The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine celebrated with students, families, faculty and staff at Match Day Friday, March 21, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. The college’s 305 members of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2025 found out Friday where they would attend their residencies along with medical students across the U.S. during the nation-wide Match Day.
The MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (MSUCOM) Class of 2025 celebrates a 98% match rate going into 25 specialties, including anesthesiology, dermatology, family medicine, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry and radiology, among others. Of the 2025 class, 67% will stay in Michigan for their residency.
Leading up to the big reveal Friday, college leaders spoke to the crowd of anxious students and guests, emphasizing the students’ impact throughout their time in medical school. Susan Enright, D.O., FACOI, associate dean of Clerkship Education for the college, translated the impact of these students caring for two patients per day across their clerkships.
“That’s a very low estimate of 438,000 patients your graduating class has laughed with, cried with, held hands with and provided the best care for, and that doesn’t take into account the numerous family members of those patients who counted on you to do your phenomenal work,” Dr. Enright said. “Thank you, not only from the bottom of my heart and all of MSU and the proud faculty here at MSUCOM and our staff, but all the base sites and communities where you cared for those patients.
As the D.O. students ripped open sealed envelopes at noon to discover where and for which specialty they’d matched for medical and surgical residencies, cheers and tears erupted as those gathered learned where these osteopathic medical students were headed next.
D.O. student John Karns matched in interventional radiology at UT San Antonio and immediately celebrated with his wife, who is a resident in emergency medicine in the same city. The couple is excited to end their long-distance status.
“Now we can get a house together and maybe a puppy – very much looking forward to everything that comes with this,” Karns said.
D.O. students and best friends Daphne Samuel, who matched at Cleveland Clinic, and Amy Baier, who matched in neurology at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow, met at the college during their second year of medical school and stayed “attached at the hip” throughout. That support system, as well as that provided by MSUCOM faculty, staff and other students, powered them through to Match Day, where they celebrated together.
“I’m a first-generation college student, and I’m the first person in my family to go to medical school,” Baier said. “A lot of this process, you kind of feel like you’re just bumbling through. I feel like MSU always broke things down into components – ‘If I can just get through this hurdle, I can get to the next point.’”
These sentiments were shared by Samuel.
“MSU was a place, for me, that brought so much joy. And amazing friendships, amazing support systems. Shoutout to the advising community – Brooklyn has saved my butt so many times! It’s definitely a ‘thank you, Jesus’ moment,” Samuel said. “I couldn’t have gotten here without the support of my family and friends, but certainly my faith, as well.”
While Match Day’s focus is on students and their families, college faculty and staff were just as engaged in Friday’s celebration. Jerrod Berry, student services assistant for the college’s Detroit Medical Center site, was especially excited to witness the magic of Match, as he’s worked with the Class of 2025 throughout their entire medical school journey.
“I liken it to seeing your kid grow – you see them come in as first-year med students, nervous and didn’t know what to expect,” Berry said. “And now they’re mature. They have an idea in their mind of what kind of doctor they want to be. It feels like full circle. I’m always happy for them and excited for them.”
J’aimee Lippert, D.O., assistant dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, said she’s excited for all the students, their families and everyone who has supported them throughout the joys, sorrows and challenges of medical school.
“As faculty, this is why we do what we do. This is the whole reason for our entire being.,” Dr. Lippert said. “It’s a day filled with joy and with gratitude. I’m so excited for the whole group.
“Wherever your placement is for residency, you take with you all of the experience and the incredible gifts and talents you have – you make that experience what it will be,” Dr. Lippert added, offering advice to the matched students. “The place you match is great, the staff, the faculty, that’s all great – but you as the resident, as the student going to that location, you make your experience, and all of the patients you’re going to interact with and touch, all the students you will start to teach in rotations, you bring all of you with that, and I just couldn’t be more proud.”
Michelle Volker is the academic program coordinator for the college’s D.O.-Ph.D. program, through which students spend eight or more years earning both D.O. and Ph.D. degrees to prepare for careers as physicians-scientists. As their students move back and forth between medical and research curriculums, Volker remains a constant support system throughout the students’ career paths.
“We’re a community – we’re a family,” Volker said. “Today means the culmination of years of training in both medicine and research for the students, but it means to me that I get to watch and learn where they’re going to be to continue on with their physician-scientist journey.”
The 2025 Match at MSUCOM included five couples who participated in Match. In addition, 100% of the classes’ nine military students matched into residency training positions through the military, while 95% of international students matched.
The MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine will celebrate commencement for the Class of 2025 on May 1 at MSU’s Breslin Center.
By Terri Hughes-Lazzell and E. LaClear