Mark Henderson, MD
Dean of Admissions
Professor of Internal Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine
Shadi Aminololama-Shakeri, MD
Faculty Chair of Admissions
Professor of Radiology, Chief, Division of Breast Radiology
UC Davis School of Medicine
Friday, March 20, 2026,
5pm-6:30pm PST
Workshop Description:
Medical school admissions can feel opaque, and much of the advice circulating online is second-hand, outdated, or confidently delivered by people who have no clue how decisions are actually made. This workshop is designed for community college and university premed students who want accurate guidance straight from UC Davis School of Medicine. Join Mark Henderson, MD, Dean of Admissions, and Shadi Aminololama-Shakeri, MD, Faculty Chair of Admissions, for an inside look at how applicants are evaluated and what truly distinguishes a strong file. They will discuss academic readiness, MCAT context, clinical and service experiences, research and leadership, mission fit, and the qualities demonstrated through your essays and interviews. You can come, ask your questions, and get answers directly from the decision-makers in a practical, supportive format. Whether you are early in your premed journey or preparing to apply soon, you will leave with clearer expectations, fewer myths, and concrete steps to strengthen your path. Walk away with a sharper strategy, better priorities, and confidence grounded in real admissions criteria—not speculation.
About the Speakers:
Mark Henderson, MD is a Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Dean for Admissions at the UC Davis School of Medicine. He is a Master of the American College of Physicians and previously served as Residency Program Director for Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and at UC Davis. Dr. Henderson has won numerous teaching awards and currently holds the Dean’s Endowed Chair in Teaching Excellence at UC Davis School of Medicine. He has edited several books including The Patient History: an evidence-based approach to differential diagnosis. He is co-principal investigator of the Accelerated Competency-based Education in Primary Care (ACE-PC) program and the California Oregon Medical Partnership to Address Disparities in Rural Education and Health (COMPADRE), both funded by the American Medical Association. Dr. Henderson has studied the MMI method for medical school interviews, including as PI of the California Longitudinal Evaluation of Admissions Practices (CA-LEAP) consortium. Other scholarly interests include medical student career choice, diversity in medical education, workforce development, the utility of medical history, and clinical reasoning.
Shadi Aminololama-Shakeri, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Radiology at UC Davis Health, where she serves as Chief of the Division of Breast Radiology, Program Director of the Breast Imaging Fellowship, and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs. She is a proud product of the California Community College system, later transferring to UC Berkeley, where she earned her A.B., and then completing her M.D. at Temple University School of Medicine. Dr. Aminololama-Shakeri returned to UC Davis Health for her radiology residency and fellowship training in Sacramento. A fellowship-trained breast imaging specialist, her clinical and scholarly work spans mammography and tomosynthesis, ultrasound, breast MRI, and dedicated breast CT, with research interests focused on advancing breast CT as a three-dimensional imaging modality for evaluating suspicious breast lesions.
Register for Free:
What: Getting Into UC Davis Medical School: Admissions Secrets from the Decision-Makers
When: Friday, March 20, 2026, 5 PM (Pacific Standard Time)
You will receive an immediate email confirmation of your registration from Zoom. PLEASE check your SPAM or JUNK folder, as the email might be directed there. Additionally, you will receive an email reminder from Zoom ONE hour before the event, sent to the same email address you used for registration.
