Excitement, anxiety, trepidation, anticipation: the range of feelings an event like
Match Day can elicit is long and varied. After all, it’s the culmination of four years of intense
and challenging work to become a physician. On Friday, March 17, students in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) took the next step in their
journey to becoming physicians as they celebrated Match Day surrounded by classmates,
family, friends, and faculty.
“Today you walk the fine line between your will and what will be,” said Arthur J. Sesso, DO ‘81, interim dean of the osteopathic medicine program. “You may not be able to control your fate, but you will control your destiny.”
Match Day is an annual tradition coordinated by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), a private, non-profit organization that matches medical students with residency programs across the country for continued training after graduation. This year, 100% of PCOM DO students who entered the match were placed.
“This is the culmination of everyone’s work over the last several years,” said Jay S. Feldstein, DO ‘81, president and CEO. “I know, from the bottom of my heart, that you are incredibly
well-trained and you are going to be successful in whatever field and wherever you
match.”
The success of this year’s match was also reflected nationally with a record 7,132 DO students matching in the NRMP Match, according to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The number of students matching into postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) positions represents a .03% increase over last year. “We are thrilled to see continued growth in the number of osteopathic medical students and graduates who successfully place into residency positions through the NRMP Match each year,” said AOA President Ernest R. Gelb, DO ‘78, in a message to the community.
Kenneth Veit, DO ‘76, MBA, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, reminded the students that
although they may soon have medical school in their rearview mirrors, the support—and
reputation—of the institution will continue on with them. “The PCOM reputation resides
with you as you go through the next phase of your educational career,” he said.
Students in Philadelphia joined their peers at PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia, which held Match Day for the first time in its history, to celebrate news of their match. Students in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program held their matches earlier this month.
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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