SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 70 medical students counted down in unison on March 20 before opening cards that revealed the next chapters in their careers.
Buzzing with excitement, the soon-to-be residents learned what residency program they will enter for the next three to seven years through the National Residency Match Program.
The residency follows graduation, as students at the SIU School of Medicine will become Medical Doctors in May.
Programs select students following interviews. Students also rank their preferred programs.
Some students, like Jackson Blough, grew up in the area and will enter a residency program close to home.
Blough grew up in Chatham. He matched with Orthopaedic Surgery at SIU School of Medicine & affiliated hospitals.
“[Match day] is just kind of a big culmination of all the hard work, and you finally get to see it pay off,” he said. “I’m really excited.”
Blough began studying orthopaedic surgery as part of his studies at the SIU School of Medicine and was invigorated by it, he said.
“I love being in the OR, love using my hands, and I’m excited to get to work.”
Jess Rajkumar, who is from Morton, Illinois, matched with Family Medicine at Carle Health-Methodist Hospital. She celebrated with family, including a newborn and her partner. The move means that she and her partner will be moving back to their hometown.
Rajkumar was inspired to work in family medicine while working as a scribe for a family medicine doctor before she started medical school.
“He was super amazing, so kind of like an inspiration. And then I love that you get to see from babies to elderly people,” she said.
35% of the students will enter programs in Illinois.
Most of the graduating class typically enters into a residency program, but there are more applicants than there are slots.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Medical students in Springfield celebrate start of residency programs
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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