It's a match! More than 170 fourth-year medical students at Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine learned where they will continue the next chapter of their medical careers. 

Students gathered with family and friends on Friday, March 17, at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton to find out their match as part of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), which annually matches students with residency programs across the United States. 

Launch SlideshowGraduating medical students react to receiving their residency matches during the Saint Louis University School of Medicine Match Day at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton on March 17, 2023. Photo by Sarah Conroy

"Today and the weeks ahead will be spent celebrating the culmination of the preclinical years," said Christine Jacobs, M.D., vice president for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. "It’s an honor to celebrate Match Day with our students as they receive the key to their residency journey after four years of hard work, applications, interviews and submitting match preferences.”

Prior to Match Day, students apply and interview at residency programs in the specialty of their choice and rank their preferences. The residency programs also rank their preferences of students. The rank lists are then matched through NRMP.

SLU medical student and St. Louis native Matthew Wagoner aspires to spend the next five years practicing medicine in his hometown close to family, and he was hopeful going into Match Day he would be a competitive Midwest applicant.

“I'm confident that no matter where I end up, I'm going to receive fantastic training and become a competent orthopedic surgeon,” he said, as he waited to learn where he would continue his training.

The ballroom erupted in cheers as students opened their sealed envelopes to reveal their matches.

Wagoner was elated to discover he matched with his first choice Saint Louis University School of Medicine where he will remain on the fast track. He came to SLU as an undergrad from Drury University through the Medical Scholars Program. He looks forward to operating at a young age, becoming a leader in the St. Louis community, and giving back to his alma mater.

“I cannot thank SLU enough for the past four years. It truly is a place that I would love to practice at in the future to educate the residents, medical students, and fellows,” he said.

On the opposite side of the ballroom, Rebecca Cunningham is on track to become an internal medicine physician and oncologist after she matched with her first choice Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The Louisville native knew she wanted to remain in St. Louis where she says her great-grandmother, who grew up on Park Avenue next to the School of Medicine, inspired her studies.

“I chose this career path because you develop these longitudinal relationships where patients entrust you to help them navigate these very complex medical decisions,” she said.

Additional residency programs this year’s class matched into include Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, Emory University, The University of Texas at Austin, and more. 

Hear just a few of the many stories of our Medical Students who were matched into a residency program this year on Match Day. 

About SLU School of Medicine

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, infectious disease, liver disease, aging and brain disease and heart/lung disease.