Even the most dedicated and hard-working applicants encounter obstacles on the path to a career in medicine.
Are you a premedical student hoping to become a doctor? Are you a medical student interested in matching with a competitive specialty or residency program? Are you a resident seeking a coveted fellowship position?
At The Successful Match, we have the expertise to help you overcome challenges. Thousands of medical school, residency, and fellowship applicants have used our books and consulting services to match with coveted positions. Learn more about how we can help you reach your goals.
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About
Samir Desai, M.D.
Founder and President
Faculty
Samir Desai, MD serves on the faculty of the Baylor College of Medicine in the Department of Medicine. He has educated and mentored premedical students, medical students, residents, and international medical graduates, work for which he has received numerous teaching awards.
As a member of the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine, he is deeply committed to educating and mentoring medical students. He has served on the medical school admissions and residency selection committees at the Baylor College of Medicine and Northwestern University.
Author
Dr. Desai is an author and editor, having written 20 books that together have sold over 250,000 copies worldwide. These books have been widely used by medical school, residency, and fellowship applicants in the admissions and selection process. The book - The Successful Match - has been listed as Suggested Reading in the AAMC Careers in Medicine. Two other books, Success on the Wards and the Clinician's Guide to Laboratory Medicine, are required or recommended reading in many of our nation's medical schools, nurse practitioner programs, and physician assistant programs.
Some institutions where these resources have been adopted include the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Learn more about his books.
Speaker
Dr. Desai has been invited to speak about medical school admissions, success in medical school, and residency selection at many schools, including the University of Texas Austin, University of Michigan Medical School, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Rice University. If you would like to have Dr. Desai speak at your school, program, meeting, organization, or event, contact us.
Dr. Desai's Work
Medical School Admissions
Through his work on the medical school admissions, Dr. Desai has gained tremendous experience and knowledge about the factors that lead to success in the admissions process. His determination to share this knowledge widely led him to write the book Medical School Interview: Winning Strategies from Admissions Faculty.
In less than 2 years, the book has reached the top of the best-seller list in its category. Kirkus Reviews wrote that the book is "likely to be found indispensable by readers embarking on the arduous process of applying to medical school."
He is also the author of the Multiple Mini Interview: Winning Strategies from Admissions Faculty, a resource that has been used by thousands of applicants preparing for health professions MMIs. He enjoys working with aspiring medical students to help them reach their professional goals. During two out of the last three application cycles, 100% of his interview coaching clients gained admission to medical school. Learn more about his consulting services.
Residency Admissions
Having served on the residency selection committees at two top-20 U.S. medical schools, he has developed extensive knowledge about the factors that lead to success in the residency selection process. This led him to co-author the popular resource The Successful Match, a book that has been recommended as Suggested Reading in the AAMC Careers in Medicine Student Guide. Readers prize the book's detailed advice and emphasis on strategy.
He brings the same level of detail to his residency clients, and has helped hundreds of students match successfuly with competitive specialties and programs. He especially takes great joy in helping applicants with red flags (low USMLE/COMLEX scores, failed or poor performance in basic science courses/clerkships, etc.) achieve their professional dreams.
He brings a highly individualized approach to each client, and is proud to now call many of his clients colleagues. Learn more about his consulting services.
Fellowship Admissions
In the 15 plus years he has served as a faculty member at the Baylor College of Medicine, he has mentored many residents who have successfully matched into competitive subspecialties and fellowship programs. After realizing that there were few resources available to help residents land these competitive positions, he wrote the book Resident's Guide to the Fellowship Match.
He also enjoys working with residency applicants to maximize their chances of securing positions in fellowship programs. Learn more about his consulting services.
Awards
Dr. Desai is committed to excellence in patient care, teaching, and research, and has been honored to receive multiple awards in recognition.
