Exciting News: Our Journey to Chicago for Medical Residency!

The day we’ve been eagerly awaiting has finally arrived! While I couldn’t resist sharing a sneak peek on Instagram, I’m thrilled to provide all the details now. Last week was an incredible blend of anticipation, excitement, and life-changing news, culminating in an announcement that shifts the entire trajectory of our lives for the next five years.

For those unfamiliar with the medical residency ‘Match’ process, it’s truly an extraordinary and often grueling experience. It’s one of those topics that requires a dedicated conversation, typically spanning at least 45 minutes to fully grasp its intricacies and emotional weight. Though we knew this momentous day was looming ever since Connor embarked on his medical school journey several years ago, the speed at which it crept up on us was astonishing.

Understanding the Medical Residency Match Process

The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match is a highly competitive and complex system designed to place medical school graduates into residency training programs in the United States. It’s the culmination of years of intense academic study, clinical rotations, and countless hours of preparation. The process involves applications, interviews, and a sophisticated computer algorithm that pairs applicants with programs based on mutual preferences. For aspiring physicians, matching into a residency program is not just a career milestone; it’s the gateway to practicing medicine and specializing in their chosen field.

The journey itself begins long before Match Day. Medical students spend their final years preparing for this pivotal moment. This includes excelling in their coursework, performing well on standardized exams, and gaining diverse clinical experiences. For Connor, pursuing orthopaedic surgery, a highly competitive specialty, meant an even more rigorous path. It required strategic planning, including participating in “away rotations” – month-long working interviews at various institutions across the country – to enhance his profile and increase his chances of securing a coveted spot.

The Whirlwind of Rotations and Interviews

Last year, at this precise time, our discussions revolved around potential cities and institutions for residency applications, with a strong focus on where Connor should undertake his away orthopaedic surgery rotations. These rotations are essentially extended job interviews, providing both the applicant and the program a chance to assess fit over several weeks. The summer and fall months that followed were an absolute blur of travel and intensive work. Connor was literally everywhere, from the bustling streets of Chicago to the vibrant energy of New York City, and the scenic beauty of San Francisco, all within a compressed four-month period. Each city offered a unique experience and a glimpse into a potential future, adding layers of excitement and uncertainty to an already high-stakes process.

Following these demanding rotations, the interview season began. Connor spent almost the entire month of January traveling across the country for interviews at various residency programs. Each interview was an opportunity to learn more about the program, meet potential mentors, and, most importantly, make a strong impression. By February, after weeks of travel and intense conversations, we officially submitted our rank order list. This list, a critical component of the Match, specifies an applicant’s preferences from their most desired program to their least. For us, the decision was clear: Chicago topped his list, a city we both felt drawn to.

Black Monday: The Initial Match Result

The Match process is famously divided into two crucial announcements. The first, often dubbed ‘Black Monday’ by medical students, reveals whether an applicant has successfully matched into *any* program, but not *where*. Last Monday, we anxiously awaited this initial news, a moment charged with a unique blend of hope and trepidation. Surprisingly, I had felt a profound sense of calm throughout the preceding weekend, confident in Connor’s hard work and dedication. However, as Monday morning dawned, a wave of last-minute nerves inevitably crept in. At precisely noon, Connor received an email at the hospital. His immediate text message, “MATCHED!!!!!”, sent a surge of relief through us both. It was an enormous weight lifted, especially for Connor, as this particular year had been exceptionally competitive for orthopaedic surgery applicants, and sadly, some of his friends were not as fortunate. This news confirmed that years of hard work had paid off, securing him a spot in the medical field he was so passionate about.

The Anxious Wait for Placement: Match Day Eve

But the Match’s unique cruelty dictates that the celebration of matching is immediately followed by a four-day agonizing wait to discover WHERE he had matched! At this point, we knew it would be one of nine specific cities where he had interviewed: Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Albany, Kansas City, or Detroit. As you can imagine, with such a wide range of possibilities, a tremendous amount of uncertainty still hung in the air. Our entire future – where we would live, work, and build our lives for the next half-decade – rested on a single sealed envelope. These four days crawled by at an excruciatingly slow pace. We tried our best to distract ourselves, constantly reminding each other to be grateful that, regardless of the ultimate destination, Connor was heading into a career he loves and is deeply passionate about. It was a period of emotional limbo, oscillating between excited speculation and quiet contemplation of all potential outcomes.

Match Day: The Grand Reveal

Finally, Friday arrived – the day universally known as ‘Match Day.’ My parents and Connor’s parents joined us on campus for this monumental event, adding to the palpable excitement and support. Connor’s entire medical class, accompanied by their friends and family, congregated in a large auditorium, buzzing with nervous energy, awaiting the news that would define their futures. Despite the impending reveal, I surprisingly slept well the night before and felt relatively calm on Friday morning. However, the moment we stepped out of our apartment and began our drive to campus, the nerves surged, twisting our stomachs into knots. It’s a synchronized national event: at medical schools across the country, students gather at the exact same time to receive their sealed envelopes, each containing the name of the institution where they will embark on their residency training. This collective experience amplifies the drama, creating a shared sense of anxiety and anticipation among thousands of hopeful future doctors.

