Article published March 20, 2009
UT medical students learn destinations on Match Day
University of Toledo medical students Sree Veena Kolli, left, and Jenna Gueth celebrate after learning where they will be going for their residency training during a Match Day ceremony at the Pinnacle in Maumee. Ms. Kolli will be going to the Cleveland Clinic, while Ms. Gueth will be doing her residency at the University of North Carolina.
 PHOTO GALLERY: Match Day destinations
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THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY
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By JULIE M. McKINNON
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Six weeks after having a baby, University of Toledo medical student Megan Lutz got another boon yesterday: learning she'll remain at UT for her graduate education.
Staying in Toledo was important to Ms. Lutz and her husband, second-year UT surgical resident Dr. Raul Bosio. Ms. Lutz of Hudson, Ohio, will do her residency in obstetrics and gynecology.
"My husband's here, and we want to start our family," said Ms. Lutz, who recently had a son, Sol Bosio. "We got a lot of good surprises and in a short time period."
Added Dr. Bosio, a native of Argentina: "It worked out perfectly because we are both able to do our training in Toledo."
Ms. Lutz was one of 136 UT medical students who found out yesterday where they will do at least part of their training after graduation. More than 350 fourth-year medical students, relatives, and faculty gathered at the Pinnacle in Maumee for the U.S. tradition known as Match Day.
She and 16 of her classmates, or 12.5 percent of graduating UT medical students, will stay at the former Medical College of Ohio as newly minted doctors for at least one year of training. That is nearly double the nine, or 6.7 percent, who remained last year - and proof that UT's efforts to retain graduates into the area is starting to work, said Dr. Jeffrey Gold, dean of UT's college of medicine as well as executive vice president and provost for health affairs.Starting an emergency medicine residency and forming a family practice program with St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee are among efforts that have helped UT retain medical school graduates, Dr. Gold said. UT also is adding about a dozen fellowship programs in ophthalmology, oncology, and other specialties so doctors can stay in Toledo for more advanced training, he said.
Because of the increase at UT, 15 percent of graduating medical students will get at least a year of graduate training in northwest Ohio. That is up from 11.2 percent last year, yet still lower than the 22 percent who remained in Lucas County for residency programs before a generally downward trend began more than a dozen years ago.
Overall, 30 percent of UT's graduating medical students are going into primary care programs, a relatively high and much needed rate, Dr. Gold said. Nearly 40 percent will remain in Ohio for at least some of their graduate medical education.
To become matched, students rank their top choices for residency programs while hospitals rank their top student picks. Then a computer program administrated by the National Resident Matching Program primarily matches medical students and hospitals for residencies lasting three to seven years.
Yesterday, as part of the annual tradition, students were told to collect envelopes with their names that were spread out on two festively decorated tables. Information inside outlines their residency results, prompting numerous screams, hugs, and photo-taking sessions.
After graduation June 5, Anne Marie Boustani of Ottawa Hills will be heading off to a radiology residency at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Conn. The hospital wasn't Ms. Boustani's first pick, but she was relieved to be selected for the specialty where she will both be a consultant to other physicians and do procedures on patients, she said.
"Radiology's kind of competitive - I was happy to get a spot," Ms. Boustani said.
Contact Julie M. McKinnon at:
jmckinnon@theblade.com
or 419-724-6087.
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