Over the last few months, 121 OHSU fourth-year medical students have been interviewing at various residency programs across the country, searching for a teaching hospital to continue their medical training after graduation.

In all, more than 38,000 applicants nationwide vied for 26,772 PGY-1 and PGY-2 positions, the largest match in the history of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) program, which started in 1952. The results of this fiercely competitive process were determined by a complex computer algorithm which matches an applicant's preferred programs with each programs' own preferred list of candidates to generate a final list of residency assignments.

At the recent OHSU Match Day ceremony on March 16, anxious medical students crowded into the BICC gallery to learn where they would be spending the next three to seven years of their lives. The much anticipated answer, delivered via a sealed envelope, revealed not only where they would train after medical school, but what medical specialty they would pursue.

"Match Day was one of the most memorable days of my life," said Yassar Arain, MS4, who will be heading to Stanford University Medical Center to train in pediatrics. "When the day came closer, I started to realize that this was [why] I chose to go to medical school. Now, my family and I are getting ready to move, we're really excited for the next step."

Fifty-five of the students, or 46 percent, are entering residency in primary care, which includes internal medicine, family medicine and pediatrics. While many of these students will go on to sub-specialize, this continues to be a strong initial showing in primary care, compared to many other areas of the country. While this is down somewhat from last year when 62 percent matched to primary care, it is consistent with trends from 2008-2010.

Emergency medicine had the biggest increase in OHSU matches over last year, with 15 students matching versus eight in 2011. Among other notable match statistics, eight students will train in surgery and six in anesthesiology programs.

Here is a link to the full OHSU match list for all students who matched showing the specialty and match location.

Altogether 64 percent of the class matched to programs in the western region, including Oregon. Oregon will keep 27 of the OHSU students in state for their residency programs, including 19 who will train at OHSU. Seventeen will travel to the Northeast, 16 to central states and six to the South.

"I am thrilled to have matched into the Internal Medicine residency program at OHSU," said Stephanie Crocker, MS4. "The faculty and residents are truly outstanding and the training environment is rigorous yet supportive and collegial. Furthermore, there is a culture of clinical excellence in which trainees are encouraged think critically about all aspects of their patients' care."

Based on national data collected by the American Association of Medical Colleges, about 50 percent of the graduating class will eventually practice in Oregon. Currently, one-third of all practicing Oregon physicians received all or part of their training at OHSU.

·Match day photos, video and more!