WesternU College of Podiatric Medicine celebrates 12th consecutive year of 100% placement rate
Match Day is a personal journey of dedication, determination, discipline and effort. For the graduating podiatric medical students in Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM), the journey now has a destination.
The CPM Class of 2025 celebrated Match Day on March 21, 2025 at the Mountain Meadows Golf Course in Pomona, California, surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and staff. The class extended a remarkable streak for CPM – the 12th consecutive year of achieving a 100% residency placement rate.
College of Podiatric Medicine Dean Jonathan Labovitz, DPM, FACFAS, CHCQM, expressed his excitement and pride for the students and the greater CPM community.
“CPM students again had 100% match with students headed to top residency programs nationwide. We are incredibly proud of the Class of 2025 and their success,” he said. “This achievement is also a testament to our faculty and staff, who are truly dedicated to preparing our students to excel during residency. Our students have earned this result and we are excited to see what the future holds for them.”
This exceptional group of CPM students earned residency at some of the nation’s most prestigious and respected medical centers and teaching hospitals: Boston University Medical Center (MA), Catholic Health System – Sisters of Charity Hospital (NY), Chino Valley Medical Center (CA), HCA Houston Healthcare West, Houston (TX), Memorial Care Long Beach Medical Center (CA), Ochsner Clinic Foundation (LA), Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas (CA), University of California, San Francisco Health – St. Mary’s Hospital, University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
For CPM student Riley Thomas, the moment felt really good learning she will complete her training at UCLA.
“You never know what you’re going to get when you open that envelope,” said Thomas. “I’m very blessed to have been on this journey. I’m so excited for so many things. UCLA is an amazing program, a top two program in the country. I’m ready to go. I’m very excited.”
Celebrating with Thomas was her boyfriend Sam Fiorica and one of her best friends since high school, Neena Hingorani.
For Fiorica, the day brought a sense of joy and relief, “I’ve been on this journey for a while with her,” shared Fiorica. “Med school is not a joke, and there’s been a lot of ups and downs, but it just speaks to the perseverance and what it takes to accomplish a big goal. It’s a milestone and a transition, and the mark of big things to come.”
Hingorani understands how hard this journey has been for Thomas, especially leaving all her family and friends in Texas to attend podiatric medical school in California.
“I’m just so proud of her and everything that she’s accomplished,” Hingorani said. “I love her so much and she’s just so smart and she’s going to be amazing at this. I’m so happy for her.”
CPM Assistant Dean for Clinical Education and Faculty Affairs Rebecca Moellmer, DPM, FACFAS, FAAPSM, DABPM, reflected on the celebration and the importance of having a good team.
“We love hearing the happy shouts from students around the room as they open their residency match envelopes. Watching the pride in loved one’s facial expressions is another favorite moment because we all know that DPM 2025 students have worked very hard to get to this point in their careers. One hundred percent residency placement in quality residencies across the country is the proof.”
One of the happiest shouts came from CPM student Sarah Seo who will do her residency at Lakewood Regional Medical Center. Seo’s jubilation brought unexpected tears of joy. Sitting with her two best friends and classmates, Donya Rabadi and Thomas, the three shared a special moment.
“They’ve been amazing supporters,” said Seo. “I couldn’t have gotten through medical school without them. When we had to study for boards, we would always motivate each other to always get up and study. They’ve been a great supporter family. They always understood when we couldn’t make time for family events. They understood that we had goals and dreams that we had to achieve.”
For CPM student Brian Wong, the past four years were personally challenging and gratifying. In 2022, the loving husband became a loving father.
“It was definitely tough,” Wong said. “Having, my wife and my son, it kind of kept me on track a little more than I would have been if I was just by myself, just having my time spread out so thin, I just needed to be very succinct, what I did, where I spent it. So I think it honestly it helped me.”
Wong’s residency will be at Chino Valley Medical Center (CA). Being close to home, he is thankful for job security and a great training program.
“I look forward to interacting with my patients, to build my own practice and to mold myself into the type of physician that I want to be,” he said.
For some CPM students, Match Day gives a moment to pause, reflect on the past and embrace the future.
“I feel like an entirely different person now than I was entering medical school,” shared CPM student Tiffany Duarte who will be doing her residency at Adventist Health White Memorial (CA).
“I get to go to a very a tough residency. I’m looking forward to getting in the swing of having a job. Learning how to manage my own patience and making various medical and surgical decisions. I’m excited to develop those skills,” she said. “My partner Josh (Martinez) has played a huge role in my success as well as my family’s support. Without their support, I wouldn’t be this happy and stable and grounded.”
With Martinez by Duarte’s side, he shared with a smile, “She’s put in a lot of hard work these pass couple of years, and I feel like to see it all come to an end and for the next chapter is super exciting. I think there’s more hard work to come, this isn’t the end of all of it. I just I see how well she does in the clinical environment and I think she’s really going to thrive during residency.”
Photo Gallery: https://westernu.smugmug.com/2025-College-of-Podiatric-Medicine-Match-Day/i-6TWwBX2/A
Match Day is a nationwide event. Across the entire country, on the third Friday of March every year medical students find out simultaneously where they have been placed for residency. Since 1976, the Central Application Service for Podiatric Residencies has coordinated this annual rite of passage for podiatric medical and surgical residencies.
