It’s a Match! Fourth-year medical students at Baylor College of Medicine paired with residency programs

Another Match Day at Baylor College of Medicine is in the books, and students, faculty and staff couldn’t be more excited about the day’s celebrations.

Match Day is the culmination of the annual National Resident Matching Program, which pairs fourth-year medical students with residency programs throughout the nation. Festivities were held today in the courtyard at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Paul Klotman, president, CEO and executive dean congratulated the students and their families and gave some words of advice.

“It’s called ‘Match Day’ for a reason. It’s not called choice day,” he said. “The thing about a match is that it requires not only your choice, but the choice of the other institution that you’re applying to. Whatever choice you get, on the other side there’s going to be a program that is absolutely ecstatic that you are joining them. And because of that, it will be a great match.”

Dr. Alicia Monroe, provost and senior vice president of academic and faculty affairs at Baylor asked for a round of applause for those in the audience, including parents, loved ones and significant others who were the support system for the medical students during their medical school career.

“You take part of the essence of Baylor College of Medicine with you wherever you go. We ask as you go into dark places – into sick rooms, into operating rooms, into emergency rooms – that your goodness, your kindness, your mercy, your humility would go before you so that your good works, your training, your confidence, your clinical skills can be an add-on to the goodness and the quality of character that you take with you,” said Monroe.

“I want to take a minute and thank all of our affiliate sites that you have trained with,” said Dr. Jennifer Christner, dean of the School of Medicine at Baylor. “One of the wonderful things that attracted me to Baylor, and I’m sure many of you too, is the incredible Texas Medical Center and all of the wonderful training and clinical opportunities that you had while you were here.”

Class president Paige Kennedy reminded classmates to trust in the match process and to remember that they trained at one of the best medical schools in the country.

“Wherever you go, you’re going to be more than prepared. We’ve had excellent teachers, mentors, faculty – many of whom are on this stage – and you are ready and you are going to be great physicians wherever we land.”