On March 17, fourth-year medical students at PCOM Georgia in Suwanee learned where they matched into residency programs to train in their respective specialty areas.
Leading up to the National Resident Matching Program, students decided on a specialty of choice, interviewed and ranked programs of interest. Residency program directors then ranked their choices and a complex algorithm aligned students and programs.
According to Tina Woodruff, senior advisor to the provost, PCOM Georgia students achieved a 100% placement rate into postgraduate positions. According to residency placement lists, 34% of PCOM Georgia’s students will stay in Georgia to complete their residency programs. This percentage is an 85% increase in students staying in Georgia to complete residencies since 2016.
According to PCOM Georgia, 49% of students matched to primary care specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, OB/GYN and pediatrics, while 74% matched into programs identified by the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce as core specialty programs, including the four primary care specialties, in addition to psychiatry, emergency medicine and general surgery.
“It’s so surreal and exciting! I am truly in shock when I tell myself, ‘You did it, you’re going to be someone’s doctor,’” said Kiyana Harris (DO ‘23), who matched with Morehouse School of Medicine. “I’m the first in my family to become a doctor and my journey to medicine has been a rough one.
Harris applied to medical school twice before gaining acceptance on her third attempt.
“I also took the MCAT twice and went back for a master’s degree along with some work experience during my gap years,” she said. “So to not let those rejections and detours steer me away from my dream feels absolutely amazing!
“I can’t wait to join and expand the two percent of Black psychiatrists that exist,” she continued.
Students graduation from PCOM Georgia will report to their residency positions July 1 as full-fledged doctors following commencement May 23.
FEATURED PHOTO: PCOM Georgia student Chris Staley, far left, pictured with his family, matched to general surgery at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. Photo courtesy of PCOM Georgia.
