Meeting their match: College of Medicine students look to their futures on Match Day

It’s a rite of passage for medical students: the moment they tear open an envelope that holds their next destination. Match Day, an annual tradition carried out by medical schools at the same time across the country, involves students, alongside their friends and families, coming together to find out which residency programs they will join for the next phase of their training.

Penn State College of Medicine’s fourth-year medical students gathered at the Hershey Lodge today to find out their residency locations and celebrate. The event included a countdown until the moment students opened their envelopes, followed by cheers, celebrations, and hugs.

Managed by the National Resident Matching Program, the process of matching students to residency programs started long before Match Day. Months ago, students visited and evaluated the programs – and the programs evaluated them. The students learned today if they were matched with the residency programs of their choice.

“I’m so thrilled to share this milestone with our students,” said Kevin Black, MD, interim vice dean for educational affairs. “Together, we celebrate their time here and look forward to residencies that will continue to shape them into hardworking, compassionate, empathetic doctors.”

About 23 percent of College of Medicine graduates are joining residency programs in Pennsylvania, with 17 percent of those students matching at Penn State Health. The rest of the students will head to programs around the country. Thirty-three percent of the students are entering primary care residencies. Three of this year’s graduates will receive their training at military medical centers.

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