Meet The Staff

Ciara O'Donnell, M.Ed. (She/Her)

Director

• c.odonnell@northeastern.edu

Advising Caseload: PreMed (MD/DO) last names T-Z, Pre-Dental, Pre-Podiatry

Book an appointment with Ciara: https://northeastern.campus.eab.com/pal/jhxywHSLYO 

Ciara O’Donnell is the Director of the PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program at Northeastern University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and her master’s degree in Guidance & Counseling from Providence College. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctor of Education at Northeastern University, focusing her research on the experiences of pre-medical students who are underrepresented in medicine.

Since 2018, Ciara has shown unwavering dedication to her roles within the university and it’s PreMed and PreHealth Program. With a background in both hospital and higher education administration, and student advising, Ciara has overseen poignant administrative developments and spearheaded the creation of innovative programs. These efforts have led to a remarkable 110% increase in participation in PreMed and PreHealth letter of evaluation processes, as well as achieving record-breaking university admissions rates to health graduate schools, surpassing the national acceptance rate by double.

Ciara’s professional interests lie in career advising and application coaching, specifically in helping advisees to identify and develop academic and experiential competencies essential for competitive applications to health graduate schools, tailored to their distinctive paths. She employs a collaborative approach with her advisees to achieve these goals and prioritizes fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion within the PreMed/PreHealth community.

Anna Pietrzak, MS, NCC (She/Her)

Assistant Director

• a.pietrzak@northeastern.edu

Advising Caseload: PreMed (MD/DO) last names L-M, Pre-Veterinary, Pre-Optometry

Book an appointment with Anna: https://northeastern.campus.eab.com/pal/pFwfsIHEhL

Anna Pietrzak is the Assistant Director of the PreMed & PreHealth Advising Program at Northeastern University and is dedicated to helping students discover their interests and strengths, and supporting them in achieving their academic and career goals.

Anna earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Syracuse University, where she studied Sociology and Student Affairs Counseling. Before joining Northeastern, she gained valuable experience in PreMed and PreHealth advising at Boston University and worked as a Success Coach for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Utica University in Upstate New York.

Currently, Anna is pursuing a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration at Northeastern. Her research focus centers around understanding the mental wellness of the PMPH student population.

Courtney Martinez, M.A (She/Her)

Senior PreHealth Advisor

• c.martinez@northeastern.edu

Advising Caseload: PreMed (MD/DO) last names A-D and all Northeastern CPS Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Certificate students & alumni

Book an appointment with Courtney: https://northeastern.campus.eab.com/pal/GOXZg2Q6yg

Courtney serves as a senior pre-health advisor with the PreMed & PreHealth Advising Program at Northeastern University. Courtney is an active member of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professionals (NAAHP) and the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NEAAHP). Prior to working at Northeastern University, Courtney was a member of the Southern Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (SAAHP) and pre-health advisor at the University of Central Florida. Courtney has been nominated for several teaching and advising awards, including College of Professional Studies Teacher of the Year (2024) and NAAHP Rising Star (2024). Courtney has presented at several professional conferences including the SAAHP Regional Conference (2021) and the NAAHP National Conference (2024).

In addition to her role as an advisor, Courtney serves as a faculty member in the Biology & Biotechnology and Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate Certificate program within the College of Professional Studies. Courtney earned her M.A. in Neuroscience & Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida and is currently working to complete her Doctor of Education (EdD), with an emphasis on Innovative Teaching & Learning, here at Northeastern University. Courtney’s research centers around advocacy for post-baccalaureate pre-health education as an avenue for addressing significant diversity gaps and shortages in the healthcare education pipeline.

Emily Henderson (Hyde), M.Ed. (She/Her)

Senior PreHealth Advisor

• e.henderson@northeastern.edu

Advising Caseload: PreMed (MD/DO) last names E-K & Pre-PA last names A-L

Book an appointment with Emily: https://northeastern.campus.eab.com/pal/QJbQmEZ3vI

Emily is a Senior PreMed & PreHealth advisor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and her master’s degree in Student Affairs Counseling from Bridgewater State University. Emily is passionate about removing barriers to create equal opportunities for education and career development for all students. Emily has focused her career in academic and PreHealth advising. In her free time, Emily enjoys camping and traveling to new parts of the country!