The Association of American Medical Colleges has selected FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine for the 2024 Careers in Medicine Excellence in Medical Student Career Advising Program Award.
This award recognizes the importance of those who support students in making well-informed and strategic career decisions, highlighting the role of faculty and the Office of Student Affairs in assisting medical students with selecting elective courses, exploring career options, and applying to residency programs. "This is huge!" said Dr. Andres Rodriguez, assistant dean for student services. "We are being recognized as an exemplary model for other schools to emulate nationwide."
Career advising is intentionally integrated into the four-year curriculum at Wertheim Medicine to ensure students have early and comprehensive access to career services. Students are assigned academic advisors, with one to two mandatory meetings each year. The Office of Student Affairs offers peer-to-peer support through MedLEAD, a professional mentoring program with alums and faculty, and access to specialty-specific mentors. A dedicated career specialist provides CV and personal statement reviews, hosts workshops, and organizes town hall meetings at key transitional points in the curriculum.
Roshni Bisoondial, a first-generation student in her final year of medical school, has often sought advice from faculty advisors to navigate her career options. “Dr. Rodriguez and Dr. Sarah Stumbar have helped me identify my non-negotiables and what I need to thrive in a field. Their advice has been streamlined, personalized, and thoughtful," she said.
The Road to Residency
In 2022, the college introduced the Road to Residency program to support students along their career-defining journey: understanding yourself, exploring options, choosing a specialty, and preparing for residency. The program integrates online modules with one-on-one discussions, informational sessions, a regularly updated resource web page, support for interest group programming, the organization of specialty and residency fairs, and mock interviews conducted by physicians in their chosen specialty.
The goal is to ensure every medical student has a residency lined up after graduation to continue their medical training. And it’s working. This year's graduating class achieved a 100% residency placement, with 95% of students successfully placing in their chosen specialty via the initial round of the National Residency Matching Program. "Our team is passionate about supporting our students every step of the way. We have channeled that drive into creating an innovative and effective career advising program that ensures no student is left behind," said Dr. Rodriguez.
Starting with the graduating Class of 2025, students must complete a 2-credit course during the first two weeks of their fourth year, where they finalize career plans, develop a residency match strategy, and complete drafts of all residency application materials. "Sometimes, the hardest step is the first step. This course helped get the ball rolling," said Bisoondial.
The award will be formally presented at the AAMC Annual Meeting in November.