Match Point

All of the sacrifices — the aches and pains, the sleepless nights, the countless hours on the practice court — leading to one moment. Heart racing, adrenaline pumping. One serve to win the championship.

Match point.

In life, there are moments — turning points, really — that can change everything. In the blink of an eye, one chapter closes, the familiar disappears and gives way to something entirely new.

For fourth-year medical students at the University of Houston’s Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, one of those moments — their own match points — happened on March 21.

“Match Day is a defining moment for our students and a proud milestone for the College.”
Dr. Jonathan McCullers, dean of the Fertitta College of Medicine

“Match Day is a defining moment for our students and a proud milestone for the College,” said Dr. Jonathan McCullers, dean of the Fertitta College of Medicine. “It represents the culmination of years of dedication and resilience, and as these future physicians take their next steps, they carry with them our mission – to improve health care and health outcomes in communities. Their success is our success, and we celebrate their achievement with immense pride.”

What is The MATCH?

a woman uses a push pin to put a photo of herself on a map

Each year on the third Friday in March, thousands of graduating medical students across the country are placed into residency programs through the National Resident Matching Program, referred to as The MATCH.

The program was founded in 1952 at the request of medical students to provide an orderly and fair mechanism for matching the preferences of applicants for U.S. residency positions with the preferences of residency program directors. Previously, competition between programs became so fierce that some began scouting and offering promising students early in their training so they could only consider one program at a time. So The MATCH, a centralized clearinghouse, was created to control the chaos.

“Match Day begins the transition from student to physician, setting the stage for the next chapter in growth and training,” said Dr. Kristin Kassaw, associate dean of student affairs and clinical associate professor at the Fertitta College of Medicine. “This day is not just about securing a residency; it’s about stepping into the future of patient care with commitment and purpose.”

This is the Fertitta College of Medicine’s second Match Day.

This year, 96% of students in the class matched, with 63% going into primary care. Other notable matches include a student who earned a coveted dermatology residency and another who was matched in neurosurgery. Two-thirds of students are staying in Texas, and eight students were matched for residencies in the Texas Medical Center. The rest will continue their education at institutions around the country, including University of Louisville Hospital in Kentucky, LSU Health in New Orleans and Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut.

woman holding a sign that says " I Matched"

Medical student Pelumi Oloyede will specialize in OB/GYN at Houston Methodist.

Graphic of locations of where students matched

The Next Generation of Health Care Leaders

As the next generation of health care leaders eagerly opened their envelopes, they shared cheers and tears, and they reflected on their hard work, dedication and perseverance.

“I’ve known I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child and I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this moment,” said Iliana Sanchez, a fourth-year medical student from Donna, Texas, who plans to specialize in emergency medicine at Yale. “As a former public school teacher, I am ecstatic to match at such a renowned academic institution as Yale that is going to further support my career in academic medicine.”

“I’ve known I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child and I’ve worked extremely hard to get to this moment.”

Iliana Sanchez

With the next steps in their medical journeys now clear, they looked forward to the new challenges and opportunities that await, fueled by a renewed sense of purpose and passion.

“This has been a lifelong dream of mine, and today it is a reality,” said Nabeel Ahmad, a fourth-year medical student from Houston who will specialize in dermatology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit before moving to Penn State University next year. “Through the Fertitta College of Medicine, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how the social determinants of health impact clinical outcomes, and I hope to address these factors to benefit my patients and society as a whole.”

“I am excited to stay in Houston, provide for patients and connect them to resources to improve their overall health.”

Elliot Flint

For these students, Match Day is not just about securing a residency – it is about fulfilling a promise to provide compassionate, high-quality health care to underserved communities in Houston, across Texas and beyond.

“I chose Fertitta College of Medicine because its mission aligned with my values,” said Elliot Flint, a fourth-year student from Texarkana, Texas, who will specialize in emergency medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “I am excited to stay in Houston, provide for patients and connect them to resources to improve their overall health.”

“This has been a lifelong dream of mine, and today it is a reality.”

Nabeel Ahmad