One of the best kept secrets in Caribbean Medical Schools | Trinity School of Medicine | residency match

This article has been updated to provide the greatest relevance & timeliness for our readers. It was originally published August 2017.

As prospective medical students consider their options for where to go to med school, many wonder how much their choice will actually impact their future as a doctor. 

Each year, the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) residency director survey demonstrates that the school a candidate attended is a remarkably low priority in their decision making process. In the most recent report findings, a candidate's medical school didn't even make the top 20 factors when considering an applicant for an interview invitation! 

On its surface, the NRMP survey implies that whatever medical school you choose to attend is irrelevant; as long as you absorb the material and can perform when evaluated on exams, in front of preceptors, etc., that's all that matters.

However, it's crucial to consider that while, on the surface, it may look like your medical school doesn't matter, the learning environment cultivated by that school, and how it has specifically prepared you for a career in medicine, can be the single biggest factor in your success. 

Medical students don't thrive in a vacuum. They need a curriculum, faculty, support structure, living environment, extra-curricular opportunity, even a student body, that is shaped to help them succeed. A school doesn't just provide information, it should help students develop on a personal level into the sort of physician a residency director wants on their team and, ultimately, caring for their community.

In this post, we'll examine factors that the NRMP does consider to be important factors in a residency candidate and how the medical school you attend can help to cultivate and improve your results across each metric. 

This article has been updated to provide the greatest relevance & timeliness for our readers. It was originally published June 2018.

Previously, DO and MD residencies have been matched in separate processes. In 2020, they merged into a single program. Today we're going to dive into what that actually means for MD students, specifically Trinity and its graduates. 

But first, let's cover the basics. There is a myth out there that international medicine graduates, or IMGs, will have a more difficult time in the match now because more US trained DO students will be applying for the same residencies. This is verifiably false. In fact, the opposite is true. MD students of any kind, including Caribbean medical school graduates, will have a better opportunity to match after the merge. 

With that baseline understanding set, let's get into the specifics of the merger and what it means for med students. 

This edition of our alumni spotlight shines a bright light on Dr. Meghan Pillai. Hailing from the eastern end of Long Island (the North Fork), Pillai has spent plenty of time in the northeast. She attended Boston University, earning a B.S. in Business Management. With a knack for numbers, Meghan wasn't done adding to her higher-level education. She went on to Harvard University, earning a master's in Business Administration. Pillai's innate drive to know more, coupled with her desire to help others, eventually led her to pursue a medical career. Attending both undergraduate and graduate school in the northeast, attending a Caribbean medical offered more than just a beautiful backdrop to study medicine. Dr. Pillai is now in her 3rd year of residency, close to home, in New Jersey.

In this edition of our alumni spotlight, we are proud to showcase Dr. Allison Laffoon. Dr. Laffoon's desire for medicine was sparked when her younger brother was diagnosed with severe autism when he was just 5-years-old. She recalls the countless doctors' appointments, tests, and other factors that eventually led to her brother's diagnosis. Her interest in medicine stems from these experiences as a young child. Laffoon attended the University of Iowa and received her MD from Trinity in 2018. She is now a general surgery resident at the University of Texas Health - San Antonio.

In this edition of our alumni spotlight, we are proud to showcase Dr. Andrea Folds. Dr. Folds is a native of Florida, and is what some would consider a non-traditional student. She left her first career as a successful accountant to follow her passion and become a physician. While researching Caribbean medical schools, she looked at them all, and Dr. Folds says she could not be happier with deciding to attend Trinity. " Trinity provides you with everything you need.” Dr. Folds adds she did not face any hurdles as an IMG, landing a residency at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center in South Florida. It’s worth noting, this was her first choice for matching! Get to know more about Dr. Folds and her journey.  

In this latest edition of our alumni spotlight, we are excited to introduce you to Trinity alum Dr. Kirk Vannitamby.  With a background in engineering and a passion for medicine, Dr. Vannitamby stayed the course. And it paid off. He is excited to let everyone know he matched with his number one choice,  Western University located in London, Ontario, Canada.  You can join Dr. Vannitamby for an online information session May 27th - Click here to register.

Without a doubt, one of the most exciting days in the lives of medical students, (and medical school administrations) is Match Day, and 2020 was no exception. Once again, Trinity graduates carry on our strong history of success in residency placement. Our graduates continue to represent our school in placements at top healthcare institutions across North America, and we are so proud as they take the next step on the way to their careers in medicine.

Trinity School of Medicine has always prided itself on the strength and ambition of its students. So many future physicians come our way looking for something new; whether that's learning environment built on support and a strong relationship with the faculty, a curriculum with an emphasis on clinical skills and service to patients, or just a true opportunity to live up to their potential. 

In this latest edition of our alumni spotlight, meet Dr. Catherine Nowierski, a Family Medicine Resident at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, Canada.