Pre-Health Advising at the College of Staten Island
The Pre-Health Advisory Committee at the College of Staten Island (PHAC-CSI) supports students pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, veterinary medicine, and allied health fields, including physical therapy (PT), physician assistant (PA), pharmacy, and occupational therapy.
Students working closely with PHAC-CSI benefit from individualized advising, skill-building opportunities, access to resources, and tailored support throughout their undergraduate careers. This guidance helps students build strong academic and professional foundations, contributing to high acceptance rates into health professional programs.
PHAC-CSI provides Committee Letters of Recommendation for students applying to professional programs in medicine, dentistry and optometry. For students pursuing careers in other allied health fields, advisors offer personalized guidance not only for applications but also for navigating their undergraduate education and achieving their career goals.
Contact Information
Grozdena Yilmaz, PA-C, MS
Director of Pre-Health Advisement
Pre-Health Advising
Erica Salzillo
Getting Started
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Complete Interest Form: Please begin by filling out this interest form: Pre-Health Advising Interest Form. This helps us collect your background information and areas of interest. *Completing the form does not replace meeting with an advisor.
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Schedule a Meeting: If you are interested in meeting with the PHAC-CS, please schedule an advising meeting with Professor Grozdena Yilmaz, PA-C, Director of Pre-Health Advising. All students are required to meet with the PHAC-CSI before starting a pre-health track. This meeting ensures your academic plan and career goals are aligned with the correct pre-health pathway.
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Join Our Clubs: Stay engaged with the CSI Pre-Med and Pre-Dental clubs by following them through CSI Connect and on social media! Connect with fellow students, participate in events, and stay updated on opportunities
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CSI Pre-Med Club: Instagram: @csi.premed
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CSI Pre-Dental Club: Instagram @csipredental
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Pre-Medical Advisory Committee Members
Grozdena Yilmaz, PA-C, MS
Deputy Chair, Department of Biology, Director of Pre-Health Advising, College of Staten Island
Grozdena.Yilmaz@csi.cuny.edu • 718-982-3831 • Building 6S, Room 137
Grozdena Yilmaz is Deputy Chair of Biology and Director of Pre-Health Advising at the College of Staten Island (CUNY). A licensed physician associate with more than a decade of clinical experience, she specializes in women’s health, urology, and surgery. At CSI, she teaches Anatomy and Physiology, Physiology, and Healthcare Ethics, and oversees advising for more than 500 students preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant studies, and other health professions.
Professor Yilmaz is a two-time Advisor of the Year awardee (2018, 2020) and recipient of CSI’s prestigious Dolphin Award for Outstanding Teaching (2019). A CSI alumna and valedictorian of the PA Class of 2003, she also earned an advanced post-professional master’s degree from Stony Brook University. Her current research focuses on innovative mentoring models in pre-health education. She is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and a strong advocate for student mentoring and success.
Professional Education:
- Physician Assistant Post-Professional Master’s Program (MS), Stony Brook University, SUNY
- Physician Assistant Program (PA Certificate), St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers
- Bachelor of Science in Biology (BS), College of Staten Island, CUNY
Dr. Michelle Esposito
Michelle.Esposito@csi.cuny.edu • 718-982-3931 • Building 6S, Room 143
Dr. Shi Jin
Shi.Jin@csi.cuny.edu • 718-982-3890 • Building 6S, Room 234
Dr. Freda Li
Freda.Li@csi.cuny.edu • 718-982-3984 • Building 1S, Room 221
Dr. Stephen G. Morris
Stephen.Morris@csi.cuny.edu • 718-982-2895 • Building 2N, Room 229
Dr. Shiryn Sukhram
Shiryan.Sukhram@csi.cuny.edu • 718-982-3921 • Building 6S, Room 132
Dr. Muhammad Zia
Muhammad.Zia@csi.cuny.edu • 718-982-4160 • Building 6S, Room 126B
Erica Salzillo
Secretary to the Pre-Health Advisory Committee through the Office of Dean of Science and Technology.
prehealth.bio@csi.cuny.edu • 718-982-2329 • Building 1A, Room 313
Erica is a graduate of the Macaulay Honors College at CSI, graduating with a B.A. in English Literature with minors in Secondary Education 7-12 and Italian. She also received her M.A. in English Literature from CSI. As the Secretary to the Committee, she works directly with students to help develop their Pre-Health files in preparation for their professional school application submissions.
Professional School Affiliations
University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS/SUNY)
The College of Staten Island (CSI/CUNY) and the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UB SPPS/SUNY) have formed three new collaborative agreements that provide CSI students opportunities to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
Students can pursue three options with established CSI to UB pathways including two accelerated options: 6 years (2+4) and 7 years (3+4) as well as a more traditional route of 8 years (4+4). All options begin with taking prerequisite degree requirements at CSI in Biology, Chemistry or Biochemistry and completing the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at UB SPPS. A CUNY-SUNY partnership ensures a world-class education with significant cost savings of up to $150,000 compared to the equivalent degrees offered by private colleges. At least two seats are guaranteed for the doctoral portion of all three programs. In 2020, UB SPPS PharmD program was ranked #1 in New York State.
Learn more by visiting pharmacy.buffalo.edu
SUNY College of Optometry (New York, NY)
The College of Staten Island offers an affiliation program with SUNY College of Optometry, whereby highly qualified students may complete a joint BS or BA degree and OD degree in just seven years instead of the usual eight.
Selected academically talented high school seniors and college freshmen can be admitted to an approved joint degree track at CSI and, simultaneously, to candidacy for admission to the professional OD program at SUNY Optometry.
Upon maintaining the required academic standing, the qualified student is admitted to the SUNY College of Optometry. After the first year at SUNY Optometry, the student receives his or her baccalaureate degree from CSI. The Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree is awarded after completing the four years at SUNY Optometry.
Learn more by visiting sunyopt. edu