- National Merit Finalist
- Valedictorian, High School
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
- Graduated First in Class at Wayne State University School of Medicine
- Outstanding Resident Teacher Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- Chief Resident, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Medicine
- Housestaff Teaching Awards (honored multiple years), Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine
- Fulbright & Jaworski Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching and Evaluation
- AAIM Innovations in Medicine Grant Recipient
About
Rajani Katta, M.D.
Author
Interview Expert
Member of the AAD Media Expert Team
Faculty
Dr. Rajani Katta served as Professor of Dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine for over 17 years, following which she founded Katta Dermatology. She is very passionate about patient and student education, and has written extensively on diet and dermatology, contact dermatitis, and medical student education. She is an award-winning educator, has been very involved in medical student education, and has authored a total of 7 books on dermatology and medical school success. Her latest book is GLOW: The Dermatologist's Guide to a Whole Foods, Younger Skin Diet. She's deeply committed to patient education, and has served on the Board of Directors of the American Contact Dermatitis Society as well as the Program Committee of the Health Museum. She is board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology and is certified in Culinary Medicine as well. She currently serves on the Voluntary Clinical Faculty of both the Baylor College of Medicine and the McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Houston.
Media
Dr. Katta has been quoted and featured in multiple media outlets, including Good Housekeeping, the Oprah magazine, the Dr. Oz magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Houston Chronicle, Detroit News, Family Circle, and Glamour magazine. She has also been featured in news programs on the ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox networks, as well as NPR. She also serves as a member of the Media Expert Team of the American Academy of Dermatology. For more information and links to media appearances, see our Media Page.
Speaker
Dr. Katta has lectured at the national meetings of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Contact Dermatitis Society. She has also lectured extensively both nationally and locally at such institutions as the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Texas, University of Southern California, University of Nebraska, and Kaiser Permanente.
Dr. Katta's Work
Research
Dr. Katta has authored over 80 scientific articles and chapters in prestigious publications, including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. She has also been honored to serve on the Review Panels for the Archives of Dermatology, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and American Family Physician. Her current research involves diet and dermatology, allergic contact dermatitis, diet and dermatitis, and patient perceptions of diet and acne. For a full list of her publications, link here.
Service
Dr. Katta has worked to advance the fields of dermatology and patient and medical student education through her involvement in the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Contact Dermatitis Society. She is currently a Voluntary Clinical Faculty member of both the Baylor College of Medicine and the McGovern Medical School. She also serves as a member of the Media Expert Team of the American Academy of Dermatology, and completed a 3-year term serving on the Board of Directors of the American Contact Dermatitis Society. She has authored over 80 scientific articles and chapters, as well as 7 books, in the areas of dermatology and education.
Awards
Dr. Katta is committed to excellence in patient care, teaching, and research, and has been honored to receive multiple awards in recognition.
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National Merit Scholar
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Phi Beta Kappa
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Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
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American Medical Women's Association Scholastic Achievement Award
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Women's Dermatological Society Mentorship Grant
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Sulzberger Institute for Dermatologic Education Grant
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Fulbright & Jaworski Faculty Excellence Award for the Development of Enduring Educational Materials
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Named to 2017-2020 Texas Super Doctors®
"Over the years, we've partnered with hundreds of premedical students, medical students, and residents to develop highly individualized strategies for success. Our clients have shared with me their hopes and fears, and together we've overcome a variety of obstacles and challenges. We'll utilize our expertise and experience to help you become our colleague in medicine. Sign up now for a free consultation." Let's meet.
Samir Desai M.D. and Rajani Katta M.D.
Alex Townsley,
Clinic Assistant and Website Editor
Alex is a recent graduate of Rice University with a B.A. in Psychology. She plans to attend medical school in the Fall of 2023 for an MD.
Jennifer Li-Wang
Content Creator
Jenny is a graduate of Rice University with a B.A. in English and The Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality. She is the co-author of The Casper Test Prep Guide and writes on health and success.
Jackie Arellano
Podcast Producer and
Website Editor
Jackie graduated with her Associate's Degree from San Jacinto College. She will be attending Texas A&M University to pursue a minor in psychology and a major in kinesiology.