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Fourth-year medical students at the 51Ʒ�� joined students across the country in the National Resident Matching Program on Friday, March 19, to learn where they will be completing their medical residencies, and in what specialties, following graduation.

Residency is the final leg in the journey to becoming a physician. For most students, Match Day is the culmination of more than a decade of hard work, commitment, and sacrifice.

“The challenges that these students have all faced have been extraordinary,” stated Jane Carreiro, D.O., vice president for Health Affairs and dean of 51Ʒ��COM. “They have been resilient, flexible, and they have succeeded. I look forward to seeing where the future will take them.”

Maria Jones (D.O., ’21) was surrounded by family in Maryland when she learned she was matched to Christiana Care Health System in Wilmington, Delaware.

“I read my match to my family and my little brother shot confetti in my face and my parents poured champagne,” she said. “That was really a special moment.”

Jones’ specialties will be in emergency and internal medicine.

“I love the fast pace of the emergency room, while internal medicine allows for a little bit more continuity of care for patients,” she stated. “So, the pairing of both of those specialties will really allow me to explore both of my medical passions.”

Jacob Wagner’s (D.O., ’21) interest in diagnostic radiology will be taking him to Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania.

“I will be doing one year of what's called a transitional year, which is a mix of internal medicine and surgery,” he commented. “Once I complete that one year, then I'll do four years of diagnostic radiology. In the middle of the pandemic, I am feeling very grateful to be in a position to join a field that is the focus of America's attention today. I'm excited to get involved and do my part towards bettering health care.”

On a personal note, Wagner was thrilled to learn his partner, who is also a medical student, will be heading to Geisinger as well.

“She was matched into neurology,” he explained. “We found out that we were going to be together and that our hopes and dreams came through.”

Sixteen students will stay in Maine to complete their programs. Ten were matched to Maine Medical Center in Portland, four to Maine General in Augusta and Waterville, and two to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

In total, 167 51Ʒ��COM students were matched to residencies in 17 specialties across 27 states, including programs in family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.

UNE’s medical school boasts an exceptionally high match rate of 94%, higher than the national averages for allopathic medical schools (92.8%) and osteopathic medical schools (89.1%).

“Each year, 51Ʒ��is one of the nation's leaders in terms of the percentage of graduating medical students receiving their top choice residencies,” commented James Herbert, Ph.D., president of the 51Ʒ��. “The events of the past year have shown society at large just how heroic our medical professionals are. I can think of no more noble pursuit than the path that these students have chosen. The oath of honor they have taken gets to the heart of UNE’s mission to educate students and to support the health of the world, its communities, and its people.”