Home » Health News »
Hugs, high-fives, happy tears at Match Day
Match Day is like the Academy Awards for medical students. Nervous anticipation precedes a ceremonial unsealing of envelopes that often inspires cheers, clapping and tearful thanks to family and friends who provided emotional support.
The spotlight arrived Friday, March 15, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, when 124 physicians-to-be opened envelopes that revealed the names of the hospitals where they will train as medical residents after graduation. Along with the event came happy tears, hugs and high-fives.
“This is perhaps the most momentous milestone in medical school,” said Kathryn Diemer, MD, assistant dean for career counseling and a professor of medicine. She has been in charge of Match Day at Washington University since 2000.
Mark Hallett“This feels like my first Match Day,” Diemer said before the big event. “I feel the same anticipation, excitement and pride for these students every year. They work so hard, not only this year with the application process, the interviews and now the anticipation leading up to Match Day, but on all of their accomplishments throughout medical school. It’s inspiring. I will miss this class, but I know that on Monday, my calendar already is booked with appointments to help the Class of 2020.”
Thousands of medical students nationwide participate in Match Day. However, medical schools celebrate in different ways. Some have students simultaneously open envelopes that divulge the names of the institutions where they will begin residency training in July. Others host formal brunches or informal gatherings at restaurants.
At Washington University, a big screen behind the stage at the Eric P. Newman Education Center recalls each student’s ambitions as first-year students and juxtaposes that past with the future. Students individually walk, strut or dance across the stage to theme songs each chooses. Some invite friends and families — including babies, toddlers and teens — to accompany them on stage. Each then reads out loud his or her match.
Among the university’s multitalented medical students, many will stay in St. Louis for residencies at Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals. Others matched at hospitals throughout the United States, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston; UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco; UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles; the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore; McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago; New York-Presbyterian Hospital, affiliated with both Columbia University and Cornell University; and hospitals affiliated with Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
Highlights of Washington University’s Match Day included:
- Of the 124 medical students, 41 will train at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and two at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
- Besides Missouri, the most popular states where School of Medicine students will train include California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Maryland. Altogether, this year’s class will be represented at hospitals in 21 states and Washington, D.C.
- Twenty-eight students will train in surgery, including seven each in general surgery and orthopedic surgery; and six in plastic surgery.
- The next largest group of students — 24 — will train in internal medicine, followed by 11 in obstetrics-gynecology and nine each in emergency medicine, psychiatry and dermatology.
- Overall, the National Resident Matching Program recorded the largest match ever, with 38,376 applicants registered and 35,185 positions offered.
40446992653_4571d6ac19_b
46689219384_7a3f5e58d8_b
40446993593_46ac7d2b1d_b
40446994413_1e9ef7a7aa_b
46689223334_d2bd2fbb58_b
46689220764_33de839eba_b
47412438091_9c419ceb25_b
46689221224_ebdeee3758_b
47412438301_da446bd282_b
47359756222_01671fe232_b
46689237074_4b018ec647_b
46689231984_a9240d88bf_b
47359757692_b18d834652_b
46689239754_a9b6dac2d3_b
46497283735_fae8a1d7c0_b
46497284295_0d392b16b8_b
46497285075_152a057cc1_b
46689223794_1b0037b6ba_b
46689229154_c71427c10c_b
46689229784_8cdd4fd97b_b
46689220144_46b2dd67f8_b
47412437831_7f8b336fb3_b
46689230864_3c5b4301bd_b
46689231474_82bbea516a_b
46689232814_0c854a91ab_b
46689233344_a6809d0aed_b
46689234124_2133b6edd8_b
46689235224_ffd7c52a36_b
46689218474_024eb93c39_b
46689230414_7d4984f9c8_b
46689239054_92c8ee233b_b
46689237844_04932a5313_b
46689238334_e7a7b09e6c_b
46689236044_0d538c1528_b
46689240574_d86898422f_b
47359757012_ebbaca5747_b
46689241584_60c7a51982_b
46689242284_40f35fef38_b
Source: Read Full Article