The Road to Residency: ACOI Student Members on Match Day 2025

Friday, March 21, 2025, marked the biggest-ever Match Day in the National Resident Matching Program’s® (NRMP) history. Osteopathic medical students were a major part of that: According to AACOM, the residency match rate for graduating seniors at osteopathic medical schools reached its own all-time high of 92.6% – with a record 8,392 DO seniors in the US participating, a 4.5% increase from 2024. NRMP also reported that there were 1,882 DO matches in internal medicine. This was a marked increase from 2024, which saw 1,783 DO internal medicine matches.

On Match Day, ACOI spoke with a few student members about their feelings about reaching this phase, their commitment to internal medicine, and their plans to celebrate their accomplishments.

Claire Drotman (WVSOM)	Brody Fogleman (VCOM-Carolinas)	Rayhan Karimi (VCOM-Carolinas)

Claire Drotman (West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine), who matched in internal medicine-psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), said she chose internal medicine because “I love the intellectual challenge of managing complex cases, the emphasis on long-term patient relationships, and the ability to integrate medical and psychiatric care. Med-psych allows me to think critically, treat the whole person, and address both the physical and mental aspects of health – something I am deeply passionate about.”

Similarly, Brody Fogleman (Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas), who matched in internal medicine at MUSC, said, “I chose internal medicine because of the breadth of opportunity it offers. I know that internal medicine will provide a solid foundation to support both my clinical and research interests as I determine my next career steps."

When came to describing the feelings surrounding Match Day, one word that continually came up was “surreal.” Drotman said: “It is such a surreal feeling to be nearing the end of this journey! Medical school has been a challenging yet rewarding experience, filled with unforgettable memories. I have grown so much – both personally and professionally – and I am excited to step into the next phase, where I can continue to learn and make a meaningful impact on my patients’ lives.”

Likewise, Fogleman said: “It is honestly surreal. Although it has been challenging, I am grateful for the relationships I have built, the people with whom I have grown during this journey, and the patients who have been the foundation of my education. I feel refreshed to be nearing the end of this phase, and I look forward to beginning my professional career in internal medicine this coming July.”

As their amazement settled, the students expressed appreciation for the sense of accomplishment and renewal their hard work has brought them with this new chapter.

Rayhan Karimi (VCOM – Carolinas), who matched in internal medicine at Carolinas Medical Center Atrium, shared that the surreal feelings were alongside those of gratitude: “Although it has been challenging, I am grateful for the relationships I have built, the people with whom I have grown during this journey, and the patients who have been the foundation of my education. After four years of long work, you always feel like there’s something ahead of you, but now I can feel like I’ve accomplished something on my journey.”

Another exciting update came from Emily Ranta (VCOM – Carolinas), President of the Student Osteopathic Internal Medicine Association (SOIMA), who participated in the Couples Match process with her husband Josh Ranta (VCOM – Carolinas). She said: “We matched at Prisma Columbia, our #1 choice! We are ecstatic! We felt the program had all we were looking for, between a more community feel and academic resources. We loved the program administration and residents and are really looking forward to growing into successful internists these next three years!”  

Emily and Josh Ranta (VCOM-Carolinas).

(Note: You can read more about the Rantas and their couples match journey on the ACOI blog!)

Fogleman, who also participated in Couples Match, said: “I will be celebrating Match Day with my significant other, Cristin (we are couples matching!), along with our families at the beach. I couldn’t be more thankful for their love and support throughout medical school and during the process of interviewing to find my most compatible internal medicine program.”

Celebrating is an important next step for both Drotman and Karimi as well. Karimi spoke to the community that supported him: “I’ve planned to celebrate Match Day at home with my family and the village that it took to enter residency.” Drotman’s plans are “to celebrate Match Day at my school’s event, surrounded by my classmates who have been on this journey with me. It’s a moment we’ve all worked so hard for, and I can’t wait to share the excitement with them. Afterwards, a group of my friends and I are taking a weekend trip together to celebrate, relax, and enjoy time together before we begin our next chapter, residency!”

Future residents! Please take a moment to let us know where you matched. ACOI membership is free through training.