Medical students learn their placements on Match Day

By Bryce Johnson •

Chad Perlyn, NSU executive vice president, chief medical officer and dean of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, said Match Day lets students celebrate their achievements.

“Match Day is a wonderful day for our students. It’s the day where they find out after four years of hard work in medical school where they will be going to train, do their residencies and really develop the skills that will carry with them for the rest of their careers,” Perlyn said.

Match Day is a national ceremony that takes place on the third Friday of March. During Match Day, students learn where they will spend their residencies and advance their medical careers.

Two Match Day ceremonies took place for NSU students on March 21 – one in the Rick Case Arena for students in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, and the other in the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation for students in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Arkene Levy Johnston, professor and assistant dean of community engagement in the College of Allopathic Medicine, said her college has a graduating class of about 50 students. She said Match Day is a collective experience for medical students nationally.

“I get more excited than the students themselves. I love seeing the smiles on the faces of the students,” Levy said. “I especially just love seeing the family members here because this is really a collective effort.”

At noon on Match Day, students nationwide opened envelopes contains their results for Match Day.

Tanner Blaylock, graduate student in the College of Allopathic Medicine, matched to general surgery at the University of South Florida.

“I thought I was prepared for it, but it’s just a different feeling, opening up an envelope and seeing for the first time where you’re going to spend the next five years of your life,” Blaylock said. “It was a crazy experience. It was a lot of fun and it was great.”

Skylar Harmon, class president of the class of 2025 and graduate student in the College of Allopathic Medicine, matched to anesthesiology at the University of Kentucky.

“I’m just very proud of all of my peers for getting their top choices and matching the specialties of their dreams. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone and I’m excited to see what they do in their futures,” Harmon said.

For students going into Match Day in the future, Donald Pritchett, assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, encourages them to continue working hard.

“I always get excited by watching the students go on stage with their loved ones and opening their envelopes. Just the sheer joy you see with them and their families,” Pritchett said. “Be diligent, be focused. Don’t give up on your dream, and one day hopefully you’ll get to celebrate like this, as well.”

Maria Pereira, graduate student in the College of Allopathic Medicine, matched to internal medicine at Vanderbilt University. Pereira said students going into Match Day should try to enjoy it.

“You already matched and you’re going to be a doctor no matter where, so try to take a deep breath, bring people you love, and you’re going to be ok wherever you go,” Pereira said.