During the month of March, I am excited to celebrate our hardworking mission area of medical education and all those who support this area. Everyone at Heersink School of Medicine has a role to play in the academic success of our students. I want to take a moment to speak directly to our fourth-year medical students to convey my sincere best wishes for Match Day on March 15, which will be held at the Alys Stephens Center.
Match Day celebrates the many possibilities standing before our medical students, when vision and opportunity come together. Additionally, Match Day represents the culmination of hard work, grit, and sacrifice over the past four years.
I remember my own Match Day like it was yesterday. It was quite different than the ceremonial event we know here in the United States. In India, we followed the British system for matching that included tests and rigorous competition over the course of several days. I remember being on pins and needles, anticipating the results that would define my future. I’ll never forget the moment I found out I matched into a residency spot in internal medicine, and how I was flooded with relief and terror all at once.
I am sure many of our MS4s are experiencing similar sentiments as Friday approaches. No matter the outcome, I hope each of you will take immense pride in the medical school journey and all that has been accomplished.
Our current class of MS4s has encountered unprecedented challenges in their four years at UAB Heersink School of Medicine. They have endured a global pandemic, the transition from in-person learning to remote and back to in-person, as well as many changes in society and culture. If I had to define this class in one word, it would be resilience. A strong passion for medicine and science has shone through brightly, no matter the circumstance.
Similarly, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to our medical education leadership and staff for their steadfast commitment to training the best and brightest physicians and scientists. The past four years have not been easy for them either, yet they show up day after day with determination, resolve, and vigor.
I am inspired by all of you.
Congratulations to each of our fourth-year students—not only on potential matches but for the work up to this point. May your next steps in medicine and science be filled with curiosity, fulfillment, and the joy of making a positive impact on the lives of others.