Albert Einstein College of Medicine fourth-year medical students learned today where they will begin the next phase of their training as residents and interns at medical centers and hospitals around the nation. More than 150 students and hundreds of friends and family members packed Robbins Auditorium and broke out in joyful cries as the students discovered their residency matches in the annual celebration that is one of the most significant professional milestones of a physician’s life.

“You stand on the brink of residency, a unique opportunity to grow as clinicians and make profound contributions to healthcare,” said Yaron Tomer, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein and chief academic officer at Montefiore Einstein. “Each match represents not just a position but also your aspirations, your commitment to patient care, and the impact you will have on the lives of others. And no matter where you go, know that you carry the values instilled in you at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. You may be leaving Einstein, but Einstein will never leave you.”

“Remember that your journey into a career in medicine is never truly 'over,'” added Yoon Kang, M.D., vice dean for education and the Ruth L. Gottesman Chair in Education at Einstein. “Medicine is a lifelong learning process. It is both an art and a science and requires continuous growth, humility, and, above all, a deep commitment to making a difference for every patient. A patient who is someone’s beloved mother or uncle or brother.”

As part of this year’s theme, “Dreams Are Unlimited,” each envelope containing the students’ match information was personalized with their childhood photo. Just before noon, members of the class, most wearing Einstein pinstriped New York Yankee-style baseball jerseys with the number 25 on the back, lined up in front of envelopes taped to the auditorium wall. After a 10-second countdown and a noontime gong rang, the students simultaneously tore open the envelopes to discover where they will begin the next phase of their medical training as resident physicians.

“I know I’m going to be more prepared than I could have dreamed of,” said Bailey Frohlich, who matched to Yale New Haven Hospital in internal medicine. Ms. Frohlich held her 10 ½-month-old daughter and was surrounded by family, including her husband, parents, siblings, in-laws, and grandfather, Robert Galbut, M.D. ’73. “I love this school – the administrators, the activities, the community,” said Ms. Frohlich. Everyone is so mission-driven and working toward the same goal: to provide the best care.”

The largest group of students from the Class of 2025 matched to internal medicine, with 46 students going into the field. Coming in second this year was anesthesiology, with 21 matches, a 62% increase from last year. Rounding out the other most popular specialties were: surgery (13); pediatrics (13); obstetrics & gynecology (12); psychiatry (11); dermatology (10); diagnostic radiology (8); emergency medicine (8) and ophthalmology (6). Thirty-four will join an Einstein-affiliated residency program, with 31 joining Montefiore.

In addition to Dean Tomer and Dr. Kang, speakers at the event included Philip Ozuah, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Montefiore Einstein, Allison B. Ludwig, M.D. ’04, associate dean for student affairs, and alumni speaker Assumpta Madu, M.D. ’93, PharmD, MBA, CPE, of Bartow Ophthalmology.

Holding tight to his girlfriend and a bouquet of flowers, Behram Khan said he was grateful to have matched in ophthalmology to Montefiore. The Syracuse native said he felt like he made a new family when he entered medical school. “It’s so exciting because now I get to stay with my family,” he said, adding that he looks forward to connecting with people and guiding them in care as he pursues a future in ocular oncology.

For Stacey Franco, a Queens native, her match to pediatrics at NYP-Columbia was particularly meaningful since she was treated there for a medical condition as a child. “It feels so amazing,” she said of her match. “I started off volunteering at hospitals. I had no doctors in my family but I had a bigger dream to go back to the hospital that took care of me as a kid. It feels so full circle.”

The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) conducts the match using a computerized mathematical algorithm to align the preferences of applicants with the preferences of U.S. residency programs seeking new trainees.

Residency training for most graduates will begin about seven weeks after Einstein’s May 21 commencement ceremony.