Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

7 ideas for an alternative Match Day

Melanie Sulistio, MD
Education
March 18, 2020
11 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

As a cardiologist, a mom of three school-aged kids, a physician’s wife, and associate dean of student affairs, I am acutely aware of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our communities. In this time of constant change and concern, it is important to find joy in whatever we can. This week is Match Week. Instead of our senior medical students celebrating their accomplishments together, they are social distancing and foregoing some of the most time-honored traditions, such as the Match. This letter to our soon-to-be-matched students is intended to bring some levity and joy to our current situation, but by no means is it intended to minimize what our world is going through. Sending kindness, compassion, and love always.

Here is my message to medical students in the Match:

Match Day completely altered due to a pandemic? I’m sure this was totally on your radar. However, if it wasn’t, here are some ideas to help celebrate the “alternative” Match Day, which will still go on despite social distancing.

1. Take a page from baby gender reveal parties. Designate a person you trust to look at your results. (Don’t share your password; you all know that’s grounds for security and IT infraction!). Have them print out your results and put them in an envelope so you can get the full experience of opening it up.

2. Make it special. If you decide to go with option 1, celebrate the occasion by ordering a fancy envelope and paper on Amazon or some other delivery service (don’t go to a store; remember social distance). Better yet, decorate an envelope with your box of craft supplies – you have one, right? Bedazzle it, add stickers, make it your own.

3. Family time or family time. So maybe your family was going to be there on Match Day, but you were really looking forward to celebrating with your close friends later. Chalk this one up as a win for family time and spend it with your immediate family. Consider other ways to share the occasion with friends – invite everyone to a Zoom meeting or a group Facetime and open your results together! Another option, plan for a celebration with your family/friends later when social distancing is not the happening thing. Pick a spot that’s meaningful to all of you.

4. Print a map. Honoring a UT Southwestern tradition, print a map that includes all the areas where you interviewed and ranked. When you find out where you matched, place a pin on the map and take a picture of your soon-to-be home! An additional suggestion, but please use caution, ask whomever you are sharing this event with to guess where you will match and use different colored pins for different people. This could get competitive, so be aware strong feelings may come to the surface (i.e., a parent who really wanted you to stay closer to home).

5. If your options of cities are limited. Consider getting something indicative of each city you interviewed in/ranked and have these items available on Match Day (again, take precautions and order these items or use what you already have). Take pics with all the different symbols for each city before Match (have fun with these selfie poses!). But when match time comes, declare the winning city and take a celebratory pic with that item.

6. Videos. Do you or anyone close to you have video skills? Create a video capturing your thoughts and what you anticipate for Match beforehand. Have someone video you opening your email or envelope. Edit this for a memory you can save forever, as well as share it with those you can’t be with on this day.

7. Mentors and sponsors. Consider making a list of people who have had the greatest impact on your life (ex. high school teacher that believed in you?). Reach out to them before Match Day and ask if they could be available in the hour(s) after finding out where you’ve matched. Mark this momentous day by calling them and sharing your happy news, and simultaneously thanking them for the impact they’ve had on your life.

Whatever you do, remember that you have accomplished so much. Remember that first day of human structure anatomy lab? Remember your first patient on the wards? Think of how far you’ve come from the first day of medical school, from the first day of college, even from the first day of grade school. This is a time to celebrate all your hard work and effort. There is little doubt that many people around you are proud of your accomplishments. So proud, in fact, that no pandemic or social distancing could suppress their pride. You, too, should be proud of yourself and all you have done.

Congratulations! Welcome to the next stage of medicine.

Melanie Sulistio is a cardiologist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Independent practice and the lost art of touch

March 18, 2020 Kevin 1
…
Next

Innovation in the time of COVID-19

March 18, 2020 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Independent practice and the lost art of touch
Next Post >
Innovation in the time of COVID-19

More by Melanie Sulistio, MD

  • The greatest gift a physician can receive

    Melanie Sulistio, MD
  • Why it’s important to take the time and give feedback

    Melanie Sulistio, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    A letter from an educator to medical trainees

    Melanie Sulistio, MD

Related Posts

  • The sigh of relief on Match Day quickly changed into a sobering reality

    Steven Zhang, MD
  • Match Day: Leaving behind my polished applicant identity and becoming a physician trainee

    Simone Phillips
  • Match Day: the perfect ending to the medical school experience

    Valerie A. Jones, MD
  • The first day of medical training during a pandemic

    Elizabeth D. Patton
  • How to match into a fellowship

    Faton Bytyci, MD
  • 9 medical student tips to prepare for the Match

    Diego Razura

More in Education

  • The pros and cons of taking a gap year during medical school

    Med School Insiders
  • Breaking the silence: the truth about mental health challenges among medical students and why medical schools must take action

    Erin Waldrop
  • Breaking the stigma: Encouraging mental health help-seeking in medical trainees

    Anonymous
  • I’m not so different from Lionel Messi – and neither are you

    Lauren Tien
  • 6 ways ChatGPT can help you succeed in medical school

    Drew Bergman
  • Is it time to say goodbye to medical school rankings?

    James Goldchild
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Policy
    • Fixing the system and prioritizing patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Fixing the system and prioritizing patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients

      Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

      Ton La, Jr., MD, JD | Policy
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Novel IDH1/2 Inhibitor Shows 'Dramatic Effect' in Low-Grade Glioma
  • Nivolumab-AVD Boosts PFS in Untreated Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • 'You Can't Yoga Your Way Out of This': What We Heard This Week
  • New Standard in Operable EGFR-Positive Lung Cancer
  • New Ovarian Cancer Drug Extends Survival in Resistant Disease

Meeting Coverage

  • Novel IDH1/2 Inhibitor Shows 'Dramatic Effect' in Low-Grade Glioma
  • Nivolumab-AVD Boosts PFS in Untreated Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • New Standard in Operable EGFR-Positive Lung Cancer
  • New Ovarian Cancer Drug Extends Survival in Resistant Disease
  • Neoadjuvant Chemo Flops Versus Upfront Surgery for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • Boxing legends Tyson and Foreman: powerful lessons for a resilient and evolving health care future

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

      Jeffrey A. Singer, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Policy
    • Fixing the system and prioritizing patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Fixing the system and prioritizing patient care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients

      Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH | Physician
    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

      Ton La, Jr., MD, JD | Policy
    • Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

      Deepak Gupta, MD | Physician
    • Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...