Match Day is one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking days in a medical student's journey. It’s the day when soon-to-be doctors find out where they will spend the next few years training in their chosen specialty.
Unlike the traditional match facilitated by the National Resident Matching Program in mid-March, urology and ophthalmology programs participate in an early match process, announcing pairings in early February each year.
Maddie Mitcham, a fourth-year medical student at the UK College of Medicine Lexington Campus, is staying in Lexington after matching into UK’s ophthalmology and visual sciences department. She was inspired to pursue ophthalmology after a service trip in Honduras.
“During my time there, an ophthalmologist was operating at the local hospital and needed a scrub tech for the day. I had the opportunity to observe numerous eye surgeries that restored vision to nearly blind patients. Witnessing the profound impact these procedures had on patients' lives instantly sparked my interest in ophthalmology,” she shared.
“Recognizing what a precious gift vision is led me to pursue the specialty throughout medical school. Now as I look ahead, I'm eager for the opportunity to deeply connect with and serve the patients of Kentucky, as well as globally, by improving both their sight and quality of life.”
Match Day is a huge milestone, marking the transition from medical school to residency training, where these future physicians will gain hands-on experience in patient care. We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and dedication in securing these highly competitive residency positions.
Congratulations to all!
Photos below submitted by learners. Some participating students may not be pictured.
