After students finish four years of medical school, they start their training in their specialty called a residency.
“Match day is the day when they find out where, as far as geographic location is concerned, they will be matched (for the residency),” said Renuka Gera, assistant dean for Lansing Community campus.
Gera said the process for match day begins when the students start applying in July. Interviews are conducted around November.
Internal medicine student Cara Weiner said she and her fiancé, general surgery student Craig Smith, applied to hospitals all over the country.
Smith and Weiner are part of a special case called a couples match, which allows them to be sent to the same area.
Weiner said the revelation of match day is a lot to take in at one time because it is very instantaneous.
“You just learn where you’re going to be — there’s no choices,” Weiner said. “There’s no yes or no, it’s just like you open that envelope and that’s where you’re going to be.”
The decision as to where the students will spend their residency is made based upon the ranked list of choices the students submit.
“Almost 95 to 96 percent match to one of their three choices. So wherever they go ... it’s going to be a place that is acceptable to them,” Gera said.
Prior to finding out where she would spend her residency, OB/GYN student Caitlin Callahan said she was excited but also nauseous because match day dictates a lot for her future.
Callahan said finding out she will be spending her residency at her first choice, St. Joseph Mercy in Ann Arbor, was the last thing to fall into place.
Bryan Parker, Callahan’s fiancé, said he was excited for her because of all her hard work.
“She was so excited for all of (her interviews,) but in her heart she knew that St. Joe’s in Ann Arbor was her choice,” Parker said.
