NEXT STEPS

Primary care tops again at Brody School of Medicine

Today, as fourth-year medical students across the country attended Match Day ceremonies to find out where they will train the next few years as resident physicians, the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University demonstrated once again that it is a leader in producing primary care physicians.

“You’re all going to get jobs,” Brody dean Dr. Paul Cunningham, quipped to the 62 anxious students and family members assembled. “But this class of Brody graduates is special because 73 percent of you have chosen primary care residencies, 23 percent of you are going into family medicine and 47 percent of you are staying in North Carolina for your residencies.

“All the rest of you have promised to come back home when you’re done,” he joked to the cheering audience.

Dr. Susan Schmidt, associate dean for student affairs at Brody, hugs Amber Heckart during the Match Day ceremony.

Students individually walked across the stage to receive the envelopes holding their destinies as pre-selected songs played and photo collages and messages of thanks were projected on a screen behind them. Some, like Amber Heckart, literally danced their way across the stage. A few, like Matthew Adams, carried young children in their arms.

The percentage of Brody graduates entering a family medicine residency grew from 15 percent last year to 23 percent for the Class of 2016.

Asiyah Mikell looks forward to joining three of her classmates in the family medicine residency program at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro. “This is amazing. I’m really, really happy. This is a dream come true,” she said, adding that she feels well prepared because of all the support she’s had throughout her time at Brody.

Olga Schuth was the only student to open her envelope immediately while on stage. “I’ve been waiting eight years for this. I couldn’t wait one second longer,” she said. She matched in a plastic (reconstructive) surgery residency at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. “This has been her dream since she was seven years old,” her mother said.

Richalle Smith is overcome with emotion after finding out she matched with her first-choice residency program in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Louisville.

Up from 51 percent last year, this year 73 percent of Brody graduates are entering primary care fields: family medicine (14), pediatrics (12), internal medicine (8), internal medicine/pediatrics (6) and obstetrics & gynecology (5).

Dr. Elizabeth Baxley, senior associate dean for academic affairs at Brody, was pleased that 47 percent of the class will remain in North Carolina for their residency training – 12.5 percent at Vidant Medical Center, Brody’s affiliated teaching hospital.

“Historical data suggests that the great majority of those will stay in our state to practice after completing their residencies,” she said.

Graduate Ian Bryan matched in pediatrics at Vidant. A Greenville native, Bryan proudly said, “I have received all my training in Greenville since I was in the first grade. I’m excited to be staying here.”

The National Resident Matching Program is the organization that places applicants for postgraduate medical training positions into the various residency programs at teaching hospitals across the country. U.S. medical school graduates must complete a three- to seven-year residency program accredited in a recognized medical specialty before they can provide direct patient care independently.

Matt Adams walks to the stage to meet his match.