5 DOs share how they matched into their top-choice programs

As medical students apply to residency during their fourth year, many have goals of matching into their top-choice program and specialty. I talked with five DOs who share their journeys to matching into their first-choice residency programs when they were OMS IVs. Below, please enjoy edited Q&As with each.

Amber Shirley, DO

Amber Shirley, DO, PGY 1, matched into neurology at the University of Tennessee and is completing her transitional year at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto. Initially wanting a primary care residency, she instead chose neurology as she was interested in its narrower scope of practice and having the option to do telehealth, procedures and inpatient care.

What advice would you have for medical students who are doing sub-internships (sub-Is) currently?

Don’t feel like you have to put on a different persona. Put your best foot forward and show off your personality as appropriate. You can be yourself while still being professional.

I got there early and stayed late when needed. Then I wrote thank-you notes to all the attendings, residents and NPs I worked with.

I’d also ask attendings and residents what to check out locally to show a genuine interest in the program’s location. Programs want residents who will want to eventually live there.

How did you get programs to ‘notice’ you?

Use signals strategically—my eight signals yielded five interviews. Follow program Instagrams for open house dates; residents often notice attendees and flag their applications. Network at conferences to connect with neurologists and residents nationwide. Send a targeted letter of interest (LOI) by mid-October, highlighting specific program aspects and how you would fit in. My LOIs secured a few interviews.

How did you train for interviews?

I used Big Interview Medical residency prep. I created a Google Doc with the top 50 questions, outlining bullet points in the order I wanted to address them. For example, for advocacy questions, I’d start with AOA DO Day, then discuss SOMA’s task force and Omega Beta Iota. During interviews, I focused on the interviewer’s face rather than the camera for a natural connection. Practice structuring answers concisely to avoid rambling—a common issue for med students.

What intentions did you set for this past ERAS cycle?

I targeted programs suited to my strengths and applied early in April. When I hadn’t heard back about a sub-I by June, I followed up to confirm my status and seek application guidance, and I secured a sub-I for November/December. Attending an August open house and a prior neurology Q&A with the program director kept me visible, leading to my first interview in September.

Any red flags on your application? If so, how did you address them?

I repeated my first year of med school due to health issues impacting my academic performance. In the ERAS section for academic extensions, I explained my illness, expressed gratitude for the chance to restart and highlighted how I then became a stronger student. I now mentor peers facing similar challenges, which has sparked my passion for medical education.

Any recommendations for asking for a letter of recommendation (LOR)?

I secured five LORs, including from physicians outside my specialty. Early on, I asked, “Can you write me a strong LOR?” I targeted physicians I rotated with multiple times or stayed in touch with. Show up early, build strong relationships and LORs will come naturally—you’ll stand out as a top student.

Dustin Lee, DO

Dustin Lee, DO, matched at his number one choice at Mount Carmel Health System for internal medicine after graduating from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. Being from a small town, he envisioned training at a community program that would provide hands-on training that he could eventually take back to rural Appalachia. With a strong background in customer service, his social skills are one of his strengths that helped him match into his top program.

What were some of your challenges during this ERAS season?

The biggest challenge was navigating conflicting information among ERAS, Residency Explorer and program websites, particularly regarding LOR expectations. I had to contact programs directly to ask them to clarify things. I also carefully evaluated programs based on match potential, personal preferences and proximity to home.

What was unique about your application?

As SOMA president at LMU-DCOM, I launched a monthly fresh food drive to support a local food bank, ensuring families received essentials like milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, meat and fruit—items often missing due to limited funds. My initiative addressed gaps in donations, such as providing cereal without milk.

I also shared how I was a grocery store manager prior to medical school. The unique perspective these experiences gave me resonated with my interviewers. I was also a member of Sigma Sigma Phi.

Tell us more about your grocery store career and how it connects to your career in medicine.

Before medical school, I worked for 6.5 years at a regional grocery store, starting as a cashier at 17 years old. I was promoted to manager at 18. I oversaw cashiers, baggers and later managed a new store’s gas station, online ordering, paperwork, finances, customer service and 50 employees. Handling constant challenges honed my ability to connect with diverse people and prioritize providing good customer service, skills I now apply to medicine.

How did you find time for volunteering as a med student?

As a second-year medical student, I balanced a demanding schedule as SOMA president, Sigma Sigma Phi treasurer and tutor while volunteering during daytime hours on afternoons off. I studied late nights and weekends to manage these commitments.

Did you ask for feedback on your personal statement?

I worked with Tara Kaprowy, who helps med students, residents and premed students build their personal statement for their application.

Katie Tovar, DO

Kathryn (Katie) Tovar, DO, was inspired to pursue medicine as a child by a kind pediatrician who provided lollipops. She aims to become a gastroenterologist and matched into her first-choice program, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s internal medicine program.

Dr. Tovar sought a residency with strong camaraderie, quality education, involved program directors and robust fellowship matches. She emphasizes vulnerability as the key to her successful match.

What led to your successful match?

Feedback is huge. Seeking it shows you’re eager to learn and grow. I improved on my weak spots, proved I was teachable and was invited back for multiple rotations. I also prioritized engaging with my colleagues.

Was there a moment when you were afraid of showing your true self?

It’s nerve-wracking to be yourself, especially as a sub-I with others on the same rotation. Turn the pressure and intimidation of being a sub-I into, “What can I learn and how can I enhance what I already have?” You may compare yourself to others, wonder if you did enough or feel a need to change yourself. Yet, there is always something you can learn. If you like what someone else did, adopt it.

