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You were recently appointed to the board of directors for the National Residency Match Program. As someone who recently went through The Match, yourself, what does that mean for you?
Going through The Match is highly intimidating and stressful. Now, having the opportunity to sit at the table as an advocate for students and applicants brings me a lot of joy. Medical students and residents are well-represented on the board and are kindly referred to as the “learners.” Despite my short tenure thus far, I’ve found that our perspectives are highly valued; we are invited to speak throughout the meetings and our opinions are held in as much esteem as the senior members.
What are some of your core responsibilities as a board member?
Our primary responsibilities are to provide oversight and strategic planning for the NRMP’s mission. The organization aims to match health care professionals to graduate medical education and advanced training programs through a process that is fair, equitable, efficient, transparent, and reliable. It also provides meaningful and accessible match data and analysis to stakeholders in the Match process. Essentially, our role is to explore new strategic goals and initiatives with the aim of improving the transition to residency and advanced medical training programs.
You must be very excited.
Absolutely! I have felt very supported and encouraged to participate in these exciting conversations from the first meeting that I attended. Already, this has been such a rewarding experience. I’m inspired by the thoughtful commentary and genuine commitment fellow board members demonstrate to doing right by Match participants, both applicants and programs.
How did your extracurricular experiences at UNE prepare you for the work you’re doing with NRMP?
Being part of the student government at UNE really helped me gain perspective on the common issues students are facing, particularly with my own class as we endured the peak of the COVID pandemic. There were a lot of really good lessons learned at our institution that also reflected many of the concerns across the country. The leadership opportunities that I had at UNE prepared me to understand those larger concerns. Now in this role with NRMP at a national level, I feel equipped to think about more diverse student perspectives, and it’s all thanks to the opportunities I had to engage closely with classmates and UNE COM administration about creating the best opportunities and experiences for us as a class.
Is there anything else you want to say?
I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to lean into a leadership role at the national level. I was inspired to apply for the NRMP role by my close friend and classmate, Maria Jones, D.O. ’21. Already in our first year, she was heavily involved in local and national leadership roles. Her ability to engage so enthusiastically in her various roles while learning how to become a great doctor inspired me. It’s an honor to be able to contribute to the NRMP while going through medical training and the Match process.