As a military match, osteopathic medical student Jonica Velinda Carlton (DO '25) learned about her match a few months before the National Residency Match Program's Match Day. She discovered in December 2024 that she matched at Travis Air Force Base in Sacramento, California, for a first-year training program in general surgery.
“I loved general surgery and surgery in general,” Carlton stated. “My favorite doctors I have worked with have all been surgeons. This ranges from the neurosurgeons and general surgeons at Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville to the wonderful orthopedic doctors in my own backyard at OrthoAtlanta. It goes to show that a great preceptor and mentor can greatly impact your choices.”
When Carlton learned that she matched, she felt relief and then happiness.
“I was so grateful to be accepted and seen as a competitive candidate and given an opportunity to work in general surgery,” she said. “I hope to continue in general surgery with a proper military residency. I know God has a plan for me, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for Dr. Carlton.”
She said PCOM South Georgia prepared her well for this next phase of her career.
“There are many tools that PCOM has given me to be successful in residency, including teamwork and collaboration, clinical exposure, and communication skills,” Carlton said. “However, the one tool I valued most was mentorship. There were so many faculty members who taught me valuable lessons, including resiliency, time management and professionalism.”
For other DO students, she offers this advice.
“It will get tough and you will feel like you want to give up,” she said. “Your endurance and will power will get tested a lot. Failure happens, but it is the best way to learn. This may be one of the most challenging journeys you will encounter in life. In the end, it is a struggle you'll be thankful for. Remember that every storm runs out of rain, and medical school is a storm you have to weather.”
In 2019, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a premier osteopathic medical school established in 1899, extended its commitment to the Southeast by establishing PCOM South Georgia. An additional teaching location in Moultrie, Georgia, PCOM South Georgia offers both a full, four-year medical program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. PCOM is a private, not-for-profit institution that trains professionals in the health and behavioral sciences fields. Joining PCOM Georgia in Suwanee in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state, PCOM South Georgia focuses on educating physicians for the region. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 229-668-3110.
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Cindy B. Montgomery
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Email: cindymo@pcom.edu
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