Stanford Student Guidance Program (SGP)


The goal of the Stanford Student Guidance Program (SGP) is to help medical students to become proficient graduates and excellent physicians through coordinating and integrating efforts for student learning and coaching. The SGP will provide students with an assessment of their needs in collaboration with other faculty (E4C, Advising Dean, course faculty), followed by recommended interventions and an evaluation plan. The SGP will support medical students in the areas of medical knowledge, clinical skills, and/or professional development. This support will be carried out in a supportive, affirming, individualized and comprehensive manner through positive coaching and guidance.


Who We Are


Student Guidance Advisory Committee (SGAC)

Pree Basaviah, MD; Neil Gesundheit, MD, MPH; Jason Hom, MD; Susan Knox, MD, PhD; John Kugler, MD; Felipe Perez, MD; Andrew Nevins, MD; Lars Osterberg, MD, MPH; Rebecca Miller-Kuhlmann, MD; Tracy Rydel, MD; Rebecca Smith-Coggins, MD; Daniel Bernstein, MD; and PJ Utz, MD (advisory role)

Student Testimonials

The SGP has been a truly transformative experience for me. It has placed me on the right path to becoming a good clinician and is a reservoir of strength and wisdom from which I will draw to tackle any future challenges.
This experience has not only taught me the valuable clinical skills to succeed as a physician and surgeon, but also helped me learn the approach to tackling setbacks and become a more resilient individual.
Thank you so much for working with me so closely during my time in the program. I found it to be one of my best experiences at Stanford and have learned a great deal that I will continue to apply towards my professional and personal development.
SGP was instrumental in helping me navigate clerkships, professional relationships, my own self-improvement, and helped me better prepare my application to residency. I hope many more students get to benefit from your mentorship the way I did!

Clinical Teaching Coaches

SGP Clinical Coaching experiences are designed to be supportive, affirming, and focused on promoting student success. The Clinical Teaching Coaches will have the opportunity to coach and mentor students with predefined objectives determined in advance by collaboration between the student, the Director of Student Guidance (DSG), the student’s E4C faculty and Advising Dean. Clinical Teaching Coaches will help with implementing the individualized educational plan. The duration of the coaching relationship will vary depending on individual student’s needs. No grade will be associated with the coaching sessions, and all feedback will remain confidential.

Clinical Teaching Coaches should be enthusiastic and invested in helping guide students to success.

If you are interested in participating, please reach out to Danit Ariel, MD, MS (dariel@stanford.edu) and Lisa Cedeño, MS (lisarodas@stanford.edu).  

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