I must confess, I can be quite a control freak, so the inherent uncertainty of the next five years has been incredibly stressful over the past year. Add to that the complexities of wedding planning, taking the leap into self-employment, and other life updates, and let’s just say, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. The pressure of these significant life changes all converging simultaneously tested my resilience and emotional fortitude. Yet, through it all, the dream of Connor matching into his top choice and starting this new chapter kept us going.

A few minutes before noon, one of the attending physicians finally stepped onto the stage, addressing the sea of expectant faces. He instructed all the medical students to line up to collect their envelopes, then return to their seats – crucially, without opening them. The air in the auditorium was thick with an almost tangible blend of fear, anxiety, and nervous anticipation, a collective scent of impending destiny. Meanwhile, I stood at the back of the room, futilely fanning myself like a bewildered spectator, trying desperately to contain my own surging emotions. When Connor returned to his seat, envelope in hand, I instinctively did the most illogical yet perfectly understandable thing: I grabbed it, frantically attempting to peer through the sealed paper, a feat that, predictably, was impossible.

The doctor continued with a brief speech about the significance of the Match results, offering some tantalizingly vague clues about where different students might be headed – an exquisite form of torture for the already frayed nerves in the room. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he initiated the collective countdown to open the envelopes. The entire experience could not have been more dramatic; exciting, yes, but undeniably overwhelming. At that precise moment, I genuinely felt as though I might vomit from sheer anticipation. The energy captured in the video below vividly conveys the incredible tension and emotion that filled the room.

http://youtu.be/Wo6E9vzjN_8

Thankfully, Connor’s dad, John, had the brilliant foresight to take out his smartphone and videotape the momentous ‘letter opening.’ The snippets captured reveal my initial state of shock, followed by an unexpected and overwhelming outburst of tears – a raw, emotional response to years of hard work culminating in this single moment. (That particularly tearful part was edited out for everyone’s benefit, of course!).

The Unforgettable Reveal: We’re Moving to Chicago!

As you can probably tell from the sheer joy and relief, the big news is that we are officially moving to CHICAGO!!! For the next five incredible years, the Windy City will be our new home. Our move is planned for mid-June at the latest, perfectly timed after our wedding, Connor’s medical school graduation, and our much-anticipated honeymoon. Words truly cannot express the immense pride I feel for Connor, acknowledging all his tireless hard work and unwavering dedication over the past four years of medical school. And my pride only swells further knowing that he matched into his first-choice program. This move brings with it a complex tapestry of emotions: thrilling excitement for the new adventure, nervous anticipation about navigating an unfamiliar city, and a deep, wistful sadness about leaving Washington, D.C. Both of us have called D.C. home for almost our entire lives, and most of our closest friends and family reside in the area. Saying goodbye will undoubtedly be difficult, but we are both incredibly enthusiastic to experience and explore a new vibrant city, embracing the opportunity to mix things up and embark on this exciting new chapter together.

Embracing a New Chapter in the Windy City

In my entire life, I’ve only spent a mere 72 hours in Chicago – and frankly, barely more than that across the entire Midwest region. Yet, from what little I’ve experienced, I have a profound feeling that we are going to absolutely love it there. More importantly, I finally get to fulfill my long-held dream of systematically trying everything on XOCO’s menu. Oh, yes, that’s a very serious culinary goal! Beyond the food, we’re eager to immerse ourselves in Chicago’s rich culture, explore its world-class museums, discover its diverse neighborhoods, and enjoy its beautiful parks and lakefront. We anticipate learning a new rhythm of life, forming new friendships, and building a community in our new home. The prospect of professional growth for Connor, combined with the personal adventure for both of us, makes this move a truly exhilarating prospect.

Future Plans and Community Engagement

I cannot wait to share more details with all of you in the coming weeks. Expect posts chronicling our experiences in a new city, from finding our new favorite coffee shops to navigating the nuances of Chicago living. This next chapter of our lives promises a wealth of new content and adventures to share! I already have a plethora of new ideas for fun blog content, perhaps even a new column dedicated to our Chicago explorations. Get ready for insider tips, local discoveries, and all the ups and downs of settling into a brand-new metropolis.

Thank you all so incredibly much for your unwavering support and patience throughout these past few weeks, and for your understanding as we navigate the hectic weeks ahead filled with packing, moving, and adjusting. Your encouragement means the world to us. Hugs!

And on a personal note, if you happen to live in Chicago or the surrounding area, we’d absolutely love to connect in real life. Let’s grab a coffee or explore the city together – we’re always looking to make new friends! Please don’t hesitate to reach out!