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UTGSM Celebrates Match Day 2025

The energy was palpable at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in downtown Knoxville on March 21, 2025. Amid nervous laughter and heartfelt embraces, our University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine fourth-year medical students gathered with their loved ones for one of medicine's most treasured traditions - Match Day. As the clock struck noon, these soon-to-be physicians, who had spent countless hours in our halls and hospitals honing their skills, opened the letters that would launch the next chapter of their medical careers.

The significance of this year's Match Day extended beyond our campus walls. The 2025 Main Residency Match marked the largest in the National Residency Matching Program's 73-year history, with 52,498 applicants competing for 43,237 residency positions - a 4.2 percent increase from 2024. Among the success stories, 168 UTHSC medical students participated in the matching program, with 71 choosing to continue their medical journey in Tennessee. Most notably, eight of these promising young doctors will continue their training at University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM), reinforcing our institution's vital role in developing Tennessee's healthcare workforce.

"I was beyond excited to find out I had been matched with the Family Medicine department at UTGSM. It felt like a dream come true, and I couldn't imagine myself in any other program," said UTHSC medical student Jeevan Kypa. "I am looking forward to learning from the wonderful people in this hospital and building lifelong relationships with patients and staff. This hospital is a great place to learn, grow, teach, and thrive."

For some students, like Kelsey Holland, Match Day meant the opportunity to give back to their hometown community. "When I opened my envelope and saw that I matched with my top choice of UTGSM for both Transitional Year and Diagnostic Radiology, I was so excited," Holland shared. "It felt incredible to know I'll be continuing my training in my hometown, surrounded by familiar faces and a strong, supportive community. I'm really excited to work with and learn from the incredible faculty and residents at UT Medical Center, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to care for people in my hometown."

"Match Day always gets me emotional," reflected Paige Johnson, MD, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education. "I've watched these incredible students grow from their first nervous days in the hospital to becoming confident, capable physicians. They've tackled tough cases, acquired skills, and yes - probably consumed enough coffee to keep our Starbucks in business! But what truly makes me proud is seeing how they've become part of our medical family here. Every attending who's taught them, every resident who's mentored them, and every staff member who's supported them - we've all had the privilege of watching something special unfold. These students chose us, trusted us with their dreams, and now they're ready to carry those dreams forward. Today, we celebrated their remarkable achievements and the bright future they represent for medicine."

The success of these graduating students reflects not only their individual dedication but also the collective commitment of UTGSM's faculty, residents, and staff who have invested countless hours in shaping these promising young doctors. As they prepare to transition from students to residents, they carry with them not just their medical knowledge, but the values, compassion, and excellence that define the UTGSM community. Their achievements mark another proud chapter in our institution's growing legacy of medical education excellence.

While we are proud to retain eight of our graduates in our own programs, our commitment to cultivating exceptional physicians extends beyond Match Day. We must continue to support all our graduates, whether they're training here or across the country, maintaining these vital connections and encouraging their eventual return to our community. This ongoing investment in our students and graduates is crucial to enhancing healthcare quality throughout East Tennessee and beyond.

UTHSC medical students participating in this year’s Match celebration in Knoxville include:

Marat Minin - Zucker SOM - Northwell NS/LIJ-NY - Internal Medicine
Natalie Foster - U Tennessee Grad SOM-Knoxville - General Surgery
Addison Bond - U Tennessee Grad SOM-Knoxville - Internal Medicine
Kelsey Holland - U Tennessee Grad SOM-Knoxville - Radiology-Diagnostic
Thomas Donnelly - Mountain AHEC - NC - Psychiatry
Claudine Habib - U Tennessee COM-Chattanooga - Pediatrics
Jeevan Kypa - U Tennessee Grad SOM-Knoxville - Family Medicine
Sarah Troyer - Vanderbilt Univ Med Ctr-TN - Pathology
AJ Frederick - Mary Washington Healthcare - VA - Radiology-Diagnostic
Bethany Karnes - U Tennessee Health Sci Ctr - Memphis - Internal Medicine
Hebah Al-Khateeb - Vanderbilt Univ Med Ctr - Pathology
Lindsay Bruce - Barnes-Jewish Hosp - MO - Anesthesiology
Gage Smith - U Tennessee COM-Chattanooga - Emergency Medicine
Caitlin Welch - Community Health Network-IN - Family Medicine

Posted April 3, 2025