“I’m a non-traditional student,” Moore-Smith said, explaining that she first earned a doctorate in pathology at UAB and did breast cancer research before deciding to go to medical school. “I enjoyed the science, but I wanted to interact with people and find ways to help them.”
The 2016 graduating class of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine celebrated one of the most successful Match Days in school history on Friday, March 18. With 99 percent of students matching into residency positions, UAB students will continue their medical education at 78 institutions in 31 states across the country.
“I’m incredibly proud of each of our medical students, and I’m especially proud of this year’s class,” said Laura Kezar, M.D., associate dean for students in the School of Medicine. “They’re leaving a great impact in the way they shepherded the Learning Communities into the medical school curriculum at UAB and worked hard to create a culture where all students feel connected with one another.”
The match only continues to grow. According to the National Resident Match Program, which coordinates the residency match process, this year’s was the largest on record, with more than 42,000 applicants from U.S. medical schools, international medical schools and osteopathic schools competing for 30,750 residency positions.
Brian Warmus, a student in the Medical Scientist Training Program, learned Friday that he will train in neurology at the University of California San Francisco. A California native, Warmus said he had a great feeling about choosing UAB for his M.D./Ph.D. training.
“I knew I was going to be somewhere for eight years, so I wanted to be happy,” he said. “The proven leadership is outstanding at UAB and it felt like a family that I wanted to be part of.”
UAB is also celebrating a successful recruitment for residents in its 33 residency programs. A total 206 new residents, representing 56 U.S. and 32 international universities, will begin this summer in in programs at Birmingham, Huntsville, Selma and Montgomery.
John Killian will be one of those residents. Killian matched into general surgery at UAB—his No. 1 choice.
“I’m absolutely excited,” he said. “Training at UAB was my first choice, and I’m thrilled I have the opportunity to stay here in Birmingham.”
The largest number of students matched into internal medicine at 29, followed by 28 in pediatrics and 19 in family medicine. Students also matched in other medical specialties, including 17 in surgery; 14 in obstetrics and gynecology; 13 in emergency medicine; nine in orthopaedic surgery; six in preliminary medicine; four in anesthesiology; three each in neurology, oral and maxillofacial surgery , otolaryngology, pathology and psychiatry; two each in primary medicine, preliminary surgery and child neurology; and one each in medicine-pediatrics, diagnostic radiology, internal medicine/Center of Excellence, medicine/dermatology and plastic surgery.