Media Alert
March 15, 2004
Contact: Anne DeLotto Baier or Marissa Emerson, 813-974-3300

Futures of USF College of Medicine seniors revealed
on National Match Day

Who: University of South Florida College of Medicine Class of 2004
whose average national standardized medical licensure exam scores are higher
than the national average and the highest of any previous USF class.

What: National Match Day
The day when soon-to-be doctors nationwide find out where and how they each will spend the next three to seven years of their medical training. This period, known as a residency, is the time when a licensed medical graduate begins specialized training in a specific medical area. Students apply and interview with medical schools around the nation and then rank the institutions according to program, location and personal preference. Medical schools also compile lists of students based on grades, test scores and interviews. The National Residency Matching program compiles both sets of information and produces the list of matches.

When: Noon to 2 p.m., Thursday, March 18, 2004

Where: Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Rd., Tampa

Why: Great photo opportunity: Students gather to find out one at a time and to celebrate or to console. High emotions and expectations. Lots of hugs, shouts, tears, cell phone calls. Some bring friends and family, some bring cigars and champagne.

About the NRMP
The National Resident Matching Program was established in 1953 as an Illinois not-for-profit charitable organization. Its sole mission is to provide an orderly and fair mechanism to match the preferences of applicants for U.S. residency positions with residency program choices of applicants. In 2003, more than 21,000 people were matched to residencies in the "Main Match" and over 2,000 to subspecialty positions. The NRMP's web site is www.nrmp.org. The NRMP also has established a web site to explain and promote the benefits of the Match, www.savethematch.org

--USF--