2021 Match Day Stories
March 31, 2021
Match Day is one of the most important moments for a medical student – the day they find out where they will begin their residency training. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Match Day went virtual as students across the college shared their celebrations from afar on social media.
We interviewed a few of our students about their experience – including the days and weeks leading up to the Match, their Match Day celebrations, what they are looking forward to in residency and their advice for future medical students going through the process.
Danielle Gibson
Where did you match?
Emergency Medicine at Yale University.
Can you describe the weeks/months leading up to Match? How did COVID-19 impact the process?
The weeks leading up to Match were stressful. Waiting to see what the future holds made me uneasy. Even though I couldn’t interview in person due to COVID restrictions, I felt I was still given a great understanding of the programs I interviewed at, at more than half of the cost of traditional interviews. Although, I still had nightmares about matching to programs that I truly did not want to be at. However, I stayed true to myself and I remembered that God had a plan, and that I would end up where I needed to be.
Describe the day, what did you do to “virtually” celebrate your match?
The notice that I matched arrived on my phone at 8:58am PST on Friday March 19. Prior to that day, I planned a celebration with my family to open up my Match Day email together. That meant I had to wait until after 12pm PST, when my mother and sister got off work to see where I matched. I had multiple texts throughout the morning from my College of Human Medicine family asking where I ended up. My rank list was geographically diverse, so the suspense of where I would be spending the next 3 to 4 years was high. However, waiting to open up my email was such a great decision. I opened up my Match Day email on zoom at 1:00pm PST in front of my Flint College of Human Medicine family, and my family and friends. Everyone was able to celebrate with me and feel the exact emotion I was feeling at that time.
What are you most excited about for residency?
I am most excited about starting my career in the specialty that I love the most, and being able to take care of such a diverse population in New Haven and Bridgeport. Medical school was hard work and even though I know that residency will be just as hard or harder, it’s great to know that I will be given more ownership of patients and that I am closer on my journey of becoming an excellent physician.
What advice do you have for medical students next year?
My advice for upcoming 4th year medical students is to shoot for your dreams and apply to programs that YOU want, and not programs that others think you can get into. When I first told people in October that I was interested in Yale University for training, they looked at me as if I was deranged. As if Yale was too high of a reach for me. However, I didn’t listen to the naysayers and applied to the programs that I wanted to be at. It was a great feeling when I was making up my rank order list (ROL) to know that I would actually be very happy at any program in my top 7 of my ROL. My ROL was filled with programs that matched my personality, programs that I knew I was going to be happy at.
Is there anything else you wish to add?
Residency will be tough but I’m happy I listened to my gut and choose Yale as my number 1 program. I know with the training I get a Yale I will be a great physician and be in a position to really make an impact on any community that I serve.
Enrique Rodriguez-Fhon
Where did you match?
Detroit Receiving Hospital. The greatest medical specialty out there! EMERGENCY MEDICINE!!!
Can you describe the weeks/months leading up to Match? How did COVID-19 impact the process?
Interviews went really well. I don’t have anything to reference them to, but I felt that the interviews themselves were genuine and it felt almost as good as being in person. The only thing that I missed out on due to COVID-19 is getting to know the residents on the night before interviews virtual hangouts. I wish those could’ve happened in person so I can get a better feel for the residents and staff.
Describe the day, what did you do to “virtually” celebrate your match?
Most of my friends and family are in Florida so they couldn’t be present on Match Day. However, my partner was with me when I opened the email. We both cheered, I went to the mall to purchase a Detroit Tigers hat, and then came back for the Virtual Match Day Celebration. Later that evening, my partner and I went out to Black Rock for dinner to celebrate my new residency program. We both can’t wait for graduation because we will have family and friends present with us then.
What are you most excited about for residency?
Getting to practice what I love and learn more about my specialty. I’m also looking forward to the bonds and friendships that I will make with my co-residents, attendings, and staff members. But I’m really looking forward to learning the skills that I need to serve my new community.
What advice do you have for medical students next year?
Relax, take a deep breath and enjoy the journey. If you’ve made it this far, it means the odds are in your favor and now the ball is in your court. Soon you’ll be contacted by several programs that are excited to meet you and hoping that you pick them for residency. In the end, I believe that you end up where you belong.
Is there anything else you wish to add?
Best of luck to the class of 2022 and on! The pandemic has made the medical school a bit different this past year and you guys may feel anxious about it. However, I want to remind everyone that they made it to medical school because of their resilience, hard work, dedication, and their ability to adapt. I have the utmost confidence that every College of Human Medicine class from here on out will be ready for any challenge and find where they belong.
Justin Robinson
Where did you match?
University of Maryland; Integrated-Cardiothoracic Surgery
Can you describe the weeks/months leading up to Match? How did COVID-19 impact the process?
The weeks/months leading up to Match begins with medical students submitting a common application to the specialty and program they desire to train in. A few weeks after submission, programs review and send out invitations to interview. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all interviews were conducted virtually. This was a huge adjustment from the traditional in-person interviews. Programs and applicants did not know what to expect with this new format.
The big question that arose was “will we get a good feel for programs/applicants through this new format?” For me personally, the virtual format ran smoothly, and I was able to assess each program authentically. In addition, the cost of traveling to various places to interview was negated by the virtual format and I was able to save $5-10,000 on traveling expenses. So there were some positive aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The end of interview season culminates into submission of a rank list, where you rank all the programs you’ve interviewed. Match week is full of excitement and anxiety as we figure out where we’re going to spend the next 3-8 years. I was very nervous throughout the week as I didn’t know if I would match directly into my first specialty choice, cardiothoracic surgery, or my second specialty choice, general surgery.
