For many medical students, doubt creeps in at various stages of their quest to become a physician. Joseph Martinez was no different.
But by the time March 21, 2025 rolled around, Martinez had a mix of excitement about the future and nervousness about the unknowns, but mostly, he felt ready. He believed that every step of his journey — from the long hours of studying to the clinical rotations and research projects — were leading up to his Match Day moment.
And he was right.
With his mom and one of his closest friends joining by FaceTime, he and two of his classmates opened the emails they had been waiting for. Surrounded by family and friends, he felt their support and excitement as his results were revealed.
“My hard work paid off,” Martinez thought that day. “I matched at my top choice!” With a long-term goal of having his own neurology practice specializing in movement disorders, his match in Neurology at University of Miami / Jackson Health Systems is the next step in his success story. Years of dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance had led to this, and he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride.
An Unwavering Commitment to Movement Disorders
Born in Cuba, Martinez immigrated to the United States when he was 11 years old. A few short years later, he was a high school student volunteering in the Neurology Department at the Don Soffer Clinical Research Center at the University of Miami Hospital.
Martinez said his passion for neurology solidified during his undergraduate years at the University of Miami, where he conducted clinical research on Parkinson’s Disease. He had the opportunity to present his findings at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) and was honored with an award for the significance of his work.
During Martinez’s clinical research internship at the University of Miami Hospital's Brain and Spine Center, he worked with and shadowed Corneliu Luca, MD, PhD, a renowned neurologist who subspecializes in Movement Disorders.
“Working alongside him, seeing his bedside manners with patients, and presenting our research findings and receiving a national award at a prestigious conference affirmed the significance of our work and strengthened my commitment to advancing neurological care,” Martinez explained. “This experience ignited my love for clinical neurology and inspired me to contribute to its ongoing growth.”
Ross Med + Resilience Leads to Success
“Choosing Ross University School of Medicine was a straightforward decision for me,” said Martinez. “Ross Med is well-regarded as one of the top Caribbean medical schools, the scholarship package they offered was the best I received and they offer multiple starting dates, which was a significant factor for me. While this may not seem crucial to everyone, having the option to start in the Summer term made all the difference, as other top institutions didn’t begin until September. Additionally, after reviewing the RUSM website and researching their Step 1 first-attempt pass rate and Match rate, I was impressed by their strong track record of success. This reassured me that I was making the right choice.”
When asked what led to his successful match, Martinez listed several factors that could help other students as they pursue their own careers in medicine:
- Building genuine connections with people in all different roles. You never know who might offer guidance or open a door for you.
- Giving my full effort, whether I’m interacting with attendings, residents, or support staff.
- Being intentional about going the extra mile; showing up on weekends during away rotations, actively participating on rounds, asking to write notes, and seeking early exposure in the field.
- Attending conferences and networking with professionals also helped me gain insight and establish meaningful relationships.
- Learning how to leave my doubt behind. I now understand that believing in myself is just as important as the work I put in.
- Making sacrifices, now and in the future. Despite it all, I see these moments not as losses, but as part of the journey toward something deeply meaningful. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t hesitate.
“Ultimately,” Martinez said. “It’s about being present, engaged, and consistently giving more than what’s expected.”
Gaining Confidence as a Rossie
Martinez believes that many people can relate to not feeling like the “perfect” candidate on paper. As someone who learned English as a second language and lacked access to proper guidance and study resources early on — especially for standardized exams like the MCAT — it deeply affected his confidence in his ability to perform well on high-stakes exams.
“I didn’t initially achieve the MCAT score I had hoped for,” Martinez said. “I didn’t realize how essential practice questions were until much later in my academic journey. I’ve also learned that one exam score doesn’t define your potential to succeed in medicine. What truly matters is your determination, willingness to grow, and belief in yourself. I’m incredibly grateful that the staff at Ross believed in me and gave me the opportunity to prove myself. They provided me with the tools and structure I needed — and I made sure to use them fully.”
Martinez wants to encourage other students to trust the process and lean into the supports offered at Ross Med.
“I can honestly say that I was a different person before and after Step 1,” Martinez said of that pivotal moment in his training. “Successfully navigating the first two years — which I consider the most challenging in terms of content volume — validated all the hard work and long nights I put in. Today, I can proudly say that I passed Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 with confidence — and most importantly, I’ve grown tremendously through the process.”
The Best is Yet to Come
During Martinez’s gap year, he worked as a medical scribe at the University of Miami and throughout medical school, he rotated through the neurology department. His long-standing relationship with the hospital has not only provided him with invaluable experiences but also a sense of continuity and purpose as he now prepares to join their team as a resident.
Reflecting on his ultimate goal of having his own neurology practice specializing in movement disorders, he said, “This dream feels more within reach now than ever before, and I am excited to continue working toward making it a reality!”
