NYC Gazette

NYU Grossman School of Medicine recently celebrated Match Day, a significant event where medical students nationwide discover their residency assignments. On March 21, all 96 students from the institution matched with residency programs, with 44 remaining at NYU Langone Health locations. The most popular specialties among these students include internal medicine and primary care (22), psychiatry (10), pediatrics (9), orthopedics (6), and neurosurgery (6).

The school's innovative three-year model and Full-Tuition Scholarships have played a crucial role in shaping the careers of its graduates. Joseph Obiajulu is one such student who benefited from these opportunities. "When you don’t have the stress of thinking about how to pay off debt, there’s just more room to learn," he stated. His journey into medicine began after witnessing a friend's meaningful interaction with a patient in a cardio intensive care unit.

Melissa Song's path was influenced by her childhood experiences and personal challenges during college. Her focus shifted to orthopedic surgery after surviving sexual assault, which led her to weight lifting as a form of healing. "Ortho is a really meaningful way for me to give back to people something that is so important to me," she explained.

Brooke Starn brings athletic discipline from her competitive running background into her medical career. She sees primary care pediatrics as an avenue for preventive health work at both individual and population levels. Free tuition was particularly significant for Starn, allowing her to pursue this specialty without financial concerns.

At noon on Match Day, envelopes were opened across the country revealing residency destinations. Obiajulu will remain at NYU Langone as a surgical intern aiming to become a cardiac surgeon; Starn will also stay at NYU Langone for pediatrics; while Song will head to Stanford for an orthopedic residency.

Victoria C. Dinsell, MD, associate dean of student affairs, addressed the students: “Our lives have been enriched by you in countless ways... You are courageous, compassionate individuals who have devoted yourselves to the most rewarding calling."

The celebration highlighted how NYU Grossman School of Medicine's tuition-free initiative has enabled students like Obiajulu, Song, and Starn to follow their passions without financial constraints.