Friday I had the pleasure of participating in what has become one of my favorite events of the year, Match Day for our Schmidt College of Medicine. Match Day is the national program that pairs new physicians with hospital-based residency programs and takes place at the same time for all graduating medical students across the country. Excitement filled the air as we counted down to noon, when the soon-to-be-grads opened sealed envelopes containing their residency assignments – where they’ll spend the next several years. Proud family and friends looked on as the students cheered and hugged; some even cried tears of joy.

Once again, results revealed a 100 percent match for FAU’s 61 students, which is quite an achievement for a new medical school. The students placed in top institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard University), Emory University Hospital (Emory University), Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Northwestern University), New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, Children’s National Medical Center (George Washington University) and the William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Our students will venture as far as Hawaii and remain as close as Miami.

We are so very proud of the Class of 2016 – the self-proclaimed “middle children” of the College of Medicine. They have worked extremely hard and accomplished a great deal in their academic careers. I look forward to sharing my personal congratulations with each of our new Owl M.D.s during their commencement ceremony on April 29.