On March 20, 2003, at 11 a.m. CST, anxious medical students from University of South Alabama College of Medicine will learn where they will complete their residency training as results from the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) are simultaneously released to all senior medical students across the United States.

Here in Mobile, USA senior medical students will gather at the USA Mitchell Center near the Waterman Globe, where results will be distributed in sealed envelopes.

This annual event, known nationwide as "Match Day", is the day that NRMP simultaneously notifies senior medical students throughout the U.S. where they have been matched to a residency program.

Depending on the student's chosen specialty, their residency will last from three to six years. The minutes, hours and days leading to the moment that the envelopes are handed out are stressful, as the students anxiously hope for news of a match to their first choice.

"The quality of our medical school is reflected in the achievements of our students and alumni. Each year, our students successfully compete with medical students across the United States for some of the nation's most competitive residency positions," said Betsy Bennett, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Medical Education at the USA College of Medicine.

During their senior year, medical students visit their top choices for residency programs, and prepare a confidential list of programs, ranking them in order of preference. In turn, each residency program ranks future physicians in their order of preference. Both medical student and residency program selections are entered into the NRMP computer in Washington, D.C., where the matches are made. Extra effort is made to place married students in the same location or in nearby programs.

While most USA medical students are matched through the NRMP, a few obtain residencies through other sources, such as the military or specialty matches. According to Dr. Bennett, 10 of this year's 60 senior medical students have matched through specialty matches.

Doctor of Medicine degrees will be conferred on the USA College of Medicine Class of 2003 at USA's graduation ceremonies on May 10, 2003.

During the past 27 years, more than 1,600 medical students have graduated from the USA College of Medicine. The first USA College of Medicine class graduated in 1976. More than one-third of practicing physicians in our area are graduates of the USA College of Medicine and/or trained in the USA Hospitals System.

CONTACT:
Paul Taylor 251-461-1509
ptaylor@usouthal.edu