, and build community with others who are facing similar challenges. We offer individual one-on-one study sessions or small group study sessions in the following areas:  

  • basic science and systems courses 

  • United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Step 2 

  • shelf examinations 

  • performance monitoring and follow-up appointments 

All peer tutoring at Einstein is offered free of charge. Students who are selected to be Einstein peer tutors receive compensation for their time. 

How Do I Match with Peer Support?

After you request an appointment for peer support with the office of academic support and counseling, you will receive an email from a tutor or peer mentor who meets your needs. You are welcome to request a new or additional tutor or mentor at any point. 

It is helpful to identify areas you want to work on ahead of time and prepare for your session, as peer tutors are also students with busy schedules. You might consider emailing specific questions or general topics you would like to review before your meeting. Examples include struggling with rote memorization, difficulty organizing large amounts of information, trouble understanding specific concepts, or challenges applying your knowledge base in clinical situations. 

Scheduling is arranged between you and your tutor. Some students work with tutors only once or twice. Others meet regularly for the duration of a specific course.

How Do I Become a Peer Tutor?

You must be an M.D. student or M.D./Ph.D. student who has completed at least one year of medical school, excelled in your coursework, and has a strong interest in teaching. We are looking for applicants who have knowledge of a specific subject area and excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You must apply with the office of academic support and counseling. The application period opens once a year around March. 

Peer tutors work with students individually or in small groups to clarify information, review specific course material, and encourage effective study skills. Tutors are encouraged to stimulate critical thinking, foster an understanding of the "big picture," and help students become active participants in the learning process.

The office of academic support and counseling identifies applicants who meet eligibility requirements to become peer tutors in specific subject areas. If you are selected to be a peer tutor, we ask you to provide your availability and complete additional documentation. All new tutors must attend a Basic Training for Peer Tutors session to become familiar with expectations around the role and monthly training sessions that help you improve as a tutor.

Tutoring sessions are based around your schedule and the student's availability. We advise tutors to limit their time commitment to eight hours per week and cap tutoring group sizes at six participants. Please consider the amount of preparation time for tutoring sessions as you determine your availability to serve as a tutor for specific courses, as well as the demands of your coursework, board study, research, and other commitments.

Peer tutors gain experience teaching, which you can use on your CV and residency applications. You also benefit from reviewing basic science topics while preparing for tutoring sessions, which can be especially helpful as you prepare to take the USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 CK. Tutors are paid for their efforts.

To be compensated as a peer tutor, students must provide proof of identity, proof of citizenship or immigration status, and must complete and submit all required paperwork to human resources at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. All tutors are required to submit invoices documenting each peer tutoring session. You must submit a timesheet to receive compensation.