Emotions were high as 114 fourth-year students at Oakland University’s William Beaumont School of Medicine awaited to learn where they would continue their medical education.
Called Match Day, the students, family and friends all counted down to opening an envelope to learn what path their lives will take during resident training for the next three to seven years.
“This is the day that once you start medical school you start thinking about immediately and it is always in the back of your head,” said Bianca Elias, “To have this day finally arrive is just crazy.”
To become practicing, licensed physicians, students must earn their medical degrees and complete three to seven years of residency, or full-time hands-on clinical training under the supervision of licensed physicians. Students choose several hospitals where they want to further their education and interviews with them. A hospital agrees to host them for training and these matches are revealed on Match Day. Not every medical school graduate earns a match.
When Elias graduated from Rochester High School four years ago, she came to Oakland with no idea of what she would major in, but after taking a job as a medical assistant at a local plastic surgeons office, her path became more clear.
“I never had it in my mind to go to medical school when I arrived at OU,” she said. “I just took it step by step and eventually wanted to shoot for the stars and not let fear get to me about getting into medical school or my specialty or anything else.”
She later got a job as a medical scribe at the Michigan Institute of Urology and said doctors there helped when her confidence began to wane about being accepted into medical school.
“There was a time when I was applying for medical school when I wanted to give up, but then I called one of the physicians that I worked for and they were able to give me the encouragement that I needed,” said Elias. “I don’t think I would be here today without them.”
Elias had 14 residency interviews, but ended up matching with her first choice, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak. She plans to become an anesthesiologist.
“I am disgustingly local, but I love it,” she said. “My top three were all in Michigan, but (Royal Oak) Beaumont was my top choice. I love that I got my top choice and get to stay close to home.”
Elias knows what lies ahead and is ready for the next chapter in her life.
“It is a balance of finding your confidence, but staying humble. I think it is about knowing when to ask for advice, but still having confidence in your skills to treat patients,” said Elias. “I will still seek out mentorships and talk to who I need to, but there is no more fear. I got into one of the best medical schools in Michigan and here I am now.”
Unlike Elias, Hope Hefferan knew the career she wanted to pursue.
“I knew I wanted to be a doctor my whole life,” said Hefferan. “Since I was very young that is all I wanted to be.”
Hefferan graduated from Warren Cousino and took undergraduate classes at Wayne State. She went on to get an MBA before being accepted into medical school at OU. She wants to become a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology.
“This was my dream school and I have always wanted to be an OB-GYN,” she said. “There was never a doubt.”
Hefferan had 17 residency interviews, but ended up matching with her top choice, Corewell Hospital in Royal Oak.
“Because it is OB-GYN, which is more competitive, it made today a little more nerve-racking, but I am excited to get started,” Hefferan said. “This is where I wanted to go.”
She admitted the competitive nature of her specialty had an effect on her, but she persevered.
“I would not say I was worried about the competition, it was almost more of having imposter syndrome and wondering if I am smart enough and good enough,” she said. “It wasn’t that I was comparing myself to other people, I was more worried about myself and what I could accomplish and now here I am.”
Emily Brunett took a different approach to medical school at Oakland.
After graduating from Farmington Harrison High School in 2015, Brunett joined the swimming and diving team at Michigan State University. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, but then took a few years off to decide what to do next.
“When I was at Michigan State I knew I wanted to go to medical school, but I took a few gap years and that helped me with what I wanted to do with my life and what I wanted to do in medicine,” Brunett said.
During her time away from school she worked as a physical therapy tech and a nurse assistant, but it was never a given that she would take the next step to apply for medical school.
“I always knew I wanted to do something in the medical field, I honestly did not think I would be able to make it to medical school; it just seemed like such a daunting task,” she explained. “But I had a few sports medicine physicians at Michigan State and family and friends who really encouraged me and supported me and made me aware that I could go through it and succeed.”
After 21 residency interviews, Brunett’s belief in herself paid off with a match at her top choice, Corewell Hospital in Royal Oak for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation starting in July.
“I grew up knowing this hospital was amazing and to be able to work here and train here as a doctor is the most exciting thing,” she said. “For me that was my dream, so today is the best day.”