March 21, 2012

Match Day – the day when students learn where they will begin their residency programs – is one of the most exciting days in a young doctor's education. This year's event was no different and offered many cheers, and a few tears, as the fourth-year students learned where their careers will take them next.

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Of the 234 Drexel University College of Medicine graduating students, 54 chose internal medicine; followed by pediatrics and anesthesiology with 19 students each; emergency medicine and general surgery came in third with 18 a piece; taking the fourth spot was obstetrics & gynecology with 17 students each; and rounding out the top five was radiology with 16 students.

At the traditional event - celebrated on the same day at medical schools around the globe - students simultaneously open sealed envelopes containing the name and location of their residency training. Drexel's Match Day was held at the Queen Lane campus and began with a champagne toast delivered by Interim Dean Daniel V. Schidlow, MD. As the students tore open their envelopes, screams of excitement and tears followed, as proud family members and friends snapped photos.

According to data released by the National Resident Matching Program, more than 95 percent of U.S. medical school seniors have matched to residency positions. The total number of positions in the nationwide Match exceeded 38,000, an increase of more than 2,400 over the last five years. Internal medicine, anesthesiology, and emergency medicine saw the largest increases in 2012. The number of family medicine positions increased only slightly following notable increases over the last two years.