At FIU Medicine, the journey to residency is a marathon, not a sprint.
Amid the whirlwind of exams, clinical rotations and research, crafting a standout residency application can feel daunting. Enter the Road to Residency (R2R) program, a trailblazing initiative launched in 2022 that earned the 2024 AAMC Careers in Medicine Excellence Award for its innovative approach to career advising. Paired with the new Alumni Advising Program, FIU is redefining how medical students prepare for their futures, ensuring they shine as applicants and emerge as compassionate, skilled physicians.
The R2R program, hailed as the nation’s best in medical career advising, is a four-year roadmap guiding students from self- discovery to residency placement.
“This is huge,” says Andres Rodriguez ’09, M.D. ’15, assistant dean of student life and development. “We’re passionate about ensuring no student is left behind, creating a model other schools can emulate.”
From day one, R2R provides, alongside students’ coursework, a structure for career preparation, which can be overlooked amidst a demanding curriculum. As part of R2R, first- and second-year students engage in reflective assignments, CV writing, professionalism workshops, interest group programming and exploring specialties through self-assessments that clarify their goals.
“The earlier we help students decide on their specialty, the better their roadmap to get there,” Rodriguez explains. “The journey to becoming a physician is challenging, and medical school is demanding. At our institution, we are deeply committed to student success. We actively engage key stakeholders and create meaningful opportunities for students to shape their own paths.”
Our goal is to support them every step of the way as they prepare for the next phase of their careers.
In their final year, students take a mandatory two-credit course, drafting personal statements and CVs, engaging in interview prep, and developing match strategies to help secure a successful match – incorporating guidance from faculty, staff, alumni advisors, and deans. Additionally, students have the opportunity to hear directly from program directors in various specialties via panels hosted over the summer before submitting their applications.
Roshni Bisoondial, a 2025 graduate currently in family medicine residency in New York, credits the course for easing her fears.
“Your first draft is always terrible,” she laughs. “Getting it done early, with feedback from professors, got everything rolling.”
The program’s strength lies in its blend of town halls, one-on-one advising and mentorship from faculty and alumni.
“It’s our hope that the diversity of our programming means that every student will be able to take something away from R2R and will ultimately find happiness and fulfillment in their chosen specialty,”
Dr. Sarah Stumbar
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Students like Zachary Blashinsky, who matched into the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps for orthopedic surgery at Tripler Army Medical Center, praise R2R’s tailored support. “Orthopedic surgery is fiercely competitive,” he says. “My advisors, including Baptist Health surgeons, ensured I was on the right path.”
Bisoondial echoes this, noting the accessibility of advisors like Rodriguez and Stumbar. “They’re approachable, helping you see the big picture,” she says.
Complementing R2R, the Alumni Advising Program, launched in 2024, pairs students with recent graduates who offer relatable, real-world guidance. Dr. Gagani Athauda, assistant dean for alumni teaching and advising, leads the effort, ensuring alumni mentors like Stephanie Fernandez, M.D. ’18 and Blake Brown, M.D. ’20 are equipped to guide students.
“Alumni have walked this path,” Athauda says. “They provide nuanced advice on transitioning to clinical practice and residency applications.”
Dr. Fernandez, an emergency medicine physician at Mount Sinai Medical Center, finds mentoring first-year students thrilling. “They’re curious about specialties, and I’m excited to watch their interests evolve,” she says.
Dr. Brown, an internist at Memorial Healthcare Systems, sees advising as a way to strengthen FIU from within. “It’s about supporting the next generation,” he says.
Importantly, alumni mentors don’t grade students, creating a safe space to discuss challenges like mental health or finances.
“Alumni advisors are like primary care providers, identifying concerns and connecting students to resources,” Rodriguez notes.
The R2R and Alumni Advising programs highlight FIU’s commitment to empowering students to thrive today and pay it forward tomorrow.