Fourth-year VCU medical students learn their fates on national match day

By Joe Kuttenkuler

WHAT:            When the clock strikes noon on Thursday, March 18, fourth-year students from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine will gather for the tradition of National Match Day to learn where they will spend the next several years of their lives. 

About 160 VCU students, along with thousands of other fourth-year students from medical schools across the United States, will receive sealed envelopes containing the name of the residency program to which they have been matched.

WHO:              •   VCU fourth-year medical students, family and friends

                        •   Hugo Seibel, Ph.D., associate dean for student 
                            activities

WHEN:            March 18 at noon.

WHERE:         The Woman's Club of Richmond, Bolling-Haxall House, 

                        211 E.Franklin St.

The National Resident Matching Program was established in 1952. It matches graduating medical students with hospitals for internships and residencies. Each year approximately 16,000 U.S. medical school seniors and 15,000 graduates of osteopathic and Canadian or foreign medical schools compete for approximately 23,000 residency positions. 

In December and January, the students interview at sites around the country. By the end of February, they have ranked their choices in order of preference, and the hospitals did the same with their top candidates. A computer in Washington, D.C. matches the submissions and the results will be delivered to students around the country on March 18.