MILWAUKEE — Medical students across Wisconsin and the country found out where they will continue their careers.
Match Day is a long-standing tradition many look forward to. Many are looking forward to it even more knowing they are filling a demand for doctors across the country.
After years of hard work, students at the Medical College of Wisconsin are learning where they will start their medical careers.
Inside the Italian Community Center, 200 doctors and their family members gathered for one of the most important days of their careers. After a brief speaking program, the doctors got to get up and grab their envelops filled with where they will attend their residency programs.
Krystal Almazan had tears in her eyes as she ripped open her envelope and found out she was headed to Christ Advocate in Oak Lawn, near Chicago. She grew up in the Chicagoland area and is excited to be close to family.
“I’m the first one in the family to be a physician,” Almazan said. “So, I think it’s a whole level of appreciation of the grind and kind of just everything.”
After four long years of medical school, it’s off to residency. She said she is proud of her accomplishments and having her family by her side.
“I think that they are the biggest support system I have,” she said. “I think they are just as proud of me as I am of myself.”
Almazan’s mom, Angela Banda, had tears in her eyes when she found out she would be coming home just 30 minutes away from where she grew up.
“It doesn’t feel real,” she said. “The journey has been great. It doesn’t really feel real, but I am really proud of her.”
Almazan and her 200 other classmates are helping to fill the gap in the workforce. It’s a huge need the Medical College of Wisconsin is happy to help fill.
“The Medical College of Wisconsin is the third largest private medical school in the country, so we are very committed to addressing the shortage of physicians in the country,” Medical College of Wisconsin President John Raymond said. “Believe it or not, there is a shortage of primary care providers and specialists and it’s only getting worse as people age.”
The shortage, especially in underserved communities, is one of the many reasons why Almazan chose family medicine as her field of choice. She said she is thrilled with her match and can’t wait to help those in need.
“I think primary care is really important, and it’s why I chose family medicine is to really give back to a community like Oak Lawn, which is predominantly minorities,” Almazan said. “I’m really excited to start this adventure and really be an advocate for my patients.”
Match Day was special for many, including a mother and son duo who both matched on the same day. Hefei Liu and Wenjing Zao went through medical school at the same time at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Zao practiced medicine in China and worked to get her license here in the U.S. This is the first time the Medical College of Wisconsin has ever had a mother and son match for their residency programs at the same time
“I’m very excited,” Wenjing Zao said. “I have never felt so excited! I matched with my son, together.”
Her son echoed her excitement and added how proud he is of her and her dedication to her career.
“It’s just incredible. I matched with my mom,” he said. “The journey she has been through hasn’t been easy but she did it. I’m so proud of her. You’re an inspiration.”
The two are headed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Penn for their residency programs.