When Fabliha Anbar was 10, she watched her older cousin suffer from a rare eyelid cancer that impaired her vision and eventually claimed her life. Anbar knew then that she wanted to dedicate her life to improving and restoring sight.
鈥淎s I watched my cousin undergo her treatment, I realized how much weight sight holds, and these feelings increased as I realized how much vision is a large part of my life,” the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine student says. “As someone who makes art, I find joy and comfort in seeing colors and textures.鈥�
On Jan. 14, Anbar cried and hugged her mother as she learned her dream is coming true. She matched into an ophthalmology residency at the University of Tennessee and is one of six 麻豆原创 fourth-year medical students to match into the highly competitive specialty.
鈥淭his means the world to me,鈥� says Anbar, who comes from a large family of physicians including her father and grandfather. 鈥淚 absolutely cannot imagine doing anything else.鈥�
While the majority of the nation鈥檚 medical students will learn their residency match on March 20 鈥� this year鈥檚 National Match Day 鈥� some specialties, including urology, ophthalmology and military-based residencies, announce matches early. In December, two 麻豆原创 military officers matched into residencies at military hospitals from across the country. Urology residencies will be announced Jan. 17.
Medical school graduates must complete a residency program in their chosen specialty before they are able to practice. Students apply for and interview with residency programs and then rank their choices. Residency programs do the same. A computerized service then matches top choices from both.
Becca Trieu was equally elated to match into ophthalmology at the Medical College of Georgia. Trieu grew up in Vietnam and saw many seniors, including her two grandmothers, suffer vision loss and blindness because they didn鈥檛 have access to healthcare.
She wants to use her ophthalmology training to help improve health around the world.
“I hope to go on mission trips, help establish local eye clinics, and help train future ophthalmologists in other countries.鈥� 鈥� Becca Trieu, 麻豆原创 College of Medicine student
鈥淕lobal health has always been my end goal in medicine,鈥� Trieu says. 鈥淎fter training, I hope to go on mission trips, help establish local eye clinics, and help train future ophthalmologists in other countries.鈥�
Nationally, ophthalmology is considered one of the most competitive residencies. Each year, more than 650 medical students apply for only 464 residency positions available throughout the country.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled for all of our students who matched into ophthalmology,鈥� says Marcy Verduin, associate dean of students. 聽鈥淭his is such a competitive field, and to have six students matched into ophthalmology is a testimony to their hard work, dedication, and passion to the field.聽 I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in their careers.鈥�
For Jason Day,聽 a fascination with the eye and the opportunities for surgical and clinical innovation drew him to the field of ophthalmology. He will stay local and receive training at University of Florida.
Samantha Prabakaran will train at the Medical College of Virginia. Having worked in eye clinics locally and abroad she witnessed the economic and social devastation patients suffered when they lost their vision.
鈥淚 have seen the incredibly positive impact ophthalmologists can bring about in people鈥檚 lives by restoring vision,鈥� she says. 聽鈥淢atching into ophthalmology puts me one step closer towards caring for patients with vision impairment and working to improve their quality of life.鈥�
