Many of BWH’s incoming residents, along with staff and guests on Match Day

When fourth-year Yale School of Medicine student Aileen Wright opened her Match Day letter on March 18 and learned that she would be joining BWH’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

“The Brigham has been my family for a while,” said Wright, who began her career as a research assistant here. “I am so excited to begin this next chapter at an institution that means so much to me.”

Wright is one of about 150 medical students from around the country who received the good news on Match Day that they will begin their residency at BWH this summer.

Internal Medicine Residency Program Director Joel Katz with incoming resident Kay Everett

During BWH’s Internal Medicine Residency Match Day celebration in Carrie Hall, Joel Katz, MD, program director, and other BWH physicians and current residents welcomed those newly matched students who are local and reflected on their Match Day memories.

Katz, who will oversee his 17th cohort of first-year residents at BWH this year, said he fondly remembers his own Match Day in 1991. He encouraged the incoming residents to appreciate how much their first year of training will influence their careers.

“It’s wonderful to be able to welcome so many talented, altruistic, hard-working and enthusiastic students to the Brigham as they are about to launch onto their tracks and divide into many directions to make the world a better place,” Katz said. “Each year provides its own excitement. I am looking forward to working with the next class a few short months from now.”

Incoming resident Aileen Wright with BWH primary care physician Gordon Schiff

The newly matched students congratulated each other with high-fives, hugs and handshakes. The students hail from medical schools including Harvard Medical School (HMS), University of California, San Francisco, and Northwestern University.

Scott Elman, a fourth-year HMS student who matched into BWH’s Internal Medicine-Dermatology training program, described Match Day as surreal.

“Opening up the envelope, I didn’t really understand the emotions that were going to flood me until I saw ‘Brigham and Women’s Hospital’ printed on my letter,” said Elman. “I’ve known for so long that this is where I want to be. Today’s celebration at the Brigham is so telling of the type of family that exists here. It makes me even more excited to begin my residency.”

Additionally, BWH’s Surgical Residency Program matched 23 new residents in general surgery, plastics, urology, thoracic surgery, anesthesia, radiology and interventional radiology. The students will join BWH from medical schools around the country, including HMS, Mount Sinai and Brown University.

Thomas Michel (at left), cardiologist and co-director of the Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine Program, with incoming resident Aswin Sekar

“Match Day is one of the most exciting days of the year,” said Surgical Residency Director Doug Smink, MD, MPH. “It is the culmination of months of interviewing by both programs and applicants. One of the best parts of my job as a program director is calling the students who matched with us on Match Day. To hear the excitement in their voices is fantastic. I can’t wait for our new class to arrive.”

Listen to more reflections on Match Day in the audio clips below.

Joel Katz shares some of the goals of training new physicians at BWH.

Joel Katz reflects on his own Match Day experience.