Match Day: A Defining Moment in Medicine

At exactly 9 AM Pacific Time on the third Friday of March, thousands of medical students nationwide open envelopes that shape their futures. Match Day is more than an event—it’s the culmination of years of sacrifice, ambition, and relentless pursuit of a calling.

Residency selection, the next phase of a physician’s journey, was once a chaotic process. In the 1950s, hospitals and programs vied for top students, offering positions earlier and earlier—sometimes before students had finished half of medical school. The race for talent led to an unstable, high-pressure system.

Then came the solution: the algorithm. Established in 1952 and refined over time, it fairly pairs applicants with programs, ensuring the best possible matches for both. Thanks to economists like Nobel laureate Alvin Roth, today’s system accounts for modern complexities—couples matching together, dual-specialty residencies, and more.

Students apply in their final year, interview, and rank their choices. Programs do the same. On Match Day, the algorithm delivers its verdict, launching careers and shaping the future of medicine.

It is not just an assignment—it is a milestone. A new generation of doctors takes its place, ready to serve, heal, and lead. In a time where California is facing a significant shortage of medical physicians, particularly in certain specialties and rural areas, it is especially important we celebrate every student with great appreciation and gratitude.

Match 2024: California Northstate University College of Medicine

Of those seeking residency positions from the class of 2024, 95% secured residency positions for July 2024. Furthermore, when we consider both our current students and alumni, we’re proud to announce that they span 18 specialties across 68 esteemed institutions.

Consistent with the California Northstate University College of Medicine mission:

• 47.9% are training in Primary Care
• 35% in Internal Medicine
• 5.8% in Family Medicine
• 3.9% in Pediatrics

It’s noteworthy that 59.4% of our matches are in California residency programs, reflecting our commitment to increasing the number of physicians in the state.

What sets us apart is our unique curriculum, which includes required clerkships in Emergency Medicine and Neurology, in addition to the traditional six, encompassing primary care, surgery, and psychiatry. Notably:

• 4.9% matched in Emergency Medicine
• 10.7% in Neurology
• 1.9% in Child Neurology

Our Neurology match rate significantly surpasses the national average by several percentage points. Highlighting our exceptional placements, 10.4% of our 2024 cohort secured positions in highly competitive specialties such as Neurological Surgery, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and both diagnostic and interventional Radiology.

Finally, many of our students have been accepted into prestigious institutions and residency programs, including Baylor, Cornell, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, and various esteemed California programs like Stanford University, USC, Loma Linda, and the University of California campuses (UCLA, UCI, UCSD, UCD, etc.).

Match 2025: California Northstate University College of Medicine

This year, Match Day is set for March 21, 2025. We are proud to have 111 medical students participating in the match. CNUCOM students will come together with family, friends, faculty, and staff at the CNU Event Center to celebrate their achievements. The program will feature remarks from faculty and student leaders, and, of course, the highly anticipated countdown clock. At 9 AM, students will open an envelope revealing their post-graduation residency assignments, which will span the next three to seven years, depending on their chosen medical specialty.

CNUCOM has already celebrated the following four students with their early match results:
Heartfelt congratulations to our early match recipients! We are pleased to announce that two students have matched in Urology (Zucker SOM at Hofstra/Northwell, and Wilford Hall San Antonio, TX). Two additional student have matched in Psychiatry (Naval Medical Center, San Diego and Tripler Army Medical Center). We also had one student match in Ophthalmology (Louisiana State University, New Orleans). Notably, three of these five students have secured military matches. This accomplishment is a testament to their hard work, dedication and excellence of our students, faculty, and staff, and we are very proud of these educational achievements. We extend our sincere congratulations on this well-deserved success!

Personal Experience and Advice:

Reflecting on my own Match Day many years ago, I vividly remember the excitement leading up to that big day. The process was invigorating and included applications, interviews at 18 otolaryngology programs across the country, strategic ranking of my top programs, and ultimately matching at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital/Cornell New York Hospital Program. I was ecstatic and proud to be joining a strong team in New York City.

Advice to the Graduates:

Residency is a journey of continuous self-discovery and a commitment to honing your specialty. Your focus and determination will drive you to become the best physician you can be.

As you embark on this transformative experience, I encourage you to reflect on Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” The lyrics resonate deeply with the residency journey:

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime…

This is more than just a match; it’s a calling—a commitment to serve, innovate, lead, and strive for your best self.Wishing all of our M4 students the best of luck!

Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS
Dean California Northstate University College of Medicine
Senior Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery