Extending Healing Beyond the Nest: UIWSOM Hosts Military Match Day

On Wednesday, Dec. 10, the UIW School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) celebrated veteran and military-connected student doctors at the annual Military Match Day ceremony on the UIWSOM campus. As soon-to-be doctors, many of UIWSOM's military-affiliated students have applied to medical residencies and other post-graduation programs, awaiting word as to where in the country they will go and what specialties they will practice. Since December 2020, the UIWSOM Office of Student Affairs and the UIW Office of Military and Veterans Affairs have hosted this event to reveal their placement results to students' families and loved ones.

This ceremony is notably different from UIWSOM's traditional Match Day ceremony where medical students learn their residency results in real-time, along with thousands of other aspiring doctors across the country. Instead, military-connected medical students come to the ceremony knowing their results beforehand and get to share this knowledge with their peers and community.

University President Thomas M. Evans, PhD, joined UIWSOM for the celebration, offering encouraging remarks to the day's honored students as they prepare to embark on their new journeys.

"Today is a milestone, a culmination of years of rigorous training, dedication, sacrifice and unwavering commitment," said Evans. "You, our students, have poured your hearts and minds into one of the world's most important professions: serving both as a physician and an officer … You chose the path of service, duty and sacrifice, committing to the health and readiness of the men and women who make up our forces. This is certainly not an easy path, but it is one of profound purpose, and we are immensely proud of the courage you have shown in embracing it."

One by one, students in their respective military uniforms took the stage, proudly showcasing signs with their match results. Specialties included pathology, internal medicine, emergency medicine, diagnostic radiology, prelim surgery and pediatrics. Each student was met with applause and cheers from their spouses, children, parents, friends and mentors upon their reveal. It was a joyous beginning to a new chapter for these graduates who will serve as both healers and service members.

"You are entering a world where your skills, compassion and osteopathic philosophy will be needed more than ever," remarked Evans. "You are the future of military healthcare, equipped with the knowledge to treat the whole person, mind, body and spirit. Wherever your match takes you, know that the prayers of our Incarnate Word community go with you and will fortify you."

Congratulations, UIWSOM's military matches!