UW News

April 6, 2011

Match Day is a family affair for graduating medical students

UW Health Sciences/UW Medicine

Hugs, photos, and congratulations were the order of the day March 17 when graduating medical students received residency placement notices.

Hugs, photos, and congratulations were the order of the day March 17 when graduating medical students received residency placement notices.

Jennie Wild , daughter of UW Medical Centers Chief Nursing Officer Lorie Wild and Silas Wild, software architect for the UW School of Medicine; and Dan Benedetti, son of UW professor of obstetrics and gynecology Tom Benedetti and UW professor of biostatistics Jacqueline Benedetti, took part in the days events.

Match Day is when approximately 16,000 graduating medical students across the country learn where they will serve as residents via the National Resident Matching Program. Nearly 190 University of Washington (UW) medical students went through this years Match in events held in Seattle, Boise, Anchorage and Spokane.

Emily Glynn shows her match results to one of her mentors, Dr. Sharon Dobie, professor of family medicine.

Emily Glynn shows her match results to one of her mentors, Dr. Sharon Dobie, professor of family medicine.

“But Im happy with the first five places I ranked,” she said. Glynn, like many medical students and others in attendance, was sporting a green top since Match Day coincided this year with St. Patricks Day celebrations.

Jennie Wild, matching in pediatrics, said she felt excited, mostly. “Its the culmination,” she said. “Ive been waiting four years for this Match day to get here,” Wild said, with a broad smile. She said that she hoped to match with the UW program based at Seattle Childrens.

Hannah perches atop soon-to-be doctor dad Lee Hammon's shoulders while mom Emily Loeb congratulates him on his residency match.

Susan Ahearn from Seattle was picking up the envelope for daughter Meghan, who was out of town on Thursday. The younger Ahearn was matching in emergency medicine. “This is very exciting,” said Ahearn. “Its been a long haul for all of us.”

Jennie Wild, with parents and longtime UW employees Lorie and Silas Wild, holds up her residency placement letter.

Jennie Wild, with parents and longtime UW employees Lorie and Silas Wild, holds up her residency placement letter.

“Weve got to sell the house,” said Loeb, in a nod to the cross-country move she, Hammons and the kids will soon make. “Now, its going to be a lot of work.”

All photos on this page are by Clare McLean.