Match Day was a jubilant affair as students shared the excitement of their residency placements, weaving together moments of celebration, gratitude and a touch of magic in a Harry Potter-themed event.

It was the highly anticipated moment years in the making. After Marc Basson, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Medicine, welcomed guests at the College’s Class of 2024 Match Day, students exited the NEW Center Ballroom to pick up their envelopes that held the crucial information of their residency match – the location where they will spend at least the next four years.

Upon opening the envelopes, many students rejoiced as they celebrated with their fellow classmates and loved ones. Students eagerly rushed to one another to share the contents of their envelopes, celebrating all the experiences that led to a successful match with the anticipation of their new homes. The event’s Harry Potter-themed “magically matched” — which included stunning decorations throughout the NEW Center — was the perfect fit for the festive atmosphere.

Students then filtered back into the ballroom where they took turns publicly announcing their matches to raucous applause. Each student approached the stage accompanied by personal “walk-up” music of their choosing. Many had difficulty containing their excitement as they took a moment to thank their families, friends and in one case, the sidewalk (for keeping them off the streets), before announcing their match. One recurring theme was students excitedly announcing they would be returning to their hometowns, whether it be in Northeast Ohio or as far as the West Coast.

In total, 122 (plus two students were placed via the Accelerated Family Medicine Track) were matched at prestigious medical institutions both near and far. 55.4% of matched students will remain in Ohio for their residencies, including University Hospitals-Case, Cleveland Clinic, Summa Health, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Students were also placed at renowned institutions across the nation, including:

• Stanford Health Care,
• Walter Reed Medical Center and
• Mount Sinai Health System.

Nearly half of matched students will go into residencies in primary care, which includes family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and pediatrics. Other popular specialties included emergency medicine, surgery, psychiatry and anesthesiology.

Watch the full Match Day ceremony on Facebook.