Tell me what you enhanced about yourself.

I learned to prioritize perseverance, discipline and enjoying the ride. It is OK to mess up—that’s when you remember things and grow. They want to see you learn. We are professional students. All of us have been in school for 20-plus years.

Were you in therapy at that time?

After failing my Level 2 exam in July last year, therapy provided constructive tools to manage my challenges. It offered a safe space that was separate from friends and family, though finding the right therapist took time. One therapist’s advice, “What do you have to lose by thinking positively?” shifted my focus from worst-case scenarios. This experience solidified my belief in the power of positive manifestation.

Anisha Verma, DO

Anisha Verma, DO, is a PGY 1 pediatrics resident at the University of Maryland. She chose the program because it allowed her to stay close to home and her partner while training in a rigorous and academically supportive environment. Below, she reflects on the importance of research, mentorship and self-awareness throughout her medical journey.

How did you convey to traditionally MD programs that as a DO you are just as qualified and competent as an MD candidate?

For me, the most meaningful way to show initiative and curiosity was through research. I became involved in a project studying pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency, a rare metabolic disorder caused by an enzyme defect in the Krebs cycle. Our goal was to analyze amino acid ratios that might allow earlier diagnosis, as this enzyme is not currently part of newborn screening panels. The project helped me connect molecular science to its clinical implications and appreciate how detailed biochemical work can translate into meaningful outcomes for patients.

How did you get connected to this research project?

I have always been fascinated by the overlap between pediatrics and genetics. The idea that a single gene or enzyme can alter a child’s trajectory drew me to this field early on. After my first year of medical school, I reached out to the pediatric genetics division at the University of Pittsburgh, where I had studied as an undergraduate. When I learned about the project, I contacted the principal investigator to express my interest in early detection of metabolic disorders. That outreach led to a mentorship that shaped how I think about both research and patient care.

Could you complete research virtually during your OMS II or OMS III years?

I could, though it required a shift in mindset. My earlier experiences were entirely wet-lab based, but this project was data-driven, which made remote work possible. It forced me to rely less on process and more on interpretation, focusing on what the findings actually meant for patients. Collaborating virtually strengthened my independence as a researcher and deepened my understanding of how data analysis informs clinical decision-making.

Should the research be academic or community-based?

The value of research comes from the motivation behind it, not its setting. Academic work provides mentorship and structure, while community-based research highlights practical impact. What matters most is that the topic resonates with you. Interviewers consistently asked why I chose my project rather than what I studied. Genuine interest shows through naturally, and that authenticity matters more than the research category itself.

Are there any useful resources that you used for the Match process?

I found FuturePedsRes on Instagram helpful for learning about open houses, mentorship programs and Match advice. Their focus on connection and transparency made the process feel less overwhelming. Beyond online resources, honest conversations with mentors helped me refine how I presented my goals and experiences during interviews.

Her final thoughts

One of the most important lessons I learned during the Match process was to give yourself grace. Medicine attracts people who set high expectations, and it’s easy to lose perspective. Even if you don’t end up at your first-choice program, each step contributes to your growth. Every challenge and opportunity shapes the kind of physician you become; thoughtful, empathetic and grounded in purpose.

Cassandra Holub, DO, and Brandon Fedorko, DO

Cassandra Holub, DO, and her fiancé, Brandon Fedorko, DO, participated in the couples match. Dr. Holub matched into internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center, while her fiancé, Brandon Fedorko, DO, matched into family medicine at UH Geauga Medical Center. Below, Dr. Holub shares insights about the couples match experience.

What are some things you both did to successfully match?

Dr. Holub: To successfully couples match into our desired residency programs, we strategically aligned our goals and leveraged our strengths as competitive applicants in IM and FM. We realistically assessed our candidacy and avoided large academic centers where we would be less competitive. I’m hoping for an ICU fellowship and prioritized larger hospitals with strong fellowship connections, while my fiancé preferred smaller hospital systems. Open communication allowed us to navigate the added complexity of the couples match process. We had to make sure our choices aligned with both of our career aspirations.

I discussed couples matching with my program director and let them know about my fiancé, Brandon. After my interview, Brandon got his scheduled for the next day, which felt like a sign of their interest. Then, when he informed his program I hadn’t received an interview, I got one the following day.

How was the ranking process?

Dr. Holub: We took four hours for 100 matches because we typed in every program code. We prioritized our top 10, ranking our top three programs in various combinations for our top nine, then mixed his fourth to sixth with my top three and vice versa. We preferred Ohio programs but also included Pennsylvania ones just in case.

Dr. Holub, how have your experiences shaped your competitiveness as an applicant?

Dr. Holub: I’m an average test-taker but have strong leadership experience with SOMA and the AOA, and balanced work and life while traveling to conferences, like to one in Australia. My internship on substance use disorder, though not leadership or research, sparked significant interest in every interview. Internal medicine values unique experiences and who you are outside of medicine.

Final thoughts

A piece of advice that was universal was to be yourself. Dr. Verma spoke about the importance of not being hard on your younger self and appreciating how far you’ve come.

Know that if you don’t match to your top choice, you did your best and were authentic to yourself. Life has shown me that you are often given what you need—not necessarily what you want.

That being said, I wish you all the best as you prepare for your match!

Related reading:

Residency interview tips from faculty and newly matched DOs

A DO dermatology program director shares tips & advice for acing the Match process