Match Day Student Profile: Daniel Salevitz

For four years, students at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix have worked toward Match Day — the day they 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 ceremonies coordinated to occur at the exact same time across the country. Members of the Class of 2020 will receive letters that reveal where they will go for their residency training at precisely 9:00 a.m. Friday, March 20. The UA College of Medicine – Phoenix is profiling several students in advance of Match Day 2020.

Meet Daniel Salevitz

Daniel Salevitz was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, and attended North Canyon High School in Phoenix. He received a BA in Spanish at Johns Hopkins University and completed an MS in physiology at Georgetown University.

Little known fact: He is a board game addict and can spend hours playing board games with friends. He likes everything from card games to complex strategy games with a thousand pieces.

Path toward Medicine

Salevitz applied to medical school three times before he was accepted.

“There were definitely times along the way when my confidence wavered,” he said. “I know there's a long journey ahead, as well, but if you really have a passion for helping people and hearing their stories, there's no reason you can't rest easy at night knowing you've chosen the right career path.”

Growing up, Salevitz had two major medical influences: His father and grandfather are both surgeons.

“I remember when we would be out to dinner as a family, and one of my dad's or grandfather's patients would come over to say hello and thank them for the surgery or treatment they received. I always thought it would be so fulfilling to make a difference in someone's life like that, so I gravitated toward medicine.”

Choosing a Specialty

Salevitz already knows where he will be spending his residency, as urology matches early. He will begin residency in urologic surgery this summer at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona.

He chose urology because he believes it unites several aspects of medicine he loves: long-term patient care, treatment of benign and malignant conditions, and a mix of outpatient clinic with surgical time.

“The majority of urologists I have met are eager to teach and share their passion for the specialty, and I can't wait to pay it forward someday,” he said.

Extracurricular Activities

Throughout medical school Salevitz volunteered at the Wesley Community and Health Center because he thought the experience would hone his clinical skills. He soon realized he also liked interacting with the patients. He worked as a tutor for first- and second-year medical students when he was an MS2, and enjoyed creating study materials to help students excel in their pre-clinical years.

Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix

Among the reasons Salevitz wanted to attend the College of Medicine – Phoenix was that he believed the doctoring curriculum with standardized patients was second to none.

“It's probably the best thing that the school has done to prepare me to be a competent clinician and diagnostician. Also, the anatomy lab and gross anatomy block is awesome. The state-of-the-art facilities and the high faculty to student ratio, especially during anatomy lab sessions, really helped me learn the information.”

Favorite Medical School Memory

“There are too many to choose.”

Advice to Current or Future Medical Students

His advice is not to panic. Medical school is a long road, but is worth it. Salevitz said he worried that juggling his studies, practicing for the clinical doctoring course, doing research and volunteering would leave him with no time to have fun. That was not the case.

“The college gives its students the resources and support to master the art of being a medical student,” he said.

His best advice: “Make good use of the the learning specialists and tutors on a regular basis.”

• More Match Day 2020 Student Profiles.