The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) Class of 2024, received their residency program assignments in various fields of specialty, taking a significant step forward in their journey towards becoming physicians on March 15 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Sixty-nine UNR Med students gathered for Match Day, a momentous occasion, cherished tradition and rite of passage when students learn where they will train for their residencies in various specialty fields. They joined tens of thousands of other graduating medical students across the country in observing this pivotal moment in their education as they prepare to begin their careers as physicians.
“Class of 2024, Match Day marks the beginning of the next chapter in your training and it is indeed a big step,” Paul J. Hauptman, M.D., UNR Med dean, told the students. “Together, you navigated a historic pandemic with creativity and perseverance. Despite facing intense professional and personal stress, you came through.”
This year, 40% of UNR Med’s matched students will train in primary care and mental health, which includes family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and OB-GYN. Two students matched into UNR Med Graduate Medical Education spots.
The total specialty breakdown includes:
- 11 in pediatrics.
- Nine in emergency medicine.
- Six in anesthesiology.
- Six in obstetrics and gynecology.
- Five in general surgery.
- Five in family medicine.
- Four in neurology.
- Three each in preliminary positions, psychiatry, orthopedic surgery and internal medicine.
- Two medicine-pediatrics combined.
- One each in child neurology, urology, plastic surgery, interventional radiology, dermatology, pathology, radiology – diagnostic, otolaryngology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Residency location strongly influences physician practice location, affecting the availability of healthcare professionals in an area. About 13% of students will stay in Nevada for part of their training, addressing the state’s need for healthcare professionals.
UNR Med’s vision is “A Healthy Nevada,” and retaining and expanding the physician workforce is critical to this mission. However, according to the Office of Statewide Initiatives’ Health Workforce in Nevada report, Nevada is still experiencing significant shortages of physicians in critical areas like family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery and others.
UNR Med has residency programs in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry and behavioral sciences. This year, UNR Med residency spots were filled by two UNR Med students.
Neda Etezadi-Amoli, M.D., senior associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs, addressed the attendees and congratulated them for navigating all the significant challenges of the last four years. She referenced the event theme, “Friends” TV show, as she described all the hurdles students “pivoted” around, including the pandemic virtual learning, staff transitions, canceled events and changes in the residency application cycles.
“All these pivots on top of the day-to-day of being a medical student, and you are here,” Etezadi-Amoli said. “Not stuck but moving forward successfully and having developed tolerance for the unknown, resilience for difficult times, a strong foundation of knowledge to build upon, and friendships and networks of support that last a lifetime.”
Competition for residency and fellowship positions is facilitated through The Match. Medical students seek out resident training programs throughout their final year of medical school. The National Resident Matching Program receives preference lists from applicants and program directors, which both parties score. To fill open residency positions in U.S. teaching hospitals, the NRMP compares candidates' preferences with resident program directors.
Full Match Day results with residency programs and specialties of the class of 2024 are posted on the Match Day website.
