Match Day Student Profiles: Svadharma Keerthi and Farmin Samareh Jahani

For four years, students at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix have worked toward Match Day — the day students learn where they will spend the next several years as resident-physicians and a major step toward building their career in medicine. Match results are released nationally at Match Day ceremonies coordinated to occur at the exact same time across the country. Members of the Class of 2019 will receive letters showing where they will go for their residency training at 9:00 a.m. Friday, March 15. The UA College of Medicine – Phoenix is profiling several students in advance of Match Day 2019.

Meet Svadharma Keerthi and Farmin Samareh Jahani

Fourth-year medical students Svadharma Keerthi and Farmin Samareh Jahani met during their first year of medical school at a bowling event, but did not start dating until last year.

“When we first met, she refused to talk to me,” Jahani said. “I really thought she disliked me, but we eventually got together in a study group, became friends and started dating in our third year of medical school.”

Throughout medical school, the two have supported each other whether it was as classmates, friends or significant others.

“I honestly don’t think I would have come this far without her by my side,” Jahani said. “I’m not even sure I would have graduated because she always reminds me I should be doing things that are pretty important. I’m extremely lucky to have someone so caring and intelligent with me through this whole process.”

Keerthi added, “I’m so lucky to have found my best friend through this journey. He truly understands what I’m feeling and thinking, and he understands both the personal and professional struggles. He grounds me, encourages me and challenges me to become a better person. I know I am much better because he is by my side.”

Jahani received his bachelor’s degree in physiology at the University of Arizona. Although he spent the first 10 years of his life in Salt Lake City, Utah, he then moved to Chandler, Arizona, which he considers home. Keerthi’s first Arizona experience was going to medical school. Before moving to Phoenix, she lived in California where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology at the University of Southern California.

Path toward Medicine

“Medicine is one of the few careers that really offers a person the chance to be there for someone at their most desperate, vulnerable moment,” Jahani said. “Every day, you have the opportunity to meet an individual that can be completely unlike yourself, yet connect with them through a common goal to help that person live their life to their fullest. The people you meet are complete strangers, yet within a few minutes you can become one of the most important players in their life. This is pretty rare and I find it fascinating.”  

Jahani is pursuing internal medicine. “Internal Medicine is the oldest specialty in medicine and I think of them as the doctor’s doctor,” he said. “Additionally, there are so many different specialties you can branch into after residency.”

Keerthi will be going into emergency medicine, as she has always been drawn to problem solving in acute settings. “I enjoy that as a physician, I will be able to learn about every patient from birth to death with any disease, and the knowledge I gain will always be applicable in my practice,” she said.

She became interested in medicine when she was an undergraduate while working to help people in vulnerable situations. “I found myself drawn to medicine where I felt physicians had the unique opportunity to step into patient’s lives and alleviate suffering,” she said.

Why They Chose the College of Medicine – Phoenix

Both Jahani and Keerthi were attracted to the medical school because of its welcoming atmosphere and core values. Jahani said he was impressed with the College of Medicine – Phoenix community that emphasized their goal of creating strong, confident clinicians.

Keerthi chose to attend the College of Medicine – Phoenix because she loved the emphasis on working with the community and the variety of opportunities to learn in local, rural and global health settings. “I could really feel that the faculty and staff are dedicated to making the students into excellent clinicians on my interview day,” she said.

Advice to Medical Students

Jahani said that for a long time, he tried to follow the exact footsteps of others and realized he was trying to make others happy rather than focusing on himself. He said it’s worth taking the time to reflect on how you want to live and pursuing that.

“As frustrating as it sounds, there is really no way to live your life but your own way,” Jahani said. “You’ll be eagerly told by hundreds of people of how to do this or that, and while it’s good to take into consideration all of the advice you receive, it’s really up to you to figure out what works best for you.”

He added, “You won’t notice it, but you’ll see over the years how much you’ll change. It’ll be hard, but if you can, try to appreciate how far you’ve come and how far you’ll go.”

Medical school is known for its challenges, but Keerthi said she hopes students remember to enjoy the moments. “A lot of times we can get into thinking ‘I’ll be happy when it is over.’ There will be so many hurdles during medical school, and the rest of life, that you would rather skip. Try and enjoy the day-to-day life, cultivate the relationships and hobbies you cherish when you can, and before you know it, it will be over and you will be moving on to the next chapter.”