Match Day

Yesterday was the day medical students dream of for four years-- MATCH DAY! That's when you find out where in the world you're going for residency. Since John is specializing in ophthalmology, and ophthalmology has an early Match Day in January (these eye doctors just like to be unique I guess), it wasn't as nail-biting for us-- we found out 2 months ago that John got into the program here in Milwaukee. However, the first year of residency is a general medicine year (called a Transitional Year, or TY), and so we were anxious to find out if John would stay in Milwaukee for his TY, or if we'd have to move somewhere random for one year and then move back to Milwaukee for the ophthalmology training.



All 200 med students and their families packed into this auditorium while the dean read names drawn out of a Bingo bowl. (Just to keep it in random order.) One by one, the students called would come up to get their letter that held the news of their future. There was a lot of cheering, jumping, screaming, hugging, back thumping, high-fiving, and crying (a few sad tears, but mostly happy ones). It was very exciting and loud! Every student put $1 in a pot as they came up, and that money would all go to whichever med student's name was called last. (So that they would get a $200 prize for waiting so patiently!)



Nervously waiting, waiting, waiting...



After 30 minutes of hearing everyone else's names called out, John was pretty sure he'd be called last and get the cash prize. But alas, John's name was called out with 5 students remaining. Close, but no cigar! John hustled up to the front, ripped open his letter, scanned the information on it, and breathed a huge sigh of relief-- we're staying in Milwaukee for his first year! ALL RIGHT! He'll do his TY at St. Joseph Hospital here in town, just a 7 minute drive from our house. John has two other close buddies who also got into the same TY program (Matt and Eric), and those guys will have a blast working together.



After all 200 names were called and their letters were opened, all the students headed downtown to eat at Joey Buona's, a swanky Italian restaurant that the med school rented out for a party. Here we are with our friends Mindy and Dave (who found out yesterday they're moving to Kansas City).

So, PHEW, and HOORAY for the news that we get to stay in Milwaukee for all 4 years of John's residency!