Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI MED) student Kanesha Overton has become the first female in the school’s history to match into a urology residency program. Also, the school’s first student to complete the 2023 residency match process, Overton will serve at University of Washington’s urology residency program starting in July. The achievement is the first of many goals Overton has set for herself as a soon-to-be graduate of the world’s first engineering-based medical school.
“Personally, this means everything to me. The goal was to match in urology, and I not only matched but also matched at a phenomenal program,” said Overton, who was selected for one of only four residency slots at UW Urology. “Professionally, I know that this is a program that will support my future endeavors including device development, research interests, and fellowship opportunities. I have no doubt that they will propel me to be the physician innovator I dream of becoming.”
The Washington, D.C. native came to CI MED as part of the school’s inaugural class with a degree in engineering and a dream of leveraging her background to advance medicine. “Being a Jill-of-all-trades, I desire to use my resourcefulness and problem-solving skills to create equitable opportunities for marginalized communities,” Overton said. “Throughout all three phases of the curriculum, we learn how to use engineering to truly solve health care challenges, both big and small. My goal in urology as a physician innovator is to create products and devices that improve patients’ quality of life and surgical outcomes,” Overton said.
Overton’s long-term career goals include one day returning to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as the CI MED dean. “I truly believe in the mission and the vision of this program. I want this school to be the model for future medical schools to follow, and I want to be a part of building the great legacy of this school.” she said.
Part of Overton’s vision includes leading CI MED’s role in fostering diversity within the medical profession. “I want to lead a team that truly believes in being Carle Illinois, the medical school that is not like others because we have the common goal of changing the face of medicine. I want to create opportunities for students, especially from low-income and minority backgrounds. There are many barriers to getting into medical school for these students, which I experienced first-hand. I dream of this school being a program that produces excellence, no matter your background.”
Overton admits her medical school journey has included many struggles, but she credits her own determination and the support of faculty and clinical mentors at CI MED. “Support is an understatement. There are plenty of days where the CI MED community carried me. Every step of the way there was someone there pushing me to continue.”
Urology residency typically lasts five years. US News and World Report ranked UW Urology tenth in the nation for pediatric urology, and UW Medicine was ranked 26th among hospitals providing urology care in 2022.
Urology is one of the few specialties to announce residency matches on its own schedule. The National Resident Matching Program’s main Match Day for most specialties will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023.