My Journey to the Match

The road to the Match is never easy. Everyone faces his own unique hurdles, but the rule stays the same: with persistence you will always reach your goal. After I graduated from Mansoura University, I knew my goal. I wanted to advance my learning and experience to be able to give more to our patients and to our community. I decided to go through the USMLE, but my biggest obstacle was the costly journey. I finished the first step then I had to wait and work to save for my goal. After 3 years, I finished all my tests with decent scores and was finally ready to apply for the match. Unfortunately, since I had used all my savings, I had to wait and save more for the additional expenses of the match and interviews. I was prepared to postpone my dream, until I learned about EAMA. One of my friends heard about the organization and how they can help, which soon became a game changer for me. I applied and got approved for the sponsorship, and I was able to apply for the match and go through the interview process. Finally in March came the great news: “You have matched!” Four years of extensive training and building a new life with my wife and our kids was worth it. We’ve enjoyed every moment of it, and we feel accomplished when we look at each obstacle we’ve gone through. Now, it is time for the second chapter of the journey, so I may help our colleagues and help advance patient care in our country. Again, with the help of EAMA, we are able to build the bridge between Egyptians abroad, and pay back our community. I’d like to say thank you for all the support we have received from this generous community.

My advice for future applicants is to first pin down your target or goal; keep thinking about it, become obsessed with it. Second, identify the hurdles and ask yourself the right question: it is not IF you can overcome these hurdles, but HOW. Don’t let these hurdles dishearten you, because with persistence it is not a matter of IF, it is a matter of WHEN.

Ahmed Koriesh, M.D. is currently an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Missouri and a Neurologist at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was matched in 2014 with the help of EAMA’s Sponsorhip Program.