Thursday, March 19, 2009, was Match Day, the day on which 140 excited fourth-year medical students learned where they will be spending the next four (or more) years of their lives.

A few moments before 9:00am, students-- joined by families, friends, staff, and faculty-- collected envelopes containing their “matches” to various residency programs throughout the country.

At 9:00am sharp, the group joined in a lively countdown. As the envelopes were opened, students responded with cheers, shrieks, high-fives, hugs, and a few tears.

First-year medical student Melissa Shive was on hand to collect a few photographic impressions:

Students line up to receive their envelopes


Frances Harvey from Student Affairs talks to fourth-year student
Christopher Jones


Students and their loved ones pose with envelopes, shortly before
the count-down


9am: The students open their envelopes


Excitement is shared and multiplied!

A hug between friends


Popular specialties among the class of 2009 included: Internal Medicine (32 students), Pediatrics (15 students), Emergency Medicine (15 students), and Obstetrics-Gynecology (14 students).

Nearly 1/3 of the class will remain at UCSF for their residency, with the rest of the group scattering to spots throughout the country.

More details: UCSF School of Medicine Class of 2009 Match Results

See also: "A Match Made In Heaven" -- a two-part article
about a UCSF couple trying to match together (2008)