Who we are

Essay Doctors was founded with a clear purpose: to bring exceptional expertise and meaningful mentorship to the world of application consulting and essay coaching. In a landscape crowded with part-time editors and generalist advisors, we offer something different: strategic, high-impact support grounded in academic excellence and real-world experience.

We are Dr. Erica Fedor and Dr. Max Messinger, partners in both life and work. As educators and scholars, we have over two decades of combined experience in writing, research, and teaching. Together, we bring a rare blend of strengths across the arts, humanities, sciences, and medicine. We’re proud to have mentored hundreds of clients applying to college, graduate school, medical school, law school, dental school, and residency programs. 

Throughout our undergraduate years at Wake Forest (Go Deacs!) and in our postgraduate journeys, we've experienced firsthand how transformative mentoring relationships can be. Therefore, we strive to foster meaningful, empowering connections with every client we serve. 

Whether you're writing a personal statement, preparing for interviews, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the application process—we’re here for you.

The doctors will see you now.

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Meet the Team


  • Erica Fedor, Ph.D. is a writing coach, educational consultant, former college professor, and Fulbright Scholar who has cultivated over 12 years of higher education expertise. With experience that spans one-on-one coaching, classroom teaching, and international education, Erica brings an encouraging presence and results-driven approach to every session. She works with students applying to college, graduate school, law school, medical school, dental school, and residency programs. 

    With a keen understanding of how to elevate an application, Erica helps clients craft standout application essays that maximize their admissions outcomes. Her students have been accepted to top-tier institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, UChicago, Johns Hopkins, Duke, and UMichigan. These successes speak to the exceptional quality of her students’ applications, along with Erica’s ability to cultivate meaningful, individualized coaching relationships.

    Erica received her Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill as a member of the Royster Society of Fellows, UNC’s most prestigious doctoral fellowship. She also holds a B.A. in English and Music from Wake Forest University, where she graduated magna cum laude with honors in both majors. In addition to presenting her scholarly work at national and international academic conferences, she has publications forthcoming in the edited volume Cultural Diplomacy After the Cold War (Manchester University Press) and the Journal of the American Musicological Society. 

    Erica has held faculty appointments at UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC School of the Arts and served on Wake Forest University’s Fulbright Campus Committee. These experiences further strengthened her ability to connect with students, build trust, and offer personalized support. She would love to leverage her strengths in writing, mentorship, and education to help you unlock the future you’ve always envisioned. 

    Outside of Essay Doctors, Erica enjoys honing her musicianship as a pianist and tap dancer, spending time with her two cats, and exploring the amazing culinary scene that central Massachusetts has to offer!

  • Max Messinger, MD is a physician, scientist, and educator with a deep commitment to supporting future medical professionals. Currently a resident physician at UMass Chan, Max brings a thoughtful, compassionate approach to coaching students through every stage of their medical journey, from pre-med advising to medical school and residency applications. His clients have been accepted to highly selective medical schools including Johns Hopkins, Mayo Clinic, Duke, Washington University, and Tulane. 

    Max obtained a B.S. in Biology with Honors and an M.S. in Biology from Wake Forest University. He holds an MD from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into both Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Max also received WFSOM’s Peacock Plonk Award for Outstanding Student Clinician and was a member of the MAESTRO Medical Spanish Certificate Program. These recognitions reflect Max’s dedication to clinical excellence, academic achievement, and human-centered care.

    Prior to entering medical school, Max was a leading expert on the use of drones and geospatial imaging to study the impact of illegal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon. As director of Wake Forest’s Unmanned Systems lab, he led teams in the U.S. and South America to develop unmanned systems and innovative methods for environmental research. Max’s current medical research employs Geographic Information Systems (GIS), U.S. Census data, and the R statistical programming language to improve healthcare access for underserved populations. This work has been presented at national conferences, won research awards, and is pending submission for publication in…..

    A non-traditional medical school applicant, Max knows that there is no one-size-fits-all path to medicine. Therefore, he works closely with each student to ensure their voice and values come through in every essay and interview. He excels in helping his clients clarify their goals, reflect on their experiences, and present themselves with confidence and authenticity. With a steady presence and a knack for translating complex journeys into compelling narratives, Max is here to guide you every step of the way!

Contact us

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