Press Release

March 16, 2006
Contact: Kaylyn Kendall Dines
Phone: (973) 972-3000
dineskd@umdnj.edu

UMDNJ's Annual Rite of Passage for Medical Students Sends 301 to
Hospitals Nationwide
Match rate surpasses national average

NEWARK—Today as part of a nationwide program, fourth-year students at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's two allopathic medical schools, opened envelopes with some of the most important news in their careers: their first job.

Like their peers across the country, future physicians on three of UMDNJ's campuses were surrounded by family and friends during the annual Match Day ceremony. Amidst laughter, smiles, screams, and tears, fourth-year students nationwide simultaneously opened their envelopes to learn where they will first practice medicine. UMDNJ's three ceremonies were held at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, in Newark, and at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, on campuses in New Brunswick and Camden.

"I want to congratulate our graduates, who embody the core values of this university: service to others, faith in the promise of medicine, and an abiding commitment to excellence," said Dr. Bruce C. Vladeck, interim president. "We could not be more proud of them, or their accomplishments. This is yet another affirmation of how well the business of the university is proceeding while we deal with the very real problems that have been reported."

Each student's postgraduate placement was determined by The National Resident Matching Program, in Washington, D.C. The "Match" is a computerized system by which students rank their top choices of residency programs and the programs rank students whom they wish to train. The computer then matches the two rankings to achieve the best fit for the student and the program. Each year approximately 16,000 allopathic medical school seniors and 15,000 graduates of osteopathic, Canadian or foreign medical schools compete for approximately 24,000 residency positions.

The match rate for both UMDNJ medical schools surpassed the national average of 93.7 percent. New Jersey Medical School’s rate was 99 percent, and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School's rate was 98 percent.

Statewide, 301 UMDNJ students enrolled in the program, 157 from New Jersey Medical School in Newark, and 144 at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School on the New Brunswick/Piscataway and Camden campuses. Placements occurred at health and medical centers across the country, including Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Stanford University, and University of Pennsylvania. Student’s specialties include anesthesiology, family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and surgery.

"Our graduates can be proud that their dedication over the past four years has brought them to this point," said Dr. Robert Johnson, interim dean of the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in Newark. "We are pleased that our students are in such demand and will participate in residency programs at premier teaching hospitals nationwide."

In addition to residency programs, some students will continue on to research positions and postdoctoral fellowships.

"Robert Wood Johnson Medical School also had its highest match rate ever, 97.9 percent, for students wishing to enter our residency programs in September," said Dr. Harold L. Paz, dean of the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "Overall, the results for both students and residents underscore the outstanding national recognition that our school has achieved for its programs over the years."