The Next Generation of MSU Medical Students Match at Henry Ford Health

On March 21 anticipation filled the room as the MSU College of Human Medicine Detroit Campus celebrated Match Day. Now in the campus’ second year, MSU medical students celebrated and eagerly awaited news of where they would be completing their residency program.

Held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago – Detroit Branch, 16 MSU medical students, faculty, staff and families heard speakers share words of encouragement and wisdom about the next step in their journey to becoming practicing physicians.

“Henry Ford was definitely my first pick -- I love Henry Ford,” said Kyra Orton, who shared how the hospital has played a vital part in her life.

Matched in anesthesiology at Henry Ford, Orton was born at Henry Ford Hospital and later participated in the Detroit Pre-Medical Scholars Program where she became interested with medicine. “Being able to actually match in my city where I was born and raised is definitely a surreal feeling,” said Orton.

“Match Day reflects the incredible hard work and education of our students, as well as the strength of the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences partnership,” said Nakia V. Allen, M.D., FAAP, MSU College of Human Medicine Detroit community assistant dean, and Henry Ford Health Undergraduate Medical Education director.

The MSU College of Human Medicine Detroit Campus was created in a collaborative effort through MSU and Henry Ford in 2022.

“Henry Ford and MSU are committed to shaping the future of medicine,” said Allen. “We are looking forward to developing the Detroit program and providing more opportunities for our students.”

"It feels like a full circle moment and I'm just happy to see my hard work pay off,” said Madison Kemme, who matched in psychiatry at Henry Ford and shared how she fell in love with Henry Ford during her time as a student.

In 2024, the program had six MSU Detroit campus students match at Henry Ford and this year, eight students from the Detroit campus will complete their residencies here.

“I am so blessed and privileged to be matched at the same place that I've rotated over the past two years,” Neal Doshi, who matched in internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital.

Beyond Detroit, MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine celebrated in Novi and the College of Human Medicine students gathered across its eight community campuses to celebrate Match Day.

“I’m excited for matching into a position I wanted to be in to help women through every stage of their life,” shared MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine student Vihangi Niyangoda, who matched in OB-GYN at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. 

This year a total of 52 MSU College of Osteopathic students and 34 MSU College of Human Medicine students were matched at various Henry Ford Health sites.

“Henry Ford is one of the best in the state, the region and country,” said MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine student Matthew Hilu, who matched Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit in internal medicine. “I’m excited. It’s incredible.”

After months of rigorously applying and interviewing for residential programs, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) used a mathematical algorithm to match applicants and programs to their preferred ranked choices to make the best possible match for all.

With Henry Ford Hospital as her first pick, Sherrita McClain-Gierach shared how she enjoyed her surgery rotation.

“I loved my surgery rotation...I learned so much and I was able to do so much, and I'm so excited to be able to work with that team again and make this my career,” she said.

Like McClain-Gierach and many of the other students, Henry Ford holds a special place in their lives. As David Agemy expressed, “I'm blessed to have been matched into internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital.”

Agemy’s father was a patient at Henry Ford Hospital and unfortunately passed away during Agemy’s second year of medical school.

“I came into my third-year rotations at Henry Ford with an essence of what I wanted to do and what I wanted to be with my life,” said Agemy. “And thankfully, Henry Ford had guided and shaped me to become the best internist that I want to be in the future.”

More photos from the MSU College of Human Medicine Detroit Campus Match Day can be viewed here. Additional information about the College of Osteopathic Medicine Match Day results is also available.