Dr. Michael Arias
Class of 2021
Chief Resident, PGY-4
Dr. Michael Arias, a 2021 graduate of the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, is finishing a residency in Miami and has matched into a neuromuscular medicine fellowship at UCLA for 2025-2026.
Originally accepted as part of Burrell’s inaugural class of 2020, Dr. Arias postponed medical school for one year due to Army training in Texas. He recently completed his eight-year military service in return for a full-tuition graduate scholarship at USC, where he earned his MPH in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. Dr. Arias received an honorable discharge as a Captain and a Medical Services Officer on October 30, 2024.
Originally from Los Angeles, Dr. Arias is ecstatic about returning to his hometown for fellowship. He reflects on the support Burrell College provided during his time in service.
“Burrell College always supported me during my time as an Army Reservist while I was a student in medical school,” Dr. Arias said. “From the moment I needed to postpone my first day from 2016 to 2017 until graduation in 2021, even with multiple military conflicts along the way, Burrell College always supported me.”
“My education at Burrell College gave me the tools I needed to match into my dream specialty for residency—and now into my dream program for my fellowship back home,” Dr. Arias said.
Advice for Current Students
Dr. Arias advises Burrell students to prioritize building a life not just within medicine but outside of the medical field as well.
“I was able to hone my medical decision-making through experiences I had outside of the hospital, and vice versa,” Dr. Arias said. “In this crazy and long journey of our careers as physicians, sometimes the best care you can provide your patients comes from the care and time you provide yourself outside of being a doctor.”
“When you are in the lull of studying for pre-clinical tests, shelf exams, board exams, or even certifications, try not to forget that we shouldn’t care just about the length of life—we should care about the depth of life too!”
Dr. Arias’ careers in both the military and medicine underscore the importance of having a well-rounded background, which not only benefits a career in medicine but also enriches life in general.
