Match Day 2015: New roads open for medical students
By Lin Lofley
On Friday, March 20, 234 senior students from UT Southwestern Medical School came together to learn where the next step in their careers will take them. After Commencement exercises, planned for May 27 at the Winspear Opera House in downtown Dallas, Match Day is arguably the biggest student event on campus for UT Southwestern.
Steady rain forced the class photo into the Bryan Williams, M.D. Student Center gymnasium, where a flash mob of nearly two dozen soon-to-be graduates also danced away their jitters in front of family, faculty, and friends.
But nothing dampened the excitement once the big moment came at precisely 11 a.m., as students opened letters indicating where they would do their residencies.
Pauras Memon, who matched in Internal Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, looked around at all the excitement and said, “The environment at Washington University is very similar to UT Southwestern. I liked the people there, and the diverse patient population.”
Forty nine soon-to-be UT Southwestern graduates matched here. The next highest destination for the Class of 2015 was Baylor College of Medicine in Houston (17). McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University will have eight UT Southwestern grads.
Kristin D’Silva, who matched in Internal Medicine with Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, called that match her top choice. “I liked the atmosphere there, and it felt very nurturing. And the reason I landed there was because UT Southwestern has done a great job of preparing me.”
Fifty-five UT Southwestern seniors matched in Internal Medicine, the largest specialty in the medical field. Second-highest was Pediatrics (30), followed by Family Medicine (17) and Emergency Medicine (16).
For Angelica McPartlin, matching in Emergency Medicine at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, the day marked an approaching break from home. Ms. McPartlin, the daughter of an optometrist, is an Arlington native who earned a degree in Psychology from UT Austin, and enjoyed her time at UT Southwestern.
“I got a great education, and I was close to my family,” she said, “but I’m looking forward to getting out of town.”
“It’s almost a feeling of relief,” said Syed Muntajibuddin, who matched in Pediatrics with UT Medical School in Houston. “I’m ready to apply all that I’ve learned, but there’s so much to do to get ready for the move to a new city.”
Mr. Muntajibuddin, who grew up in Fort Worth, is a UT Arlington graduate, and a proud member of the flash mob that danced as the clock ticked down to the Match Day deadline – a combined number featuring Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and Marc Ronson’s Uptown Funk.
“We kept telling each other that we can’t control what’s in the envelope,” he said with a laugh, “but we can control what we’re doing on the dance floor.”
“Match Day is a very emotional turning point in the lives of our medical students,” said Dr. Angela Mihalic, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and Professor of Pediatrics. “We have enjoyed working with them and getting to know them. They are an outstanding group and we are so proud to see them take the next step in their careers as they begin a residency in their chosen specialty.”
Akil Farishta took a longer route than most students to arrive at Match Day. He grew up in India before immigrating as a teen with his family. Mr. Farishta graduated from UT Arlington and worked as an ICU nurse for four years before entering UT Southwestern Medical School.
“My intention was always to go to medical school,” he said. “My working with patients as a nurse is a blessing.”
Mr. Farishta’s extended pathway led him to match in Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the teaching facility for Harvard Medical School. He shared the moment with his parents, Amir and Yasmin, his brother, Shakil, and his brother’s girlfriend, Kathryn Rose.
“I was not confident at all,” he said after discovering where he would spend the next four years. “It’s a great school with great people. I’d never been to Boston before taking my visit in January.”
Twins Nicole and Amanda Strickland opened their envelopes separately, then shared a group hug with their mother, Lucy Strickland, upon discovering their training would keep them together at UT Southwestern.
After an education career that took both young women to Texas A&M University to major in Biology and UT Southwestern for medical school, the twins were accepted at their first choice, UT Southwestern. Nicole will be a Dermatology resident and Amanda will be a Pathology resident.
“We’re together again. I think it’s fate,” Amanda Strickland said.
“This is a really great medical school. I had great training here and as a resident here, I can continue that road,” her sister said. “I want to be an academic dermatologist, so I feel this is my best choice.”
David Tassin and Stephanie Anderson, a couple who both matched at San Antonio Military Medical Center. Both are Second Lieutenants who had their educations underwritten through the military.
Lt. Tassin, a Dallas native who graduated from Boston University, is going into Surgery, while Lt. Anderson, an Austin native who went to Loyola University, will train in Emergency Medicine. Both will then become Captains, he with a five-year commitment, and she with a four-year.
“There are only three places that had both of our specialties, so San Antonio is perfect,” Lt. Tassin said.
Neither is intimidated with the prospect of having nearly the next decade charted out.
“You can still have short-term plans along with long-term plans,” Lt. Tassin said.
Tallahassee, Florida, native Jamaal Benjamin graduated from Morehouse College before enrolling in the Medical Scientist Training Program at UT Southwestern. The M.D./Ph.D. candidate matched in Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania. “Penn was my No. 1 choice!” he said while waving his letter in the air.
Reid Kraniski, a graduate of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, will soon be heading to Yale for his Radiology residency. “It was a hard decision and we are very pleased,” he said. “Yale has a terrific program and we will be just three hours away from our family.” Mr. Kraniski and his wife, Angela, have two children.
Class of 2015 President Tyler McDonald matched in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Mississippi University Hospitals in Jackson.
“It’s kind of like a breath of fresh air,” said Mr. McDonald, who grew up in Grapevine before majoring in Computational Biochemistry at UT Austin. “Now I can start making plans for my career.
“I remember thinking about Match Day in the fall and it seemed so far away,” he said. “Now it’s here and Commencement is soon. It’s really exciting, yet really sad. It’s not like undergraduate studies; you’re in the same classes every day with the same classmates.”
Danielle Meals, who grew up in Coppell and is a graduate of St. Louis University, matched in Child Neurology at UT Southwestern Medical School/Children’s Health System of Texas. Ms. Meals is the only member of her class to match in that specialty.
“I’ve wanted to work there ever since I first wanted to be a doctor as a child,” she said, “Children’s is a bright and happy place, and I’m thrilled to be staying in Dallas.”
For Janeiro Uloma Okafor, a match in Diagnostic Radiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston was a dream come true.
Ms. Okafor grew up in Boston, earned her undergraduate degree at Boston University, and listed Beth Israel as her first choice.
“I’m going to Boston, I’m going to Boston,” she said, beaming. “I’m going back home. Yes I am.
“During my interview, I liked the diversity of the faculty and the residents. I felt like I belonged, so it was my No. 1 choice.”
More Information
View a collection of Match Day photos on UT Southwestern Medical Center's Facebook page.
