Women in Medicine: SLU Medical Students Share Match Day Reflections
Tomorrow’s doctors pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable health care environment
ST. LOUIS — (March 25, 2025) March is Women’s History Month, and for many women who received their residency match this month, it’s a moment to reflect on the future they want to help create for their patients.
Christine Jacobs, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, expressed her pride in this year's graduating class.
“We are incredibly proud of our physicians-in-training,” Jacobs said. “I appreciate that the hard work, dedication, and resilience of our students set a strong example for future generations. As we honor Women’s History Month, we commend their achievements and look forward to their continued contributions to the advancement of medicine.”
In the 2024-2025 academic year, for the sixth time in a row, women made up the majority of medical school applicants, matriculants, and total enrollment, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
In this year’s matching cohort at SLU, 52% are women who secured positions in prestigious residency programs nationwide, spanning a diverse range of specialties, including OB-GYN, psychiatry, family medicine, pediatrics, and more. Three women reflect on their experiences as medical students at SLU, the connections they’ve made with patients and aspirations for the future. With a dedication to serving their communities, women, they aim to pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable health care environment.
2025 Match Day Reflections
Paige Colbert, Pediatrics, SSM Health/Saint Louis University SOM
Q. What are your thoughts about continuing your training at SSM Health/Saint Louis University SOM? How has SLU prepared you to get to this point?
A. Throughout this match process, the number one thing I sought in a program was to be at a place that felt like home. After all, I’ll be spending most of my waking hours with this program, so I wanted it to be one where I was happy to show up each day. At SLU (and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon), I found that SLU has an excellent pediatrics program, the people I fit in with, and the Jesuit values I want to practice with. I was lucky to learn at SLU as a student, where I was pushed to think creatively and see each patient as an individual, in addition to experiencing SLU's collaborative culture firsthand. I’ve found so many wonderful mentors here, and I’m happy to continue to work with them as I move into the resident role!
Ayanna Shambe, OB/GYN, University of New Mexico
Q. How did you decide which residency programs to apply to and ultimately rank?
A. I wanted to be in a program where I felt supported. That meant being in a diverse area, being at a program that valued diversity, equity and inclusion, having friends or family in the area, having attendings who are sponsors and mentors, resources to support resident research, conference travel, board exam prep, being somewhere with good delivery and surgical case volume where residents had no trouble meeting required case numbers. I also wanted to be in a program with early exposure to sub-specialties and a good balance of obstetrics to gynecology experiences, as some programs are heavily obstetrics. I also discussed my list with my dad and friends.
Q. How do you hope to impact your patients and the medical community in the future?
A. I want to be the doctor who truly listens to my patients, allowing them to feel in good hands, empowered to ask questions during encounters, and collaborators in their care. I want to impact the medical community through the education and training of future generations. One day, I desire to be a founding faculty member of a medical school. Until then, I will engage in medical education research, probably working on committees and teaching, mentoring, and sponsoring trainees.
Megan Halloran, OB-GYN, Tufts Medical Center
Q. What have been the biggest challenges you've faced during medical school, and how did you overcome them?
A. Overcoming imposter syndrome has been one of my most significant challenges during medical school. There were so many days during my M1 year when I felt like I didn’t belong in my class with all of these amazing, intelligent people and that everyone else knew what they were doing except for me. The feeling of imposter syndrome slowly improved over preclinicals but came right back as third-year clerkships started. To overcome these feelings, I relied heavily on my SLU SOM advisors and my friends, both inside and outside medicine. My friends in medical school were all able to validate my feelings and share their similar struggles, which helped tremendously. This feeling is so familiar among medical students, but I think SLU SOM does a fantastic job of providing support and reassurance throughout the whole four years.
Q. How do you think your time at SLU prepared you to make a difference in your community?
A. There are so many ways that SLU SOM has prepared me to make a difference in my community. For example, I spent a month with nine other medical students setting up and running Women’s Health clinics in the Dominican Republic. SLU SOM facilitated this opportunity for me to immerse myself into a rural community and not only provide Women’s Health exams to over 200 patients but also provide educational materials and presentations to the women in these communities. I will take these experiences wherever I match and continue emphasizing the importance of education and support.
Alexis Cole, Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University
Q. How did you prepare for the Match process? What advice would you give future medical students?
A. My match preparation began by envisioning my desired career and community impact. Driven to serve underserved urban communities and influence health policy, I strategically pursued opportunities to develop relevant skills. These included lobbying at the Missouri State Capitol and co-founding The Futures of Nashville, a college and career exploration program. These unique experiences allowed me to authentically demonstrate my potential as a resident and align with programs that share my interests.
Q. How do you think your time at SLU prepared you to make a difference in your community?
A. SLU's unique opportunities for inner-city clinical and community experience have been transformative. I've built lasting relationships and am committed to leveraging my training to advocate for patients through legislative channels at both the state and federal levels in the future.
About SLU School of Medicine
Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has a long history of excellence in education, research, and patient care. The school is dedicated to educating future leaders in medicine, advancing the understanding of health and disease, and providing quality health care guided by a strong commitment to the values of Saint Louis University.