For Dr. John O’Connor, Match Day represented more than securing a residency position. It marked a return to the community where he grew up and first imagined a future in medicine. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and raised in the Tampa Bay area, the Class of 2026 graduate matched into Pediatrics at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida. He starts his residency there this summer.
Throughout medical school, Dr. O’Connor remained focused on a long-standing goal of caring for children and supporting families. His journey included meaningful mentorship, hands-on preparation, and a deeply personal connection to the specialty he ultimately chose, shaped by the loss of his sister Ashley at a young age. In this interview with the UMHS Endeavour, Dr. O’Connor reflects on the experiences that shaped his path and the lessons he hopes current and prospective students carry forward.
Dr. John O'Connor when he was a med student at UMHS in St. Kitts. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. O'Connor.
The journey to medicine
UMHS Endeavour: Please tell us about yourself, where you're from, and where you'll be completing residency.
I was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, but moved to Tampa, Florida at a young age and grew up in the Tampa Bay area. This summer I’ll begin my pediatrics residency at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. Returning to Tampa makes this opportunity especially meaningful.
Did you always know you wanted to become a doctor?
I always wanted to become a doctor. Before medical school, I worked as a medical scribe at Tampa General Hospital and later as a medical assistant at an allergy, asthma and immunology clinic. Those experiences reinforced that medicine was where I belonged and allowed me to see firsthand how physicians impact patients and families.
What inspired you to pursue pediatrics?
When I was younger, I always had a passion for pediatrics, but one experience especially stayed with me. My older sister Ashley passed away when she was almost five years old. Seeing what a loss like that does to a family stayed with me for a long time and made me want to approach medicine from a place of understanding. I wanted to care for children and support families during difficult moments. During rotations, I kept an open mind and tried to learn from every specialty, but pediatrics was my final core rotation and afterward I remembered exactly what I wanted to do. My heart kept bringing me back to pediatrics.
Were there activities outside the classroom that reinforced that interest?
One experience that stood out was volunteering through Buddy Baseball and spending time with children and families outside of clinical environments. Experiences like that reminded me that medicine is about relationships and helping people feel supported.
Dr. John O’Connor at the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) Experience National Convention and Exhibition in Denver, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. O’Connor.
Why UMHS
What led you to choose UMHS?
After applying to U.S. MD and DO programs over multiple cycles and spending time on waitlists, I met Dr. Fatima Khan at the clinic where I worked. She was part of UMHS’s first graduating class and encouraged me to apply. Seeing someone who had gone through UMHS, matched successfully, and built the kind of career I hoped for made me realize this was a path worth pursuing.
What was your experience like at UMHS?
Medical school challenged me academically and personally, but it also helped me grow. Building relationships with classmates, faculty members, and mentors became an important part of the experience.
John O’Connor and UMHS medical students during a simulated and standardized patient exercise at UMHS. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. O’Connor.
Dr. John O'Connor and his girlfriend, Bayleigh Nemeth (a current UMHS student), in St. Kitts. The two met during his time at UMHS. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. O'Connor.
Medical school is also about the relationships you build along the way. I understand you met someone special during your time at UMHS. Can you tell us about that experience?
UMHS was where I met my girlfriend, Bayleigh Nemeth, who is currently in clinical rotations. She helped me get through some tough patches in my journey and always supported my aspirations. She helped make me a better student, doctor, and friend.
Preparing for residency
How did UMHS prepare you for residency?
The fifth semester in Maine was huge for me. After the classroom work in St. Kitts, we transitioned into clinical preparation and OSCE experiences with standardized patients. We learned how to narrow differential diagnoses and communicate more effectively. One lesson that stayed with me was that patients are not grades or cases; they’re people. That mindset helped prepare me before entering the hospital setting.
How did the Department of Residency and Professional Advising support you through Match?
Patrick McCormick and Jonathan Timen conducted mock interviews and prepared us for the kinds of questions residency programs ask. One thing that always stuck with me was being reminded that if we reached the interview stage, we deserved to be there. Garrett Eisler also did an amazing job helping with the Medical Student Performance Evaluation and making sure our strengths were represented well. Their support gave me confidence throughout interview season.
Returning home
What stood out to you about the University of South Florida residency program?
Returning to USF feels full circle because I completed my undergraduate studies there. Tampa Bay has become such a diverse and multicultural community, and being back near family and my support system made this opportunity especially meaningful.
What are you most looking forward to during residency?
I’m excited to continue learning, work with pediatric patients, and grow into the kind of physician I’ve always hoped to become.
Dr. John O'Connor. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. O'Connor.
Advice for future students
What advice would you give current and prospective UMHS students?
Perseverance is probably the strongest attribute you need in medical school. There are going to be highs and lows, successes and setbacks, but keep moving forward and stay motivated. Coming from a Caribbean medical school and ending up back in my hometown for residency feels like a huge blessing. Trust the process and keep going because it’s worth it in the end.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I’m grateful to everyone who supported me along the way, from family, classmates and faculty to mentors. I’m excited for what comes next and thankful for everything that helped me get here.
Contact Dr. O'Connor at joconnor@umhs-sk.net
Top photo: Dr. John O'Connor. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. O'Connor.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
