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Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019
| Contributor Information
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
The road to residency is a journey filled with seemingly impossible amounts of stress and pressure. Medical students wait as their entire future hangs in the balance, hoping against hope that the residency program they like most likes them back. When the envelopes are opened and matches are announced, the anxiety gives way to a relief that certainly feels something like magic.
With burnout and fatigue at an all-time high, all doctors and trainees could probably use a reminder of how special certain moments in their careers truly are. Here is a brief glimpse of the joy and excitement from Match Days past. Whether your Match Day has yet to come or is a fond memory that's now years behind you, be warned: Looking through these images of true happiness is likely to spark some joy.
If you'd like to share your photos from Match Day 2019 with us for use in next year's slideshow, please send them to rsyrek@webmd.net.
Image from SchMiyah L. Smith, MD
Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
Some Match Days are quiet and intimate experiences, whereas others are big-production family affairs. Standing on stage with her mother, sister, and nieces, Dr SchMiyah L. Smith discovered that her residency would take her to Florida State University College of Medicine – Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. Fulfilling a dream she has had since she was 4 years old, Smith is now a general surgery resident. As she explained, "I was inspired to become a surgeon after working with my now mentors, Dr Atwater and Dr Oviedo. I've been blessed with many wonderful clinical experiences, but the time spent with these two surgeons changed my outlook on medicine."
The role of mentors in helping medical students achieve their dreams cannot be understated. Those who were mentored also frequently become doctors who inspire others. Smith is already speaking to the next generation, stating, "To the young girls in elementary school and the women in medical school, I would like to say, you can do this! Never give up. Because you owe it to yourself to leave the doors open to become much more than you could ever dream you can be." We told you these moments were magical!
Image from Nicole Bryner
Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
The joy and relief that students feel after the Match is mirrored in the hearts of those who love them. The beaming smile of Jeremy Bryner, DO, was shared by his wife, Nicole Bryner, who summarized their experience perfectly. "It has been a challenging journey to get here, but today was proof that you should never stop fighting for your dreams!" Given that he matched into general surgery, traditionally one of the most competitive fields, the palpable excitement on display makes perfect sense. Surgical residency can be a uniquely challenging environment, but memories of moments like this will hopefully continue to serve as an inspiration in the days ahead.
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
The road to residency may start far earlier than many realize. Take the example of Daniel Roberts, MD, who is pictured here with his wife, Ashley Roberts. Ashley explained that Daniel's story is made extra special when put in the context of his family. Although medicine is often an intergenerational career, Daniel's parents were laborers without high-school diplomas. At a young age, he realized that medicine was in his future. He built a network of support and matched in the residency program that Ashley says "he had his heart set on from day one of medical school." Every match has a story, and after the smoke clears and the dust settles, asking others about their experience can be truly rewarding.
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
As Match Day numbers continue to grow and grow, focusing on the competitive aspects can be overwhelming. Nothing is better than when those worries fade into genuine shared excitement, as students who once may have felt like competitors become the colleagues you'll cherish. This is the case for Michelle Choe, MD, and Kristen Kurtz, MD. The two studied at UC Irvine School of Medicine/Children's Hospital of Orange County (UC Irvine-CHOC) and will continue their training together at the Baylor College of Medicine, working in hematology and oncology. No matter the specialty, sound advice can help new graduates make a seamless transition from medical school to residency.
Image from Una Regina Aluyen
Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
Although not met with the same fanfare as a professional athlete inking a new contract, signing on the dotted line with a residency program undoubtedly comes with a similar adrenaline release. Dr Una Regina Aluyen is shown here accepting a position with Texas Tech University Health Science Center, her top-ranked program. She graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in May 2017 and describes the moment depicted here as precisely when her "cup overflowethed." She says, "Finding out that I matched was, hands down, one of the happiest moments of my life. Even now, close to a year later, when I feel insecure, insufficient, or inadequate, I can go back to that specific moment to remember that I am capable and worthy."
Image from Ashley Osborne and Brandon Rogalski
Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
A feat at least equal to Olympic ice dancing, Drs Ashley Osborne and Brandon Rogalski pulled off the spectacular trick known as "the couples match." Osborne describes this wrinkle as adding a "layer of complexity to the already nerve-wracking and nebulous process." She offers some pointers for others trying to "couple up," including tips for making a ranking list:
Be honest and communicate about which programs you like and dislike.
Both of you should be willing to make some compromises.
If one of you has an interview at a program and your partner does not, let the program know.
Make your rank-order lists separately as if matching alone. Then average the "place numbers" given to each program. Adjust from there.
Image from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
No, they are not trying to find Waldo or Carmen Sandiego. These impending residents from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine are looking at relocating from Pennsylvania to someplace even closer to the Atlantic. They were among the record-high 35,969 medical students who jockeyed for 31,757 positions in 2017. Speaking of points farther out than the fingers on this map, last year's international medical school student applicant pool dipped by around 250 participants to just over 5000; however, the 54.8% of them who matched to PGY-1 positions marked the highest match rate since 2004. This is just a reminder that the shiny happy people in this slideshow are but a small sampling of the worldwide celebration that is Match Day.
Image from Paul Mergo
Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
With a shirt that reminds us that it's what's inside that counts, Dr Paul Mergo participates in one of Match Day's best unofficial traditions: phone calls that are difficult to understand because someone is too excited to speak clearly. Having matched into the diagnostic radiology department at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, Michigan, Dr Mergo's smartphone exchange conveys his joy over finally being able to breathe. As he describes it, "After all of the obstacles in applying to medical school, exams along the way, and dealing with self-doubt, seeing that you've matched is a huge accomplishment and the biggest relief! Hard work and patience do pay off." See that, kids? Stay in school.
Image from Una Regina Aluyen
Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
Although some of you may already be familiar with this, maybe it will help those of you still looking ahead to see how the good news might arrive. Set your email inboxes to accept messages from The National Resident Matching Program. That organization also handles the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), which is the cleanest acronym for a process that fills the positions left unfilled after the matching algorithm did its thing. Now is as good a time as any to talk about what comes next for those who are left unmatched after Match Day. From The Drop Out Club to SOAP, those who may not have gotten the news they wanted on Match Day have no shortage of options.
Image from New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Magical Match Day Moments
Ryan Syrek, MA; Liz Neporent | March 6, 2019 | Contributor Information
Festive scenes like this one from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine look a bit like prom, which makes sense: Everyone is filled with equal parts adrenaline and anxiety. If you look closely, you'll see that the attendees' blue shirts have boxes, to be filled in with the specialty and institution at which they match. It's less "I graduated from med school and all I got was this lousy T-shirt" and more a fun way to see what's next for peers. Considering the effort that goes into the Match Day moment, turning it into as big of a celebration as possible only seems appropriate.
For more Medscape Med Student discussion, join us on Facebook and Twitter
From faculty to students, everyone has plenty to say about the Match Day process. Here's what people usually leave out regarding the emotional ups and downs.Perspectives, February 2019
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Contributor Information
Ryan Syrek, MA
Editor, Medscape Medical Students, Residents, Drugs & Diseases
Liz Neporent
Executive Editor, Social Media, Medscape
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