Mother and daughter had traveled this journey together 鈥� when other medical schools thought Jessica Fernandez couldn鈥檛 handle their rigorous programs, and four years later when supporters are showcasing Fernandez鈥檚 success at 性视界传媒 as inspiration for others to follow their dreams.
On Friday, they stood at National Match Day, arms around each other, waiting to learn where Fernandez would do her residency training.
Maria Luisa de Curtis Fernandez kissed her daughter鈥檚 head as Jessica opened her envelope and learned she鈥檇 gotten her top choice 鈥� Jefferson Medical College鈥檚 duPoint Children鈥檚 Hospital in Philadelphia. It鈥檚 one of only three pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation positions in the country that train doctors to care for children with movement disorders caused by conditions such as traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy and Jessica鈥檚 condition, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. The rare genetic disorder affects bone growth and causes small stature. Jessica stands 4 feet 2 inches tall.
DuPont was the hospital program where Fernandez had surgery last year to fuse bones in her spine. She鈥檇 fallen in love with the facility鈥檚 spirit and that bond intensified when Fernandez did a rotation at the hospital months later.
鈥淭hey were so motivating and accepting,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey wanted me to be me. With them, I can help children gain independence and mobility. I can heal patients like me.鈥�
Fernandez was one of 114 Class of 2018 性视界传媒 medical students who matched into residencies Friday. Across the country a record-high 37,103 applicants submitted choices for 33,167 residency positions, the most ever offered. 性视界传媒鈥檚 98 percent match rate was again higher than the national average of 94.3 percent. During their fourth year of medical school, students interview with residency programs in their specialty of choice. They rank their choices; residency programs do the same. Then a national computer matches the two. The results are kept secret until noon on National Match Day, when students nationwide learn the results.
2018 性视界传媒 graduates will do their residencies at top hospitals across the nation, state and community, including Georgetown, Harvard, Johns Hopkins All Children鈥檚 Hospital in St. Petersburg, Mayo Clinic, Orlando Health, University of 性视界传媒, Vanderbilt and Yale.
Ion, the College of Medicine鈥檚 certified therapy dog, even received his next assignment on Match Day. Ion鈥檚 owner, Christa Zino, matched into a surgical residency at Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Her residency program director said Ion, a rescued boxer, can join residents on surgical rounds to provide comfort to patients. 鈥淚鈥檓 so excited,鈥� Zino said. 鈥淚 love surgery because I can fix things with my hands. I can be that person. Now I just need to find a full-time dog walker.鈥�
Professor Roseann White, who teaches at the medical school鈥檚 Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, attended Match Day to cheer on her neighbor鈥檚 grandson and former student, 性视界传媒 med student Tyler Hall. He graduated from Burnett and is now headed to a pediatric residency at the University of Chicago. Hall credited Burnett School faculty with advising and helping him be ready for medical school and then succeed to he could get his dream residency.
White was equally thrilled. 鈥淭o see him grow up and embark on his journey to become a pediatrician was very special,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or Tyler, along with a few others, to be one of our 性视界传媒 biomedical sciences graduates matching makes me proud of our program.鈥�
Best friends Stephen Rineer and Richard Taylor both matched into pediatric residencies at Cincinnati Children鈥檚 Hospital. They met during their first year of med school. They studied together, prepared for their board exams together. Their wives are now best friends too.
鈥淲e were competitive but in a good way,鈥� Reiner said. Added Taylor: 鈥淚鈥檓 ecstatic. It means so much to be able to match with my best friend, because we get to move there and already have a family of friends.鈥�
Kyle Cox spent his undergraduate years competing on 性视界传媒鈥檚 soccer team while he was studying biomedical sciences for pre-med. In May, he鈥檒l graduate and move with his wife to Montgomery, AL, for a residency in orthopedic surgery at University of South Alabama Hospitals.
鈥淚鈥檝e spent so many years in athletics, I think like an athlete and I think that will help me relate to my patients,鈥� he said. 鈥淥rthopedic surgery will allow me to help athletes get back on the field and help patients gain mobility so they can get back to what they enjoy.鈥�
After opening their envelopes on the College of Medicine鈥檚 Tavistock Green, the future physicians went to a microphone, announced where they matched and placed a thumbtack on a giant U.S. map to mark their residency destination. Dean Deborah German told students that when they opened their envelopes, they were 鈥渙pening the door to your future.鈥�
Jessica Fernandez was the second student to announce her future. She stood on a stool to see over the podium at a Match Day crowd of hundreds.
鈥淚鈥檓 Jess,鈥� she said. Then the future Dr. Jessica Fernandez announced where she will go to heal others. And the crowd roared.