Eighty-three new physicians from across the country soon will begin their graduate medical education specialty training -- they’re then called residents -- at the UNLV School of Medicine.

Medical school students about to earn their degrees and become doctors learned on March 20 — known as Match Day — which U.S. residency programs they'll join. This specialty training lasts for up to seven years.

The new physicians matching with the UNLV School of Medicine start orientation in June and their first day of clinical rotations begins July 1.

“We have talented people coming from near and far,” said Dr. Kate Martin, the school’s associate dean for graduate medical education. “Many have ties to the state and have plans to remain here after completing their residency programs.” 

UNLV Programs

UNLV has residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, pediatrics, plastic surgery, emergency medicine, family medicine, rural family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry, and general surgery.

Studies repeatedly have shown that a majority of physicians remain in the state where they complete their graduate medical education. An important mission of the UNLV School of Medicine, which opened in 2017, is to produce more physicians for Nevada, which, as one of the nation’s fastest-growing states, needs more medical professionals. Martin pointed out that current UNLV residents now are caring for some of the community's most vulnerable patients during the COVID-19 crisis.

One of those resident-physicians, Dr. Nabil Noureddin, who is training in internal medicine, said he and other residents truly value helping patients throughout this challenging time.

“It is a privilege and a responsibility that we are proud of, to be on the front lines serving our community,” he said.

High Quality

Martin is impressed with the quality of the current and incoming UNLV residents.

“We celebrate our incoming residents and also appreciate those who are already here, dedicated to the health and well-being of this community,” she said.

This year marks the first time that all allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) applicants for residency programs participated in one matching program. The 2020 Match Day was the largest in history — 40,084 applicants submitted program choices for 37,256 positions across the nation.

UNLV’s new residents come to Southern Nevada from schools that include George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science, Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Boston University School of Medicine, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, and UNR School of Medicine. Nearly 20 percent of the new residents come from Nevada medical schools.

“UNLV’s charter class of medical students will participate in the match next March,” said Martin.

Residency programs start recruiting in late summer, reviewing applications and conducting interviews with fourth-year medical students.

“By mid-February, the programs submit their lists of their top recruits in order of preference,” Martin explained. “The students do the same and the National Resident Match Program facilitates the match process that assigns students to programs.”