Show-Me State Times

March marks Women's History Month, a time for reflection among women who have recently received their residency matches. Christine Jacobs, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine at Saint Louis University (SLU), expressed pride in this year's graduating class.

For the sixth consecutive year, women constituted the majority of medical school applicants, matriculants, and total enrollment according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. At SLU, 52% of this year's matching cohort are women who secured positions in various prestigious residency programs across specialties such as OB-GYN, psychiatry, family medicine, and pediatrics.

Three female medical students shared their experiences at SLU and their aspirations for an inclusive healthcare environment. Paige Colbert emphasized finding a program that felt like home: "At SLU (and Cardinal Glennon), I found that SLU has an excellent pediatrics program... I’ve found so many wonderful mentors here."

Ayanna Shambe highlighted her criteria for selecting residency programs: "I wanted to be in a program where I felt supported... with good delivery and surgical case volume." She also hopes to impact the medical community through education: "One day, I desire to be a founding faculty member of a medical school."

Megan Halloran expressed her passion for OB-GYN: "The connections that OB-GYNs make with their patients are unique and special." Her experience at SLU included setting up Women's Health clinics in the Dominican Republic.

Alexis Cole discussed her preparation for the Match process: "Driven to serve underserved urban communities... these unique experiences allowed me to authentically demonstrate my potential as a resident." She aims to advocate for patients through legislative channels.

These reflections underscore the commitment of future doctors to foster an equitable healthcare environment.