Record number of graduates 'match' residency programs

A record number of UofL medical school graduates were admitted to the residency programs of their choice this year, according to results from the profession's annual "Match Day" held March 22.

Fully 97 percent of the graduates were accepted into one of the residency programs to which they applied, and 90 percent were admitted to one of their top three choices, said Laura Schweitzer, associate vice president for health affairs.

"The second figure is really the gold standard because it shows just how strong our graduates are," Schweitzer said. "We did incredibly well this year."

The 2001 figures reflect a growing recognition that UofL medical school graduates are among the nation's "prime picks," Schweitzer said.

In fact, the percentage of successful Match Day results has been rising consistently at UofL since 1998, when 93 percent of medical school grads were matched with a residency program of their choice and 76 percent were admitted to a top-three program.

"Our students receive a very strong clinical background here," Schweitzer explained. "Because of that, they do very well when they go out to residency programs across the country. The success of our previous students is our best advocate."

UofL's rising national profile also has helped students secure favored residency appointments, Schweitzer said.

"I think the university's renewed focus on research has helped bring attention to UofL," she said. "The school's reputation is growing, and that name recognition helps our students match."

The student-residency matching process begins early in a student's senior year, after he or she has decided on a specialty, Schweitzer said.

At that point, the student is assigned to a discipline-specific residency advisor to discuss different schools or programs.

The student then begins applying to various programs, submitting extensive dossiers prepared in part by the dean's office. If a school is interested in the student, an interview is arranged.

The interviews are so important, Schweitzer said, the School of Medicine now sends its seniors to practice sessions so they can polish interview skills.

Following the interviews, each residency program rates its applicants in order of preference. Meanwhile, students do the same for each of the programs at which they were interviewed.

Finally, a computer system operated by the Association of American Medical Colleges compares the preferences of both to produce the best matches, with a slight edge going to the students' choices.

The results are announced nationwide each year on Match Day.