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Albany Medical College students find their match

BY TARYN FITSIK

ALBANY, N.Y.--Cheers, smiles and hugs multiplied throughout the room Thursday, as Albany Medical students open the envelope that determines where they will receive their advanced medical training.

"It's scary to think this envelope, in a way, will determine what my career will be," says Alex Leahey from East Greenbush.  "Leading up to this, these past couple of weeks, I've been really nervous," he adds. "I didnt know what coast I'd be on, but I got one of my top choices, so I'm very happy."

Match Day sets the tone for Albany Medical students' futures, where it all comes down to a single envelope.  126 students learned where they will spend the next three to seven years doing their medical residencies.

Students are matched to hospitals all over the country, their placements based on national board scores, letters of recommendations, and academic achievement in medical school.

"It's where you're going to be training, and where you ultimately get all of your experience from," says Jeremy Esposito of Averill Park. "It's what I've been working for for all these years."

"It marks the next step into our careers," adds Kerry Barba. "Today we're all doctors, and we'll have a job next year that we're all looking forward to. "It's going to be us. Now we're the go-to person. It's exciting."

But for Aaron Provisor, Match Day takes on a whole new meaning. In 2003, Provisor was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and given only a 10 percent chance to live. He has now been cancer-free for five years.

"I always said I'm going to do this, I'm going to persevere--I'm going to be a doctor someday," says Provisor. "Fate has a funny way of working sometimes, but it has made me stronger."

Now Albany Medical students look to beginning their careers, after years of hard work.

I'm excited to start my life, and start my career on a different coast," says Leahey.

"I think I was really prepared well here, and I can't wait for the future," says Barba.

17 of the 126 students were matched to Albany Medical Center, and their residencies begin in July.