Each year, medical students across the country count down to annual “Match Day,” which marks one of the most important days in a student's career. On Friday, March 18, the students will come together with their classmates and wait for the envelope that will tell them where they are headed for their residency training. This year for our annual Match Day blog series, Ting Yang, an MD/PhD student, is also sharing her thoughts leading up to and after the big day.
Ting was born in Gouda, Netherlands, and grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, and Vancouver, where she completed her BSc in Physiology from the University of British Columbia. She matriculated in Penn's MD/PhD program in 2008, and joined the lab of Bradley Johnson, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, to study telomeres and aging. Her PhD research led her to a 10-month collaboration at the Institut Curie in France, where she further cultivated her love of science, travel, and food. After Penn, she is looking forward to a physician-scientist career in dermatology.
As an MD/PhD student at the Perelman School of Medicine for eight years, I've witnessed many years of Match Day anxieties and uncertainties. After my first two years of medical school, I focused on earning my doctorate in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and then returned to complete my MD. This took me on a different path than my original class of medical school peers, most of whom “matched” into their residency programs four years ago.
I remember the excitement in Dunlop Auditorium at Stemmler Hall that year when my classmates awaited the envelopes that would tell them where they would be going to do their residency training. I remember the joy of those who matched at their number-one choice, and the crushing heartache and disappointment of those who matched further down their list. I wondered when my turn will come and what it would be like. It had seemed so far away.
The past four years flew by -- I spent countless hours in the lab, defended my PhD and returned to medical school in November of 2014. I came back certain that I wanted to pursue a physician-scientist career – blending both clinical care and research -- but beyond that, the prospect of applying for residency and matching was still far from my mind, though rapidly approaching. Many of my MD/PhD classmates were going through the application process then, and what had been most difficult was the ranking process. I felt their struggle as they evaluated and balanced their career goals and personal goals in the equation, all the while knowing that they could very well end up at their last choice, and ultimately, life is unpredictable.
That reality was brought home for me when my partner's brother passed away unexpectedly in early February, a few weeks before the rank list was due. As we traveled to New Zealand, where my partner is from, our discussions regarding my rank list no longer seemed as important or life-altering. It was humbling to learn about his brother's life -- he lived life to the fullest, and with amazing kindness and generosity. It was a reminder to live without regrets. During the application process, I couldn't help but look back and think that I could've done more, or worked harder. But I have no regrets. I am happy knowing that I worked hard for curiosity, personal growth and development, and also for the belief that my scientific work contributes to the greater good, and not just for to go on an application.
It has also been helpful to remind myself of the bigger picture -- that I'll finally begin training as a doctor and using my skills to help others. It is such a privilege. I know that I can be happy wherever I match, and I'm excited by the possibilities my career path may take me.
When I now look to my classmates who matched four years ago, even ones who didn't get their first choice, they are in a really good place in life. Some have switched specialties, many have gotten married and started their own families. It’s likely that none could have predicted what their futures would look like four years ago. Likewise, nine years ago during the process of completing my medical school applications, I applied to U.S. schools (outside my home country of Canada) because I wasn't accepted into any Canadian schools. What had seemed like huge disappointment at the time turned out to be the start of my greatest adventure thus far. I am reassured by that reminder as I anticipate the next few weeks.