Graduate Medical Education, more commonly known as residency, begins this summer for the nearly 300 medical students who make up the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Class of 2022. Most of these physicians-in-training – and thousands of others across the county – won’t know where, and with who, they will practice medicine until noon March 18, when the National Resident Matching Program announces the Main Match results for the majority of medical specialties.
But 18 members of the Warrior M.D. Class of 2022 who participated in early matches for post-graduation residency programs in the specialties of Urology and Ophthalmology, as well as the Military Match, already know where they’re headed after earning their medical degree in June.
Danni Feng is among the four WSU students who matched into a Urology residency Feb. 1. The Urology Residency Match Program is coordinated by the American Urological Association in conjunction with the Society of Academic Urologists. She was selected for the Urology program at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
She was exposed to urology through WSU Department of Urology Professor and Chair Michael Cher, M.D., a mentor she met and played chamber music with through the organization Music and Medicine.
“I thought his career was very admirable as he is both a talented surgeon and musician. Also, using my hands was a huge part of my identity growing up since I was piano performance major, which I think was the reason I was drawn to more procedural specialties,” she said. “I love that Urology is such an innovative field and has a great balance of surgery and clinic. The people are also so down to earth and have a great sense of humor. I will always be grateful for my Wayne mentors who have supported me every step of the way.”
Her fellow future urologists from WSU include Irene Chen, Patrick Etta and Collin Schlosser.
Twelve WSU medical students will begin Ophthalmology residencies in July, up from 10 last year, and likely the highest number of students from a class to match into the sought-after specialty. They received the news Feb. 8 through the San Francisco Match portal.
“I opened up my match letter with my parents while we were seated around the kitchen table,” said Alisha Khambati, who matched at WSU’s Kresge Eye Institute. “I remember choking happily on my cereal as my parents gave me a bear hug, and we couldn't believe the humbling news. It truly is a one-of-a-kind experience and a memory I will always cherish.”
Khambati’s father is also an ophthalmologist, and her inspiration, but her experiences as a WSU medical student cemented her interest in the specialty.
“This is where I came to appreciate the mesh of microsurgery, clinic and technological advancements Ophthalmology has that further patient care and provide an uplifting atmosphere,” she said.
Her classmate, Harsh Parekh, is also staying local. He matched at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
“I have always been fascinated by the eye and how important vision is to each of us. From the physical exam to microsurgery, I fell in love with the skill and precision in Ophthalmology. Understanding the interplay with system disease and ability to visually recognize pathology can truly be life changing for patients. Ophthalmology provides a unique balance of clinical and surgical exposure that I am looking for,” he said.
Ahmad Baiyasi, Annmarie Craig, Sabrina Dass, Michael Guerra, Sachin Ketkar, Dariah Lauer, Kaitlin Regan, Michael Schneider, Sarah Skender and David Tran also matched into Ophthalmology programs.
In addition to specialty results announced earlier this month, Collin Bennett and Nhu Do matched with military programs last month. Both are second lieutenants in the U.S. Army Reserve and attend the School of Medicine as part of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Health Professions Scholarship Program.
Bennett matched into the Womack Army Medical Center’s Family Medicine program at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Do matched with the Internal Medicine program at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash.
“I would like to serve the men and women who sacrifice for our country, as well as their family members and the innocent civilians around the world, who may suffer from natural disasters or the costs of war,” Do said.
The remaining members of the Class of 2022 will learn their residency match March 18 as participants in the National Residency Match Program’s Main Residency Match, and in the Canadian Resident Matching Service on April 20.