Pediatrics residents match at their top choices for fellowships

From left, Haidee Custodio, M.D.; Erika Morales, M.D.; Jordan Cooper, M.D.; Eru Sujakhu, M.D.; J.C. Hernandez, M.D.; and Benjamin Estrada, M.D.

The latest class of pediatrics residents from USA Health recently matched into their top choices for subspecialty fellowships at prestigious hospitals and health systems across the United States.  

“We're proud of our long history of residents matching into the fellowship programs they aim for, and this year was no exception,” said Haidee Custodio, M.D., pediatrics residency program director at USA Health and professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the Whiddon College of Medicine. “Our residents put in the work, and our faculty have been right there supporting them every step of the way.”

Here are the pediatrics residents, their specialties, and where they matched for fellowships:   

• Chime Ndubuoke, M.D., neonatology, UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas 
• Erika Morales, M.D., endocrinology, Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas 
• Eru Sujakhu, M.D., gastroenterology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio 
• J.C. Hernandez, M.D., cardiology, UTHealth Houston in Houston, Texas 
• Jordan Cooper, M.D., neonatology, East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina 
• Maria Jose Vera Sanchez, M.D., hematology and oncology, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida 

By training in teaching hospitals and at medical clinics, new physicians can learn in an environment that integrates education, research and patient care — an experience offering benefits to the healthcare staff and those they care for. Research shows patients treated in teaching hospitals had up to 20% higher odds of survival compared to those treated at non-teaching hospitals, noted the Association of American Medical Colleges. 

The three-year pediatrics residency program at USA Health is a university-based initiative designed to prepare residents to enter practice as general pediatricians or for subspecialty training. The goal of the program is to prepare the pediatricians-in-training to practice effective primary care pediatrics in the community, while simultaneously providing flexibility, allowing those interested in subspecialty training, academic pediatrics, and research the necessary background to pursue those professional goals.