Describe the day, what did you do to “virtually” celebrate your match?
I drove back to where I am originally from, the eastside of Michigan (Metro Detroit area) and spent time with my close friend who I met during medical school. We sat around, anxiously awaiting the Match email. Once the email came in, I had him open it up because I was too nervous to do it myself. He told me what specialty and where I had matched, and I was beyond elated. I matched at one of my top programs in my first specialty choice. After celebrating with him, I went to my parents and watched the virtual Match Day ceremony.
What are you most excited about for residency?
I’m most excited about the opportunity to take care of patients with a higher level of responsibility, and to really make an impact on the patients and community I will serve.
What advice do you have for medical students next year?
The biggest advice is don’t get too wrapped up in online spreadsheets, or blogs because this will cause undue stress and anxiety. I would also advise medical students to research the programs ahead of time, keep a running list of information for each program (i.e. where do graduates end up, level of autonomy as you progress through the training program, relationship of faculty and residents, relationship of residents with each other).
Katherine Boyer
Where did you match?
Categorical Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s.
Can you describe the weeks/months leading up to Match? How did COVID-19 impact the process?
All residency interviews were virtual this year, which was an interesting process. It was nice to not have to pay for flights/hotels and to keep myself and others safe by interviewing from my apartment. However, it was sometimes challenging to get a good feel for the culture of programs during the virtual interviews and meet-n-greets. Conversations with faculty and residents after the interview day was a great way to get a better understanding of the environment at the program.
After I finished interviewing, it was time to make my rank list. Mentors at MSU College of Human Medicine (shout out to Dr. Busch, Dr. English, Dr. Armstrong, and the MSU Flint Team) and my family helped me reflect on what was important to me and helped me think through where I would thrive. I submitted my rank list, then anxiously awaited Match Day!
Describe the day, what did you do to “virtually” celebrate your match?
We celebrated Match Day with my immediate family in Michigan, then facetimed my sister in California. My mom, an avid Etsy and arts-n-crafts lover, decorated our house with Match Day decorations. We celebrated with a nice lunch filled with all my favorite foods, then had a Match Day celebration on Zoom with the Flint Campus. Despite the barriers created by COVID-19, it was special day and even better than I could have imagined!
What are you most excited about for residency?
I am so excited to be able to have more autonomy, learn more within the field of pediatrics, to meet all my new co-residents and to explore Cincinnati!
What advice do you have for medical students next year?
Don’t be afraid to change your mind or to be unsure of what you want to do. I decided to apply to pediatrics two months before ERAS was due and it was the best decision that I could have ever made.
If interviews are still virtual, reach out to residents at programs that you are really interested in. This helped me to gain a better of understanding of the culture of a program and if it would be a good fit for me.
Be yourself and have fun during interviews! Look for a program where you see yourself being the happiest, most successful, and overall, the best version of yourself!
Kody Kleinrichert
Where did you match?
Naval Medical Center San Diego – Transitional Year
Can you describe the weeks/months leading up to Match? How did COVID-19 impact the process?
As a Navy HPSP student, I only had a few options for internship. Normally, military students would be able to rotate through all their prospective programs. Unfortunately, this year, COVID-19 limited these opportunities. After lots of virtual exploration of the areas, my wife and I decided that San Diego would be our top choice. My wife and I knew we would be heading to either the east coast or west coast, but we were hopeful that California would be our ultimate destination.
I matched into my first year of post graduate training because I will be an operational physician for the Navy prior to returning for specialty training. All in all this was my first of a few match days during my medical career!
Describe the day, what did you do to “virtually” celebrate your match?
I was scheduled for clinic during my match day, but my wife had the day off and was able to regularly check my email. I was sitting in a patient room when my phone started buzzing off the hook. After anxiously finishing up the patient encounter, I found out that we were going to California! When I got home we put some beach scenery on our TV, popped a bottle of champagne, and called our friends and family!
What are you most excited about for residency?
I am most excited to finally be in a position where I can make more meaningful contributions to the health care team and the care of my patients.
What advice do you have for medical students next year?
Do your best to network with residents of prospective programs and do not be afraid to ask questions!
Zaineb Shatawi
Where did you match?
General Surgery at Memorial Healthcare System, South Florida.
Can you describe the weeks/months leading up to Match? How did COVID-19 impact the process?
Nothing could have prepared us for a virtual interview season. Sitting in front of our laptop cameras for hours at a time was a whole new type of exhausting. Being unable to tour the hospitals and meet potential colleagues face-to-face left us with so many unknowns—how can I commit the next 5 years of my life to a city I’ve never visited?! But, if there’s one thing being a College of Human Medicine student taught us, it’s how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. We rose to the occasion.
Describe the day, what did you do to “virtually” celebrate your match?
In true COVID-19 fashion, I made my Match Day announcement to family and friends via Zoom. But, I wanted to mimic a true Match Day as much as possible, so I had my friend print out my Match results for me and put it in a giant envelope. My parents were with me, and so, to honor their lifetime of hard work and sacrifice for my future, I handed them the envelope to open. My mom read the results aloud and screams of excitement followed, not just because I got my top choice, but because it meant I was moving back closer to home. I sobbed like a baby. And then, I ate a big slice of cake.
What are you most excited about for residency?
The thing I’m most excited about for starting my surgery residency is to learn the tangible skills that will literally give me “healing hands” someday. I still can hardly fathom that.
What advice do you have for medical students next year?
Do not ever let your perception of what a surgery/EM/family medicine/etc. resident looks like keep you from pursuing the area of medicine you are passionate about. You’ve come too far to do anything less than what you love.