The Wayne State University School of Medicine Class of 2002 had an outstanding match this year, according to Dr. Jane Thomas, assistant dean for student affairs. The match took place on Thursday, March 21, at Scott Hall, and when the Year IV students ripped open the envelopes to learn where they'd match for their residency training, the din was unmistakably joyful. The match rate for WSU this year was 98.4 percent, compared to 94.1 percent nationally - an exceptional achievement.

Match Day is the day graduating medical students convene in the School's auditorium and learn, individually and simultaneously, where they have "matched" for their residencies. After four years of medical school, young doctors receiving their medical degrees must continue with several more years of advanced training in a specialty area before they can be fully licensed to practice medicine. After months of selecting and interviewing with programs most suited and desirable, the students submit their top choices. The National Resident Match Program matches these choices with those of the programs. On Match Day, all graduating doctors nationwide find out where they will be heading for the next stage of training.

In summary, of the 248-member WSU class, 36 are going into internal medicine, 28 into family medicine, 25 into emergency medicine and 30 are doing transitional years, in addition to other specialties. By far, the majority of the class is staying in southeast Michigan, with 132 matched to local programs, including 49 who will be staying at WSU/DMC. Those leaving the state are heading to such prestigious programs as Johns Hopkins, University of Massachusetts, Cleveland Clinic and the University of Chicago.

Wayne State University is the country's largest single-campus medical school and the fourth largest overall in terms of enrollment.