Celebrating a match made in medicine

March 23, 2023
Woman in red sari poses with arms out while family members take photos.

Amrutha Doniparthi holds up her unopened Match Day envelope for her family to see during the College of Medicine – Tucson 2023 Match Day ceremony on the lawn near Old Main.

Fourth-year medical students from the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson and the College of Medicine – Phoenix gathered with classmates, friends and family Friday, March 17, to find out where they were matched for their upcoming residencies in their chosen specialties.

From dancing faculty and staff to balloons, confetti cannons and bouquets of flowers, 108 students from the College of Medicine – Tucson and 68 students from the College of Medicine – Phoenix tore open their envelopes at exactly 9 a.m. to learn where they will start the next phase of their medical education.

Match Day, which occurs on the third Friday in March nationwide, is the culmination of four years of study, research and rotations for medical students. The match process is completed by the National Residency Matching Program, and medical students are obligated to serve where they matched.

While most of the soon-to-be residents will remain in Arizona, matches were made to hospital systems all across the country.

Read a Match Day memories story in Health Sciences Connect.

Young woman in dress and long brown hair holds a poster that says "I matched" in front of a map of the U.S.
Young woman in blue dress smiling big holds a sign that reads "Future Dr. Gossler"
Young Asian man with big smile is hugged by friends.
Young dark-skinned doctor shows his match day envelop to his wife and child.
Young woman with long dark hear in a dress cheers in front of two podiums with Arizona As on them.
Two women in dresses with long dark hair hold up match day letters and smile big
A man in a blue suit holding a girl and next to a boy stick a pin in a map of the U.S.
A young woman is hugged by her mother as they both smile. Both have dark skin and the young woman is holding a letter.
A light skinned man in a suite with his wife and child smile. He holds a poster that says "I Matched"
A light-skinned man in a suite holds a baby while several people are trying to get the baby to look their way for a photo.
A woman in sun glasses holds a letter while smiling and her husband and child are in the background.
A light skinned woman with blonde hair smiles big as she puts a pin in a big map of the U.S.
Four people with brown skin stand in front of a large 2023 sign smiling with their arms around each other.
A young woman and man with light skin hug each other with huge open-mouthed smiles.
A young man with wiht a big smile and curly dark hair hugs his mom.
A family stands together as the dad holds an "I Matched" sign and his wife looks at the boy she is holding and smiles. Young girl standing in front of them.
A man with a beard wearing a suite and big green hat hods a sign that says "I matched at UCLA"
A group of people of mixed ages all wearing red and blue are smiling and dancing waiving pom poms.
A large group of medical students stands on the stairs of an old building.