Stephen Prevoznik had just found out he will be interning in neurology at Wright State University.

But, Mr. Prevoznik decided that Match Day was not exciting enough.

After finding out where he was going, Mr. Prevoznik went to the far end of the room, and wrote on his match sign, “Darcy will you marry me?”

“I am excited to start a new chapter in my life,” Mr. Prevoznik said. “I am moving on to begin what I have been studying to do with my new fiancée.”

For her part, Darcy Davis said she was ecstatic.

“I was so excited for him to get into Wright State and then he took off with his sign,” Ms. Davis said. “I had no idea he was going to propose. I am so thrilled to be his future wife and to be behind him, supporting him through his residency.”

More than 160 fourth-year medical students at the University of Toledo participated in the annual Match Day event held Friday at the Stranahan Theater.

Match Day is a nationwide program administered by the National Resident Matching Program, which pairs graduating students and academic hospitals based on the preferences of both the students and the medical centers.

UT Interim President Matt Schroeder said Match Day is a major milestone for medical students.

“It took four years of hard work and more to be on this journey,” Mr. Schroeder said. “They had classes, labs, clinical rotations, and more just to get to this point.”

Mr. Schroeder also recognized the family, friends, and loved ones who were in attendance.

“On behalf of UT and the Board of Trustees, we want to thank you for supporting our medical students,” he said. “In the end, no one gets a degree alone.”

“This is an exciting and a very important milestone for our students,” said Dr. Imran Ali, dean of the college of medicine and life sciences. “Match Day represents a culmination of all the hard work these incredible individuals have put in over the last four years along with our faculty and staff. The path to becoming a physician is not an easy one, but we know our students are well-prepared to take that next step and begin their residency training.”

Dr. Ali said he still remembers his Match Day. He served his neurology residency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

“I was nervous and excited at the same time,” Dr. Ali said. “This really is the most important day for medical students. This will be where they spend their next few years of medical training.”

Residents are licensed physicians who care for patients under the supervision of attending physicians while they continue to train in their chosen specialties. Depending on the specialty, residency training lasts three to seven years.

Randall Worth, senior associate dean for student affairs and admissions, told the students he could not believe this day had come.

“We have watched all of you grow as students,” Mr. Worth said. “We are proud of all of you. You have proven how much you deserve to be here. Remember, these programs believe you are the best and they want you there. Enjoy this moment. You have earned it.”

Students opened envelopes containing their individual residency placement information at noon.

Jennifer Stiene will be a general surgery resident at Emory University in Atlanta.

“I am very excited and overwhelmed, in a good way,” Ms. Stiene, a Cleveland native, said. “UT has an amazing medical school with supportive faculty and staff. The class of 2025 has just been great to go through medical school with. Now, it is time to start the apartment hunt.”

Jessica Williams was thrilled to be matched with her first choice, Case Western Reserve University/University Hospital Rainbow Pediatrics.

“I am so happy to be going there,” Ms. Williams said. “My residency is for three years so I really wanted to go here. The community is just wonderful. I will miss UT and the friends I made here. It really was a great learning experience here.”

Michelangelo Zullo, who is originally from Ashtabula County, Ohio, will be an intern in internal medicine at the University of Toledo Medical Center.

“I am very happy to be staying here,” Mr. Zullo said. “I received a very good education here and now I have the opportunity to give back to this school and community. They have spent so much time educating me.”

Mr. Schroeder said it is significant that many students will be completing their residencies in Ohio.

“In this part of the country, the physician population is aging and retiring,” Mr. Schroeder said in an interview. “We know that where a student does their residency is where they will most likely be a physician. UT is churning out the next generation of physicians. If they stay in Ohio, it will improve healthcare and health outcomes.”

There were 167 medical students who were matched into 23 medical specialties across 28 states. Thirty-four students will be in internal medicine, 12 in anesthesiology, and 12 in emergency medicine.

Seventy-one students will stay in Ohio, 27 in northwest Ohio, and 19 in Toledo. The most popular states where students are heading to outside of Ohio include Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, New York, California, and North Carolina.

First Published March 21, 2025, 8:29 p.m.