LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — For aspiring doctors, becoming a physician takes years. It’s a marathon, not a sprint— a phrase one Arkansan knows quite literally.
Doctors and surgeons are known for their steady hands, but not on Match Day. Fort Smith native Robert Kiss said the experience was nerve-wracking.
"I mean I was trembling on stage because I was so nervous," he said.
Kiss is one of the many graduates participating in Match Day. On this day, UAMS grads get to see where in the country their residency will take them. Kiss matched into childhood neurology at UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"Just had a lot of faith in it and I know this is where I’m supposed to be,” he described. "Kids are super fun to work with, everyday is a fun day in the hospital and it’s just great to be involved helping kids grow into the people they hope to be.”
Now, the Fort Smith native is beginning the next relay of his medical studies— something he is all to familiar with. Earlier this month he raced in and won the Little Rock half marathon!
“Amazing, very unexpected, and I felt blessed and just a very happy moment for me,” Kiss said.
He credits his parents for his love of running to help deal with the stresses of medical school.
“A big passion and just something that helps me relax during the day after work. For me to be able to go out and run races like that is just a blessing for me,” he added
Now he’s running wild for apartments in Pennsylvania as he prepares for his big move.
“Only a few months now so I have to find a new place to live and get ready for that. It’s going to be a new stage of my life and I’m really excited for it,” Kiss said.