130 students from the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University are preparing to start their residency training across New York State and the nation. Among them are Mike Sova, a fingerstyle guitarist who founded the Music in Medicine Club, and Alaba Danagogo, a Nigerian student who ran creative writing workshops focused on anti-racism.
The RSOM's 2025 Match Day took place on March 21 at the Bauman Center at Stony Brook University. The event revealed that 55% of students will remain in New York State for their residencies, with 14% staying at Stony Brook Medicine. Students matched to over 20 specialties in New York and 17 other states, with most programs beginning around July 1, 2025.
In addition to placements at Stony Brook Medicine, students will train at prestigious institutions such as the University of California Irvine Medical Center, Stanford Health Care, Brown University, Yale University School of Medicine, and Montefiore Medical Center/Einstein in New York City. Internal Medicine was the top specialty choice with 26 matches, followed by Anesthesiology with 15 matches.
Peter Igarashi, MD, Knapp Dean of RSOM stated: “We are delighted that 27 percent of our students matched to primary care specialties, helping to address a critical community need.” He also noted the filling of all 158 residency positions offered at Stony Brook Medicine as a testament to the program's quality.
The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) filled more than 40,000 positions this year. For further information on national Match results, refer to NRMP news.
Sova overcame a Chiari Malformation through surgeries during his youth and has been inspired by music throughout his life. He matched to Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Danagogo is set for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency after transitional training at Montefiore Medical Center/Einstein. She received a scholarship from Syracuse University enabling her medical education and led initiatives like Writing Away Racism Project (WARP), which RSOM plans to integrate into its curriculum.
These graduates will contribute significantly as future physicians amid growing demands for healthcare professionals globally. Advances in technology such as AI and telemedicine are expected to enhance their ability to diagnose and treat patients effectively.